Agios Minas Cathedral is one of the main Orthodox cathedral city of Heraklion and one of the largest churches in Greece (accommodates up to 8,000 people). St. Mina is the patron saint of the city, and on November 11 (the day of Saint Mina) is recognized as a national holiday, and declared an official holiday.

Agios Minas Cathedral is located on the square Venizelou. To the right of the temple is the abode of the Archbishop of Crete, and to the left a little authentic Church of St. Mina, which was built in 1735 and is the ancestor of the current cathedral. During the years of Turkish occupation in the Small Cathedral housed Cathedral Archdiocese of Crete, and today it is a museum of icons and various church utensils.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1862 under the direction of architect Athanasios Mousissa and lasted in '33 (with a break in 1866-1883 years). According to legend, the foundation under the altar of the laid the golden, silver and bronze coins of different countries. The Cathedral is a three-nave structure in the form of sand-colored ravnokonechnogo cross with a majestic red dome and two belfries. Inside the majestic dome painted in the traditional Byzantine frescoes. Cathedral also features benches.

Agios Minas Cathedral was opened in 1895 with great pomp and consecrated by Metropolitan Timothy Kastriynoyannisom in honor of St. Mina. Despite the continuing Turkish occupation, the celebration lasted three days.

An interesting fact is that during World War II, May 23, 1941, during a heavy bombing of Heraklion on the roof of the cathedral bomb fell but did not explode. Local people believe that the reason for that - the intercession of St. Mina. Despite the high veneration of the saint, in Heraklion it is very rare name "Mina", as it is associated with the locals deprivation.