{{short description|Greek Orthodox monastery in Crete, Greece}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox monastery | name = Vrontisi Monastery | native_name = {{lang|el|Μονή Βροντισίου}} | native_name_lang = el | image = Vrontisi monastery St. Antony church.JPG | alt = | caption = View of the St. Anthony church | full = | other_names = | order = [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] | denomination = [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]] | established = | disestablished = | reestablished = | mother = | dedication = [[Anthony the Great|St. Anthony]] | dedicated date = | consecrated date = | celebration = | archdiocese = [[Church of Crete]] | diocese = | churches = | founder = ''Vrontisis'' | abbot = <!-- or | abbess = --> | prior = <!-- or | prioress = --> | archbishop = | bishop = | archdeacon = | people = {{ubl|[[Michael Damaskinos]]<br/>{{small|(monk artist)}}|[[Michael Korakas]]<br/>{{small|(revolutionary)}}}} | status = [[Monastery]] | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = | designated_date = | architect = | style = [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] | groundbreaking = | completed_date = 14th century | construction_cost = | closed_date = | location = [[Mount Ida (Crete)|Mt. Ida]], [[Heraklion (regional unit)|Heraklion]], [[Crete]] | country = [[Greece]] | map_type = Crete | map_relief = 1 | map_size = 240 | map_caption = Location of the monastery in [[Crete]] | mapframe = yes<!-- "yes" to show an interactive map --> | coordinates = {{coord|35|8|37|N|24|52|15|E|region:GR_type:city_source:enwiki-GNS|display=it|format=dms}} | oscoor = | remains = | public_access = | other_info = | website = }} The '''Vrontisi Monastery''' ({{langx|el|Μονή Βροντισίου}}{{efn|Also spelled as {{lang|el|Βροντησίου}}.}}) is a [[Greek Orthodox]] [[monastery]] situated between the villages of [[Zaros]] and [[Vorizia]] of the [[Heraklion (regional unit)|Heraklion]] region in south-central [[Crete]], [[Greece]]. The monastery is approximately {{convert|50|km}} southwest of [[Heraklion]], situated on the south slopes of [[Mount Ida (Crete)|Mt. Ida]] at {{convert|550|m}} [[AMSL|above sea level]]. From the monastery, there are panoramic views of the [[Mesara Plain]] and the [[Asterousia Mountains]]. The origin of its name is not clear; according to the prevailing explanation it was named after its founder whose surname was ''Vrontisis''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/gh251.jsp?obj_id=1512 |work=[[Ministry of Culture (Greece)|Hellenic Ministry of Culture]] |script-title=el:Μονή Βροντησίου |trans-title=Vrontisi Monastery |date= |access-date= |lang=el }}</ref>

==History== [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] archives contain several documents referring to the Vrontisi Monastery.<ref name="Detorakis">{{cite book |author1=Δετοράκης, Θ. |author2=Ψιλάκης, Ν. |author3=Χατζηκωστής, Α. |script-title=el:Τα μοναστήρια της Κρήτης |publisher=Τράπεζας Κρήτης |location=Αθήνα |year=1986 |page= |isbn= |lang=el }}</ref> The earliest written reference dates from 1474. However, it is older than that but the exact year of its establishment is unknown.

The Vrontisi Monastery was established as a [[metochion]] of the nearby [[Varsamonerou Monastery]]. The former fell into decline after 1500 whereas Vrontisi began to flourish and reached its apogee as a regional monastic and spiritual centre during the 16th and 17th centuries. After the [[Cretan War (1645–1669)|fall of Crete]] to the [[Ottoman Crete|Turks]], the [[Arkadi Monastery]] was deserted and its monks fled to the Vrontisi Monastery. According to tradition, [[Michael Damaskinos]], the renowned painter of the [[Cretan School]], is believed to have served as a monk at the Vrontisi Monastery. Six of Damaskinos' best known icons were kept at the monastery until 1800 and are nowadays displayed at the St. Catherine of Sinai museum in Heraklion.

Owing to its fortified position, the Vrontisi Monastery was used as a revolutionary centre during the Cretan uprisings of the 19th century. During the great [[Cretan Revolt (1866–1869)|Cretan revolt]] of 1866, [[Michael Korakas]] used the monastery as his headquarters. In reprisal, the Ottomans slaughtered the monks and burned all crops, which resulted in the monastery being deserted and most of its [[heirloom]]s destroyed. During the [[Axis occupation of Greece|German occupation]] of 1941&ndash;44, the Vrontisi Monastery provided shelter to [[Greek Resistance|resistance]] fighters.

The Vrontisi Monastery continues to be active. Despite having lost a significant part of its former glory due to the demolition of its fortifications, it continues to be an imposing sight.

==Architecture== [[Image:Vrontisi monastery fountain.JPG|thumb|left|The fountain at the entrance of the monastery.]] Similarly to most monasteries built during the [[Venetian Crete|Venetian period]], the monastery used to be heavily fortified and surrounded by thick walls. However, only parts of the west wall remain today. In the middle of the court stands a two-[[nave]] church (''[[katholikon]]'') dedicated to [[Anthony the Great|St. Anthony]] (Antonios) and [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas]]. The church was painted with [[fresco]]es of which very few remain in the southern nave. An arched [[bell tower]] of Italian influence rises besides the church. At the main entrance of the monastery there is a marble fountain dating to the Venetian era, featuring [[Adam]], [[Eve]] and four faces from which the water flows that symbolize the four rivers of the [[Garden of Eden]]. Ottoman Turks used to call the Vrontisi Monastery in {{langx|tr|Santrivanli Monastir||Fountain Monastery}}. According to the Italian architect [[Giuseppe Gerola]], the fountain dates from the 15th century and was created by an artisan that could skilfully use the chisel, something that was uncommon in Crete at the time.<ref name="Detorakis"/>

==See also== {{stack|{{portal|Architecture|Christianity|Greece}}}} * [[Church of Crete]] * [[:Category:Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece|List of Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece]]

== Notes == {{noteslist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category-inline|Moni Agiou Antoniou Vrontisiou}}

{{Monasteries in Greece}} {{Crete}}

[[Category:14th-century architecture in Greece]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Heraklion (regional unit)]] [[Category:Byzantine monasteries in Greece]] [[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 14th century]] [[Category:Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece]] [[Category:Monasteries in Crete]]