Agarathos Monastery
| Distance | 23 km. south of Heraklion |
|---|---|
| Open to the public: | Open every day, from 08.30 – Sunset. |
| Entrance fee: | Free entrance, please make a donation in the church |
| Toilet Facilities: | Available |
| Café: | Not Available |
| Wi-Fi: | Available |
| Parking space: | Available for all types of vehicles |
| Facilities for people with disabilities: | Available |
| Supervised by: | Holy Archdiocese of Crete |
| Access & walking difficulty: | Difficulty rating, 1 |
This Monastery is located 23 km. south of Heraklion, and is considered to be one of the oldest in Crete.
According to written documentation, the Monastery was established in the 15th c. AD, although it is believed that its original founding is way earlier, by Nikiforos Fokas in the 10th c. AD. The monastery has the plan of a fort, not unusual for Crete, and the main church is shaped like a cross with a central dome. Ever since the Venetian domination, the monastery developed an educational role, and many high priests studied and preached there, while later on a number of them became distinctive Patriarchs, such as Kirillos Loukaris, Meletios Pigas etc.
The visitor can see parts of the monastery, like the cells, the main church and a magnificent Church Museum with precious objects. The monks nowadays are working in their fields, growing a lot of organic products.
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