Film info

Creator / Collector

Description
We are in the Monastery of Preveli which is located 37km south of Rethymnon, in Crete, Greece. It includes two separate building complexes that are located at a distance of 1.7 km away from each other, the Lower Monastery of St. John the Baptist and the Upper (Rear) Monastery of St. John the Theologian.

The film opens and we see the monastery from afar in the low and wild mountains, which is the extension of the White Mountains. The filmmaker comes closer and shows us the monastery’s exterior area as well as the parked cars that are there. A man stands at the entrance of the Monastery and the filmmaker focuses on the sign that says in English and French “Coming in is forbidden for those who are not properly dressed”.

The lens is at the Upper (rear) monastery which is the main building complex and with a panoramic shot shows us the area, the buildings on the lower level are the warehouses and the stables whereas in the central courtyard the katholikon, the abbey and the cells, and as the lens moves a little bit further shows us the monastery’s ossuary which is in the shape of a temple and is located just before the monastery.

One man, who holds his camera, goes in and another one takes water from the fountain in the lower courtyard. In the west side of the fountain is a domed building which today houses an ecclesiastical museum with relics of the monastery such as icons, vestments and utensils.

We see a panoramic view of the monastery and a group of people who sit in the shade of a large tree in front of a monk’s cell. The camera stands on a sign that is nailed to one of the trees and says "The monk Manasis Papadakis planted this in the year 1890, L.S. ISIDOROS" and then on a marble plaque that says “Abbot Melchizedek Tsouderos 1817-1823”.

Entering the dark church, we first see a portrait of Eleftherios Venizelos and then the chandeliers and votives of the faithful.

The filmmaker's family leaves the monastery and gets into the car bound for Kato Monastery. Arriving there, the lens shows us the ruined complex with its chimneys and grassy roofs.

The film closes with a short shot of a flock of sheep.

Coordinates

Collectivities

Film Information

Holder
Chatzidakis Georgios

Quality
HD (1440x1080)

Sound
No

Color
Yes

Duration (seconds)
131

Format
8mm