Location information

Monastery of Agia Eirini at Rethymnon

Tel: +30 28310 27791

  It is situated near the settlement of the same name a few kilometres south of the town of Rethymno in the direction of Roussospiti. This very old monastery is considered to date back to as early as the 14th century. However, at some point it was destroyed and henceforth remained entirely deserted. After restoration works were started in 1989, the monastery was given new life due to the eager activities of the nuns. Today the monastery also represents the heart of folklore traditions, which are protected and preserved by the nuns in the field of handicraft in general and of weaving and embroidering in particular, since it houses a permanent exhibition of needlework produced by the nuns themselves.

This text is cited Jan 2004 from the Tourism Promotion Committee of Rethymno Prefecture URL below, which contains image.

Rethymno Prefecture Tourism Committee WebPage
• http://www.rethymnon.gr/culture/ag_irini_en.htm (1 img.)

  The Agia Irini Monastery is located 6km south of the city of Rethimnon, on the Rethimnon - Agia Irini - Mili - Chromonastiri road. This Byzantine monastery had been active until the revolution of 1821, then badly damaged, it was abandoned. In 1970 restoration was started on the church and in 1989 the monastery was reocuppied by nuns. Extensive renovations have made Agia Irini a delightful place to visit, as the cloister as well as the refectory, stables, and wine press have been restored. The fortress-like monastery overlooks Rethimnon.

This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.

Crete TOURnet WebPage
• http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=1452 (7 img.)