Monastery Agarathou

The monastery Agarathou dedicated to Virgin Mary and is a rather rocky hill between the villages and Saba Sgourokefali within 23 km from Heraklion.

Although the time of its establishment is not verified, it is considered as one of the oldest monasteries in Crete and might have been founded during the Second Byzantine period. From small monastery was originally in the 16th century.

During the Venetian nursery education was very great ecclesiastical men like Cyril Lukaris Meletios Pegas, Silbestros Kris. Played an important role during the years of Ottoman formed here as revolutionary body that resisted bravely against the invaders. Those years were so reasonable that it was during the recession of the abbey, culminating in the revolution of 1821, when the Turks massacred the monks and set fire to buildings. Became a school in 1860, and during the revolution of 1866 became a base for militants.

The church was rebuilt in 1894 and by the end of Ottoman rule began a new period of prosperity. In recent years settled in the new monastery monks educated, qualified faculties and thus regained its former glory.