• Location23 km from Heraklion
• Altitude 380m
• AttractionsDouble-aisled church dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Saint Minas
• HistoryOne of Crete’s oldest monasteries, first mentioned in 16th-century documents. Important spiritual and social center during Turkish occupation
• TraditionHospitality with wine, water, bread, and cheese for visitors. Today, the monastery’s guesthouse offers accommodation to the faithful
• Monks11 resident monks (2011 census)

The historic and beautiful Agkarathos Monastery, built at an altitude of 380 meters on the southwestern side of the Soros Pantelis hill, is located in the Pediada region, about 23 km from the city of Heraklion. This monastery has a long-standing history and spiritual tradition and belongs to the local community of Samba in the municipality of Minoa Pediada. According to the 2011 census, the monastery is inhabited by 11 monks, who keep the spiritual atmosphere and hospitality of the place alive.

The Agkarathos Monastery is renowned for its hospitality. A characteristic image is that of the bench in the monastery’s courtyard, where there used to be a jug filled with wine and water, along with a basket of bread, cheese, and olives for any visitor to enjoy. This hospitality continues today, as the monastery's guesthouse can host many faithful who wish to experience the tranquility and spiritual fulfillment the monastery offers.

The monastery’s church is a double-aisled structure, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Saint Minas. According to tradition, the monastery’s name comes from an “agkarathia” (a thorn bush), under which the image of the Virgin Mary was found. The bush is tied to the spiritual significance of the site.

Agkarathos is first mentioned in documents from the 16th century, but the current church was built in 1894 on the ruins of an older temple. Although the exact year of the monastery's founding is unknown, it is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete.

Throughout its history, the monastery played a significant role during the Turkish occupation, serving as a refuge for Cretans and a center of spiritual resistance.