Agia Eirini Monastery, Kroussonas

The Agia Eirini Monastery, located in the eastern foothills of Psiloritis, 3 kilometers above Kroussonas, occupies a welcoming and prominent plateau at an altitude of 650 meters. It is situated 20 kilometers from Heraklion. The two-aisled church is dedicated to Agia Eirini (Saint Irene) and the Dormition of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary). The monastery belongs to the category of old monasteries in Crete, with a documented historical presence since the Venetian era. It is mentioned in a power of attorney document dating back to 1589.

Historical Context

During this period, coinciding with the late Venetian era, a climate of reconciliation and tolerant coexistence between the Latin and Orthodox elements was established. The restoration of this normalcy favored the construction or renovation of many monasteries, contrasting with the prohibitions of earlier times. It appears that the monastery belonged to the Catholic feudal family of the Mudatsi or Moatsi. In the western part of the katholikon (main church), a well-crafted underground burial crypt survives, harkening back to this era.

Ottoman Rule and Destruction

With the conquest of Crete by the Ottomans, the monastery came under Turkish occupation in October 1647. According to surviving accounts, the monastery developed significant spiritual and intellectual activity, while also contributing to the surrounding community. It played a broader educational role, as young people from the neighboring area learned basic literacy there. This was facilitated by the monastery’s financial resources. Additionally, the monastery’s role extended to national matters. Its naturally fortified location served as a refuge, providing protection to revolutionaries and rebels who resisted Turkish oppression.

Following the destruction of Kroussonas by the Turks in 1822, the Turkish onslaught also targeted the monastery. Local oral tradition, which often complements historical events, recounts that 70 nuns of the monastery were slaughtered by the Turks, and their bodies were covered with stones. The mound created by the piled earth and stones was named “Trochalakas.” The exposed bones of the nuns were later transferred and buried within the monastery grounds. The monastery itself was looted and set ablaze. The monks’ cells were demolished, and this religious seat was condemned to prolonged desolation and undisturbed silence.

Revival and Reconstruction

In 1944, through the initiative and tireless efforts of the priest of Kroussonas, Dimitrios Fasoulakis, and with the cooperation of the resistance groups of Kroussonas, a “memorandum” was drafted for the establishment of the Holy Monastery of Agia Eirini as a nunnery. This founding document, written in December 1944, also defined the canonical character of the monastery. The first cells were built in 1947. Two years later, the reconstruction of the second aisle, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos, was completed. Officially, the re-establishment of the monastery took place after the Royal Decree of June 9, 1951. Since then, the monastery has been continuously operating and today is one of the largest nunneries in Crete in terms of the number of nuns. The renovation works that gave the monastery its current form were carried out between 1996 and 2005. In recent years (approximately 3-4), several significant changes have been made.

Key Points

• Construction Period: Believed to be 14th-15th century, first documented in the late 16th century.
• Location: Eastern foothills of Psiloritis, 3 km above Kroussonas, Crete.
• Historical Significance: Served as a center of spiritual and educational activity, refuge for rebels during Ottoman rule. Destroyed in 1822, rebuilt in 1944.
• Current Status: Active nunnery, one of the largest in Crete.