Monastery of St. George Apanosifis

The Monastery of St. George Apanosifis or Epanosifis is located about 30km south of Heraklion, near Metaxohori village.

It is the largest male monastery in Crete (in monk number). The spiritual and social contribution of the monastery during the difficult years of Turkish occupation was invaluable.

The monastery was built at the end of the Venetian Era and it immediately gained fame. According to a written testimony, the monastery was founded by a monk of the monastery Apezana, who once started hiking to the monastery of Agarathos.

During the course, he stayed overnight in the Church of St. George in the fief of the family Lagouvardos.

He saw a dream with Saint George ,asking him to build the monastery at this position. However, Lagouvardos refused but he was convinced after being punished by the Saint.

Lagouvardos paid for the construction of Epanosifis monastery. The monastery of Epanosifis has many dependencies, such as the ruined monastery of Aistratigos northwest of the monastery, the monastery of St.

Anthony, of Xera Xyla near Neapolis and several chapels. In the monastery there are now precious heirlooms, gospels, carved crosses, a silver chalice of 1842, the icon of Saint George monastery of Xera Xyla and relics of 21 Saints.

The monastery also houses a Higher Ecclesiastical School, in a building that was formerly an orphanage. Lastly, the church of St George celebrates on April 23 and November 3.