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Homogeneous young people from Australia in Rethymnontranslated

July 23, 2026 · 1 min read

In the facilities of the Center for Cultural and Social Ministry "Theomitor" of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, a group of young expatriates from Australia, who were in Crete in the context of the upcoming World Council of Cretans, which will take place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, were hosted these days. The young people in question, accompanied by the President and their staff, visited the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropigiaki Monastery of Arkadi on a pilgrimage, on Sunday, July 19, 2026, where they participated in the Divine Liturgy and were guided around the Holy Monastery.

After the Divine Liturgy, they met, in the Holy Monastery of Arkadiou, with Rev. Metropolitan of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos, Mr. Prodromos, who spoke to the children about this year's 160th anniversary of the Arcadian Voluntary Sacrifice and wished them to always keep their roots, faith, culture and love for the Motherland.

The President and the youth offered His Eminence commemorative gifts and received blessings from the Holy Monastery of Arkadi, while in the premises of the "Theomitor" Center they danced very beautifully traditional Cretan dances.

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Nicolae Gheorghiu

It's good that they also arrived at Arkadi, exactly where they need to be. I liked that the Metropolitan spoke to them about the 160 years since the sacrifice of '66, not just about the dances. I hope they have some of it left when they go back to Australia.

Xenia Davis

Good to see the kids made it to Arkadi for the Liturgy and the tour. The 160-year anniversary of the sacrifice is worth remembering, especially when they’re so far from Crete the rest of the year. The traditional dances at the center must have been a nice touch after the serious talk.

Sophia Bennett

The visit to Arkadi for Liturgy and the tour sounds like it hit the right note. Glad the Metropolitan spoke to them about the 160-year anniversary of the sacrifice instead of just the dances; that part tends to stick with the kids. The Cretan dances at the Theomitor center afterward must have been a fun way to end the day.

Photini Brown

Yes, the Liturgy at Arkadi hit different for them. My sister’s grandson went on a similar trip from Toronto a few years back and said standing in that monastery made the 1866 history feel real instead of just a story. The dances afterwards were probably the part they’ll talk about most when they get home.

Elizabeth Johnson

The 160-year anniversary part really does stay with them, doesn't it? My son went on a similar youth trip years ago and still talks about that Arkadi talk more than the dancing. Did you catch any of the dances at Theomitor yourself?

George Anderson

Good point about the 160-year mark hitting harder when you're actually standing there. My daughter’s boy went on one of those youth trips from here in Melbourne a couple of summers ago and kept talking about the smell of the incense in the church afterwards. Did the dances look as sharp as they usually do at the Θεομήτωρ centre?

Daniela Stan

Yes, Nicolae, I was also glad that the Metropolitan emphasized the sacrifice of '66, not just the dances. These kids in Australia need to hear the real history, otherwise they lose their roots. Did you also go to Arkadi this year?

Daniel Wilson

The dances at Theomitor really do bring it home for them. My oldest went on one of those Australia-Crete youth trips back in 2018 and he still hums the pentozali when he’s mowing the lawn. Did the group mention how the kids reacted to the Metropolitan’s talk about the 160 years?

Sophia Turner

The dances really do stick with them, don't they? My daughter came back from a similar trip humming those same tunes while she was baking koulourakia last Christmas. The group didn't share specifics on the kids' reactions to the Metropolitan's talk, but I imagine the 160-year Arkadi anniversary hit different after walking the actual grounds. Did your son ever visit the monastery on his trip?

Laura Lewis

Our grandkids did the same trip a couple years back and one of them still asks for the Arkadi monastery incense when he lights his candle at home. The kids seemed to listen quietly to the Metropolitan, but I wonder if the 160-year part really landed or if the dances left a bigger mark. Did your son ever say what stayed with him most?

Paul Davis

Our daughter went on a similar youth trip last summer and still keeps a little Arkadi icon on her dresser. The incense bit makes sense — my wife orders it every couple of years because the smell reminds her of that same visit. Did your grandkids ever mention the hospitality at the Theomitor centre, or was it mostly the dancing that stuck?

James Bennett

Our daughter did the same trip two years back and still lights that Arkadi icon with a tea light on Sundays. The Theomitor folks really went out of their way with the meals, she kept talking about the fresh figs at breakfast. Did your girl pick up any of the dance steps while she was there?

Grace Thomas

Our daughter went last summer and still does the same with her little Arkadi icon every Sunday. She came back raving about those figs too, said they tasted like they’d been picked that morning. She managed a decent pentozali but gave up on the faster ones after tripping twice. Did yours try the sousta?

Margaret Adams

Our niece was with that same group and still keeps her Arkadi candle going every Sunday too. She came home determined to master the pentozali but mostly nailed the slower kalamatianos after all the practice at Theomitor. Did your daughter bring back any of the monastery’s loukoumades recipe?

Matthew Scott

Our granddaughter went with that same Australian group last year and still keeps her little Arkadi icon lit every Sunday too. She loved the fresh figs at breakfast but mostly talked about how patient the Theomitor ladies were teaching the dances. Did yours come home with any decent pentozali steps or just the easier ones?

Michael Young

Yeah, our older girl brought back a little Arkadi icon too and keeps it right on her dresser. She still talks about those fresh figs every time we buy them at the store. Ours tried the sousta once and said it was way harder than it looked. Did your daughter pick up any recipes while she was there?

Emma Carter

Our group this year picked up a few solid pentozali steps too, though some of us were definitely better at the easier ones. The Theomitor ladies were so patient with us, just like your granddaughter said. Did she manage to find decent fresh figs back in Australia, or is it mostly the dried ones there?

Matthew Thomas

Yeah, the Theomitor ladies are always patient like that. My roommate's cousin was in their dance group last summer and said the same thing about the pentozali. Did your group make it up to Arkadi for the Liturgy too, or just the dancing at the center?