Orthodox monastery of Arkadi is located on the slope of mount IDA (500 m above sea level), 25 km Southeast of Rethymno in Crete. The monastery is one of the most historic temples of the island.

The exact time of the Foundation of the monastery today is not known. According to one version, the Foundation of the monastery is associated with the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius I (7th century BC), while the other version suggests that the monastery was founded by the Roman Emperor Arcady at the beginning of the 5th century BC (perhaps hence the name of the temple). It is not excluded that the founder of the monastery could be the monk Arcadius, who found here at the olive tree icon.

The monastic complex that we see today was built by the Venetians in about the 16th century. The Arkadi monastery was an important cultural center of the region. In the monastery lived the monks copyists, had a fine library and was organized by the school. Also in the 17-18th centuries the monastery was a private workshop for embroidery with gold (some work today and kept in the monastery Museum).

Its famous monastery acquired in 1866 during the period of the Cretan uprising known as the "great Cretan revolution". Fifteen-thousand army of the Turks surrounded the monastery, the walls of which shelter about 1,000 of the Cretans. When the monastery fell, and the battle began, one of the rebels blew up the powder magazine. The monastery was destroyed and killed nearly all the people inside, and the temple became a symbol of the struggle for independence.

Today in the South wing of the monastery is a unique Museum. In his exposition presents post-Byzantine icons, Church vestments and supplies, weapons, manuscripts, personal items belonging to the Abbot Gabriel and other religious and historic relics.

Each year, the Arkadi monastery is visited by a huge number of pilgrims and visitors from all over the world regardless of religion.