The Monastery of Arkadi

A historic monastery

The Monastery of Arkadi is a historic monastery in Crete. According to tradition it was founded by Emperor Heraklion and rebuilt around the 5th century by the Byzantine Emperor Arcadius, whose name bears his honor. Others said it was founded by a monk who is named Arcadius and therefore monastery is calles Arkadi.Remains of the first monastery have been preserved in the northwestern part of the enclosure. 

The most important part of Arkadi Monastery is the central two-aisled church , the Catholicon , which is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior ( one aisle ) , and the Saints Constantine and Helen ( the other aisle ) , surrounded by very thick yard walls in which there various auxiliary buildings . 

The Turkish yoke in Crete count already two hundred and fifty years when - after ongoing uprisings - Cretan rebels began to gather in Arkadi from March 3, 1866 .  The attack began on 8 November 1866. In the monastery there were 964 souls , 325 men and the rest women and children.