Arkadi Monastery and Margaretis

Today we visited Arkadi Monastery. The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance to Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt of 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.
We also visited a village of potters and had a wonderful lunch at a taverna in the mountains.Read more