Halevi Monastery

The Halevi Monastery (Μονή Χαλεβή), also spelled as Chalevi, is an abandoned 16th-century monastery located close to the village of Chromonastiri, Rethymno regional unit in north-central Crete. The monastery stands on a hill, about 5 km south of the city of Rethymno. It ceased to function as a monastery near the end of the Ottoman occupation of Crete and currently only its principal church remains.

History
The Halevi monastery was founded in the 16th century when Crete was under Venetian rule and soon became stavropegic, i.e. directly answerable to the Patriarch of Constantinople. The monastery was erected upon the ruins of an old fortified establishment. It was dissolved around 1900 and latter became a metochion of Arsani Monasteri. In 1980, it was listed as a preserved monument by the Greek state and in 1991 the convent was attached to the restored monastery of Agia Irini. Today, the Halevi monastery is deserted and its buildings are in ruins. Only the single-aisled principal church (katholikon) of Theotokos is standing, known for its magnificent teardrop-shaped windows. Among the vestiges of the buildings, elements of the popular Cretan architecture of past centuries can be seen. The church celebrates on August 15 each year, attracting large numbers of people.

Current status
According to an inscription, the katholikon church of Halevi was reconstructed in 1864. Today, it is awaiting restoration.