Agarathos Monastery
Agarathos is a fortified monastery in the wooded hills east of Heraklion, near Episkopi, and one of the oldest male monasteries in Crete. The complex is walled like a small fort, which is how the wealthy Cretan houses were built when raiding was a constant risk. Its name comes from a plant that grows on the slopes around it.
Where Agarathos is
Agarathos Monastery is situated 23km east of Heraklion, in a forested area at an altitude of 538m near Episkopi, and the complex is fortified. During the Venetian era the monastery was among the wealthiest in Crete, and it owned several other monasteries in the Heraklion and Lassithi prefectures. It is regarded as the highest-ranking monastery on the island.
The Pediada hills around it are full of smaller foundations of the same period. The nearest is Panagia monastery at Sgourokefali, 1.5 km away, and Agia Marina monastery stands 4.2 km off by the village of Voni.
The name and the agarathia plant
The name Agarathos is derived from the Cretan dialect word for Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa), agarathia. Legend has it that a monk discovered the icon of Panagia (Virgin Mary) beneath such a plant, and later constructed the church of Panagia at the same location. A pomegranate tree with a candle near its trunk can be seen in front of the church, believed to be the original agarathia plant, grown by a miracle into a tree.
History of the monastery
Agarathos Monastery is one of the oldest male monasteries in Crete, and its founding date is uncertain. During the Venetian era it was an affluent house, and most of its monks came from Cythera Island, near the Peloponnese.
Four notable figures have been associated with Agarathos: Meletius Pigas, later Patriarch of Alexandria; Cyril Loukaris, later Ecumenical Patriarch; Yerasimos Paleokapas, bishop of Crete; and the scholar Joseph Vryennios. In the Ottoman period the monastery played a significant role in the revolutionary movements against the Turks.
The church and what to see
The monastery’s church is double-aisled, with one aisle dedicated to the Assumption, celebrated on 15 August, and the other to Saint Menas, celebrated on 11 November. It houses a very old icon of the Virgin Mary. Visitors can stay in the monastery’s guesthouse and dining room, and see the ancient manuscripts held in the library. The old church of St Raphael stands outside the monastery.
Things to do around Agarathos
Five places lie within 7 km of the monastery, listed nearest first.
- Visit Panagia monastery at Sgourokefali, 1.5 km from Agarathos.
- Carry on to Agia Marina monastery by Voni, 4.2 km away.
- Walk the Kounaviano Gorge, which starts 5.5 km from the monastery.
- See the Galatas Minoan Palace, 5.9 km south in the Pediada.
- Stop at Panagia Spiliotissa Monastery at Houdetsi, 6.8 km west.
Monasteries and sites near Agarathos
The Pediada is dense with monasteries and Minoan remains, and six more sit within 9 km of Agarathos.
- Kallergis Monastery near Kasteli is 7.4 km east.
- St John Monastery at Anopolis lies 8.3 km towards Heraklion.
- Monastery of Kera Eleousa stands 8.4 km away.
- Tourkogitonia Minoan Palace sits 8.1 km off, in Archanes.
- Fourni Minoan Cemetery is 8.5 km west, on the ridge above Archanes.
- Smari Citadel crowns a hill 9 km from the monastery.
Getting to Agarathos monastery
Drive 23 km east from Heraklion into the Pediada hills and follow the signs for Episkopi and the monastery. The last stretch climbs to 538 m through woodland, so the approach is slow but straightforward. There is no bus to the gate, which makes a car the practical choice.
Three more stops sit on the same loop of roads. Arkalohori lies 8.7 km south, and the Astrakiano and Spiliotissa gorges both cut through the hills within 8 km.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Agarathos monastery?
Agarathos monastery is 23 km east of Heraklion, near Episkopi, at an altitude of 538 m. It stands in a forested part of the Pediada hills, and the complex is fortified.
What does the name Agarathos mean?
Agarathos comes from agarathia, the Cretan dialect word for Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis fruticosa. A monk is said to have found an icon of the Virgin Mary beneath one of these plants and built the church of Panagia on the spot.
How old is Agarathos monastery?
The founding date is uncertain, but Agarathos is one of the oldest male monasteries in Crete. It was already wealthy in the Venetian era, when most of its monks came from Cythera, and it owned other monasteries in the Heraklion and Lassithi prefectures.
Can you stay at Agarathos monastery?
Yes, the monastery has a guesthouse and a dining room for visitors. The library holds ancient manuscripts, and the church contains a very old icon of the Virgin Mary.
When does Agarathos celebrate?
The monastery keeps two feast days: the Assumption on 15 August and Saint Menas on 11 November. The church is double-aisled, with one aisle dedicated to each.
Location
Agarathos Monastery is located at Agarathos Monastery, in the Heraklion region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
