The Asomaton monastery is located 32km south east of Rethymno town, in a fertile plain in Amari.
The church of the monastery is dedicated to Archangel Michael.
In the temple, you can see the icons of the Trinity and the Archangels, work of Abbot Manasseh.
The monastery was founded in the second Byzantine period and has a long history of support for freedom and education.
In the years 1272-1278, the monastery becomes a revolutionary centre against the Venetians.
It was the basis of the Chortatzis family.
The grave of Georgios Hortatzis is found in the nearby Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi.
It was also destroyed several times by the Turks due to the revolutionary activities of the monks.
The monastery is also known for the agricultural school which operated until 1930.
Today the deserted monastery is being renovated, while it houses a research department of the National Agricultural Research Foundation.
Photo by: Matrialis