Mavrochori | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 40°30′44″N 21°19′13″E / 40.51222°N 21.32028°E | |
Country | Greece |
Geographic region | Macedonia |
Administrative region | Western Macedonia |
Regional unit | Kastoria |
Municipality | Kastoria |
Municipal unit | Makednoi |
Population (2021)
[1] | |
• Community | 1,379 |
Time zone | UTC+2 ( EET) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC+3 ( EEST) |
Mavrochori ( Greek: Μαυροχώρι(οv), meaning "black village"; before 1928: Μαύροβον - Mavrovon [2]) is a village on the shores of Lake Orestiada in Kastoria regional unit of Macedonia, Greece. [3]
Today Mavrochori is a tourist destination for a quiet vacation near the lake of Kastoria. [4] In addition to the trade fair, festive events take place on the 13th - 15 August of the Assumption of Mary, where the Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa celebrates (it was built by General George Palaiologos in commemoration of the victory against the Normans in 1083). [5] The Mavrochori Nautical Club also operates in the village. [6]
It was in existence at least from 1380 [5] and is denoted, under the name Mavrobo, in the British Baldwin & Craddock Map of Greece which was published on 1 January 1830. [7] The name Mavros, together with the name Krepeni, is found in a title deed executed by Serbian nobleman Nikola Bagaš. [8]
In the end of the 18th century the patriarch of the Mavrovitis family moved his people from the nearby Krepeni village to Mavrovo in order to avoid a plague pandemic, and it is believed that people were frequently moving between Krepeni and Mavrovo. [5]
The Monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, originally named Mesonisiotissa (meaning "in the middle of the island"), was built near the village. [5]
Mavrochori had a historical relationship with both the Mavriotissa monastery as well as with the nearby village of Krepeni. [5]
During Ottoman rule, Mavrovo was populated by Christians and Muslims, it had one Greek school and one Muslim school and five inns. [9]
The Greek census (1920) recorded 1062 people in the village and in 1923 there were 450 inhabitants (or 45 families) who were Muslim. [10] Following the Greek-Turkish population exchange, in 1926 within Mavrovo there were refugee families from Asia Minor (55), Pontus (19) and one other from an unidentified location. [10] The Greek census (1928) recorded 1065 village inhabitants. [10] There were 72 refugee families (320 people) in 1928. [10] There were two mosques and two Muslim cemeteries in the village, later all destroyed. [11]