The Arkadi Monastery (in Greek: / Moní Arkadhíou) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated on a fertile plateau 23 km (14 mi) to the southeast of Rethymnon on the island of Crete in Greece.

As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place for science and art and had a school and a rich library. Situated on a plateau, the monastery is well fortified, being surrounded by a thick and high wall.

The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt of 1866.

The Revolutionary Cretan committee had stopped by the monastery and orchestrated the big Cretan Revolution that had the motto:

“Union or Death” and demanded the liberation of Crete and union with Greece. More than 600 women and children and almost 300 warriors had resorted to Arkadi.

After three days of battle and under orders from the hegumen (abbot) of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.

The monastery became a national sanctuary in honor of the Cretan resistance. 8 November is a day of commemorative parties in Arkadi and Rethymno.

The explosion did not end the Cretan insurrection, but it attracted the attention of the rest of the world.

On November 8, feast of Ss. Archangels Michael and Gabriel, when the Holocaust of the Arkadi monastery is commemorated.

Ever since 2016, when the Monastery celebrated the 150 years from the Holocaust of 1866, an area was rearranged to accommodate artwork relating to this Monastery. The Art Gallery is installed in the recently restored and appropriately arranged areas of the former Museum of the Monastery, which had already been completed, on occasion of the celebration of the 150 years from the Arkadic Self-Sacrifice of 1866. It is on the first floor of the building, at the ground floor of which is exhibited the Museum Collection of the Sacred Monastery.

The Art Gallery contains artwork of past and more modern artists, who have been inspired both by the ultimate sacrifice of the Holocaust of the Monastery and its general historic and spiritual trajectory through time.