Arkadi Monastery (Greece) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
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Along the steep winding road Arkadi Monastery rises 18 km from Rethymno. The first monastery was built here in the 5th century, and the modern appearance its main buildings were acquired in the 16th and 17th centuries. The pride of the monastery is the church built in 1587 with a magnificent baroque facade. But the beautiful architecture is not the only good reason to visit this Orthodox monastery. The events that took place within its walls more than 150 years ago left a huge imprint in the history of not only Crete, but the whole of Greece.
During the Cretan uprising of 1866, the monks of Arkadi hid in the monastery about 300 fighters and 700 women and children who fled from the excesses of the Ottoman troops. After a three-day siege, the Turks finally broke through to the territory of the monastery. In order not to be captured, the rebels set fire to the powder magazines where they themselves hid. The explosion killed hundreds of people. The enraged Turks killed many of the survivors, but the news of the atrocities of the Ottomans quickly spread throughout Greece, inspiring the Hellenes to fight for independence.
Despite all this, many buildings of Arkadi survived. Among them and main temple with a Venetian facade and like a double bell tower. Inside is a carved altar screen made of cypress wood from 1902.
A tree grows in the courtyard behind the refectory, from the trunk of which, from the time of the siege, a Turkish shell still sticks out. And in the refectory itself (to the left of the church) there are tables and benches with traces of Ottoman swords.
In the extreme left corner of the courtyard is the most tragic place in the monastery - the blown up powder store. Now there is a small exposition dedicated to the terrible events of 1866. And on the opposite side there is a stone arcade and a small museum. Its main exhibits are a fragment of the Gospel and an old refectory door with numerous bullet holes. A crypt is arranged in the building of the former windmill - the skulls and bones of people who died during the explosion are stored here.
Address: Crete, Arkadi 741 00. Website (in English).
Opening hours: April-May and September-October: 9:00-19:00, June-August: 9:00-20:00, November: 9:00-17:00, December-March: 9:00-16 :00. Admission is free, but a small donation is recommended.
The most convenient way to get to Arkadi is from Rethymnon. The current bus schedule - at the office. carrier website.
We decided to dedicate this day to two mega-places of the island of Crete at once, despite the fact that they are quite far from each other. But these two attractions, which will be discussed, are just the main places that you must visit, and we decided that if so, then we will do it right away. Fortunately, we lived not far from Heraklion, so Knossos was generally at hand, and Arkadi - 40 minutes by car along the main highway of the island.
As I said, we lived not far from the capital, so we moved towards Knossos. Although I personally prefer, from experience, either circular routes, or a route that is designed in such a way that the first point is the farthest and the last is closest to home.
But this time there were few places, so we decided to start with the most well-known and promoted one. In short, go ahead!
We got to Knossos quickly. Near the palace there is one large parking lot, divided into buses and cars, and three more small parking lots for cars. Already talking about attendance, right?
Opposite the entrance, of course, are the ubiquitous taverns and souvenir shops.
We unloaded and stomped to the entrance. The first photo from the parking lot is we just got out of the car. So, we go to the entrance and do not understand what all these people are waiting for ... We approached the entrance and realized what they were waiting for! They are waiting to enter! My friends… It was the first time in Crete that I saw such a number of people in a queue… This is the beginning of it, in the middle under the roof do you see a bright spot? Here they pass on tickets. The end is not clear at all!
Think how many people it is!
In short, even if we went inside quickly, they would definitely not let us walk around and look calmly. And it was not the peak yet, because we went back to the car, and the buses and cars were still coming ...
Yeaaaaa… That was cool. In this situation, we took the simplest and, as it seemed to me then, correct solution– we went to Arcadi. We decided to return to Knossos in the afternoon.
And here we go.
40 minutes and we are actually there.
Directly opposite the monastery is the Memorial to the events of 1866.
Human skulls are on display behind glass. I don't know, I thought it was at least strange. According to the descriptions, these are the skulls of monks who died in 1866. If so, it might still be worthwhile to bury them as heroes, and not expose the remains. Anyway.
And finally, here he is Monastery of Arkadi from the street.
In the center you see a gate. And the monastery itself looks impressive. You won't take one like that. Solid wall thickness, huh?
We go inside. And right there before you appears the Church of St. Constantine and the Transfiguration of the Lord. Great building.
By the way, you can see the plan of the monastery with a description and read the history at.
The monastery itself reminded us very much, don't you think? There he is - uniform style Venetian building.
The same passages, arches.
True, Arkadi differs from Agia Triada in that it is absolutely not green. I don't know why, but overwhelmingly, what's there - very beautifully decorated with flowers. And Arkady is one of the most famous monasteries, No. Weird.
The more strange this tree looks. It is also a kind of monument. A bullet fired from a gun during a shootout got stuck in it.
The monastery of Arkadi is arches and passages, passages and arches.
Museums are located in some rooms of the monastery. Unfortunately, nothing is signed or marked.
While the essence and the matter, several hours have passed since our arrival in Knossos. And we decided to go back to see what was happening there.
This time we were practically the only people at the entrance. That is, the conclusion suggests itself, the Palace of Knossos - only after lunch.
Well, here we are inside. Plan-scheme of the Palace of Knossos. By an already good tradition, you can see all historical information, as well as a plan diagram in a large placement.
And we just go for a walk around the territory and note our impressions. The palace is indeed better preserved than many. But this is at first glance.
It is necessary to say what I heard before visiting Knossos. The fact is that there is an opinion, and it is far from groundless, that the Palace of Knossos is in in large numbers"remake". And in historical reference there are many facts that the current palace is not a direct architectural landmark in the full sense of the word, but is in many ways a reconstruction on the ruins of the palace according to the vision of Arthur Evans, which we already encountered when we visited.
Probably the most famous colonnade in Greece after the acropolises. The fresco, as you can see, is hardly intact from the moment it was applied. You saw real frescoes of the Middle Ages in.
There are places where it is clearly seen that these are real ruins. At least they are real. But it is they who show that, in fact, without reconstruction, the Palace of Knossos would have been outwardly of the type or. That is, the usual ruins. Evans's reconstruction of Knossos is closer to an exhibition of early 20th-century master art than to an archaeological site from the Minoan period.
And there are fragments of the palace, well, just restored to almost a new look. Reminds me of decorations.
Don't get me wrong, it's great that people in general are engaged in their history, and that it's all available, you can see and understand at least approximately how and where people lived long before us. But the difference between the ancient and the “remake” is very striking. Take at least these jugs. And compare them with . Obviously, some of them do not belong to the Minoan period ... Although archaeologists claim to have discovered more than 100 such vessels. Of course, it is possible that some of them have survived in such a wonderful form ...
True, there are others…
But let's not be boring and just look at the restored palace. Fresco “Royal Priest”, Throne room and walk further.
On the south side you will see the famous "Horns of Initiation".
Of course, it was possible to photograph every corner of the Knossos Palace. However, I can honestly say that archaeological sites in such a huge number are a little tiring, and when it is also mostly restored parts, this does not add interest.
Of course, you can visit Knossos, but you shouldn’t expect “right oh”, at least there are monuments on the island that are not touched by “remake” trends, in Lassithi it is Festus, Gortyna, for example. But the Palace of Knossos can be visited, if only out of curiosity.
And peacocks live there too 🙂
So we went to two, if not the most, then very famous places. To be honest, I expected more, although the language would not turn out to be useless to call the trip. Then we sat and watched the sunset, thinking where we would go tomorrow.
Arkadi Monastery is located on the slopes of Mount Ida, 23 kilometers from Rethymno. The history of the monastery is full of tragedies, heroic deeds, self-sacrifice, romanticism and even mysteries. So, the time of its foundation is shrouded in a veil of secrecy and no one even knows the approximate date when the monastery was founded. Some believe that the monastery of Arkadi arose in the 5th century during the Byzantine
Emperor Arcadius. Others are sure that the monastery was built in the XIV century. The legend of the creation of the monastery has survived to this day. A certain monk Arcadius, somehow passing by, saw a brilliant object on the top of a hill. Climbing up, he saw an icon in the olive branches, the salary of which sparkled in the rays of the sun. It was in this place, indicated from above, that it was decided to build a monastery. In favor latest version testifies that the oldest inscription found in the monastery dates from this century.
The monks in this secluded and beautiful place led a calm, creative lifestyle. They cultivated vineyards, planted olive trees around the monastery, and planted vegetable gardens. They paid great attention to cultural and educational processes There was a huge library and a school at the monastery. Monks rewrote books and created new ones. Arkadi monastery in those days was the center cultural life Crete. In 1587, during the heyday of the island, a cathedral was erected, made in combination of several architectural styles. Today the cathedral is decorated with two ships dedicated to the Almighty and Saints Constantine and Helena.
Dried cypress trunk - a silent witness to the tragic events of 1866
However, the historical vicissitudes of the island, the endless raids of the conquerors violated the measured way of life of the monastery, dragged into the maelstrom of military events. In 1645, Rethymno fell under the onslaught of the Ottomans, and the monks left the walls of the monastery. The abbot turned to the Ottoman pasha and asked for permission to resume the activity of the monastery. The request was granted, moreover, during the service, the monks were allowed to use the belfry and ring the bells.
The two-nave central church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and St. Constantine and Helena is located in the center of the monastery courtyard
But the main and heroic role in the history of Crete was played by the Arkadi monastery a little later - in November 1866. The Turkish army, numbering 15,000 people, surrounded the monastery, in which the rebels, women, children, and the infirm from nearby settlements found shelter. Many weapons were hidden in the cellars of the monastery, and the attackers hoped to capture them, thereby putting an end to the insurgency. The Turks, distinguished by cruelty and perseverance, broke through the defenses, and the walls of the monastery fell. Then, one of the rebels, Kostis Yamburakis, set fire to the warehouses with gunpowder, and the monastery took off into the air, burying the defenders of the monastery and part of the conquerors under a pile of stones. This feat entered the annals of Greek history as an example of independence, love of freedom, and the monastery itself became a symbol of freedom. The image of the monastery of Arkadi can be seen on the banknote of the national currency worth one hundred drachmas.
We were not going to write about this monastery in our "live" guide. What could be more banal? Open any guide to Crete and the first thing you will see are notes about the Palace of Knossos, Gramvous and Moni Arkadiou, of course. Common words, blah blah blah, Greek-Turkish-big bang. At least that's how the story is perceived from the outside.
In fact, for the Cretans, Moni Arkdaiou is a matter of national pride. In any case, we were convinced of this by Chronis, our acquaintance from Rethymno, with whom we went that day to visit his uncle to drink raki. Uncle - a vigorous old man of 83 years old lives in the village of Laga (Laga), the path to which lies exactly past the monastery of Arcadia. Khronis stopped the car at the gate and said: "Here is this monastery, now I will tell you how it was."
The wind drove the gray clouds. Nature was ready for rain. There was not a single soul around. “One should not think that if the image of Arkadi is replicated among the masses,” Khronis continued, “then for us it has lost its sacred meaning, like the meaning of a word uttered many, many times in a row. This is a symbol of our struggle for freedom, we keep the memory of those days and those events. In addition, my ancestors also died here.
Khronis led us to the former mill, which is located opposite the walls of the monastery, and now is a memorial to the victims of the events of 1866. He pointed to the names carved into the granite: the list did indeed include Moscharakis (the name of our friend). Stillages with skulls stood here - the remains of those who died after a large powder explosion were collected and placed in this mass grave.
One legend says that Moni Arkadiou was founded in the 5th century AD during the reign of Emperor Arcadius. It is contradicted by the Cretan tradition, according to which it does not matter who ruled the world at that time: the monastery bears the name of the monk who founded his hermitage here. Therefore, it is more correct to say not the Monastery of Arkadi, but the monastery (of whom? What?) of Arcadia, or the Arkadiev Monastery.
Speaking Greek, we entered the territory of the monastery, forgetting about the entrance fee. The cashier paid no attention to us. Usually a ticket costs 2.5 euros. They try to spend the proceeds on the reconstruction and maintenance of the monastery, which is a national Greek treasure and a functioning religious building at the same time. Services are periodically held in the church of St. Helena and Constantine, and you can even get permission to hold a wedding ceremony in it.
The construction of this two-nave temple was completed in 1587. In its architecture, the features of the Italian baroque are clearly discerned. In the 16th century, Crete was still under the protectorate of the Republic of Venice.
The magnificent location in the foothills of Ida, almost in the center of Crete, brought prosperity and well-being to the monastery. About a hundred monks lived in it, and for the inhabitants of the surrounding villages of Arcadia it became an educational center: the monks opened a school in it. In addition, the monastery was engaged in copying ancient manuscripts, thanks to which the monastery had its own library, which stored the texts of Dante, Virgil, Diodorus Siculus, Aristophanes, Euripides, etc.
In the middle of the 17th century, the Ottoman Empire extended its influence to Crete. The monks decided not to take risks and swear allegiance to the Pasha. The monastery was left alone for a while.
I must say that our friend Chronis is one of those Greeks who will definitely focus your attention on the fact that when ordering Turkish coffee, it would be more correct to use "Greek coffee". Although the taste and essence of cooking are the same, but in Greece "Turkish" coffee almost does not exist.
So in the middle of the 19th century, the struggle against Turkish oppression intensified in Crete. The Cretans are tired of the Turks' non-compliance with the pan-European agreement on religious tolerance. "Yes, and in general as much as possible!" - the fat man Chronis was indignant. "In these parts, the Turks did not particularly stand on ceremony, offending and robbing the local population. Otherwise, why would peaceful villagers seek protection outside the walls of the monastery."
"Since the monastery was located in the central part of the island, it became a transit point for revolutionaries who traveled from East to West and vice versa. Father Abbot Gabriel was always happy to shelter citizens opposed to the Turkish regime. Over time, the monastery of Arcadia became the headquarters freedom movement, it included the father rector himself. Pasha found out about the outrages and ordered Gabriel to hand over the instigators. At that time there were 15 or 16 of them. Father Gabriel refused.
In the early morning of November 8, 1866, 15 (!) Thousand Turkish troops gathered to the walls of the monastery. On the offer to "surrender without a fight", the Greeks opened fire. The rebels counted on help from Chania and decided to hold the line. "
"The forces were oh so unequal. 15,000 Turks against 259 armed Greeks, among whom were 45 monks. In addition, there were more than 600 women and children in the monastery at that time. What were they doing there ?!
The fight lasted all day. The Greek snipers did an excellent job. With the onset of darkness, two guys, disguised as Turkish soldiers, went down from the monastery and went to find out when help would arrive in time. At dawn, one of them returned with news that sounded like a sentence: there would be no help from his own, all roads and approaches to the monastery were blocked Turkish troops.
The next day, the Turks brought up heavy artillery: two howitzers. If anyone does not know, these are powerful wall-beating weapons. The western wall of the monastery and the gate were destroyed almost to the ground. The outcome was clear to everyone. On the general council The rebels decided that it was necessary to stand not for life, but for death. Abbot Gabriel gave his last blessing, took a rifle and went to the monastery wall. He knew that there was an order from the Turkish Pasha to take him alive, so he calmly climbed the surviving wall and began to shoot at the Turks. They didn't dare to answer. For the time being, until there were too many victims.
And so the battle began already on the territory of the monastery. Hand-to-hand and sabers. The refectory and stables still bear traces of saber wounds on the walls and on some surviving furniture.
Konstantin Yabuzakis took over the leadership of the murdered father Gabriel. He took the women and children to the powder store, which was located in the backyard of the monastery, and told them to pray. He folded the bags of gunpowder and waited for as many Turkish soldiers as possible to come and take them by storm. When he realized that the warehouse gate was about to collapse under pressure, he lit the fuse. There was a terrible explosion. When the smoke cleared, it turned out that the room was completely destroyed, all those who had taken refuge in it died, just like hundreds of Turkish soldiers who surrounded this warehouse.
In 1930, Archbishop Timotheos Veneris erected a commemorative lamp in this place with an inscription that roughly translates as follows: The flame that illuminates the walls of this crypt, that divine fire in which the inhabitants of Crete died for freedom.
As a result of the battle, 1,500 soldiers died on the Turkish side, and 114 people remained alive on the Greek side, who were transferred to prison. The three managed to escape and tell the world what exactly happened in the monastery of Arcadia these days.
The western gate and walls were completely restored in original form in 1870,
asps and a clock on the facade of the temple in 1924-27, and the cypress iconostasis of the temple dates back to 1902. In the courtyard of the monastery there is a skeleton of burnt wood. " As a keepsake.
This tragic story outraged the European community. Garibaldi wrote angry texts against the Ottoman Empire,
Victor Hugo tried to influence the public through newspaper columns. However, the tragedy on the island was quickly forgotten. And only three decades later, the allies took up Crete: England, France, Russia and Italy. And that was largely after America turned its attention to Crete, which was just looking for a base in the Mediterranean.
One way or another, the story of Moni Arkadiou inspired the Cretan people and will probably continue to inspire them. The images of this battle remained in many songs and the so-called mathinades (I should also tell you about mathnades, but this topic is very serious and big)
Currently, only two monks live in the monastery. Every year on November 8, festivities and prayers for the dead are held here. Most of them were residents of the surrounding villages: Laga, Margarites, Elefterna.
On the territory of the monastery there is a really interesting museum: in addition to ancient manuscripts, there are also ancient icons, costumes of that time and many weapons. Photography is prohibited on its territory. Come inside, you won't regret it.
Another little tip: any ruins will seem much more interesting to you if you arrive at the place prepared. The stones themselves, alas, do not know how to speak. You need to know the history in advance and have a fantasy to revive the ghosts of the past.
This ancient monastery- the main shrine and national monument of Crete. During the Ottoman rule, its defenders gave their lives for their native faith and independence.
Icon in olive
No one knows exactly when the holy monastery was built on the slope of Mount Ida. Some believe that this happened in the 5th century during the time of the Byzantine emperor Arcadius. Others are sure that the monastery arose in the fourteenth century.
A legend has survived to this day about the monk Arcadius, who saw a mysterious shiny object on the top of one of the hills. Climbing up the mountain, he found in the branches of an olive an icon in a precious setting, sparkling in the sun. In this fertile place, indicated from above, the monastery was built.
This version is supported by the fact that the most ancient records found in Arkadi date back to the 14th century.
Education Center
In this picturesque place, the monks led a calm and creative lifestyle: they planted vineyards, looked after olive trees, growing vegetables. But over the years, his role in the life of the island began to increase.
During the Renaissance, the monastery became the largest cultural and spiritual center of Crete. A school was opened within its walls, where they gave the best education at that time. And the vast library of Arkadi was famous far beyond the island.
In the 15th century, more than 300 monks labored in the monastery, and most of them were engaged in copying the works of ancient Greek thinkers. Largely thanks to the Cretan monks, these works were preserved for posterity. Today, copies of ancient Greek manuscripts are kept in various museums around the world.
In addition, the inhabitants of Arkadi organized a gold embroidery workshop. Real works of art were born in its walls. Some of them have survived to this day and are kept in the monastery museum.
The future Saint Athanasius of Tsaregradsky (Patelarius), the miracle worker of Lubensk, studied at the school attached to the monastery. Here, by his own admission, he acquired the strength of knowledge and firmness in faith. At Arkady he studied "theology, mathematics, rhetoric, difficult grammar, pietics, astrological wisdom, music and other arts."
Saint Athanasius, who came from a pious noble family, spoke several languages and glorified himself as an outstanding preacher and interpreter of Holy Scripture.
At the end of his life he visited Russia. Here, at the request of Patriarch Nikon, Saint Athanasius wrote "The Order of the Episcopal Celebration of the Liturgy in the East", which formed the basis of the printed "Officer of the Bishop's Service".
Ten years after the death of the saint, his incorruptible relics were uncovered, and numerous miracles began to happen in them.
In the monastery courtyard
Against the backdrop of powerful fortress walls, a light, elegant church with a belfry, looking up, stands out. Built in 1587 under the Venetian rule, it is a two-aisled basilica with a Baroque façade adorned with twin columns, carved reliefs and Gothic turrets.
The northern aisle was consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and the southern one - in honor of Saints Constantine and Helena. Each has its own separate entrance.
A walk through the courtyards of the monastery leaves the most pleasant impressions: cobbled streets, immersed in flowers, long vaulted corridors, pierced sunbeams. But here's the look clinging to the old dry wood- without leaves and bark. Cypress, in which Turkish bullets are stuck, is a kind of monument to the tragic days of 1866. A pile of stones at the site of the powder magazine also reminds of these events ...
Under the Turkish yoke
Crete was under Ottoman rule for more than two hundred years. When in 1645 the Turks captured Rethymno - The largest city in the west of the island, the monks were expelled from the monastery. After some time, the abbot went to bow to the Turkish pasha. The negotiations were successful - the monks returned to the holy monastery. Moreover, Arkadi became the only monastery on the whole island where it was allowed to beat the bells. The Turks called it - "Ttsadli Monastery" (Ttsad - bell in Turkish).
I. K. Aivazovsky. "Explosion of the Arcadion Monastery in Crete"
The brightest and most tragic page in the history of the monastery is November 20-22, 1866. By that time, many cities and monasteries in Crete were destroyed, churches were turned into mosques. Cretan youths were forcibly taken into the Turkish army. The inhabitants of the island, who did not convert to Islam, were strangled with huge taxes.
An uprising broke out in Crete. The monastery of Arkadi, located in the central part of the island, became one of the centers of resistance. The patriots turned the wine cellar of the monastery into a gunpowder cellar - huge stocks of gunpowder were concentrated here.
In November 1866, about a thousand inhabitants of the island found shelter behind the monastery walls. Most of them are old men, women and children, and only 259 armed men, including 45 monks.
A feat in the name of faith
The Turkish pasha demanded that hegumen Gabriel extradite the activists of the national liberation movement and the defenders of the monastery. When he refused, fifteen thousand Turkish soldiers armed with powerful guns were thrown against a handful of patriots. The siege began on the day of the Archangel Michael, right during the church service.
In 1930, an inscription was installed on the surviving eastern wall of the powder warehouse: “The flame lit in this crypt shone from end to end over the glorious Crete. And it was God's flame in which the Cretans burned for the sake of freedom.
The Turks were ordered to take the abbot alive. Knowing this, he, without hiding, went out to the monastery walls to fire. When the abbot was mortally wounded, Konstantin Yabudakis became the head of the defense. It was he, with the approval of the dying abbot, who gave the order to blow up the powder magazine when the Turks entered the monastery. As a result of a powerful explosion, 864 residents of Crete and about 1,500 Turkish soldiers were killed. The survivors were captured, but soon most of them were also killed.
This heroic act brought Crete to the attention of the whole world. Victor Hugo wrote newspaper columns about the mass feat of the island's patriots, Giuseppe Garibaldi published his fiery appeals with calls to support the rebels. The theme of the national liberation struggle, upholding Orthodox faith was close to the artist Ivan Aivazovsky. He dedicates one of his paintings to her.
... The Turks left Crete only at the end of the 19th century, and in 1913 the island was annexed to Greece.
What else to see in Crete
It is located near the islands pink sand Elafonisi. Landmark - the village of Catsomatado and the Topoli Gorge. On the highway there is a sign to the cave. You need to climb the stone steps uphill to a height of 285 meters.
To the left of the cave entrance you will see a small rock church. There is an iconostasis with royal doors. Candles are lit to the right and left of the entrance. On Tuesday of Bright Week, people come here to pray from all over Western Crete.
We get into the cave itself through a wide opening, similar to an arch. We are surrounded by huge stalactites and stalagmites in several rows. It's pretty light in here, although there isn't any. artificial lighting no. Under a large overhanging stone, like under a canopy, a small icon Holy Mother of God. There are several candles in front of her.
Near the entrance, between two huge stalagmites, there is a stone imprint of a horseshoe. According to legend, the horse of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica left him.
According to another legend, in the 15th century, Christians hid here the icon of St. Sophia the Wisdom of God, taken out of Constantinople captured by the Turks. Since then, this place has been called the cave of Agia Sophia.
Many centuries ago, the icon of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos was found in the monastery of Chrysoskalitissa, which is kept here to this day.
99 steps lead to the monastery, one of which, according to legend, was golden. She was kidnapped by the Turks when they occupied Crete. According to another version, the monks themselves gave this step to the enemies so that they would not desecrate Holy place. No one dares to say how it really was, however, this monastery is still called the monastery of the Golden Stairs.
It is on the road to Elafonisi, 76 kilometers from Chania. It can be seen from afar - the monastery stands on a high hill. Now only one inhabitant lives in it.
30 km from Rethymnon, there is a small picturesque Patsos gorge with boulders scattered here and there and intricately curved trees growing on rocky slopes. At the very beginning of the gorge is the cave of St. Anthony, in the depths of which there is a small chapel.
Ancient icons, flickering flames of candles, the measured ringing of falling drops of water… There is a special atmosphere of peace and tranquility in this holy place.
Many believers come here to pray in solitude, to ask the holy health and well-being for their loved ones - and especially for children. In Crete, Saint Anthony is greatly revered, considering him the patron saint of children.
In the pilgrim's notebook:
Entrance to the territory of the monastery is paid - 2.5 euros. This money goes to its maintenance.
You can get from Rethymnon to Arkadi by bus, which departs from the city station three times a day (ticket price is 2.8 euros). Or on a small train (Yellow Train). The fare is 15 euros per adult, 7.50 euros per child.
This is the case when the path will not be tiring even for a baby. It is less hot in the mountains than on the coast. During the movement, a warm breeze cheerfully blows passengers, olive groves and field forbs are around, and sometimes a stunning view of the sea opens from the mountain.
The sightseeing trip by train lasts five to six hours, depending on the place of landing. Of these, an hour and a half - in the monastery itself. The story on the way and on the spot is conducted in four languages, including Russian.
The monastery has a hotel for pilgrims.
Alexandra Kudryavtseva
