Saint George Monastery

The Holy Monastery of Agios Georgios was founded in 1600 at the spot where the small village of Karydi was located. During the Turkish occupation, the Ottomans forced the residents of Karydi to either abandon the village or become Muslims. The families that became Muslims, asked the Turks to turn the church of Agios Georgios to a mosque. The local priest then decided to grant the church to the Monastery of the Agia Triada Tzagarolon, in 1720.

In 1821 the local governor o granted more freedoms to the Christians of Crete. Monks came to Karydi and built a new and larger church. In 1929 the Turkish authorities granted the monastery a license to produce olive oil, fact that helped to develop further. Particularly impressive is the building of the olive oil press, which according to inscriptions, was completed in 1863.

In 1900 the last monk left, which resulted in the abandonment of the monastery. Most of its property was granted to the veterans of the Balkan wars. Today again, it operates as an independent monastery.