Arkadi Monastery

The Arkadi Monastery, located in the picturesque region of Rethymno in Crete, Greece, is a significant historical and cultural site. This Orthodox monastery was founded in the 15th century and has since played a crucial role in the island’s history.

The constant and uninterrupted presence of the Monastery in the life of Crete for eight centuries is an integral part of the island’s history.

The multi-faceted work of the Monastery unfolds through time. Historical sources have shown that the Monastery has been a center of education and manuscript copy. In addition, the gold embroidery workshops dazzled the world in the 17 and 18 century.

The struggles of the Monastery against the conquerors have been an inspiration. The sacrifice of the people who lived and died there has generated strong emotional impact and has become an example.

The Turks occupied Crete at a time of bloom for the Arkadi Monastery.

The monks participated in the Revolution of 1821 and took leading part in major events. The first disaster is a fact: the monastery is looted and the monks have no choice but to abandon it for a small period. They return soon after.

The ultimate contribution of the Monastery is its action of self-sacrifice, heroism and God-pleasant altruism: the Holocaust of November 8^th 1866. This way the Monastery manifested its active presence in the fight against enslavement. It managed to throw off the yoke of slavery that the enemies raged to impose and succeeded in changing the course of Crete’s history.

Ever since, the Monastery has been carrying the weight of its history and taking part in the struggles that followed, in all aspects of life, on our long-suffering island in an effort to live up to its glorious past in any possible way.