Voni, Minoa – Pediada

Voni is a village located in the Municipality of Minoa Pediada, in the Heraklion regional unit of Crete, Greece. It sits at an altitude of 330 meters above sea level, approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Heraklion city and 10 kilometers west of Kastelli.

The village is known for its agricultural production, particularly grapes, cereals, raisins, and olive oil. There is also a local flour mill, “Agia Marina Mills”, owned by the Stefanakis family, which has been in operation since 1926 and is one of the pioneers in the production and distribution of whole wheat flour in Greece.

Voni is an important religious destination due to the presence of the Agia Marina Monastery. This women’s monastery is located south of the village on a hilltop. The village also houses the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior.

History

The history of Voni dates back to the Late Minoan period, as evidenced by the discovery of a bathtub-shaped sarcophagus in 1957.

During the Venetian period, Voni is mentioned in a 1271 contract in Chandax (present-day Heraklion) under the name “Voni.”

During the Ottoman period, Voni was known as “Dedeler Küyü” (Village of the Dervishes) and was granted by the Sultan for the maintenance of the Bektashi tekke (a Sufi lodge). Census records from this period indicate a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, with Muslims being the majority in the 19th century. In 1834, the village was inhabited exclusively by Turkish families.

After the liberation of Crete from Ottoman rule in 1898, the current inhabitants of Voni are said to have originated from the Lasithi Plateau.

Agia Marina Monastery

The Agia Marina Monastery is a significant pilgrimage site in Crete. A large three-day festival with a market and celebrations is organized every year on July 17th to commemorate the feast of Saint Marina.

Galatas

The municipal district of Voni also includes the settlement of Galatas. Galatas is mentioned in late 16th-century documents with the name “Galattá” and had 122 inhabitants at that time. In 1881, it had 143 inhabitants, all of whom were Turkish. The name is derived from the Byzantine surname of the first settler, Galatas. Like Voni, the inhabitants of Galatas after 1898 came from the Lasithi plateau.

Village Key Points

• Historical References:
  • 1271 Venetian contract as “Voni”
  • 1583 Ottoman census as “Vogni” with 278 inhabitants
  • 1834 recorded as having 30 Turkish families and no Christian families
  • 1881 recorded as having 314 Turkish inhabitants and 35 Christians
  • Late 16th century, Galatas mentioned as “Galattá” with 122 inhabitants.
• Location: Municipality of Minoa Pediada, Heraklion regional unit, Crete, Greece. Approximately 30 km southeast of Heraklion city.
• Altitude: 330 meters
• Historical Significance: Late Minoan settlement (evidenced by archaeological finds), Ottoman-era Bektashi tekke.
• Population:
  

  Year	Population
  1583	278
  1834
  1881	349
  1991	566
  2001	601
  2011	483
  2021	285

• Current Status: Active village with a primarily agricultural economy and a significant religious tourism sector due to the Agia Marina Monastery.