Category: Monastery
Prefecture: Rethymno
Address:
Telephone:

---

The monastery Halepa or Chalepa is built on a hill in East Mylopotamos region, Rethimno Prefecture,  close to the villages of Agridia, Tsachiana, Axos and Veni, in a panoramic position among the mountains of Psiloritis and Kouloukonas. From there the visitor can see to Rethymnon town, while in winter somebody can see in the horizon the White Mountains.

The area around the monastery is full of vineyards and olive trees, and in some places there are forests of oaks and Dryades. Close to the monastery there is a cave which monks formerly used as a place of maintenance products. On the west side of the monastery, the visitor will encounter a source which covers the needs of the monastery with water. The water resulted in a cistern for the needs of the gardens and horses of the monastery. At the foot of the hill where the monastery lies, there is another source "Katseri." This source is the oldest one in the area and especially during the summer period, provided the necessary amounts of water for ten villages.

 

The monastery can be reached easily from Tsachiana or Veni by Rethimno prefecture. It is located on a hill just above Tsachiana village.
The monastery is built in various levels and its architecture resembles with that of Vosako. The lintel of the doorframe displays the date 1673 as well as the name of the new builder, Jeremiah Sgourou. This Monastery existed in early times; however, it was destroyed by the Turks in 1646. 

To the left, as soon as you have passed the passage, you will find a fountain hewn out of stone.The two-aisled Church of the monastery is situated at the east side of the yard; it is dedicated to Metamorfosis of the Saviour and Birth of Christ.Today the Monastery is being restored; in former times a nunnery that of Saint Marina, existed close by of which only the Byzantine church of 14th century still exists today.