House of Serenity

Tzagaroli Monastery: a miracle of faith at the foot of the Stavros mountain range.

On the Akrotiri peninsula, a few kilometres from the city of Chania, the Monastery of Agia Triada Tzagaroli (Holy Trinity Monastery) emerges through tall cypress trees, conspicuous for its impressive façade: a mixture of Renaissance and Doric-style architecture. The main church dominates the complex. Bougainvillaea and oleander bloom about the inner courtyard, creating an idyllic setting of calm and serenity.

Work on the monastery began in 1634 on the previous site of a small church by monks Lavrentios and Jeremiah, descendants of the Tzagaroli Venetian-Cretan family. Construction ceased due to the Turkish invasion of Crete in 1645 and resumed after the events of the Greek Revolution. The monastery includes a museum filled with an impressive collection of ecclesiastical artwork, relics and manuscripts that are well-worth seeing. The grounds include an olive mill, a grape press, a wine cellar, a cistern, stables and a library in the old abbey containing rare volumes. In recent years, cultivating organic olive trees and grapevines has become systematic, producing award winning olive oil, fine wines, raki, honey, vinegar and soap, all available to purchase on-site.

The monastery has operated a seminary since 1892 and regularly assists in the maintenance of local schools.

Visiting hours are from 08:00 to sunset.

TEXT : GEORGIA DRAKAKI
PHOTO : PERIKLES MERAKOS