Haravgi, 17km from Kalamata, is a mountainous settlement, which belongs to the Municipal District of Sotirianika. It is one of the oldest villages of the Municipality of Avia. During its peak there were 350 inhabitants, but by the time of the 1991 census the number of residents who registered was just 63.

As there are no fertile plains in this area, the main occupations of the few inhabitants are  olive tree growing, cattle breeding and the construction business.

At a prominent place in the settlement there is the impressive fortress of the Kapetanakides family inside which is the Chapel of Prophet Ilias. Unfortunately,  the buildings are badly damaged, but  all the necessary proceedings have been made by the Archeological Service for its restoration. However, due to the prevailing bureaucracy, no start has been made on the restoration work. Through this newspaper,  the Cultural Association of Haravgi would like to appeal to everyone who has the means, to press for  action on this  project –  if only even to allow   the restoration of the roof, which is in danger of falling down (it is the Association which will cover the restoration costs!).

Opposite the fortress, there is another castle named Vardia (watch tower), which is fenced and which is not accessible to visitors.  Both of the fortresses were built at some  distance from the seaside  far below  and became  obse-rvation posts for invasions by pirates.  From them the residents would be alerted of any attack giving them time and to take  refuge amongst the precipitious mountain cliffs. Outside the castle, there is the grave of Kapetanakis.

The region is supplied with water from the springs of Kentro and Altomira. However, the  drain is still uncovered and it is dangerous. There is a serious problem with the transferring of the local  cemetery to another place far from the village. There is land, which belongs to the church which could be used for this purpose.

There is a road plan which reduces  the distance to Kalamata by about 2.5 km. The road begins at Haravgi and ends at Aloi-moneika. There is no transport, however, because the road is too narrow. There is another road scheme  for  Haravgi – Sotirianika – Kentro. The residents consider that this road is of  great importance as it will prevent the settlement from being so isolated and it will help the development of the mountainous area.  The work started in 1990  but since then   only 1500 m of road has been opened.

The rural roads are satisfactory. There is an important cobbled road that gives acess to Agios Nikolaos Church. Half  of it is in  good condition, but the  rest needs to be repaired. There is no signpost, so the village can only be discovered  by luck.

An important event is the village fete, organized by the Cultural Association of Haravgi, Agios Nikolaos, which takes place on the second Sunday of the Carnival. Many of participants come to the village from every part of Greece. In the olden days, the villagers wore disguises and used to make big fires. Now there is still a popular festival with folk dances and songs.  Whilst there are other village festivals, this is the main fete of the region.  It was held at the central place of the village until 1992. In 1993 the Association acquired a building with an area of 230 square metres so since then this has been the location  of the fete. The land for the building was donated by Mr. Ioannis Panagiotou Mitseas and the membersΥ subscriptions and other donations covered the construction and furnishing costs of the building.

The Association was established in 1992, and its activities increase year by year. The aim of the Association is to enhance the cultural level of the locality  and to strengthen ties between the members.

We would like to thank Mr. Stelios Mitseas, President of the Cultural Association Agios Niko-laos HaravgisΣ for the information he has given us.

Antonios Roumaneas

Location-History – Monu-ments:  Flomohory belongs to the Inner Mani,  municipal district of Kotronas, East  Mani. ItΥs one of the most beautiful and traditional villages of Mani.  Its long history and  legends are given by the high towers and the tower – houses which dominate the village. A characteristic, which concerns all the villages of the Inner Mani, is the presence of are more towers than churches. In the central place of  Flomoxori there is the grandiose church of Agias Triados (Trinity), (inau-gurated in 1933).

Apart the traditional towers of the families which dominated the region,  there are many ancient churches  in Flomohori, (as Agii Asomati, 13th century) -unique monuments of the Byzantine period. It have also been discovered ruins of a basilica dated from the old-Christian period.  Many of those churches and some other towers are completely abandoned to the decay of time, surrendered in desertion. The churches which take a special place in the village life until our days are: Panagia, close to the village s cemetery (fete on August 15th), Taxiarhis (November 8th), Agios Spyridon (December 12th), Agios Ioannis settlement of Vata ( January 7th), AnalipsiΣ (Ascension) settlement of Zouda, Agia Paraskevi, settlement of Halikia (July 26) etc. There are also two churches in Flomoxori both dedicated to Agios Georgios one up to the mountain Makrynaros (Dimakogiannis – Lekkakou Families)   and  the other is in the village (Georgakakou family).

POPULATION-OCCUPATION: There are about 250 residents in the village (including the small settlements of Zouda, Halikia and Vata ). During the summer   this number may be 1000!. Their main occupation is cattle-breeding and olive cultivation –   a few ones are fishermen. Near Flomohori there is a very beautiful beach with pebbles, to the settlement Xalkia. The access becomes by an asphalted road and the summer is full of people.

TRANSPORT – ROAD CONS-TRUCTION – RURLA ROADS: Flomoxori is connected with the village around with roads in a good condition, but there isnt  the double indicating line   and the  traffic lights is insufficient – to many abrupt turns there arent protective  bars. For the transport, there are buses twice a day to Areopoli   (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). There  are many rural roads which  contribute to the development of olive tree cultivation, but it has to be always subsistence.

WATER SUPPLY:  Flomoxori receive drinkable water from an older drilling  (which have been done near the village) – for the other needs there is a water supply   net work,  from a drilling in the nearest area called Kotrona.   Mainly in August there are many serious problems of watering (because of the increase of the consumption, etc.)- for this reason, they all have well conserved their water-tank.

CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT:  Though Flomohori had all the preconditions, finally it did not become the seat of the new municipal district. However, there is a very active association (resided in Aigaleo – Athens) – and after a continuous effort, they succeeded to associate all the people who come from this village and they have offered an important work to the village.  Many small and big work we mentioned above has been done thanks to this association! The Cultural Centre of thw village will be finished in a short time. It is  a big two storied, stony building – which will be an ornament for the village. There also a cultural centre which belongs to the church. The association orga-nizes annually a   ball in Athens and a traditional feast on 15 August assembling many people from the area.

The association organizing every year a dance in Athens and a traditional feast in the village on August 15  and thousands of people who are friends from all the area are coming together.

There is also an infant school and a 3 teachers school in Flomohori.

The area is developing quickly, but it is very important that the new houses and the restorations of the old buildings, to be by the traditional way, with stone, and   not spoilt the most beautiful traditional village of Mani.

G.P.DIMAKOGIANNIS

The Municipal Depar-tment of Kryoneri, Municipality of Oitylo, consists from the settlements Kato Karea (Balavista) and Kryo-neri since 1996 untill 1998 when it was jointed to the com-munities of Oitylo, Germa, Karea and Neo Oitylo. So we have the (small) Municipality of Oitylo which jointed the (big) Municipality of Oitylo.

Kryoneri is built at the foot of a hill, surrounded by plane trees and springs with fresh water. There are 200 inhabitants in the department and the main occupation is the culture of olive tree as well as the domestic cattle breeding.

It is only 4 kilometers far from Oitylo and it belongs to the Aposkieri Mani (shady Mani), in the central strategic area with the old and important centres of Oitylo and of Kelefas, facing the Mylolagados  seaside. This bright green dale traverse the inland area with the picturesque villages Karea, Kryo-neri, Germa and the Convent of Tsigos, ends at the safe bay of Oitylo, the main and important port of the peninsula through the centuries.

The small fields and the houses made of stone are raised around the church of Prophet Ilias and the church of Virgin Mary composing the village centre. The authenticity of the landscape, combined with the historical tradition of the area reveal one more precious view of the dominion of Mani.

The most important problem is the watering of the village especially during the summer. Recently, a drilling has been done near the bridge. As it was unfit to drink they did not continue to develop it. Another drilling realized by Mr. Tsapatsari Kon., ex Secretary of the Community, proved that there are sufficient quantities of water, and after the chemical analysis they can make use of it.

The rural road con-struction is good enou-gh, and after certain improvements of main-taining, it will be safer. The road that leads to Georgokaraka needs to be covered with a new asphalt covering, because the damages at the edge of the road make it very dange-rous. There is a transport service to Gythion twice a day (in the morning and in the midday) by the buses of the Prefecture of Lakonia, during the school year. The rest of the year it is related to Gythion only once a day. As it belongs to the mountain region there must be done a strong, joint and continuous effort to achieve the resolution of the problems and so to keep a part of the young people of the region in place.

Antonis Roumaneas

History – Monuments

It is a prehestoric settlement with neolithic findings at the location Svina (Platanos in Thalames). Stone spades, tools and pseudomorphic Mycenean urns have been spotted. It be-longed to the Koino of Lakedemonion, that is the Society of Lakedemonii and the Koino of Eleftherolakonon  that is the So-ciety of Eleftherolakones.

It constituted a remarkable center of the Ancient times with temples, bronze statues, a holy spring and an oracle that used dreams to give its prophecies and attracted a multitude of people to it.

The Spartian curators came to this oracle and slept in the temple of Pasifai, who gave them dreams with the most suitable solutions to the matters of the State.

Built-in ancient stones can be still located at the spring at the center of modern Thalames. Next to the spring there is also an inscribed base that belonged to the statue of the Roman Caesar Markus Aurelius Antoninos the venerable.

At the west side of the village there is the Holy Temple of St. Vasileios of the 12th century with many notable wallpaintings. You can also see the Church of St. Ioannis (19th century) with imposing architecture, St. Nikolaos Church , the Metamorphosis

of Sotiros Church along with many other Byzantine and Post-Byzantine which impress visitors.

The house of Levi, the Stavrianeas Tower and the Gennimatas Tower are among the oldest residences that present distinctive cha-racteristics of architectural interest.

Furthermore, there is a private laographic (folklore) Museum in the area.

A few months ago the restoration works of the St. George square finished, while the exterior stone decoration is still pending.

On the 7th issue of October 1999, Maniatiki Allilegii published the com-plaint letter of  the designer architect M.Orfanos conce-rning the omissions – declinations of the approved study.

Now the denouncing writer of the letter becomes justified since even the most ignorant can see for himself the imbalance bet-ween the used materials and the surrounding area. Who is responsible for the deviations and declina-tions?

TranslatorΥs note: Pasifai was believed to be the Goddess of the Moon (Selini).

Population

The Municipality region of Thalames along with the settlement Somatiana belongs to the Municipality of Lefktro. It numbers 196 re-sidents (census of 1991) and the basic occupation of the residents is olivepicking and home livestock breeding. There is also one professional goat livestock unit.

Transport – Roads

Transport in the area takes place with KTEL long-distance buses to and from Kalamata four times a day.

Roads are not at their best condition. Due to the oncoming olivepicking period they ought to be cleaned and laid with gravel. In certain parts bushes and wadding render the pas-sage of pedestrians and machinery unapproachable.

Another serious problem is the provincial road  Kala-mataAreopolis that passes through the center of the village. Its narrowness in connection with its many turnings make it dangerous.

A new tracing of the road is needed even though this does not seem feasible at the moment.

The water system

The water supply comes from the Viros springs. It is so limited though that the residents suffer from serious water shortage during summer months.

The cemetery

The existing cemetery is considered to be too small and its extension is necessary. Its maintenance and cleaning from useless stuff would give the place a different dimension.

The olive-oil cooperative

An olive-oil cooperative has a factory at the municipality region of Nomitsi. It numbers 75-80 farmers and covers the wider area.

The municipality region of Thalames has been characterized as a traditional settlement by the Ministry of Culture and therefore it can be financed for the restoration of squares and other public areas.

The previous local authority assigned the designing of certain proposal drawings to designer offices, such as the joining of St. George square, the tidying up of the Platanos square, the extension and expansion of the cemetery and the surrounding area, the preservation and transformation of the old Elementary school into a museum. (Its present condition is unacceptable since its roof , the doors and the windows need to be replaced).

What does the Municipality intend to do on the matter? Is is it going to make use of these proposals or is it going to miss another opportunity?

Antonis Roumaneas

The Municipality region of Kambos lies on the 20th km of the provincial road Kalamata – Areopolis and is the capital of the Municipality of Avia.

History – Monuments.

According to the evidence of the Ancient Greek writer Pafsanias, a re-markable civilization flouri-shed there with notable findings that were spotted in the later centuries.

Gerenia was believed to be at the hill of Zarnata where plenty of relics of the historical times were found at the pro-Christian founda-tions of the Medieval castle.

Considerable monume-nts appear at different parts of Kambos. The holy temple of St. Ioannis the Prodromos (13th century), the St. Theodori (12th century), the monastery of  Evangelistria and the church of Aghia Varvara that was built at the beginning of the previous century and is the central church of the village.

The Koumoundouros To-wer comes into sight at Ga-rbellia while a Mycenean vaulted tomb lies next to it. Currently the proposal on the restoration of the Tower and the nearby arche-ological area is being completed.

Population – Occupation

The Municipality region of  Kambos numbers 644 re-sidents (1991 census ) of all ages  having olive-picking   and live-stock breeding (home and professional) as a main occupation, while a number of them works seasonally at different bu-sinesses of Kalamata (packing dried figs and as auxiliary staff in tourism enterprises).

The main products of the area are olive-oil, cheese and meat.

The water system

The area is being provided with water from the Rintomo springs but the quantity of the water is considered to be in-sufficient. There is a wor-sening of the problem during the summer months. The Municipality of Avia puts forth joint moves in order to face this problem.

Transport – Roads – Road construction

Transport  to and from Kalamata takes place 4-5 times daily by the long distance KTEL buses.

The existing pre-war con-structed road that connects the area with Kalamata is considered insufficient and dangerous not only because of its narrowness but also of its many turns.

Farming roads are con-sidered to be sufficient. Still, some parts need to be cleaned from bushes and wadding.

Furthermore, the repair of the road system due to the damages caused by the re-cent rainstorms is absolutely essential.

Common areas – Cemetery

The grave yard is consi-dered small, its extension is necessary along with  the arrangement of its interior space.

Health

A health center operates and covers the wider area. Its upgrading is imperative so that it can provide satisfactory medical care at first level. The existing vacancies of doctors at certain periods should be eliminated.

Education – Culture

The State Nursing School does not function satis-factorily. There is only one nu-rsery teacher for 30-40 children. Parents have to take their children from school at 1 p.m, leaving their farming works unfi-nished.

The primary school now fu-nctions as a whole-day school while there have been several attempts for the school to be upgraded to 6 classes along with the construction of  new extra classrooms and school staff offices.

The High school oper-ation is regarded satisfa-ctory.

The Cultural Association of Kambos Machaon contributes a great deal towards the advancement of the cultural and spiritual level of the residents.

It would be a great omission of ours not to refer to the donation of 2.500 books by the Greek Philology teacher Nikolaos Giannukopoulos, which probably lie piled up in a warehouse.

Antonis Roumaneas

PLACE – HISTORY – MONUMENTS:  A set-tling of the Municipal District of Oitylo, on the frontier of the two Prefectures Messinia – Lakonia, three kilo-meters far from the provincial road Kala-mata- Kardamili – Areopolis. According the lore, Saint Nikonas Metanoite, went ashore  at the Bay of Hotasia and used it as his base. Saint Nikon acted during the 10th century  for the Enlightenment and the Christianization  of the Slavs and the Greek residents of the peninsula of Mani. There are two caves, not far from the sea, up on the cliffs. There was the place of his ascetic and prayer. He founded the churches Panagitsa and Taxiarhi. There are two cistern dated at his time, built by himself,  to  save rain because since that time, there was lack of water. The churches of Prophet Elia and Pa-nagia Pantanassa are a place of worship and prayer for the residents of the region. During the local fair on 15th August, a lot of people come from all around the area.

Inhabitants – oc-cupation: there are 120 residents (accordingly to the census of 1991) but the permanent residents do not exceed 50. Their main occupation is stock-breeding as well as olive-tree agriculture.

Along the cost, on the rocks there are saltpans, with high quality salt. The re-sidents do the explo-itation by themselves. Tourism has not been developed to the area yet.

Transport – Road construction – Path-ways:  there is no transport to the settling. The residents them-selves constructed the picturesque port and the pathway that connects the village to the central road. There are pathways, but they need to be tarred.

Water supply: there is not water supply. They bring the water to the village in water-wagons. There are also cisterns to collect the rain. They are looking for a solution to this problem but everything is still only written.

Cultural Deve-lopment: the Cultural Association of Hotassia is very active at the local level. They or-ganize the annual fair on 15th August. They also  make effort to find solution to the problems of the region and to ameliorate the cultural level of the village.

Although the great existing problems, the region is developing quickly. The old houses are renovated and some new ones are built.

We would like to thank Mr. Elia Gatea, ex-President of Oitylo and Mr. Lyberi Patouhea for the information they gave us.

Antonis Roumaneas

ΠΗΝΕΛΟΠΗ Γ. ΕΞΑΡΧΟΥΛΕΑ

Η είδηση του θανάτου της Πηνειώς με ξάφνιασε.  Την ήξερα δραστήρια και δημιουργική, με τη εσωτερική δύναμη που της επέτρεπε να κρατά την ίδια στάση ζωής εδώ και πολλές δεκαετίες και να αντιμετωπίζει με αποτελεσματικότητα  τις πολλές δυσκολίες που της έφερε η ζωή…

Είχα ακούσει, από αξιόπιστα μέλη της μικρής μας κοινωνίας, για την απέραντη στοργή και συνέπεια αλλά και ψυχραιμία με την οποία αντιμετώπισε την αρρώστια του άντρα της στις αρχές της δεκαετίας του 1980, αλλά δεν την είχα τότε γνωρίσει από κοντά.  Λίγα χρόνια μετά οι συνθήκες μου έδωσαν αυτή τη δυνατότητα. Ήταν το 1986 που ο γιός της ο Δημήτρης συμμετείχε στη διοίκηση του Αγροτικού Συνεταιρισμού Νεοχωρίου στον οποίο μου είχε ανατεθεί ο συντονισμός. Η ανάγκη κοινής δράσης και στενής συνεργασίας για την ομαλή λειτουργία του Ελαιουργείου αλλά και ολόκληρο το πλέγμα ενεργειών από το σχεδιασμό μέχρι την υλοποίηση για την κατασκευή του τυποποιητήριου του Συνεταιρισμού, με έφερναν συχνά στο σπίτι της οικογένειας αναζητώντας το Δημήτρη για να βοηθήσει. Έτσι μου δόθηκε η δυνατότητα να γνωρίσω τον πλούσιο ψυχικό της κόσμο. Η επικοινωνία αυτή συνεχίστηκε για μια δεκαετία αφού οι κοινές ενέργειες  με το Δημήτρη συνεχίστηκαν δεδομένου ότι  στη συνέχεια της συνεργασίας στο Συνεταιρισμό ακολούθησε η συνεργασία στην  Κοινότητα.

Με καταγωγή από την παλιά οικογένεια  των Νηφάκων της Μηλιάς, η Πηνειώ ήλθε σε μικρή ηλικία νύφη στην Καλόγρια, που την κατοικείτο τότε αποκλειστικά από μέλη της οικογένειας Εξαρχουλέα. Στο δικό τους μάλιστα κλάδο των Εξασρχουλέων η οικογένεια αναπαραγόταν από γενιά σε γενιά από μόνο ένα αρσενικό μέλος. Αυτό το δεδομένο της επέβαλε πολλαπλάσιες ευθύνες και υποχρεώσεις, τόσο στην εσωτερική λειτουργία της οικογένειας, όσο και στη διαχείριση της μεγάλης αγροτικής ιδιοκτησίας. Ευθύνες μάλιστα που πολλαπλασιάστηκαν μετά τον πρόωρο θάνατο του συζύγου της που την άφησε μόνη να φροντίζει τα τρία παιδιά της αλλά και τα πεθερικά της. Τα κατάφερε όλα με την αξιοπρέπεια και την αποτελεσματικότητα που αποτελούσαν δομικά χαρακτηριστικά της. Φρόντισε με στοργικότητα τα τελευταία χρόνια των γέρων, υποστήριξε τα κορίτσια της στις πανεπιστημιακές τους σπουδές, αλλά έδωσε και τη σταθερή υποστήριξη στο γιό της στις πολλαπλές αγροτικές εργασίες που απαιτούσε η μεγάλη κτηματική περιουσία τους.

Αλλά και στις κοινωνικές της υποχρεώσεις ήταν απόλυτα συνεπής μακροχρόνια, από τους εκκλησιασμούς τις Κυριακές και αργίες, μέχρι τις πανηγύρεις εκκλησιών και παρεκκλησιών στη γενέτειρα της και στα άλλα χωριά του δήμου Λεύκτρου, αλλά και στις χαρές και τις λύπες των συγχωριανών μας.

Τα τελευταία χρόνια μπορούσε να χαμογελάσει με την πρόοδο των μελών της οικογένειάς της. Τα εγγόνια μεγάλωσαν, σπούδασαν ή σπουδάζουν, οι πέραν των αγροτικών επαγγελματικές ενασχολήσεις του Δημήτρη εξελίσσονται ευνοϊκά και γενικότερα έβλεπε τους καρπούς των πολυετών προσπαθειών της να αποδίδουν σε βαθμό που την ικανοποιούσε.

Τις δύο τελευταίες δεκαετίες, που οι εργασιακές μου υποχρεώσεις με έφεραν μακριά από τη γενέθλια γη,  την έβλεπα σπανιότερα. Όμως στα συναπαντήματα μας, σε κοινωνικές εκδηλώσεις κυρίως, ο λόγος της είχε την ίδια εγκαρδιότητα . Τα τελευταία χρόνια περνώντας με το αυτοκίνητο μπροστά από το κτήμα τους στην Καλόγρια την έβλεπα να καλλιεργεί πατάτες στον κήπο τους. Σταματούσα και ανταλλάσαμε αλληλοστηριχτικές κουβέντες. Φέτος ο κήπος δεν είχε φυτευτεί και απόρησα. Στην κηδεία της ,έμαθα ότι είχε κάνει πρόσφατα μικροεπέμβαση στην καρδιά της!

Οι άνθρωποι φεύγουν, οι εικόνες τους μένουν. Και μας θυμίζουν τους χρόνους και τα γεγονότα που μας συνδέουν μαζί τους. Αυτή είναι η ανθρώπινη μοίρα…

Νίκος Ευστρ. Μαραμπέας