Arkadi

1. Arkadi Monastery
The Arkadi Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated on a
fertile plateau 23 km (14 mi) 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.
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 Arcadius .
KaterinaDialektaki