Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Chania

The Etz Hayyim Synagogue stands as the sole surviving remnant of Crete's centuries-old Romaniote Jewish community. Originally constructed in the 17th century, the synagogue occupies a building once used as a Venetian-era church before being transformed into a place of Jewish worship.

With the tragic deportation and subsequent drowning of Chania’s Jewish population during World War II, the synagogue fell into neglect-serving grimly as a storage area, a dump, and even a stable. In the mid-1990s, spurred by the efforts of Nicholas Stavroulakis and support from international heritage programs, a dedicated restoration began. It culminated in a heartfelt rededication in October 1999, with prominent religious leaders and dignitaries in attendance.

Today, the Synagogue is an active place of prayer used for Shabbat services, Jewish holidays, and modeled on both Romaniote and Sephardic traditions. Beyond worship, it has blossomed into a center for reconciliation, education, and cross-cultural engagement, hosting concerts, lectures, exhibitions, and serving as a welcoming space for Jews and non-Jews alike.

The synagogue complex includes tranquil courtyards, a ritual bath, and a small library overflowing with volumes on Jewish, Christian, and Islamic history-offering deeper insight into Crete’s multicultural past. It is also a space of learning, with its archives aiding researchers and visitors in tracing Jewish heritage across the island.