The youngest but fastest-growing settlement on Kythera, Agia Pelagia was not inhabited until the late 19th century, largely due to its proximity to the Peloponnesian coast and the constant threat of pirate attacks. The area's historical significance lies in its connection to Kolokythia, a 10th-century settlement identified on the hill before the bay of Agia Patrikia. During the Greek Revolution of 1821 and the Orlov Revolt, Agia Pelagia served as a busy port for traffic between the Peloponnese and Kythera. Development began in earnest in the early 20th century with the approach of steamships and the construction of a small jetty. Today, it is Kythera's premier tourist destination, known for its beautiful views of the Peloponnese and its beaches.
Condensed from Emmanuel Kalligeros's excellent Kytherian Geographical Placenames which is available
here
back in 80s and 90s one of the ways to get to the island was the flying dolphins from piraeus, it took about 4 hours or so , the view at the back was great but the diesel fumes made it hard to breath in the fresh air !!....
americanos is defiantlely a restaurant to visit while on the island , situated at NEOS KOSMOS ...AGIA PELAGIA ... neos kosmos food is like the food our mothers cook, it is superb dinnig... at what a view while eating traditional greek / kytherian food at its best .. say hello to owners dimitri and anna.... lovely hosts , great food and the view , well , i will leave it to you and see what you think ....
One of the many beaches on the Agia Pelagia side, Kaki Lagada is located at the end of the dirt road that starts at 'fyri ammos',' you go past Agios Nicholas church, keep going to the end of the road past the beach bar. There you will find a lovely little beach just in front of Kaki Lagada ''limni'' a great place for a peaceful swim....
The nickname “Kaponas” is often found appended to the family name of the Megalokonomos family of Agia Pelagia. The followng is the story of how that came about was related to me by Polychronis Paloyannidis in 2022.
Antonios Megalokonomos (b 1822) married Metaxia Fardouli of Agia Pelagia. She was from a wealthy family. Part of her family's wealth came from breeding chickens and, in particular, roosters. Some of the roosters were sold for their meat which was (and still is) considered a delicacy. In order to make the roosters' meat more tender and tastier Metaxia would castrate the young cockerels. The roosters became more expensive and well known and brought extra profits. The greek word for a castrated cockerel (softened for eating) is “καπόνι” (kapóni) (“capon” in English).
And so, this is how Antonios earned his nickname “παρατσούκλι” (paratsoukli) of Kaponas.
[Source: Polychronis Paloyannidis, personal communication]
Join us for our next GLOBAL ZOOM to hear exciting new developments about the Migration Museum of Kythera in Agia Pelagia!
PLEASE CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE CAREFULLY
Saturday, September 17, 2022/ Sunday, September 18, 2022 (Australia)
Saturday, September 17, 2022
1:00 p.m. San Francisco / Los Angeles
3:00 p.m. Chicago / Little Rock / St. Louis
4:00 p.m. Baltimore / Boston / New York / Toronto / Asuncion
9:00 p.m. Dublin / London
10:00 p.m. Berlin / Cape Town /Paris
11:00 p.m. Athens
Sunday, September 18, 2022
4:00 a.m. Perth
5:30 a.m. Adelaide
6:00 a.m. Brisbane / Sydney / Melbourne
Now that the plans have been approved, Helen Tzortzopoulos, Friends of the Museums of Kythera (FMK)President, and several of her committee members, will join us from Kythera to detail plans for the museum.
In addition to detailing the architectural plans, Helen will explain each area's function, and will include a video and slide presentation.
Since the memorandum with the Academy of Athens has been signed, the FMK can officially begin collecting family histories, documentation, and other information for the museum.
We thank Helen and her committee for their dedication and hard work on this project.
It is a huge undertaking and our support is vital.
After the presentation we hope you will stay on to enjoy conversing with participants as in previous ZOOMs.
If the time is too early or too late for your time zone, check in later as participants tend to continue chatting for several hours. You are welcome to come and go as your schedule permits.
The presentation will be recorded and made available for those unable to attend.
beautiful aerial photo of agia pelagia from the northern end .. in view are all the landmarks of agia pelagia , the mountains of agia moni , with kaki lagada and of course one of the most significent places on kythera .. the mollo ..where all our ancestors left to go abroad ....
big easter tradtion on kythera , after the church services and fasting its time to have a big lunch and celebrate the fact that christ has risen ...the traditional cooking of the lambs at agia pelagia on easter sunday for lunch with loves ones and friends .. then fowolled by dancing with a band and dancing on the road .. kalo paska everybody ..shame it wont be happening this year ...
lovely quiet little beach at the end of the the dirt road passsing the kaki kalada main beach you will find this magnificent swimming beach , has a little path to climb down to the beach ..but once there it will be a memoryable swim...
seaside village of agia pelagia with one of the popular beaches .. firi ammos beach is a favourite for summer swims from early morning to late in the afternoon.
one of the most thrilling pieces of scenery on the island the magnificent view of agia pelagia from ' megali volta ' with cavo malia and mainland greece keeping an eye on things !
agia pelagia from the karava side , still miss all the boats , ferries docking at agia pelagia , somehow diakofti hasnt got that buzz that agia pelagia had when the boats used to anchor there ....
great way to finish the day after a day on the island in the summer , having a cool drink or ice cream at agia pelagia with the waves splashing onto the shore , and its even better when there is a full moon ...
heading in towards agia pelagia and to dock our boat after circumnavigating the island.. and seeing the island in a differant perspective .. it was a great day
The eternal existential questions are limitless. Comic sit-down storyteller, Anna Cominos
tackles these eternal questions and more in her new one-woman show RETURN TO THE VILLAGE,
from 27-30 September, at Marrickville’s Factory Theatre as part of the Sydney Fringe Comedy Festival.
At the seminal point of the emergence of the cyber-world, Anna walked away from the modern-world and went to live in her ancestral village
turning her back on the modern world and travelling to her parents’ homeland to discover her ancestral roots.
Her eccentric RETURN TO THE VILLAGE is born.
Often hilarious and at other times tragic, RETURN TO THE VILLAGE is never lacking in the drama department. Anna’s exploits during her numerous stays in her ancestral island of Kythera, Greece are brought to life in a show that promises to have you rolling in the aisles, tears flowing down you cheeks.
RETURN TO THE VILLAGE, is a lot more than a girl’s journey to the birthplace of her ancestors, it is a spiritual awakening. Using humour, multi-media and song, Anna takes us on journey through the cobbled streets of memory and history, a point that a lot of Australians are well aware of. (Fact: 27.7% of the estimated resident population were born overseas, that is more than 6.4 million people).
Otherness is present in all of us….it’s all one story. Sit-down as storyteller Anna opens her bi-cultural mind and the zany adventures begin.
Over a lifetime in the making, comedic performer Anna Cominos will take to the Marrickville’s Factory Theatre stage with her hilarious one-woman show RETURN TO THE VILLAGE from 27-30 September, as part of the Sydney Fringe Comedy Festival.
Comically confronting the eternal existential questions of Who are we?Where are we from? Should I learn ukulele in this lifetime?
Interestingly, more than one in four Australians are actually from elsewhere (27.7% of the estimated resident population were born overseas, that is more than 6.4 million people), so Otherness is actually common.
“It’s joyous exploring the Otherness that we all carry inside us.
We all have a shadow-life happening at the same time as this reality, RETURN TO THE VILLAGE is an eyewitness account of this…..multi-media, lucky-wheels and ukulele all help too”
At the seminal point of the emergence of the cyber-world, Anna walked away from the modern-world and went to live in her ancestral village turning her back on the modern world and travelling back to her parents homeland to discover her ancestral roots, her eccentric RETURN TO THE VILLAGE stories are born.
Sit-down storyteller Anna opens her bi-cultural mind and the zany adventures begin.
166,48m2/ bedrooms 3/bathrooms 3/distance to the sea 30m/the plot surface 770m2
price 460.000EU.
New Villa in neoclassic style of the end 19 century.
Surface 166.48 m2, at 30 meters from the famous FIRI Ammos beach granted a blue flag.
In the suburb of the sea village Agia Pelagia( 400m) in Ionian Island Kithira (Greece). Two beautiful beaches are near the house. Neo Kosmos and Firi Ammos.
17km from the airport.
The house is accompanied by surface plot 770.0 m2.Possibility to build another house, swimming pool, the garden etc.
The house consists of ground floor surface 98.11 m2 and 68.37 m2 first floor, while the ground floor includes a roofed terrace area surface 14.53 m2.
The ground floor consists of an open plan living room – dining room (4.70x6.00m), kitchen (3.60x4.65m), entrance area (2.65x2.30m), bedroom (4.40x4.00m), bathroom, storage room and laundry room.
The first floor consists of two bedrooms (4.70x4.70m and 4.70x3.50m) with private bathrooms and there is a storage loft. Each bedroom has its own private terrace with excellent seaside view and to the mountains.
The house has two entrances, one main and one secondary from the kitchen leads to the rear terrace and parking area. The house is covered with wooden roof and red tiles.
It has outdoor terrace and garden area 250.0 m2 and car parking.
The house is built in 2015-2016 with modern energy efficient building methods and has adopted heat .
Please be free to contact us.
7-926-672-3043/ in summer 30-27360-38209 Yuri
30 697 972-4512 Alexandros
oliveoil@inbox.ru
Διώροφη κατοικία (μεζονέτα) επιφανείας 166,48 μ2 σε απόσταση 30 μέτρων από την θάλασσα στον οικισμό Αγίας Πελαγίας της Νήσου Κυθήρων. Η κατοικία οικόπεδο επιφανείας 770 м2.
Η κατοικία αποτελείται από ισόγειο επιφανείας 98,11 μ2 και όροφο 68,37 μ2, ενώ στο ισόγειο περιλαμβάνεται και στεγασμένος χώρος βεράντας επιφανείας 14,53 μ2.
Το ισόγειο αποτελείται από ενιαίο χώρο καθιστικού – τραπεζαρίας (4,70 Χ 6,00 μ),κουζίνα (3,60Χ4,65 μ), είσοδο (2,65Χ2,30μ), υπνοδωμάτιο (4,40Χ4,00 μ.), λουτρό, αποθήκη και πλυσταριό.
Ο όροφος αποτελείται από δύο υπνοδωμάτια (4,70Χ4,70 μ και 4,70Χ3,50 μ) με ανεξάρτητα μπάνια ενώ υπάρχει και αποθηκευτικός χώρος παταριού.
Κάθε υπνοδωμάτιο έχει δική του πρόσβαση σε βεράντα ενώ το καθιστικό έχει πρόσβαση στην στεγασμένη βεράντα.
Η κατοικία περιλαμβάνει δύο εισόδους, μία κύρια και μία δευτερεύουσα από τη κουζίνα που οδηγεί στην πίσω βεράντα.
Το σπίτι στεγάζεται με ξύλινη στέγη και κεραμίδια. Διαθέτει διαμορφωμένους χώρους βεράντας και κήπων επιφανείας 250,0 μ2 καθώς και χώρο στάθμευσης αυτοκινήτου.
Η κατοικία έχει κατασκευαστεί με τις σύγχρονες μεθόδους ενεργειακής απόδοσης κτιρίων και διαθέτει τελευταίας τεχνολογίας θερμομόνωση και ενεργειακά κουφώματα. [[picture:"DSCN0242.jpg" ID:23323]] [[picture:"IMG_1451.JPG" ID:23334]] [[picture:"DSCN0245.jpg" ID:23324]] [[picture:"P1240059.jpg" ID:23325]] [[picture:"P1240024.jpg" ID:23326]] [[picture:"IMG_1451.JPG" ID:23327]] [[picture:"P1240044.jpg" ID:23328]] [[picture:"P1240067.jpg" ID:23329]] [[picture:"IMG_1452.JPG" ID:23333]]
neos kosmos beach at agia pelagia with its dramatic background of mountains, great beach with a great restaurant just on the other side of the road ... beach and great food .. heaven !
another lovely little beach just outside agia pelagia .. kalamitzi ... never busy with swimmers in the summer .. crystal clear water and great to cool down in the summer !!
one of the beaches past agia pelagia ..''.Lorenzo'' follow the dirt road past agios Nickolas towards kaki lagada and swim in these delightful beaches with their magic clear water !
one of the fun villages ... agia pelagia .. swimming , boating eating , coffee with friends , must now be the most populated village on the island , the growth of agia pelagia has been very rapid in the past 10 years ...
as you leave agia pelagia and half way up the mountain to potamo , you come across this delightful natural spring .. vrissi at '' galani'' .... in the summer its a must to stop after a swim at pelagia for crystal cool water or stock up on your water supplies for home , its so relaxing just to stop sit on the bench , chat to all the other people doing the same thing ... people from all over the world love galani and drink its refreshing water ...
large crowd celebrate easter at agia pelagia on easter suday .. on a lovely sunny afternoon with famlies enjoying the food, music and relaxing on easter sunday .. xpona polla !!
the beautiful epitapho at agia pelagia church on good friday was paraded along the agia pelagia village strip and on the mollo.. a lovely and moving ceremony this easter ..
The book contains photographs of the various villages and places on the island of Kythera, taken from the air.
Subjects: Kythera, also known as 'Cerigo', is a Greek island situated between the southern tip of the Peloponnese and Crete. Its more than sixty villages reveal their organic development from neolithic to modern times. Roads twist like climbing plants into almost every corner of the island. These 280 aerial photographs taken in the verdant winter months, capture the beauty of the entire island.
View / Download a .pdf of 8 sample pages, (pp.72-79) here:
"I've been enjoying the various photos and reading the essays. It's going to take a while to get through it as it is heavy to handle. What a terrific legacy for all of us and for future generations! Great idea to include surnames with each village."
Dimitris Koutrafouris, the Bank Manager of the National Bank of Greece, branch, Potamos, Kythera, placed the book on display in the summer of 2013.
As locals and Kytherians of the diaspora thumbed through the book, their first instinct was to try and find their own houses, or those of their grandparents and relatives.
Most were not satisfied until that were certain that they had found their houses. Often they had to solicit the help of realtives and friends to help locate them.
The book contains virtually every structure on the island, in every part of the island, which makes it a very valuable Kytherian resource.
one of the most prominent and lovely families from kythera , the manea family, celebrate forty maneas birthday recently at a luncheon at americanos restraunt at agia pelagia ....
rough seas at the popular summer beach neo kosmos agia pelagia... if you swim in those conditions you'll end up in americanos cafe across the road !!!!
late april high sirocco winds give neo kosmos beach at agia pelagia niagara falls like conditions , many of us swim at that beach in july august , waves cross the road ,bit differant than the summer !!!!
Roulis in his "old" cafe in Potamos in about 1985
Picture by James Prineas
The Last Embrace
Whenever I arrived on Kythera, I would head directly and often from the airport, to Potamos town-square and have a rizogalo (rice pudding) or a fresh-warm galatoboureko (semolina pie) at Rouli’s Kafenion, the centre of the Kytherian universe.
With a razor-sharp ability to comprehend what was happening around him at all times, Theodoros (Rouli) Fardoulis lived-up to his paratsoukli (nickname) of Alepou (fox). A gentle man, with piercing blue eyes and a deep chuckle, for many people both local and of the Diaspora, Rouli was the key to village life.
Born in 1926 to Vasiliki and Konstantinos Fardoulis, Rouli was the second of five children. Growing up in the remote and rugged but spectacular Vithoula (between Potamos and Agia Pelagia), Rouli’s serenity was visible when walking in the fields. Not one to shirk away from hard work and although he became a pastry chef, he always remained a man of the land who had perivolia (gardens) and would pick olives each year.
A direct relative of the Fardoulis Chocolate dynasty, Rouli never visited Australia but was always pleased to meet all people, especially if they were from the Kytherian diaspora. He would begin to unravel the visitors family tree, leaving you with a deep sense of genuine belonging. He was a surrogate papou (grandfather) to generations. It was as if he had been entrusted by hundreds of his customers, who had long passed away, to welcome their offspring to Tsirigo.
Originally based in Agia Pelagia, Rouli ran a general store and was a fishmonger, when Agia Pelagia was just a fishing hamlet. Theodoros married Hariklea Kaponas and had three daughters, Eleni, Vasso, Antiopi. And they bought the Kafenion in Potamos at the beginning of Greece’s post Civil-War mass migration.
In 1992, I began working with Rouli at his legendary kafenion. An astute and patient man, Roulis was the centre of the Kytherian universe. The early morning regulars were rowdy workmen on the way to building jobs. Then from 10am to midday we had the come-to-towners, dressed in their Sunday best, people who were visiting the hospital or doing their tasks would drop in for a handmade glyko (sweet). Sharp as a tack, Rouli would converse with each of these groups remembering with incredible detail who, what, where, when and the why they had come to town.
The shop phone would constantly ring with questions such as, "has the plane landed?", "is the ship going to dock in Pelagia or Kapsali?", "is the plumber there?" And he would politely answer all question put to him. My favourite time of the day, was when the old-timers would come in. Rouli would become a rascal and the jibes would begin, till they all laughed heartily.
Rouli gracefully nurtured many young people, with even the popular Kythera Summer Edition newspaper being born at the Kipseli (the Beehive) Kafenion. In the late 90’s Rouli sold his beloved kafenion in Potamos, semi-retiring to his brand-new kafenion in Agia Pelagia. He continued to live in Potamos and would commute to Agia Pelagia daily. Always up for a chat, Rouli was an original blend of Kytherian kalosini (goodness), authentic hara (delight) and village sofia (wisdom). He is missed.
Roulis in his "old" cafe in Potamos in about 1985
Picture by James Prineas
The Last Embrace
Whenever I arrived on Kythera, I would head directly and often from the airport, to Potamos town-square and have a rizogalo (rice pudding) or a fresh-warm galatoboureko (semolina pie) at Rouli’s Kafenion, the centre of the Kytherian universe.
With a razor-sharp ability to comprehend what was happening around him at all times, Theodoros (Rouli) Fardoulis lived-up to his paratsoukli (nickname) of Alepou (fox). A gentle man, with piercing blue eyes and a deep chuckle, for many people both local and of the Diaspora, Rouli was the key to village life.
Born in 1926 to Vasiliki and Konstantinos Fardoulis, Rouli was the second of five children. Growing up in the remote and rugged but spectacular Vithoula (between Potamos and Agia Pelagia), Rouli’s serenity was visible when walking in the fields. Not one to shirk away from hard work and although he became a pastry chef, he always remained a man of the land who had perivolia (gardens) and would pick olives each year.
A direct relative of the Fardoulis Chocolate dynasty, Rouli never visited Australia but was always pleased to meet all people, especially if they were from the Kytherian diaspora. He would begin to unravel the visitors family tree, leaving you with a deep sense of genuine belonging. He was a surrogate papou (grandfather) to generations. It was as if he had been entrusted by hundreds of his customers, who had long passed away, to welcome their offspring to Tsirigo.
Originally based in Agia Pelagia, Rouli ran a general store and was a fishmonger, when Agia Pelagia was just a fishing hamlet. Theodoros married Hariklea Kaponas and had three daughters, Eleni, Vasso, Antiopi. And they bought the Kafenion in Potamos at the beginning of Greece’s post Civil-War mass migration.
In 1992, I began working with Rouli at his legendary kafenion. An astute and patient man, Roulis was the centre of the Kytherian universe. The early morning regulars were rowdy workmen on the way to building jobs. Then from 10am to midday we had the come-to-towners, dressed in their Sunday best, people who were visiting the hospital or doing their tasks would drop in for a handmade glyko (sweet). Sharp as a tack, Rouli would converse with each of these groups remembering with incredible detail who, what, where, when and the why they had come to town.
The shop phone would constantly ring with questions such as, "has the plane landed?", "is the ship going to dock in Pelagia or Kapsali?", "is the plumber there?" And he would politely answer all question put to him. My favourite time of the day, was when the old-timers would come in. Rouli would become a rascal and the jibes would begin, till they all laughed heartily.
Rouli gracefully nurtured many young people, with even the popular Kythera Summer Edition newspaper being born at the Kipseli (the Beehive) Kafenion. In the late 90’s Rouli sold his beloved kafenion in Potamos, semi-retiring to his brand-new kafenion in Agia Pelagia. He continued to live in Potamos and would commute to Agia Pelagia daily. Always up for a chat, Rouli was an original blend of Kytherian kalosini (goodness), authentic hara (delight) and village sofia (wisdom). He is missed.
The mother of Menas, Stamatia, Diamonte and Horolobou Megaloconomos who all came to Australia. One son remained in Greece and travelled to the US for a while, but returned. The little girl may be a grandchild.
The photo is a postcard addressed to her grandson Tony Megaloconomos in Australia. He was a young child at the time.
The photo was taken at the wedding of Mick Megaloconomos and Mary Lekatsas in 1921. The photo includes Emanuel and Diamonte (Diamond) Skekos (nee Megaloconomos) and Harry (Horolobou) Megaloconomos. Diamond is wearing the dark hat. The young boys are Peter and Tony Skekos. one on either end of the front row. Mick's brother Harry (Horolobou) Megaloconomos is standing to the far edge on the groom's side behind one of his nephews.
The bride came from Ithaki and the couple met in Sydney. The photo contains her uncle on one side of her and her three cousins.
who hasnt been to sempraviva at agia pelagia , one of the most popular meeting places on the island . try getting a seat in august , lovely setting , great sweets and drinks and two great hosts the two georges.... a great place to end your day ....
MY MOTHERAND FAMILY PANNARETTO ALL CAME FROM KYTHERA THE FAMILY HOME WAS DONATED TO THE GREEK GOVERNMENT AND NOW IS KINDERGARTEN IT HAS A PLAQUE ON THE FRONT GATE A GREAT MEMORIAL
the wedding of john and natly kaleris and also the christening of their litte daughter john is the son of the kaleris family the owners of one of he most visted restaurants on the island ... the wedding was in late august at the magnificent panayia despina on the way to karava, and the reception went to day break ... at kaleris restaurant .... agia pelagia..
The remains of a very old house on the slope of a hill shows how strong the walls of Kythera can be to still be standing after so many years. The house would have had great views of the sea and Peloponnisos.
Pappou Theodoros "Kaponas" Megalokonomos tou Mihalis ke tis Harikleias.
Greek Arhonto -Levento Kytherian.A real GENTLEMAN.
Leaved in Kythera at Agia pelagia .His house was next to kapsanis Super market .Was one of 9 kids and has a great and very large family and a huge " Kaponianiko dynasty" left behind when he died in 1993.
Will be treasured by all of his children ,grand children, and great grand children for ever.
He is a national Hero for Kythera because with his wooden boat's he managed to keep in life the population though wars, povetry ,Junda's,GOOD AND BAD TIMES...
Out of Dignity and respect to his Honourable name we will remember him and continue his legacies
.LONG LEAVE TO THE KAPONIANIKO FAMILY & SOI...!!!!!
nice little swimming place at the cave of agios nicholas near and just below the church, the cave has a little beach inside the cave, has very clear water ,take your snorkles and have fun......
The Blue (Ble cafe) in Agia Pelagia - First cafe as you enter the waterfront area in the village.
One of the highest speed WiFi I have used on the island. The friendly owner, Theodoris Fatseas keeps the system up and running all the time. I have spend hours on their waterfront terrace sipping on French cafes and working on my laptop. You can plug in your charger right on the pole and enjoy the music and the scenery.
the most famous rock wall of them all! ,the mollo at agia pelagia, and in the foreground the church of agia pelagia,keeps a eye on departures and arrivals to the island...
Based in Ayia Pelagia, but Nataly can also provide the service at the clients house, or place of accomodation.
Deep, total, and unique relaxation experience.
*Ayuroveda Yoga massage is an extremely powerful and unique system of body therapy based on the fusion of the two ancient Indian sciences – Yoga and Ayuroveda.
The massage techniques is a combination on modality of Shuatsu, Thai massage, Acupressure, Traditional Ayurovedic and Swedish massage. The assisted stretches(yoga) open and realign the entire body, deep tissue massage and powerful breath work system brings to client the experience of very deep and full relaxation and clarity of the entire system. Unifying mind & body and creating presence, awareness and balance.
Ayuroveda - holistic system of medicine ,a lifestyle which helps to maintain health in a person body. Releasing both physical, emotional & mental stress and energy related imbalance.
The massage combined with special Indian powder (Calamus) which is antiseptic and stimulate the blood circulation and the sesame organic oil, because of its lecithin helps brain cells and nerves to alleviate depression and stress, both detoxifies and cleans the skin.
Benefits of Ayurovedic massage:
*Incredibly effective for upper and lower back pain (Sciatica),spine cord injury and post operative recovery
*Relieve stress and muscle tension in neck and shoulders
*Improve mobility , flexibility and blood circulation
Based in Ayia Pelagia, but Nataly can also provide the service at the clients house, or place of accomodation.
[[picture:"DSC_0120.JPG" ID:16726]]
Deep, total, and unique relaxation experience.
*Ayuroveda Yoga massage is an extremely powerful and unique system of body therapy based on the fusion of the two ancient Indian sciences – Yoga and Ayuroveda.
The massage techniques is a combination on modality of Shuatsu, Thai massage, Acupressure, Traditional Ayurovedic and Swedish massage. The assisted stretches(yoga) open and realign the entire body, deep tissue massage and powerful breath work system brings to client the experience of very deep and full relaxation and clarity of the entire system. Unifying mind & body and creating presence, awareness and balance.
Ayuroveda - holistic system of medicine ,a lifestyle which helps to maintain health in a person body. Releasing both physical, emotional & mental stress and energy related imbalance.
The massage combined with special Indian powder (Calamus) which is antiseptic and stimulate the blood circulation and the sesame organic oil, because of its lecithin helps brain cells and nerves to alleviate depression and stress, both detoxifies and cleans the skin.
Benefits of Ayurovedic massage:
*Incredibly effective for upper and lower back pain (Sciatica),spine cord injury and post operative recovery
*Relieve stress and muscle tension in neck and shoulders
*Improve mobility , flexibility and blood circulation
when on the island and needing a car call filippos petas, from active car hire, phone 33207or 6974667083, for good cars and great rates,filippos is a young local boy from diakofti, and will look after you.
Either it has been a long-hard winter or Kythera is definitely on the tourist radar. If the Easter swell of visitors, both Athenians and international is any measure of travellers Kythera-bound this Summer, those ‘Rooms for Rent’ springing up all over the island like wild artichokes will fill (at least in the month of August). A glorious sun put on its best for locals and visitors alike on May Day 2008, wrapping up the Kythera Easter celebrations with tender affection.
The solemn mood of Easter week leading up to Megali Paraskevi (Good Friday) and peaking with the midnight mass of Anastasi (Easter Saturday) was accentuated by the bleak weather. Weighted with symbolism and reflecting the sobriety of the Crucifixion,
Kythera’s most famous icon Panayia Mirtidiotissa (Madonna of the Reeds) journeys the island beginning in Chora and visiting as far north as Karava throughout the two weeks of prayer.
For the few unfamiliar with the Panayia Mirtidiotissa, the icon is the most enduring symbol of the global Kytherian identity. Folklore has it, and if you look at the icon in the monastery the story is carved in gold, a shepherd heard his sheep bleating at the reeds where they were grazing and when he went to see what all the fuss was about he found the icon, with its renowned faces of the Holy mother and Child laying there. Bursting with the Miracle he took the Icon to his village but every night the icon would disappear and re-appear in the reeds, till they finally concluded that they should build the church to house the icon on the reeds.
The icon is believed to be from the time of the ransacking of Constantinople and the desecration of Agia Sophia (the central Church of all the Orthodox World). It is possible that the icon suffered in these fires (explaining the blackened faces) and was hidden by pirates as part of larger bounty. The icon began to take on legendary proportions as every Kytherian household learnt of the healing qualities of Panayia Mirtidiotissa. Believers from all over the island as well as the diaspora made pilgrimages to the Panayia asking for help. The Monastery south of Kalokerines is definitely worth a visit, the original tiny chapel is still there, as are the most macabre talismans such as wax legs or wax babies, sent from all over the world. It feels more than coincidental that this icon with its every-mother & child face would suddenly appear in a new landscape – the parallel to the migrant experience is chilling. Innocents abroad
For Kytherian faithfuls Easter time is an extremely moving experience. The priceless Panayia icon leaves Mirtidia, under heavy police escort and is carried on a throne-like
Wooden structure held-up by four people. Initially it goes to Chora where it remains till Easter Saturday – visually it is all very Jesus Christ Superstar crossed with Zorba the Greek.
Easter week is also the pinnacle of the long (and times seemingly endless) 40 day fast.
And it doesn’t get bigger Church-wise than the Giving of Light on Saturday night to mark The Resurrection. All over Greece, home-made bangers go off endlessly during the service. This year in Agia Pelagia the Giving of Light was followed by a 20 minute firework display (very Sydney NYE). But come Easter Sunday out come the fattened lambs on the spit and it is a meatfest. This year an overcast Easter Sunday was washed out by rain and the tradition of roast lambs and picnicking on the beach was relegated to kitchens. (Personally it was a great time as a string of Australian-Greek girlfriends Margaret, Teena and Helen re-united in Kythera after 13 years.)
Throughout the Nea Evthomada (week following Easter Sunday) The Mirtidiotissa is carefully hauled from village to village, overnighting in the various local churches. A gloriously sunny May-day, people of all ages were out collecting wildflowers and making wreaths. So Kythera was ablaze with wildflowers decorating doorways, cars and of course The Mirtidiotissa
The most moving image I witnessed was today, as the icon was being jointly carried by Karavites (people from Karavas) and Pelagiotes (people from Pelagia) with the blue of the sea as background. The quiet strength of the Faithful as they waited to pay respect and worship the icon at the humble church of Agia Pelagia was palatable and then when all the procession had ended the icon was hiked onto the backs of four young strong men for the hike up the winding road from Pelagia to Potamos. The carriers constantly change as the strain is huge but the sense of community is tangible, if we can only convey that unity into maintaining Kythera industrial zoning free, meaning windmill free, maybe we would hear the reeds.
. [[picture:"DSC00266.JPG" ID:15424]]
one of the highlights of the summer in kythera is swimming in the cystral clear waters, go for a swim somewhere on the island in the morning, then a nice lunch somewhere, you will feel like a new person!!
Have a few poor quality 110 film photos of summer in Pelagia in 1971.
My brother and I loved it there. We'd wake up at the crack of dawn and go down to the pier and help the fishermen unload their catch, and spend an hour or two helping them tenderize octopus against the pier wall. Our payment was usually a small octopus, or an eel, or a few cuttlefish.
Then a bit later on in the morning, caiques would come in from the mainland, loaded up with melons and other fruit. We'd help them unload, and get paid with a watermelon.
Rest of the time was spent swimming, building rafts, getting into trouble, running amok etc.
Kalli Minia ke Kalli Hronia (Good month & a Good Year) to all and May peace and humanity prevail and above all good health. The sea is swelling and the bright wintery days of the yiortes (holidays) have been replaced by overcast, bleak rainy days and chilly nights. The bitterness of heemona (winter) is exacerbated further by Tsirigo’s isolation.
What you ask Kythera isolated? Yes since late September we have been plagued by the terminally painful and tedious Boat Syndrome. Initially, the island’s smaller ship that connected the Peloponnese (Neapolis) to Kythera -The Andreas, was supposedly sold-off to an African nation so one fine day in September it just stopped.
That left the Tsirigotes (Kytherians) with the antiquated ship Myrtidiotissa (named after the island Patron Saint -Our Lady of the Myrtle) as our only sea connection to the known world -I write known because I think even the Minoan colonies that lived in ancient Skandeia (Avlemonas/Paliopoli) had more regular sea connections.
Since then the Myrtidiotissa has monopolised all sea connections, performing … well let’s just say less than par ... beginning with the ship’s crew occupying the Myrtidiotissa so as to retrieve their substantial unpaid wages. The ship almost went under the hammer. (Sincerely Greece has some cool labour laws left that the rest of the world can only admire). Once those delays were cleared up then came the rumours about the backdoor being problematic. And once the delays began they kept up their rhythm.
And so the talk in the kafenions (cafes) turned away from how much had been gambled illegally in cards and dice to Pote tha erthi to karavi (when would the ship come). Randomly ask anyone and everyone is in ‘the Know’ (my cousin’s god-daughter’s sister works in the same supermarket as the Phillipino woman who irons the shirts of the neighbour of the Purser….reaaaallllly!!!!!!) Now after a week-long absence and with the ‘show’ back to normality on Monday it supposedly leaves Saturday morning……but I wouldn’t put my Euros on it.
But enough naval contemplation (sea-pun)!!!
2008 is as ripe as any time for serious environmental considerations and action in Kythera…… just as the rest of globe is facing. It might a paradise that took life in oral stories in the back of Cafés in country Australia or other remote hotbeds, but it is also a living thriving reality – that accumulates garbage and sewerage and that is experiencing a building-boom that has never been seen here.
What Kythera needs in 2008 is a global brains trust, Rather than re-inventing the wheel daily – major issues, social, environmental and more can be put forward and various solutions offered by our diasporas family. 2008 marks the exact time when the exchange of ideas and the sharing of professional knowledge can overtake the donation of dollars to rebuild crumpling churches and sofades (cement rendering). Kythera-Family.net has proven that kythophiles can share precious intimate connections – we are already thinking outside the box…….let’s take a further step into the future in 2008. Feel free to email on acominos@hotmail.com
regarding forming a Kythera Brains Trust.
Have a great 2008 and speak to you next week that is if I haven’t succumbed to the urge of to build a ‘Gilligan Island’ style cane windsurfer and go hear Woody Allen play jazz in Athens!!!
Hi, looking for a house or similar to rent
from late May to early September or part of that time. Grandmother Irini Comino, Aroniadika, grandfather,
Dimitri Katsoolis, Katsoolianika. They lived in Yenda, NSW, Where I grew up. Last on Kythera 1981.
Very, very excited to be coming back, bringing three children,16,13 and 10. Two older children
may join us later. Accomodation must be budget and would prefer walking distance to water.
I love Agea Pelagia but only slightly more than anywhere else!! I am Australian living in New Zealand.
Debra Sampson (nee Katsoolis.) Email: debrasampson3@yahoo.co.nz
Hi, looking for a house or similar to rent
from late May to early September 2008, or part of that time. Grandmother Irini Comino, Aroniadika, grandfather,
Dimitri Katsoolis, Katsoolianika. They lived in Yenda, NSW, Where I grew up. I was last on Kythera 1981.
Very, very excited to be coming back, bringing three children,16,13 and 10. Two older children
may join us later. Accomodation must be budget and would prefer walking distance to water.
I love Agea Pelagia but only slightly more than anywhere else!! I am Australian living in New Zealand.
Debra Sampson (nee Katsoolis.) Email: debrasampson3@yahoo.co.nz
by Island Reporter and Astral Traveller Anna Comino
'Well the olive-trees are talking to us' meaning they need a 'klathema' a pruning.
The typical Olive-picking day starts at 6am with a round to the animals to be fed and checked that they haven't escaped and are feeding on anyone else's trees.
Then a elliniko kafe (Greek coffee) and off to the fields at 8am. Laying out of the 'liopana' (Olive sheets on which the picked olives fall). A total area of 500sq metres is laid and then the serious branch pruning commences, before the Coupepe (battery operated long- arm shakers) are held up to each branch and the olives go flying. The lower branches are combed with a traditional olive brush (bit like a kiddies' sand rake). Once a tree is "mazevid" (collected) the olive-loaded liopana are tipped into a 'koskinistra' (a sorter which separates the branches and leaves) and the olives then roll into 50kg Brazilian coffee sacks.
And the whole process is repeated again until all olive trees bearing fruit are picked. We currently, after 2 weeks, have done about 200 of 500 trees.
I have been amiss not to mention the romance of the olive: the smells, the abundance of leaves, the impressionists colours of each unique tree spanning from grey, to green, to rose, to shiraz, to cabernet, to burgundy. Texas tea but god we still have 300 bloody trees to go.
Wishing you where all here (with an olive brush in hand)
Mick Georgas [Eleftheria M Georgas [deceased] Vlahogeni, from Mylopotamo, Stavroula T Cominou, Theodoros Cominos, Gloria Contoleou from ACT, [all deceased], at Limniona 1972
ferry boat andreas two that runs kythera - napoli docks at agia pelagia, must of been to rough at diakofti that day.nice to see boats back at agia pelagia again where they should dock!
After the rain on the way to the spring of Agia Pelagia. Imagine how delicious the wet earth and all the herbs smell when it suddenly rained after a long time.
This beautiful eulogy was written and spoken by Georgia (my daughter), at Nanna's funeral last Friday. It was adapted from a school assignment she did in term 1 as part of the Religion syllabus at St John's College. She thought it would make a perfect tribute for our wonderful Mother, Mother in Law, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother & Aunt.
She spoke beautifully and straight from the heart. We were all very moved and so proud of the courage Georgia showed to stand up & speak in front of so many people. We believe Nanna would also have been very proud.
- Kristi Ulgiati.
We gather here today to give thanks to God for the long life that he granted my Great Grandmother. We enjoyed every moment that we spent together and are all better people for having known her.
I would like to share with you some details from of her remarkable, long life.
Born Chrisanthe Georgopoulous on the 17th of January 1910 in her home in a tiny sea side village called Agia Pelagia on the island of Kythera, Greece. Chrisanthe was the youngest of six children having two brothers, Manuel & Peter and three sisters Vretoula, Metaxia and Stamatia.
Their Mother’s name was Eleni, and their father’s name was Theodore. Chrisanthe never really knew her father as he died suddenly when she was three months old, which left her mother to raise the six children on her own. They were a poor family who relied on a small herd of goats, a few chickens a vegetable garden, some olive and fruit trees to provide food for the family and generate some income. Their family home was a small cottage which consisted of two bedrooms a small kitchen and living area combined, there was no electricity, sewerage or running water. The children would collect water from the well and fire wood from around the village each day. They had to bathe in the ocean as they had no modern conveniences such as we enjoy today. Despite the hardships they were a very close family and Chrisanthe was the favorite as she was the baby. Her older brothers and sisters left Greece when they were old enough to find work. Chrisanthe stayed at home and cared for her mother right up until she left her homeland for Australia.
As a child Chrisanthe had very little schooling. When she did attend school a couple of days a week, it was a five mile walk each way up a steep mountain side to reach the school house. She made this walk barefoot as she didn’t have a pair of shoes to wear until she was nine years of age. Despite her lack of formal education she was one of the wisest people I have ever known & the lessons she taught could not be found in a book or classroom.
Chrisanthe came to Australia in 1936 where she married my great grandfather Paul Yannakellis. They were married in the Greek Orthodox Church in Bourke Street, Sydney and later made their home in the Central West town of Gilgandra. Here they ran a restaurant business working 14 hour days seven days a week. Chrisanthe could speak no English when she arrived in Australia but soon made friends with her customers who helped her along. They changed their surname to “Kelly” so it would be easier for their non-Greek friends and customers to pronounce. Chrisanthe came to be known as Chrissy or Nanna Kelly to the many friends she made over her life time.
Chrisanthe had four children. Stella (my grandmother), Eleni (who died as an infant), George and Theo ( my Great uncles). They lived in the family home in the main street of Gilgandra and all worked in the family business along with various relatives who came and went over the years.
There were very few other Greek families in Gilgandra until the 1940’s and 50’s where country towns became popular for immigrant families. The nearest Greek Orthodox Church was located in Dubbo so the family would travel as much as they could to come to religious celebrations. At such gatherings they would enjoy the company of other Greek families from neighbouring towns.
Chrisanthe’s husband passed away suddenly when he was in his early 60’s leaving her and the three adult children to look after each other and keep the business going. She did this until two of her children took over the business in the 1970’s, converting it from a restaurant to a supermarket. My great grandmother continued to work until she was in her mid 80’s.
Chrisanthe’s health started to fail and she was lonely without any family living nearby so she moved into a retirement village in Gilgandra. Eventually she decided to also move to Dubbo to be nearer to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We give thanks for the life of our Yaya who was a special lady. She was a gentle, happy person and even when someone made her upset she never let it show. She didn’t like any conflict in her family. Her family was her whole life.
When we used to visit Yaya at her home in Gilgandra, I remember there were always wonderful things to eat. My favorite was the Greek short bread biscuits she made. They are called kourabiethes. The whole family would come together for Sunday lunch we would talk and eat. She would cook all the traditional Greek food we love. When my Uncle Theo came home from Sydney & Uncle George brought his family from England it was cause for extra celebration and she would spend many days cooking all their favourite dishes no matter if the temperature in her kitchen was over 40 degrees. Anyone who was ever a guest at Yaya’s table would know that she would never let you leave until the last morsel of food was gone. She loved to cook and her house always smelled delicious.
I really loved Yaya’s house. It had three bedrooms but she chose to sleep on the verandah. She liked the cool breeze through the louver windows. I loved her lounge room the most. She had a bar with lots of Greek drinks in colorful bottles but she rarely drank alcohol herself. Perhaps an occasional cold shandy with my Grandpa after a hard day working in the garden. Her favorite drink was a good hot cup of tea. She had an open fire and a piano which is now at my house and I’m learning to play. She had one cabinet which was filled with her special treasures, my favorite were her Greek dolls which I loved to play with. Her home was modest. She didn’t care very much for fancy things but it was a home filled with love and everyone who entered was made feel welcome. When the time came it was very sad for her to leave her home and many friends in Gilgandra.
She loved her garden and spent a great deal of time looking after her fruit trees and keeping her vegetable garden. There were lots of fruit trees, but my favorite was the mandarin tree where I could reach up and pick the fruit to eat.
From Yaya I have learn’t that life isn’t always easy and you have to work hard to have what you want in life. I also learn’t that being angry to people and getting upset over little things is not worth the worry so just be kind and forgiving. She tried to teach all of us that. My Yaya had a very strong belief in God and has kept her Greek Orthodox faith although she was very old and frail. She believed that she will be reunited with my Papoo in the world to come.
When we went to visit her in the nursing home, I had mixed feelings about it. Sometimes felt sad that she couldn’t be with us at home. Other days when she was happy I was happy. My sister and I would do dances and she clapped along, she smiled and had a good chat with us. She had days when she felt sick or too tired to talk but she always knew who we were and her eyes told us she was very happy to see us.
Even though her quality of life was not so great towards the end she was not one to complain & her good manners never waivered. All the nurses who helped care for her loved her & would tell us that she was always so grateful for the care they provided.
All of us who have shared a part of yaya’s life journey loved her and will never forget her. She will be waiting happily with her husband and other loved ones in heaven for us to meet again.
days gone by the flying dolphin arrives at agia pelagia from athens taking about 5 hours to get to kythera,now no flying dolphins and most shipping is at diakofti. photo taken early eighties.
one of the many choices you have for a swim at agia pelagia, firi ammos beach however with some illegal home buiding close to the beach it has been ruined somewhat.but never the less nice spot for a swim.
This image is part of a photographic documentary series entitled “One Year on Kythera”. “One Year on Kythera” was created by photographer Kristina Williamson, who spent one calender year living on Kythera, documenting the lives of Kytherians today; what aspects of traditional life remain in practice and in what ways the island is changing.
To view more of her work or to purchase photographic prints please visit her website at:www.kristinawilliamson.com
This image is part of a photographic documentary series entitled “One Year on Kythera”. “One Year on Kythera” was created by photographer Kristina Williamson, who spent one calender year living on Kythera, documenting the lives of Kytherians today; what aspects of traditional life remain in practice and in what ways the island is changing.
To view more of her work or to purchase photographic prints please visit her website at:www.kristinawilliamson.com
'Skoulandris' – Kaliope’s Room Nine Muses
Ayia Pelayia Kythera 25 October 2005 – Morning light.
Cape Maleas, crested with a canopy of cloud is highlighted by the risen sun. The sea gently laps on the pebbled beach. The Straits of Kythera smooth into the Sea Crete. A woman scarfed and clothed in black sits on a bench and watches, hopefully - a ship!
Perhaps a letter, a husband away so long, a son so far away as Australia.
Perhaps tomorrow.
This is Greece, this is Kythera, this is Ayia Pelagia
Kalliope Fatseas (Fatsadika) 1889
Panayotis Emmanuel Fatseas
d 1934
West Maitland NSW Australia
Panayotitsa Psaros(Milopotamos) 1912
Theodoros Dimitrios Psaros
d 1981
Inverell NSW Australia
hello! I have been to Kythera nearly 25 years ago. I visited Dieter Wolf and his wife up in the hills of agia P. Is it somehow possible to get in contact with him, because I want to go to Kythera in 2006? Thanks to all who can help me!!
My wife Helen, and two daughters lived in Agia Pelagia where we owned a kafenio, I was born in Karava and my wife who's maiden name is Comino was born in Australia.. GREAT SITE
My Father was born in Karava. My sister, mother, father and I lived in Agia Pelagia where we owned a restaurant back in 1986.
KYTHERA - is very much in our hearts.
I am an Australian born member of the Megaloconomos family. My grandfather migrated to Australia in the early 1900s and owned businesses in Charleville and Stanthorpe before returning to Kythera with his partner Augusta, daughter Ruby and son Michael. My grandmother returned to Australia pregnant with my father Peter. In the 1950s my uncle and my father's step brother Michael arrived in Australia and they had a business partnership operating a milk bar in Nundah, Brisbane. Michael and his wife Freda returned to Agia Pelagia in the 1970s. I was fortunate to be able to travel to Kythera in 1972 and meet my grandfather. My father followed in 1973 and met his father for the first time. Although my family is very Australian and I speak no Greek I have a great interest in learning more about my roots. I intend to travel to Kythera again soon. In the meantime I would love to correspond with any Kytherians who would be able to share their stories of Kythera and perhaps my Greek family.
something you dont see anymore the flying dolphin at agia pelagia.i suppose alot of us have arrived and left the island on the dolphin over the years. now the dolphin doesnt come to kythera.
This photo was taken in 1975 by Ruby Perry (Megaloconomos). It features Ruby's father Angelo Megaloconomos and his grandson - also Angelo. It was taken at a farmhouse in the hills behind Agia Pelagia.
one of the popular beaches agia pelagia side although bad planning has allowed new houses to be built virtually on the beach which should not be allowed.
lots of summer dinners and lunches at one of the best restaurants at agia pelagia. some nights you can dine to live greek music and look out to the beautiful sea.
[Tony is a Real Estate agent in Liverpool, Sydney, Australia. In the past decade he has travelled to Kythera every Kytherian summer. Town of origin: Ayia Pelagia. Parachoukli Alai].
Food sharing.
The Italians used to go to Ayia Pelagia a lot. They used to give us whatever food they had left over in "billy cans" - and we would go back and share it with the family.
They were very good to us. They were very good......
The Germans were very cold and aloof.....but the Italians were "more like us.."....
Boat re-building.
My father Theothoros, had a small boat, with a sail, moored in the water at Ayia Pelagia. Di Giorgio, the Italian Commandanto took a liking to the boat...and he used to sail backwards and forwards along the shores with it.
One day a massive storm arose - and although the boat was tied with a heavy rope...the boat was smashed. It had to be fully re-built.
Di Giorgio had the Karavas boat builder Michaelis Souris, Vlahos, rebuild the boat.....and then he gave it back to my dad.....
Life-saving.
One day, on an impulse, with my young brother John, I decided to take the boat for a row around the wharf. A big blow came in, and began to take us out to sea. The Commandanto saw us. He took off his shirt, and swam out to the boat....and he got us.
When he got into the boat, he got me by two elbows and hung me over the side of the boat...he scared the daylights out of me....but he had no bad intentions......
[Tony Fardoulys is a Real Estate agent in Liverpool, Sydney, Australia. In the past decade he has travelled to Kythera every Kytherian summer. Town of origin: Ayia Pelagia. Parachoukli Alai. He recalls the following about sea mines].
Sea mines - are called nurki or nurkes (plural). They were big and round ....about 1½ metres wide. They had detonators every 7-8 inches ( 16 cm's). Many of them washed ashore in Kythera.
To immobilise them they were dragged out to shore. Kytherians would stand in the water up to shoulder height, and slowly unscrew all the detonators. Once there was no longer any chance of their exploding, the men would use chisels to cut them in half - like a watermelon.
They used to chisel along a seam in the mine, which ran from end to end. Inside was two tanks, and between the two tanks were all the explosives and detonators.
On either end were two plates - like steel caps - which were fastened with bolts. The men would unscrew those to gain access to the wires linked to the detonators.
When they obtained the cordite, they put it in jam tins to store it, and then used it to make small bombs with....usually for fishing.
The drum halves of the mine shells were often used as feed troughs for animals. For example to put hay in for the donkeys. These are still in use at Kalamitsi, near Ayia Pelagia for this purpose.
[Tony is a Real Estate agent in Liverpool, Sydney, Australia. In the past decade he has travelled to Kythera every Kytherian summer. Town of origin: Ayia Pelagia. Parachoukli Alai].
In 1942, He remembers as a young child of 9 years of age, watching a ship come towards the shoreline at Ayia Pelegia. "I was watching...because I had nothing else to do." This ship was being guarded by a small aeroplane.....I remember it so clearly.....it would curl up towards Panagia Thespina, then back again...and then it came very low towards the beach....then the plane came in very, very low....too low...and, two men jumped out.....I saw them swimming. The plane came down , and skidded towards the beach - and it came to a stop on the beach - in the sand.
"I saw the people continuing to swim to shore."
We went down later....and looked around the plane....it was just a little plane.
[Theo actually witnessed the jettisoning of the plane into Ayia Pelagia Beach. The exact spot was at Neo Kosmo beach - which is between where the church of Ayia Pelagia is now, and Firi Ammos Beach. The land where the bomb beached was owned by the Fardoulys family (not Theo's family - but Kaloyrithi was their parachoukli.]
"I was told that a few days later they took the plane away by winching it onto a ship.
The next time I went past I saw the bomb there. Apparently it had been dislodged from the plane during the winching process, and had not been taken away. As kids were used to jump and play on it. I used to play on it with by younger brother John and other children from Ayia Pelagia. It was just a hunk of iron to us. Less than a metre long.
The bomb remained there for the best part of the summer ....for many months. We used to go a lot there...and noone was taking any notice of it.
Towards the end of the summer, whilst my parents and uncles were harvesting beans...they were seperating them out and using the iloni to crush the beans....it was then that I heard the explosion....I looked and I saw debris and smoke mushrooming up from the place where the church was. [Not in the same location as the current church in Ayia Pelagia.] I rushed to tell my uncle and father who were working behind the buildings...It was a very loud explosion.
Only the floor of the church was left. It was black and white and all burned.
We all went down there...quite a few people had gathered by then.....and I saw two men dead. One was lying on his back inside the church....he had no clothes on....he was very burnt.....I remember it so clearly.
I had never seen a dead person before. The other man was lying by the seaside, where the litle waves were hitting his body.
Sophios was one of the few people with a camera on the island at the time. I have never seen a photo of the devastation......
...The nose piece of the bomb, which was extremely hard, remained there for many years....
I left Kythera in 1949. There was still no church in Ayia Pelegia...it hadn't been re-built.
When I went back in 1974, a small iconostasi like structure had been erected where the old church stood. People light candles there.
The new chuch at Ayia Pelagia was built by 1974, but I am not sure exactly when it was built."
[This account explains how the bomb got onto the beach at Neo Kosmos in the first place.
It establishes the exact location of the bomb.
And, is the first eye witness account of the actual bomb detonating that I have encountered.]
In 1942, a bomb appeared on the beach near Firi Ammos. It had failed to detonate. It remained on the beach for many months.
The feast day of Ayia Patrikia, was traditionally celebrated in the small church of Ayia Patrikia - which is situated between Karavas and Ayia Pelagia. [As of early Oct 2004, no photograph of Ayia Patrikia has been posted to the web-site]. In 1942, this ceremony drew its usual very large crowd.
In the meantime, three Karavitithes, Haralambos Coroneos ("'I Horyos"), Nicholas Souris ("Varvarkis"), and Yiannis Mavrogeorgios ("Fatseas"), decided that they would move the bomb from the beach at Firi Ammos into the church at Ayia Pelagia.
Haralambos and Nicholas used a chisel and hammer, to try and gain access to the gunpowder inside the bomb. Yiannis was posted at the front door of the church to act as lookout. All were keen fishermen who used the "trotilli"" - "dynamite" technique for fishing. They were keen to gain a free supply of this "valuable" commodity.
At the time of the liturgy at neighbouring Ayia Patrikia, a massive explosion was heard. The ceremony was disrupted, as church-goers rushed off to find the cause of the explosion.
They arrived at the church to find that it had been "blown to kingdom come". None of the original building remained standing. Haralambos and Nicholas were dead, and Yannis, "the guard", had been blown 20-30 metres out onto the beachside. He was in a state of severe shock. He was taken away, and cared for by Italian soldiers, then in charge of the area.
Haralambos and Nicholas were later buried in the cemetry at Karavas.
This is how my father, Con George (Tzortzo)Poulos ("O Hlihlis") recalls the event. He was 26 at the time.
Questions:
It is quite surprising that this event hasn't been recorded on the kythera-island web-site previously?
What are other Kytherian's memory of this event?
I wonder whether a photograph of the devastating aftermath of this tragedy exists?
This is the nick name of my paternal grandfather, George Zantiotis (Originally from Karava). [Also Sarandakos].
The name is derived from "Saronto", which too was his grand fathers given name (my great great grand father). The name comes from "Zante", originally from Zakynthos.
As "Saronto" had children, they were refered as "Sarandako", I suppose a cute way of associating children with the original name? and it has been passed down the 'family tree' since. Even me, my brother and other cousins from the same family tree are refered to, by this nickname.
This nickname was also handed out, at a time where mass migration within Greece used to occur. Reasons for this are unknown, although some ponder that it may be events like earth quakes, and other synonymous activities.
My grandfather, husband to Dimitra (Franzeskakis), father to 5 children:
Matina (Sydney Australia),
Harry (Sydney Australia - My Father),
Thanasi(Athens Greece),
Peter (Agia Pelagia Kythera)
Zoe (Agia Pelagia Kythera).
Hello Kythera-Family.net,
Thank you for such a marvelous site.
I know that a lot of effort has gone into making this a very special piece of web-real-estate, and a sacred resource for Kytherians around the world.
Keep up the good work :)
(An extract from the memoirs of Prof. Manuel J. Aroney)
[[picture:"military2.jpg" ID:827]] My father Dimitrios Aronis and colleague doing military service in the Gendarmerie in Greece. Photograph taken circa 1906 prior to Dimitrios leaving for Australia.
A sombre mood hung over the village of Aroniadika on the Greek island of Kythera as on this day in 1908 one of its favourite sons was leaving. Dimitrios Aronis, son of Emmanuel Aronis (Beys or Moustakas), was about to undertake a journey to far off Australia – the other end of the world. Goodbyes were said to those visiting the family home and to others congregated in the nearby village square, the Platia Tsiyoura, which served as a communal meeting place. Here lived memories of happy Summer night revelry, singing and dancing to the music of violin and lute but they in time would fade almost to obscurity.
A prayer at the Church of Ayios (Saint) Sotiras, candles lit for divine protection, then Dimitrios set out astride a donkey escorted by his closest relatives and friends, heading north along the dirt track that passed for the island’s main road. The group wended its way in the direction of the town of Potamos then beyond it to a staging post identified by an engraved bronze plaque as the “place of tears, joy and sorrow”. Dimitrios Aronis embraced and kissed his mother Garifalia in an emotional farewell and his other relatives, all members of the Aronis clan. His father Emmanuel Aronis had died the previous year. Many tears and anguish, since it was known that those undertaking this long journey rarely returned but, in the unlikely event that they did, the reunion would be one of great joy.
[[picture:"monument2.jpg" ID:825]] The place of tears, joy and sorrow – This monument was erected in 1908 to commemorate the place where families and friends farewelled those going abroad.
Photograph provided by Mr M. Sofios of Potamos.
[[picture:"monument.jpg" ID:826]] Close up of the engraved bronze plaque commemorating “the place of tears, joy and sorrow”.
Photograph provided by Mr M. Sofios of Potamos.
A few hardy souls persevered beyond this point, pressing further north and negotiating the tortuous hilly and often precipitous pathway to the distant port of Ayia Pelayia. Dimitrios waited for the ship to Piraeus which, when it arrived, was forced to anchor some way offshore clear of the shallows. Final farewells said, he clambered onto the back of a hired boatman and was carried to a rowboat that would take him and a few others to the vessel waiting further out. He was leaving the land and the life so close to his heart and heading for the great unknown but within him lay the hope, so often expressed in later years, that one day he would return. Regrettably this was not to be.
[[picture:"departure.jpg" ID:830]] Photographs depicting people departing Kythera from Agia Pelagia by rowboat to ships anchored offshore.
Photograph provided by Mr M. Sofios of Potamos.
It was goodbye to Kythera, immortalized in ancient chronicles as the island of the Goddess Aphrodite. From here, legend has it, Paris eloped with Helen of Troy precipitating the launch of a “thousand ships” and heralding the start of the Trojan War. The ship ploughed its way through waters steeped in history and mythology, crossing the straits to Cape Malea, the southern-most tip of the Peloponnisian peninsula and, not much later, the ancient Byzantine fortress of Monemvasia came into view. In twelve hours or so Dimitrios found himself in the port city of Piraeus and thereafter the capital Athens only a few miles inland.
Travelling to Australia in those days involved first crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Port Said or Alexandria in Egypt and waiting for an ocean-going ship bound for the southern continent. The journey on the Roon was long and arduous, terminating on the 17th of December 1908 in Sydney at the eastern edge of the vast island nation of Australia. Dimitrios was just twenty-three years old at the time. Like most of the inhabitants of Kythera he had very little schooling; the village of Aroniadika was in the northern part of the island in a relatively poor region and far distant from the capital Hora which was the centre of the educated, cultured and administrative class. His destiny, had he stayed, would have been to work the small land holdings owned by the family, tending olive groves, grape vines, almond trees, vegetable gardens. Add goats, sheep and sometimes fish caught in the waters off the island, and that was it – subsistence living at a low level. Further, the land of the north was generally barren and rocky, not good for agriculture and unable to sustain a large family no matter how intensively it was worked. Dimitrios was one of eleven children, the eldest of which was George followed in turn by Maria and Marouli (both of whom died young), Stamatia, Anthousa, Evgenia, Dimitrios, Minas, Panayiotis, Alexandra and Erofile. To augment his income, their father Emmanuel had a blacksmith’s shop in the neighbouring village of Friligianika and for much of the time he laboured there with his son Dimitrios.
Over the previous decades a number of villagers had left Aroniadika to seek work and a better life in Athens, Piraeus, Smyrna (in Asia Minor) and generally in countries bordering the Mediterranean and Black Seas. A few ventured further afield to North America and even as far as Australia. As it transpired, eight of the brothers and sisters would migrate to the USA or Australia; one of the sisters, Erofile, remained in Kythera with her mother.
Dimitrios was particularly drawn to Australia because it was known that others from Kythera had been able to establish businesses in Sydney - restaurants, oyster bars, fruit shops - and this type of work required very little knowledge of English. Newcomers were enticed with the promise of jobs by shop proprietors needing good hard workers who would tolerate harsh conditions without complaining and these could most easily be found by persuading others from the Kytherian villages to join them – a chain migration from the island. Dimitrios became a cook labouring in the kitchens of cafes, grilling steaks or fish, peeling potatoes, opening oysters, washing endless piles of plates, and so on. For five years he worked at the Harbour View Cafe at 5 Pitt Street Sydney and after that in various other Greek-owned shops in the city. The hours were long, the wages low, and it was essential to lead a frugal life – after all, money borrowed for the fare from Greece had to be repaid and financial support was needed by the family in Kythera. It didn’t help that he was a quiet soulful man who yearned for the warmth and love of his family but, like it or not, he had to come to terms with the hard life and solitude of this alien land.
Dimitrios, later to be my father, was never a hard-driving entrepreneurial type nor a self-promoter. Rather he was an easygoing peaceful man, well regarded by everyone, and a diligent conscientious worker. I remember him as such in later years of his life and these impressions have been confirmed by others who knew him as a young man. It was remarkable that in November 1996, while I was in Kythera, I met Mr Panayiotis Drakakis (also known as Ellinas) at his home in the village of Drimona and despite his ninety-eight years, he remembered my father well and told me that they were working together in 1913-14 at Petro Galanis’ cafe in Campbell Street in the Haymarket area of Sydney. My father was a cook while Mr Drakakis waited on tables. He went on to mention that my father’s brother Minas also worked in that cafe for a time; almost certainly he came to Australia with Dimitrios. Minas was dapper and had a characteristic physical defect – he had lost his right hand and part of the arm while throwing dynamite into the sea off Kythera in what was an effective but wasteful form of fishing, quite common in those days but later prohibited by law.
The Sydney of that era was vastly different to the large cosmopolitan city that it is today. Australia then was a very isolated insular country, a far-flung part of the mighty British Empire, and it was very parochial and Anglocentric. The few hundred Greeks of Sydney, in common with others scattered about the continent, were regarded as unwanted foreigners and accorded a lowly status in the social order. Their strange-sounding names were derided – long and difficult to pronounce. Dimitrios was too much to take so it became common practice for anyone with that name to be called Jim. Also surnames ending in “s” seemed wrong to English ears, so Aroney was imposed for Aronis. Thus my father emerged, in Anglo perception at least, as Jim Aroney.
The host community was virulently racist and anti-Greek attitudes were exacerbated by Greece’s neutrality in the early part of the first world war at a time when British and Australian troops were fighting the Germans and the Turks in Asia Minor and the Middle East. In December 1915 anti-Greek violence exploded in the main streets of central Sydney where mobs of drunken rioters, soldiers and civilians, smashed the windows of Greek shops causing serious damage to many premises. Greece was later to enter the war on the side of the British but the xenophobic attitudes of the Anglo-Australians left a bitter legacy in the minds of the Greek settlers and racial tensions were to persist for decades. Dimitrios decided to leave Australia to join his relatives in the USA and, departing late in 1916, he travelled to Boston to try out life in America.
[[picture:"passport.jpg" ID:828]] My father’s passport issued by the Greek Consulate of Sydney in 1916. This passport enabled him to travel from Australia to the USA.
Source: "Kythera Summer Edition"
If you would like to subscribe to this wonderful yearly publication send your details and payment (A$12 per year) to Metaxia Poulos, Kythera Summer Edition, Mylopotamos, Kythera 80100.
Information:
Greece: Tel. +27360 . 34152, Fx. 31879
Australia: +267 . 664807
