Monastery of Prophet Elias in Roustika
ABOUT
At the southwestern edge of the village, perched on a small rocky hill and surrounded by lush greenery, stands the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias the Tishbite. It is one of the most historic monasteries of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos and among the oldest in Crete, built during the Venetian rule.
The National Library of Paris houses a special collection of old books originating from the monastery.
The Monastery of Prophet Elias, with its Byzantine church dedicated to Prophet Elias, the Holy Trinity, and Saint Zoni, is a three-aisled basilica with a cylindrical dome. It features a bell tower with two bells and a 1637 inscription.
The monastery became a stronghold of revolutionaries during the uprisings against the Ottomans and was therefore destroyed by them in 1823.
During World War II, the Historical Archive of Crete was safeguarded within its walls.
Source: Wikipedia
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