Description of the attraction
The Orthodox monastery of Arkadi is located on the slope of Mount Ida (500 m above sea level), 25 km southeast of Rethymno on the island of Crete. The monastery is one of the most important historical temples on the island.
The exact time of the foundation of the monastery is not known today. According to one version, the foundation of the monastery is associated with the Byzantine emperor Heraclius I (7th century AD), while another version suggests that the monastery was founded by the Roman emperor Arcadius at the beginning of the 5th century AD. (perhaps this is where the name of the temple originated). It is possible that the founder of the monastery could have been the monk Arkadius, who found an icon here in the olive branches.
The monastery complex that we see today was built by the Venetians around the 16th century. Arkadi Monastery was an important cultural center of the region. Monks-scribes lived in the monastery, there was an excellent library and a school was organized. Also in the 17th and 18th centuries, the monastery had its own gold embroidery workshop (some of the works are still kept in the monastery museum).
The monastery gained its fame in 1866 during the period of the Cretan uprising known as the "Great Cretan Revolution". Fifteen thousand army of Turks surrounded the monastery, outside the walls of which about 1000 Cretans found their refuge. When the monastery fell and the battle began, one of the rebels blew up a powder store. The monastery was destroyed and almost all the people inside were killed, and the temple became a symbol of the struggle for independence.
Today, a unique museum is located in the southern wing of the monastery. Its exposition includes post-Byzantine icons, church vestments and implements, weapons, manuscripts, personal belongings belonging to the abbot Gabriel and other religious and historical relics.
Every year, the Arkadi monastery is visited by a huge number of pilgrims and just visitors from different parts of the world, regardless of religion.
