Agios Georgios Monastery is located in the Apokoronas region of Crete, between the villages of Vrysses and Vamos. Although abandoned for many years, the monastery was restored in 1996 and is now active. The monastery takes its name from a former nearby settlement called Karydi.
During the Ottoman period, the church faced financial pressures, as the local priest had to pay a yearly tax to preserve it. Unable to meet this obligation, he turned to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada Tsagarolon) for support and became a ‘metochi’, meaning functioning as a dependent site of the Holy Trinity.
THE OLIVE PRESS AND AGRICULTURAL LEGACY | ARCHITECTURAL REMAINS AND CURRENT STATUS | MAP
The Olive Press and Agricultural Legacy
A notable feature of the site is its large olive press, distinguished by twelve stone arches. This structure housed four olive mills, of which only the built bases remain today—the millstones have been removed.
The scale of the olive press reflects the monastery’s once significant role in olive oil production. From the mid-19th century, Agios Georgios Monastery expanded significantly, acquiring land, primarily through donations.
At its peak, it had 3,600 olive trees and produced large quantities of olive oil.
Architectural Remains and Current Status
While the roof of the olive mill has since collapsed, the structure remains a key landmark of the monastery today. The preserved elements of the press and surrounding buildings offer a glimpse into the monastery’s past economic and spiritual influence in the region.