Roussospiti

Rousospiti (Greek Ρουσσοσπίτι (n. sg. ) ) Is a village in the municipality of Rethymno in the town of Rethymno on the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete.

Location

Rousospiti is located about 4.5 kilometers southeast of Rethymno between two dry creeks in the foothills of the Vrysinas ( Βρύσινας ) at 300 meters altitude. The nearest town is Chromonastiri 1.5 km to the east.

Name Origin and History

The name means " red and house " or " Russian and house ". It was a house ( " Spiti ", in Greek) built in the village and was called " Russo ", red ( Russo Spiti = red house ). Others say that a Russian ( Roussa ) wife had built a house in the village ( the house of the Russian = roussospiti ).

The earliest mention as Russospiti comes from the Venetian period. During Ottoman times, the place was first inhabited by Orthodox Christians and Muslims. The census of 1670 recorded for Rusi İspiti both Christian and Muslim villagers. An entry in the account book of the Kadi of Candia in 1671 testified for the Islamization of Christian inhabitants.

Churches and other places of interest

• The church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) is a small single-nave church, which was built in the early 14th century.
• The fountain in Rousospiti dated from the 17th Century The water discharge has the shape of a lion's head
• Monastery of Agia Irini

Others

On 26 July, the village celebrates the feast of Agia Paraskevi