Monastery Arkadi | Crete | Greece | 2011-06
The monastery of Arkadi is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated on a fertile plateau 23 km to the southeast of Rethymnon on the island of Crete. The current catholicon (church) dates
back to the 16th century and is marked by the influence of the Renaissance. 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, sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the hegumen (abbot) of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender. Origin: wikipedia
