The seaside Monastery of Panagia Odigitria is located at the base of the peninsula of Spatha, about 26km west of Chania and 2.5km north of Kolimbari. The monastery is also known as Lady of the Angels Monastery of Gonia (Gonia = Corner) due to its location on the western edge-corner of the bay of Chania.

In the 9th century hermits founded the monastery of Saint George (Agios Georgios) in Menies on the site of the ancient sanctuary of Diktynna. Because of the constant pirate raids, the monks of St. George moved to the current position of the cemetery and founded the first monastery of Panagia. The new monastery of Gonia was founded by monk Vlasios at this position in the 17th century, his work being continued by monk Venedictos Tzagarolas.

We have no written evidence for the start of the holy pilgrimage of Chrysoskalitissa. Tradition says that the sacredness of the site begins with the presence (finding) of the icon of the Virgin Mary in a niche of a rock. This icon had probably been hiding here since the iconoclasm 726-842 AD. In fact it is said to have been found by a farmer who saw the vision of a candle flame in the evenings. Before Chrisoskalitissa was built, there was another church in its place in the name of the Assumption. It was attached to a rock cave. On the roof of the rock there was another adjoining temple of the Holy Trinity.

Once, they decided to build a larger church and they thought it should be built at the foot of the rock, because so they could avoid the difficulties and the trouble of uploading material. It is said that while the icon had been transferred elsewhere, it mysteriously returned back to where it had originally been found. Everyone thought this was the will of Virgin Mary for her temple to be built on the rock, which was done.