Houdetsi is located in the center of the N. Kazantzakis municipality.  It borders the Arkalochori municipality to the east and the Municipalities of Temenos and Archanes to the west.  It’s built at an altitude of 440 meters at a distance of 23 km from Heraklion.  It is beautiful and full of greenery.  The square from which you will pass and the main street, are full of everyday life.

POPULATION: 863 (Census 2001)ALTITUDE: 440 m.DISTANCE FROM Heraklio: 23 km

PATH: Proposed routes: Heraklion Knossos-Spilia-Kounavoi-Peza-Kalloni-Ag. Vasileios-Houdetsi.PREFECTURE: Heraklion

Locals and passers-by enjoy the coolness of the large trees in the traditional cafes.  Located here is the museum of traditional musical instruments and the Musical Workshop Labyrinth, founded and operated since 2001 by the municipality on N. Kazantzakis through the Municipal Development Technical Company “ELTYNA” with the contribution of the worthy and well-traveled musician and teacher, Ross Daily.

This suggests the natural and great love of the people for music. From this village came Nicholas Markakis, rhyme maker, son of the wise, so-called (Daskalos) "teacher" John Markakis, born in 1860 in Houdetsi.  He wrote the rhyme for the seating of Aghios Minas in Iraklion in 1895.  Also from Houdetsi came Lefteris Vlasakis an excellent instrument maker whose instruments, mandolins in particular, are still present throughout Greece.

Name-Historical data.

Paul Faure claims that the etymology of the name of the village comes from the Arabic word guds, which means saint. The earliest mention of the settlement is referred in a document of the notary of Candia Leon.  Marcello, in 1279, as Casale Tudeti, a bad spelling of the word Chudei a rather common error for the time. In a 1379 document it’s referred to from the Ducal file of Candia as Chudeci.  In another document of the same file in 1395 it is referred to as Cudeci "feudum" de Christo of franciscus et Donatus Cornaro, seeking the ouster of Andrea Micael Cornaro from their mill in the village Cudeci. In 1577 referred by Fr.Barozzi as Chudheci, the Kastrofilaka in 1583 as Cudeci with 233 residents from the Basilicata as Chudheci in 1630.

In the Turkish census of 1671 reported as Hodec with 27 hikes, in the Egyptian census of 1834 as Kudhetsi with Christian 20 and 5 Turkish families. Hourmouzis states that in 1842 it had 26 Turkish and 5 Christian families and 6 churches. One of these was the old church of Aghios Nikolaos in the suburbs.

In 1881 stated as Houdetsi in Ag. Paraskies municipality with 339 Christians and 12 Turks residents. In 1900 it’s in the same municipality with 362 inhabitants, while in 1920 it becomes the seat of the homonymous rural municipality with 492 inhabitants.In 1928 it is a community with 612 residents in 1940 it’s  referred to as Choudetsion with 633 inhabitants. Archeology-myth and tradition.

Of archaeological interest is the fountain of the village, dating back to 1671 and called Chatzines. In the place called Flampouriaris, was found in 1952 a small clay head of Athena with a helmet.  In the same place there are ruins of aqueduct pipelines and installation of the Hellenistic period.  In 1961 in the position Korfi were found parts and zodiac figurines, of the Middle Minoan period.

Patron saint of the village is Aghios Ioannis o Theologos (Saint John the Theologian), which was founded in 1874.  Inside the church are a lot of lime covered murals.  Here was also discovered the stone image of St. George. Other churches are the Aghia Paraskevi, Aghios Nikolaos, Aghios Antonios, Timios Stavros (the Holy Cross), Aghios Panteleimon, AghiosPaisios, Michael Archangel, the Panaghia Zoodochos Pigi and more.

Text: www.endoxora-irakleiou.gr