Kastraki, Phocis
Encyclopedia
Kastraki is a village in Phocis
, Greece
, part of the municipal unit Efpalio
. It has also been known in the past as Omar Effendi, and Oineon (Gr. Οινεων)
rule and Oineon in Ancient Greece
. It is built near the township of Oineon in Esperia Locris of ancient Greece. This township is located about 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) from the eastern side of the Mornos River
. Kastraki is a village 6 km (4 mi) from the town of Nafpaktos
and 2 km (1 mi) from Efpalion. It is built on the fringe of the remains of ancient Efpalio
, the famous city of Ozolon Lokron. Erythrai
(Kokkinos) west of today’s Monastiraki
where the blue lake club is situated was the port of Efpalio and Kastraki (Oineon).
Kastraki today is part of the amalgamated town of Efpalio. Efpalio town was created by the unification of sixteen communities: Kastraki (782), Efpalio/Gregoritika (762), Managouli/Logos/Hiliadou (589), Trikorfo (557), Malamata/Aghios Polykarpos (500) Marathia (492), Monastiraki/Magoula/Skaloma (442), Klima/Pege (418), Sergoula/Paralia Sergoulas (368), Filothei (342), Kampos/Palaiomylos (322), Potidaneia(309), Teixio/Varnakova (235), Drosato/Pefkaki (232), Palaioxari (195), and Pyrgos (20). The numbers in parenthesis reflect the population of each place according to the 2001 census.
Kasraki belongs in the province of Dorida
that has as capital city Lidoriki
The other province of Phokis prefecture is Parnassida with capital city Amfissa
.
The visitors to the municipality have the unique opportunity to enjoy the best beaches in the Corinthean Gulf, such as the sandy beaches of Chiliadou, the picturesque bays of Monastiraki, and Skaloma, the beautiful villages and lacey beaches of Marathia
, and Paralia Sergoulas
. The villages of Chiliadou, and Marathia need to be singled out as they are seashore resorts, with facilities for the anchoring of small yachts. They are also fishing villages. Visitors can also enjoy, the numerous nearby mountainous terrains.
) and the burial site of Hesiod
(Isidodos). Hesiod was the second most ancient Greek poet after Homer
and he lived Between 750 BC and 700 BC He was born in Ascra of Boiotia and he is known as the father of the “didactic epic
”. He spent a good part of his life in Hesperia Locris that inspired him to write his epics. According to the story while he was a guest at the place of the Nafpaktian priest Ganyctora he insulted his daughter and her brothers Ktimenos and Antifos killed him in the temple of Nemeiou Zeus where he asked asylum. He was buried in all likelihood in Oineon or as others claim in Nafpaktos.
Although there is not absolute certainty, many believe that the temple of Nemeiou Dias was located where the Orthodox
church of Panagia Faneromene is today by the national road and the intersection of the Hiliadou provincial road. In fact, the temple was converted into a Christian
church when people of the area accepted Christianity
as their new religion. However, others think that the temple was located 3 km (2 mi)-4 km (2 mi) east, not west, of Efpalio in the village of New Koukoura where today the church of Analypsis is built.
In the history of ancient Greece Oineon is referred to in 426 BC
when the Athenian
General Demosthenes
with 30 ships sailed to Locris and camped in Oineon. His plans were to bring under the Athenian authority Aitolea and eventually the all areas of, Locris and Phokis. In spite some early military success his gradual but continuous losses of his hoplites forced him to make a treaty with the Aeolians and retreated back at Oineon and Nafpaktos with the remnants of his army. While his remaining army sailed back to Athens Demosthenes fearing a punishment by the state of Athens for his failure remained in the vicinity of Nafpaktos.
During the 400 years of Turkish occupation the most fertile lands of Greece were given to prominent Turkish families or officials. As a result Greeks out of necessity were located in non prime agricultural lands mainly mountainous areas where they were not bothered as much by Turkish authorities. Phokis was not any different; Turks had taken from Greeks most fertile areas of Mornos plains as it is evidenced by the township names of Omar Affenti (Kastraki), Hasan –Aga,( Aghios Polykarpos), Sule (short of Suleiman) today’s Efpalio.
According to the 1827 writings “Trip around Greece” of French counselor to Ioannina Pougueville, at the early 1800 there were 25 families living in Omar Effendi. Omar Effendi was part of the vilaeti (administration) of Lidoriki. The vilaeti of Lidoriki was under the Pasha of Nafpaktos for some time but also under the authority of the Albanian Ali Pasha (1750-1821) of Ioannina from Tepeleni also known as “Ali the Tepelenis”.
Omar Effendi was the battle site several times over the 1821 Greek struggle for independence. The location of the village at the east side of the Mornos River on the road of Nafpaktos to Amfissa place it in a strategic position and a natural place to resist advancing troops between Aitolia and Phokis in either direction.
In June 1822 a division of Omar Vryoni moved from Nafpaktos with destination Salona. However couple of kilometers east of Mornos River near Omar Effendi they met the troops of Triantafyllos Apokoritis and they were forced to retreat.
At the end of January 1826 near Omar Effendi, 5,000 the Greek forces of Skaltsodemos fought against the Turkish troops causing them many losses and preventing them from advancing east and forced them back to Nafpaktos.
In December 1826 about 1500 Turks and Albanians rushing to Amfissa to assist to break the siege of Turkish troops in Amfissa by Greek freedom fighters never made it there. About two kilometers east of Mornos river near Omar Effendi they were surprised by the cavalry of Hatzimichales (under Karaiskakis leadership although he was not personally there) killing 53, capturing 22 and turning g the troops back to Nafpaktos.
The new and current name of the village Kastraki (little Castle) was given just before the middle 1900’s when many Turkish given names to villages and towns were changed into Greek ones. The name Kastraki was justified by the remnants of a Locric ancient castle at the borders of Locris and Aetolia about 3 kilometers south west of the village Trikorfo.
Phocis
Phocis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Vardousia on the west, upon the Gulf of Corinth...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, part of the municipal unit Efpalio
Efpalio
Efpalio is a village and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Dorida, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,507 ....
. It has also been known in the past as Omar Effendi, and Oineon (Gr. Οινεων)
Overview
The modern day Kastraki was known as Omar Effendi during the TurkishTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
rule and Oineon in Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
. It is built near the township of Oineon in Esperia Locris of ancient Greece. This township is located about 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) from the eastern side of the Mornos River
Mornos
The Mornos is a river that flows in the Fokida and Aitoloakarnania prefectures in Greece. Its source is in the Oiti mountains-Geography:The river begins in the Oiti mountains near the Fthiotida prefecture to the north, it flows through the village of Marmarolithi and into several villages in a...
. Kastraki is a village 6 km (4 mi) from the town of Nafpaktos
Naupactus
Naupactus or Nafpaktos , is a town and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Nafpaktia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
and 2 km (1 mi) from Efpalion. It is built on the fringe of the remains of ancient Efpalio
Efpalio
Efpalio is a village and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Dorida, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,507 ....
, the famous city of Ozolon Lokron. Erythrai
Erythres
Erythres known as Κριεκούκι Kriekouki "red-head" in Arvanitika, perhaps named after an Arvanite leader; ) is a village and a former municipality in the northernmost part of West Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mandra-Eidyllia, of which it is a...
(Kokkinos) west of today’s Monastiraki
Monastiraki
Monastiraki is a flea market neighborhood in the old town of Athens, Greece, and is one of the principal shopping districts in Athens. The area is home to clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, and specialty stores, and is a major tourist attraction in Athens and Attica for bargain shopping...
where the blue lake club is situated was the port of Efpalio and Kastraki (Oineon).
Kastraki today is part of the amalgamated town of Efpalio. Efpalio town was created by the unification of sixteen communities: Kastraki (782), Efpalio/Gregoritika (762), Managouli/Logos/Hiliadou (589), Trikorfo (557), Malamata/Aghios Polykarpos (500) Marathia (492), Monastiraki/Magoula/Skaloma (442), Klima/Pege (418), Sergoula/Paralia Sergoulas (368), Filothei (342), Kampos/Palaiomylos (322), Potidaneia(309), Teixio/Varnakova (235), Drosato/Pefkaki (232), Palaioxari (195), and Pyrgos (20). The numbers in parenthesis reflect the population of each place according to the 2001 census.
Kasraki belongs in the province of Dorida
Dorida
Dorida is a municipality in the Phocis regional unit, Central Greece, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Lidoriki.-Municipality:...
that has as capital city Lidoriki
Lidoriki
Lidoriki is a village and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Dorida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. In 2001 the population was 4,225. Its area is 409.5 km² covering nearly one-fifth of Phocis. Lidoriki...
The other province of Phokis prefecture is Parnassida with capital city Amfissa
Amfissa
Amfissa is a town and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delphi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is also the capital of the regional unit of Phocis...
.
The visitors to the municipality have the unique opportunity to enjoy the best beaches in the Corinthean Gulf, such as the sandy beaches of Chiliadou, the picturesque bays of Monastiraki, and Skaloma, the beautiful villages and lacey beaches of Marathia
Marathia
Marathia or Marathea may refer to the following places in Greece:*Marathia, Evrytania, a village in the western part of Evrytania*Marathea, Elis, a village of Amaliada in the Ilia Prefecture...
, and Paralia Sergoulas
Sergoula Beach
Sergoula Beach is a beach and a settlement near the city of Nafpaktos and Efpalio in Greece. It is situated in a mountainous and hilly coast...
. The villages of Chiliadou, and Marathia need to be singled out as they are seashore resorts, with facilities for the anchoring of small yachts. They are also fishing villages. Visitors can also enjoy, the numerous nearby mountainous terrains.
History
The ancient township of Oineon was famous for the temple of Nemeiou Dias (ZeusZeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
) and the burial site of Hesiod
Hesiod
Hesiod was a Greek oral poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. His is the first European poetry in which the poet regards himself as a topic, an individual with a distinctive role to play. Ancient authors credited him and...
(Isidodos). Hesiod was the second most ancient Greek poet after Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
and he lived Between 750 BC and 700 BC He was born in Ascra of Boiotia and he is known as the father of the “didactic epic
Didacticism
Didacticism is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. The term has its origin in the Ancient Greek word διδακτικός , "related to education/teaching." Originally, signifying learning in a fascinating and intriguing...
”. He spent a good part of his life in Hesperia Locris that inspired him to write his epics. According to the story while he was a guest at the place of the Nafpaktian priest Ganyctora he insulted his daughter and her brothers Ktimenos and Antifos killed him in the temple of Nemeiou Zeus where he asked asylum. He was buried in all likelihood in Oineon or as others claim in Nafpaktos.
Although there is not absolute certainty, many believe that the temple of Nemeiou Dias was located where the Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
church of Panagia Faneromene is today by the national road and the intersection of the Hiliadou provincial road. In fact, the temple was converted into a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
church when people of the area accepted Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
as their new religion. However, others think that the temple was located 3 km (2 mi)-4 km (2 mi) east, not west, of Efpalio in the village of New Koukoura where today the church of Analypsis is built.
In the history of ancient Greece Oineon is referred to in 426 BC
426 BC
Year 426 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Cincinnatus, Albinus, Fusus and Cossus...
when the Athenian
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
General Demosthenes
Demosthenes (general)
Demosthenes , son of Alcisthenes, was an Athenian general during the Peloponnesian War.-Early Military Actions:The military activities of Demosthenes are first recorded from 426 BC when he led an Athenian invasion of Aetolia. This was a failure. Demosthenes lost about 120 Athenians along with his...
with 30 ships sailed to Locris and camped in Oineon. His plans were to bring under the Athenian authority Aitolea and eventually the all areas of, Locris and Phokis. In spite some early military success his gradual but continuous losses of his hoplites forced him to make a treaty with the Aeolians and retreated back at Oineon and Nafpaktos with the remnants of his army. While his remaining army sailed back to Athens Demosthenes fearing a punishment by the state of Athens for his failure remained in the vicinity of Nafpaktos.
During the 400 years of Turkish occupation the most fertile lands of Greece were given to prominent Turkish families or officials. As a result Greeks out of necessity were located in non prime agricultural lands mainly mountainous areas where they were not bothered as much by Turkish authorities. Phokis was not any different; Turks had taken from Greeks most fertile areas of Mornos plains as it is evidenced by the township names of Omar Affenti (Kastraki), Hasan –Aga,( Aghios Polykarpos), Sule (short of Suleiman) today’s Efpalio.
According to the 1827 writings “Trip around Greece” of French counselor to Ioannina Pougueville, at the early 1800 there were 25 families living in Omar Effendi. Omar Effendi was part of the vilaeti (administration) of Lidoriki. The vilaeti of Lidoriki was under the Pasha of Nafpaktos for some time but also under the authority of the Albanian Ali Pasha (1750-1821) of Ioannina from Tepeleni also known as “Ali the Tepelenis”.
Omar Effendi was the battle site several times over the 1821 Greek struggle for independence. The location of the village at the east side of the Mornos River on the road of Nafpaktos to Amfissa place it in a strategic position and a natural place to resist advancing troops between Aitolia and Phokis in either direction.
In June 1822 a division of Omar Vryoni moved from Nafpaktos with destination Salona. However couple of kilometers east of Mornos River near Omar Effendi they met the troops of Triantafyllos Apokoritis and they were forced to retreat.
At the end of January 1826 near Omar Effendi, 5,000 the Greek forces of Skaltsodemos fought against the Turkish troops causing them many losses and preventing them from advancing east and forced them back to Nafpaktos.
In December 1826 about 1500 Turks and Albanians rushing to Amfissa to assist to break the siege of Turkish troops in Amfissa by Greek freedom fighters never made it there. About two kilometers east of Mornos river near Omar Effendi they were surprised by the cavalry of Hatzimichales (under Karaiskakis leadership although he was not personally there) killing 53, capturing 22 and turning g the troops back to Nafpaktos.
The new and current name of the village Kastraki (little Castle) was given just before the middle 1900’s when many Turkish given names to villages and towns were changed into Greek ones. The name Kastraki was justified by the remnants of a Locric ancient castle at the borders of Locris and Aetolia about 3 kilometers south west of the village Trikorfo.
Monasteries
The area is also known for several important monasteries such as:- The monastery of Panagia of Varnakova. It is a ByzantineByzantineByzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
monasteryMonasteryMonastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, built in 1077 A.D. by Saint Arsenios. Varnakova was a centre of OrthodoxyOrthodoxyThe word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
and HellenismHellenismHellenism may refer to:*Hellenic studies*Hellenistic civilization*Hellenistic period, in Greek antiquity*Hellenistic Greece*Hellenization, the spread of Greek culture over foreign peoples*Hellenistic philosophy in the Hellenistic period and late antiquity...
, in the years during which the Latins influenced Western Greece and mainly during the Frankish rule when there were plans for converting Greek people into Catholics under the Pope of Rome. During the war of 1821 it was the center of supply for the freedom fighters of Roumeli. Today the sacred monastery of Panagia of Varnakova, found in the engulf of a great forest is a place of spiritual peace. - The newly built Monasteries of Trikorfo of St Augustine’s and Seraphim of Sarof. It is well known for its 400 bells and 62 church bells, as well as the musical monk group “Paparockades”
- The historic monastery of St John of Thermes at the big springs of the river of Mantilo.
- The old Christian church of Ascension of the Savior in New Koukoura.
- The beautiful St John’s monastery of Efpalio made with Byzantine technique, and unique art. It is built on the fringe of Efpalio "Platanitsa" area. It is place of refreshment and religious celebrations.
Other points of interest
- the popular Art Museum of Efpalio
- the Mornos river dam and the man made lake it has created
- Kefalogiefyro, an excellent and unique bridge in the region, perfectly constructed and well preserved over the narrow pass of Mornopotamos.