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The monastery Arsani lies ca. 11 km east of Rethymnon on the road to Pangalohori.
As proven by historical sources the monastery was already well established in the closing years of the 16thcentury and is believed to have been built during the 2nd Byzantine Period (961-1204) by a monk named Arsenius.
After 1600 the monastery developed very quickly. The lintel of the refectory bears the date 1645, which means that building work took place shortly before the Turkish assault on Crete. In spite of heavy taxes and oppression by the Turks the monastery continued to support the local population and helped with establishing schools in the area.
The monastery suffered considerable damage during the earthquake of 1856. A few years later the monks devoted themselves, and sacrificed the wealth of the monastery, to support the great struggle for liberation in 1866.
In the small museum valuables from older and recent history of the monastery can be seen. Amongst the exhibition of icons are important samples, such as those of Agios Georgos und Agios Nikolaos. These are old icons, which were restored in 1804.