Arkadi Monastery is located about 20 km southeast of Rethymnon city. It is one of the most famous monasteries in Greece; very famous for its resistance activities during the German occupation. The first image you will encounter on your arrival is the monumental triangular fa4ade of the church, decorated with stone bas-reliefs, with a double-aisled temple surrounded by fortifications, the vertical zone with twin belfries, and the double pseudo-columns. It is an image that is etched deeply in the minds of visitors, and gives a first impression of the monastery's historic
importance, which is later proved by the museum inside it. The monastery is crowned by the surrounding mountains and the verdant landscape of oak trees, briers, pines and vineyards. It is surrounded by various buildings with elegant staircases and doorways. The cells are arranged in the Catholic way, with arcades leading to the interior courtyard. The monastery was built in 1587, with many influences evident in its architecture, from the early Renaissance, Gothic and classical styles and early baroque. It became famous initially as a centre for copying Greek manuscripts, which was carried out by the monastery's monks. At the same time, it was also known for the elaborate embroidered canonicals created there. In 1645 the Turks laid siege on Arkadi and then destroyed it. In the first period of Turkish rule, the monastery continued its course unhindered, and even had the unique privilege of being allowed to ring its bell, thanks to an arrangement made with the Turks by the abbot; in fact, the Turks referred to is as "chanli (=bell) monastir". Many years later, during the revolution, the monastery did not manage to remain in the Turks' good graces. On November 8th, 1866, 15,000 Turkish troops, armed with 13 canons and led by Suleiman Bey besieged the monastery, and the Bey invited the besieged to surrender and lay down their weapons. They refused, despite the fact that it was evidently going to be an unfair battle. 325 armed fighters, together with women, children and the monks (a total of964 persons), were trapped insidethe monastery. Singing hymns andmarches, they tried to give eachother courage for the battle tocome. The flag was at half-mast,and the fighters were in combatposition. The women also tookpart in the revolutionary battle;they assisted the fighters bybringing them ammunition andwater. In the first hours of thebattle, the Greeks fought fiercelyagainst the Turks, and were ableto cause significant damage to the enemy. Theysent messages for help from the otherrevolutionary Cretans, but unfortunately this helpnever arrived. Everything foreboded the tragic endof the battle at Arkadi Monastery. That night, themonastery's bell rung, and the idea of heroic self travel and non-submission to the besiegerspassed from one fighter to the other. The monksgive out last Communion and everyone was now aware of the heroic path of martyrdom they had chosen. On the next day, November 9th, a what is y battle is fought, with the Turks mercilessly canon-balling the fighters and civilians, and the screams and cries of women and children mixing hellishly with the sounds of the cannons.
The Turks attempted an onslaught but were forced back by the Greeks, and suffered great losses, both in human life and ammunition. Eventually, the powerful besiegers succeed in curbing the resistance of the revolutionaries, and charge the monastery like lunatics. The chieftains ordered the revolutionaries to entrench themselves in the monastery's gunpowder storeroom.
The last act of the tragedy was written with the voluntary explosion of the gunpowder room by the Cretans, chosen by them rather than to surrender to the enemy. 864 freedom fighters were tragically stop ed in the battle of Arkadi, while the rest were captured by the enemy. After liberation, the monastery was rebuilt according to the original plan, so what visitors see today is not very different to what it was then. In the monastery's museum you will see findings from the "Arkadi Holocaust", relics from the monastery, weapons, icons, an ossuary and even a plait of hair from a woman stop ed in the holocaust. The monks are very willing to add to your historical knowledge, although it is quite difficult to approach them, as the monastery is always full of visitors.
Outside the courtyard there is canteen where you can get a cool drink and relax after your tour of the monastery.