Katarraktis, Chios

Greece Greece

Administrative Region : North Aegean
Regional unit : Chios

Katarraktis is a seaside village and Mastichochori in southeastern Chios, 15 kilometers by road from the town of Chios. It was formerly the seat of a community of the same name. The average altitude of the village is 10 meters above sea level. Katarraktis is built at the bottom of a slope. The nearest settlement is Exo Didyma, but it is connected by road to the neighboring large villages of Kallimasia (to the north) and Nenita (to the south).

Historical information

Kattaraktis is mentioned by all the Genoese as a strong and remarkable castle, built by John Justinian. In the current location of the village, there is no trace of a waterfall anywhere, only a small stream coming from the direction of Didyma. The old village, however, was on the upper part of the slope, on the main road from Kallimasia to Nenite. Almost nothing remains of the castle, described as the last word in fortification by both travelers and the Ioustinians, especially after the earthquake of 1881. It had a double enclosure and a moat, a strong tower and churches inside, although rather small in area, with a capacity of 200 to 250 people. From the oldest documents preserved in a codex it appears that there was a watermill in operation before 1822 near the village, which perhaps justifies the name Katarraktis. The locations mentioned there are Souda, Gyros, Kato Gyros, Epano Gyros, Kato Porta, Epano Porta, Pyrgos, Platza, Pigadia, Finikas and nine temples and chapels. Outside the Castle, the sites of "Klonaris", Loutrounaris, Myloi, Paleofytia, "Limiades", Klouvas, Milignas and 6 other chapels are mentioned.

The old settlement has attracted the interest of historians for its destroyed medieval houses, Byzantine churches and Agios Ioannis Argentis, which is the most famous of them. It is a 14th-century basilica, completely rebuilt except for the vestry which preserves arches, ceramic decoration and very well-preserved mosaics. Its wooden iconostasis is also considered of artistic value.

After the destruction of 1822, those who survived and returned to the area rebuilt the village on the beach, where a Byzantine settlement, Falerou or Afalerou, had previously existed. Katarraktis is thus one of the few coastal villages of Chios, with a small harbor with fishing boats. After the earthquake, very few people remained in the old village, outside the castle (locations Pyrgos and Myloi). The name "Falerou" can be etymologically derived with some certainty from "Volero". The Voleroi were a Byzantine family "in general, significant, both in the branch and in Chios". There is no connection between the toponym and Faliro. The new village is divided into a northern and southern district.

Population

The evolution of the population of Katarraktis in the official censuses is shown in the table:

Census year Residents
1951 645
1961 610
1971 491
1981 452
1991 453
2001 425

The residents of Katarraktis are engaged in agriculture and fishing.

Points of interest

For the visitor, the waterfront is ideal for a walk and rest in one of its cafes or fish taverns-restaurants. Taking a boat in conditions of absolute calm, a short distance from the shore, one can distinguish on the seabed the ruins of an ancient sunken settlement, quite large, which indicates subsidence from an ancient earthquake. The amateur fisherman can catch octopus, crabs and even horseflies here.

There are 2 small monasteries in the area, the Monastery of Chalandron (near Mesa Didyma) and most notably Panagia to Rouhouni, a Byzantine monastery in a verdant location with water near the village of Pagida. There is also the church of Agia Irini and Agios Georgios. According to another source,[1] Rouhouni was the name of the old settlement of Katarraktis, before it was moved to the beach.

The parish church (the "village church") of Katarraktis is today honored in the name of Agios Ioannis Prodromos and is built on the site of a Byzantine church of the same name in Falero, which was discovered in 1881. There is also an old church of Taxiarchis. The village is ecclesiastically under the archiepiscopal supervision of Nenites of the Diocese of Chios, Psara and Oinousses.

The postal code of Katarraktis is 82102.

Other locations

There are other locations in Chios with the name v: also a coastal location in Amades and near the river Parthenis in the city of Chios, "and the little temple of Katadotos, which place is also called Limni".

References

Kostas Choreanthi: Tourist guide to Chios, published by "Chios-calendar" by N. Khaviaras sons

External links

Short description with image Archived 2010-10-28 at the Wayback Machine.

Sources

Georgiou I. Zolota: History of Chios, volume A ("Historical Topography and Genealogy"). Press of P.D. Sakellariou, Athens 1921, pp. 612-615.

Municipal unit Ionia
Municipal Community Kallimasia
Agios Aimilianos (Άγιος Αιμιλιανός, ο)
Voudotopos (Βουδότοπος, ο)
Kallimasia (Καλλιμασιά, η)
Moni Panagias Koimiseos Plakidiotissis (Μονή Παναγίας Κοιμήσεως Πλακιδιωτίσσης, η)
Monolia (Μονολιά, η)
Municipal Community Nenita
Vokaria (Βοκαριά, η)
Gridia (Γρίδια, τα)
Moni Taxiarchon (Μονή Ταξιαρχών, η)
Nenita (Νένητα, τα)
Community Vouno
Agios Ioannis (Άγιος Ιωάννης, ο)
Vouno (Βουνό, το)
Lilikas (Λιλικάς, ο)
Community Exo Didyma
Exo Didyma (Έξω Διδύμα, η)
Community Tholopotami
Tholopotami (Θολοποτάμιον, το)
Sklavia (Σκλαβιά, τα)
Community Katarraktis
Katarraktis (Καταρράκτης, ο)
Community Koini
Koini (Κοινή, η)
Community Mesa Didyma
Mesa Didyma (Μέσα Διδύμα, η)
Moni Agias Matronis Chalandron (Μονή Αγίας Ματρώνης Χαλάνδρων, η)
Community Myrmigki
Myrmigki (Μυρμήγκιον, το)
Community Pagida
Pagida (Παγίς, η)
Community Flatsia
Nekta (Νεκτά, η)
Flatsia (Φλάτσια, τα)