Sacred Monastery of Arkadi, Rethymno

The Sacred Monastery of Arkadi, on Crete, is one of the island’s most important historical and religious monuments. According to historical sources, the Sacred Monastery of Arkadi was founded around the 11th century AD by a monk named Arkadios.
The Monastery is best known for its decisive role during the Cretan Revolution of 1866, when it became a site of heroic resistance against Ottoman rule and went down in history for the “Holocaust of Arkadi” that occurred on the 8th November 1866. In terms of architecture, it stands out for its fortress-like structre and its Byzantine and Renaissance elements. Today, it serves as a symbol of freedom and historical memory.