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Konrad Busslinger | all galleries >> Galleries >> Crete / Kreta > Monastery Arkadi / Venetian baroque church at Moni Arkadiou
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27-SEP-2010 Konrad Busslinger

Monastery Arkadi / Venetian baroque church at Moni Arkadiou

Arkadi

The monastery of Arkadi is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated on a fertile plateau 14 mi (23 km) to the southeast of Rethymnon on the island of Crete (in Greece).
The current catholicon (church) dates back to the 16th century and is marked by the influence of the Renaissance. This influence is visible in the architecture, which mixes both Roman and baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place for science and art and had a school and a rich library. Situated on a plateau, and surrounded by a thick and high wall, the monastery is also built like a fortress.

The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt in 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children[1], sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the hegumen of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.

The monastery became a national sanctuary in honor of the Cretan resistance. November 8 is a day of commemorative parties in Arkadi and Rethymno. The explosion did not end the Cretan insurrection, but it attracted the attention of the rest of the world.


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comment
Buba Jafarli03-Oct-2011 19:57
Love this natural framing! V.
joseantonio09-Oct-2010 04:45
Spectacular framing