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Monastery Toplou
Sitia
Vai
Xerokambos
Kato Zakros and Zakros

The Toplou Monastery
Lonely and abandoned: this is how the Monastery looks like when you come from Sitia or Vai along the plateau. The monastery got it's name from the Turks (aint that funny?). In 17th century a cannon was placed on the steeple by Turkish military. Cannon is called "top" in Turkish.

Toplou with ancient windmill
The eventful history begins in the 15th century. There was destruction and reconstruction, the facilities burned down and were rebuilt again. In the Second World War, during the occupation of Crete by the Germans, the English secret service operated a radio communication system here.

Today there are 2 monks and the abbott living in the monastery while in the past occasionally over 20 monks were at home in the loneliness of the mountains. Toplou is still one of the most important monasteries of Crete. The icon school and the icon museum ranks among best in Greece.

Toplou - A stauropegion fortress

Like a fortress
The Monastery is a stauropegion fortress. The main building of 800 m² has three floors, which are divided into cells, guest - houses, kitchens, the abbot' s residence and warehouses. The katholicon is a two-aisled church; the northern aisle is dedicated to the Virgin, and the southern posterior aisle, to St John the Theologian. The monastery' s characteristic bell tower bears relief crowns and crosses with inscriptions and the date 1558. The 13th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities carried out works of consolidation and restoration.

Frescos in the refectory

Toplou today
Moni Toplou
Moni Toplou

The monastery is the largest landowner of the region. Thus the beach of Vai is part of the property of the monks. The abbot is well known for his commitment for biological agriculture of his property. He's very active in both clerical and economical business and has lead the Agricultural Cooperative of Sitia to success with the exploitation of class 'A' oil and wines.

Beginning in th early 80's one of the few fresco painters, who are active in Greece, started to redecorate the refectory with new frescos. The whole work was done by local painter Manolis Betinakis who used forgotten Byzantine fresco techniques and hand-ground, natural pigments. His feat is all the more remarkable since he has limited mobility and took years painting the ceiling and walls suspended in his wheelchair or hoisted onto scaffolding - a modern Michelangelo.
The area is accessible after previous arrangement with the abbott of the monastery.

Visit the monastery on the early morning. Perhaps you have the chance to meet the abbott. It's worthwhile!