Church of Agios Georgios and Agios Charalambos in Episkopi, Ierapetra
The church of Agios Georgios (St. George) and Agios Charalambos (St. Charalambos) in the village of Episkopi in Ierapetra is located in the center of the village and is particularly impressive as it is two-aisled. The left part, which is the aisle of Agios Georgios, dates back to the 11th century and is much older than the right part, the one of Agios Charalambos, which was added in the 16th century.
Following research carried out within the church, structures and plumbing were uncovered under floors and tombs, indicating the original use of the building as a Middle Byzantine era bathhouse, which during the Venetian rule was converted into a church, with various modifications to suit the new use.
In a close proximity to where the church is located, the large episcopal church of “Panagia Eftatroulli” (Seven-domed church of the Virgin Mary) was to be found, not surviving nowadays as it was completely destroyed during the early 20th century for a new church to be erected.
The bathhouse at Episkopi of Ierapetra seems to have been directly connected to the episcopal complex that probably existed near the demolished cathedral of Panagia Eftatroulli.