TOPLOU ABBEY

The monastery of the Panaghia Akrotiriani, which is said to date back to the 16^th century, is one of the more important and more historical in our island, and just 10 km East of Sitia.

In an isolated region, the Abbey is raised like a castle near the cape Sidero. Over the centuries, it has had its share of attacks and being occupied by intruding forces due to its strategic position. The entrance to the monastery is via a bulky, heavy door in the western wall. High up, above the door is “the Hole of the Murderer," from where the monks, or those sheltered in the abbey, threw boiling hot oil or water on the heads of the intruders. A canon protected the monastery, from where it took its name; "Toplou" in Turkish means with canon.

It has a square, fortress-like form and covers 800 square metres on three floors. Characteristic is its bell tower, 33 metres in height with embossed crowns dating back to 1558. In its small interior courtyard, there is a well with an inexhaustible source of water for the abbey. Opposite the well is a church, dedicated to the birth of the Virgin Mary and to John the Theologian. At the end of the 16th century, and while the monastery had taken its fortress like form, it acquired wealth and prestige and founded many abbey-related areas in all of Crete. However, the abbey collapsed from an earthquake in 1612  and was reconstructed with the economic aid of the Venetians.

Turks occupied the monastery in 1646, plundering and destroying it. In 1821, once again the monastery suffered damages from the Janissaries, going on to become a shelter for the hunted and a centre for revolutionary meetings. Because of this, 14 monks were hung by the Turks on the central gate. The operation of the "Secret School," where monks taught the children during that period, is also worth mentioning.

During World War II, the monastery once again was used as a resistance centre against the German Forces. The abbot at the time, Genadios Sylligkakis, helped in the installation of a radio, with which messages were sent to the central offices of the allied forces in the Middle East. An English officer was hidden in the abbey and handled the radio. When the Germans were informed of these activities, they arrested the abbot together with certain monks and later executed them.  

These days, it still functions as an Abbey, with an interesting museum with icons of exceptional artistry, a gospels exhibit, golden and white gold crosses, patriarchal stamps and vestments.

Besides its remarkable history, the Abbey Toplou today is also known for the icon by Ioannis Kornaros, which portrays sixty-one scenes from the orthodox liturgy and dates from 1770. Many other interesting Byzantine icons are displayed in the monastery's museum.