If your mind prefers
the medieval period, then it is possible to have you celebrate your civil
ceremony in Aptera, an old
Venetian castle overlooking the Suda
port in Chania. The view is remarkable and would provide an ideal setting for
your vows. There is also the added bonus of being close to Georgetown (Giorgolopoli), a very beautiful and much
under rated holiday resort between Chania
and Rethmnon. In fact, I
can picture a civil ceremony in Aptera, a restorative swim and religious
ceremony in Kournas lake
followed by a lakeside taverna to hold your reception before driving back to
Giorgolopoli. The possibilities that we have on offer are endless! Use your
imagination and choose your own historical period and dress up for your
wedding. Contact us and we advise you how to proceed.
Of course, there may be some of you who
feel that the Medieval Period is the place to be in which case, like John you
may find the story we found of a knight in 1095 a fascinating insight into the
medieval period here on Crete. Who knows, maybe you have your own fair tales to
tell...along to the accompaniment of wine, music and local dancers!
I am John Constansos and after having served
my Emperor Alexis I Kommenos in Levounion in Thrace, on 29 April 1091 and again
under his commander-in-chief John Doukas in 1092 – 3 to suppress the revolts on
the island of Crete. I asked for leave to marry a beautiful lady of good family
on the island. However, I was needed in 1094 at Adrianople against the
Cumans as well as a few triffling affairs during the interim period before I
was finally allowed to return to the island of Crete in 1095 where my bride is
waiting.
But my repose is short-lived for now I am awaiting
the arrival of Christian knights encouraged by Pope Urban II plea in the year
of our Lord 1095 to take up the cross after the Council of Clemont, leading to
Godfrey of Bouillon, Raymond IV of Toulouse and Bohemond of Taranto joining the
exhibition to free the Holy City.
And so I am on the
island of Crete making safe provision for our guests to arrive and preparing
our stores at the harbour. I fear I have my work cut out for me as there are
many who I am told taking up the challenge these days and I expect some may
even be coming from far afield with their wives and families.
Perhaps, they too seek to be married on
the island this year like me. For, there are many fair maidens here and if our
guests fiancés and wives are like my bethrothed then this knights of Christ
will not be allowed to roam this beautiful island without their own fiancée.
For the wine here is
very strong like the Raki and can only be compared to the mead that I hear they
drink in those cold northern lands. Here, as the summer lasts so long far into
the end of October, with mild winter months our own Byzantine Retsina is drunk
well into the night throughout the hot summer days of September and October.
Here too, we often
ensure the maidens dowry and secure our family provisions before setting off
again into future adventures towards everyones own Holy City where the journey
may be difficult but the prize is so worth the contest!
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