One of the most impressive monasterys on Crete, Arkadi, was build between 5 and 14AD.
There is mention that the monastery was founded by the Byzantine emperor Arcadius, giving its name in the 5th century AD. But other historical sources tell that the monastery was founded by a monk called Arcadius, around the 14th century AD, this is thought to be the most likely date for the founding of the monastery. In the 16th century, it was a important place for the cultural life in the surrounding area, and as many believe, for larger Crete as well. It housed many monks, who mostly made copies of writings, as well as a large library and a school.

In current time its well know because of its violent history. During the Turkish occupation in 1866 the monastery functioned as a refuge. About 300 rebels and 600 woman and children ware killed during the explosion of the gunpowder storage room. The explosion was set of by one of the rebels, Kostis Giamboudakis, when the Turkish invaders started to massacre the refugees. The heroic act of Kostis is considered one of the important events in Crete history and has set the monastery on the list of the EMF, the European Monuments of Freedom.

The building itself clearly shows the influences and changes made over all the periods.