Halevi Monastery at Chromonastiri
Panagia Halevi monastery is located about 6km south of Rethymnon, on the way to the village Chromonastiri. It's another Venetian monastery of Crete, which is deserted and surely worth restoring.
The monastery was probably founded in the 16th century and finally abandoned after the end of the Turkish occupation. From the monastery survives the single-aisle church of the Dormition of Virgin Mary (Panagia), with its magnificent flameshaped windows, and around it you’ll see the ruins of the rest monastic buildings which were built with defensive architecture.
The monastery has been declared a protected monument by the Greek state. Also, it was stavropegic, i.e. directly managed by the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople, a fact that affirms its significance.
Timeline
- 16-17th century: Panagia Chalevi monastery is founded near Chromonastiri. It soon becomes stavropegic.
- 1725: The stavropegic identity of the monastery expires.
- 1850: The Patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimos D, renews the stavropegic value of single-Halevi.
- 1864: The church of Panagia gets restored.
- 1900: The monastery stops its operation.
- 1935: It becomes a dependency of the Arsaniou Monastery.
- 1980: The monastery is listed in the preserved monuments by the Greek state.
- 1991: The convent is attached to the restored monastery of Agia Irini.
