Location
Agia Irini Monastery
Roussospiti, Rethymno
Agia Irini Monastery – Roussospiti, Rethymno
The Monastery of Saint Irene, hidden on the southern slopes of Mount Vrysinas, does not impress with grandeur like the monumental monasteries of Akrotiri, yet it possesses something far more intimate. Behind its high walls lies a world of silence and light: whitewashed walls, pots of bougainvillea, the scent of sun-warmed stone. Everything here is orderly, as if the nuns were offering small daily sacrifices of harmony and work. History did not treat this place gently, but restoration has returned to it a sense of peace and dignity. This is a monastery that does not dazzle with opulence; instead, it invites visitors to slow their step and listen to the echo of the past, to the time when a small community struggled to survive through turbulent centuries. Saint Irene symbolizes peace, and that word best captures the character of this restored, living monastery today.
Description
The Monastery of Saint Irene (Moní Agías Eirínis) lies about five kilometers south of Rethymno, at an elevation of roughly 260 meters, just below the summit of Vrysinas. Access is easy: a paved road leads directly to the monastery gate, where there is a small free parking area. From the center of Rethymno, the drive takes less than fifteen minutes. The site is very accessible, with no steep climbs, few stairs, and a level, well-maintained courtyard.
The complex has a defensive layout: thick walls enclose a rectangular courtyard with the new church of Saint Irene standing at its center. Along the walls are the nuns’ cells, craft workshops, storage rooms, and a restored olive mill. The entire monastery was carefully renovated in the late twentieth century, and the quality of the restoration earned it a Europa Nostra award. The monastery is active today, home to a female community engaged in icon painting, weaving, and the production of traditional goods.
Visitors have access to the main courtyard and the church, as well as a small shop selling products made by the nuns. Entrance is free, though modest clothing is required, with shoulders and knees covered, as in most active monasteries on Crete. Photography inside the church may be restricted depending on the community’s current policies. The site is peaceful, surrounded by greenery, and suitable for visitors with children or limited mobility.
Saint Irene’s Monastery is not a major tourist attraction but rather a haven of calm. If you want to step away from the crowds of Rethymno’s old town while seeing a beautifully restored monastic complex with medieval roots, this is one of the best places in the area. Here, history, daily life, and prayer blend almost imperceptibly, as if the island itself were reminding you that the real Crete begins where haste ends.
Location
Roussospiti, Rethymno
Coordinates: 35.33979, 24.49011