Administrative Region : Central Greece
Regional unit : Fthiotida
Zeli (also Zelion, Zelio, Zeli Lokridas and Zeli Fthiotidas) is a mountainous village in the prefecture of Fthiotida, which administratively belongs to the Municipality of Amfiklia-Elatia. It has a population of 673 permanent residents, while its altitude is 450 to 550 meters. At a distance of four kilometers, the village of Kalapodi is located. Zeli, until 1912, belonged administratively to the Municipality of Talanti (Atalanti). After 1912, it became a community, until the Kapodistrias law placed it in the Municipality of Elateia. With the "Kallikratis" Law, which was enacted after the 2010 municipal elections, Zeli was placed in the now enlarged Municipality of Amfikleia-Elatiea with its headquarters in Kato Tithorea.
Location and nature
The village is spread out on the eastern slope of Mount Varvas. According to an earlier measurement, Zeli has an area of 51,000 acres, of which 24,000 are arable and the rest are forested. The mountain flora includes holly trees, lavender, chamomile, wild wheat, etc.
Economy
The village has a rich production of tobacco, wheat and figs. The inhabitants of the village are engaged in raising animals, mainly sheep, goats, pigs and poultry.
Historical data
Historical evidence indicates that the area was inhabited since the earliest ancient times. It was known as Opuntia Locris. There are two theories for the current name. According to one, it comes from the Slavic word "Zeliinaakov" which supposedly means green valley. In fact, in Serbian and South Slavic the word for green is "zelena" and not "zeliina" and the word for valley is "dolina" and not "akov", which is a typical ending with which the South Slavs referred to settlements, often Slavicizing them nomenclaturally, albeit superficially. However, during the disintegration of the Byzantine Empire and the short-lived "Empire of Serbs and Greeks" under Stefan Dušan, in the 14th century, the area formed the southern border of his empire, in contact with the Latin Duchy of Athens and as such may have maintained a local garrison in the area.
According to other sources, its name comes from the ancient Ozoles Lokrus. The area was called Ozelai in antiquity. The Ozoles lived in the area for a while before moving further west. The area, which is mountainous, retains until today limited vegetation mainly from holly trees and other shrubs. Life was difficult and the inhabitants, consisting mainly of livestock breeders, suffered. Finally, as is known, they moved with their flocks to present-day Aitoloakarnania and Phocis. After the departure of the Ozoles, the Opountian Locrians expanded in the area, who mostly used the existing settlements that the Ozoles had abandoned in the area, such as this one, preserving the name by which it was then known until today: Ozelai=Ozeli=Zeli[1].
Community of Zeli
With the separation of the settlement of Zeli from the municipality of Atalanti, the Community of Zel was founded on August 31, 1912. [2] The community functioned until its abolition in 1997.
Past presidents of the Community of Zeli
...
1983-1986 Seraphim Martinos
1987-1990 Athanasios Martinos
1991-1994 Michael Nikolaos
1995-1998 Konstantinos Angelis (elected in 1994 as the only candidate with 100% of the votes, receiving 896 votes).[3]
Saint Seraphim
The patron saint of Zeli is Saint Seraphim. An old book states “[…] the man of God and our father Seraphim, was born in a country located in the province of Boeotia, which is in parts of Greece and is called today’s Zelion”. The scholar Costas Karastathis claims that he was born in 1527. From a young age, he had an inclination towards the study of the Scriptures and the ascetic life. At a young age and despite the temporary refusal of his parents, he went to the Monastery of the Prophet Elijah, on Mount Karkara, where he built a temple in the name of Christ the Savior and practiced asceticism there. His fame quickly became known and he began to receive frequent visits from believers, who sought the Saint’s advice and help. He then went to the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, on Mount Sagmati, between Boeotia and Euboea. There, he quickly shone as a spiritual star of the first magnitude and the abbot tonsured him a monk, giving him the name Seraphim. His baptismal name was "Sovereign". Later, after being ordained a deacon and a presbyter, he arrived in the west of Elikon, in the location of Dombos, and at the age of 69 he built a church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, some cells and invited some monks to him. The monastery was completed in 1599 [4]. There, he lived as an ascetic for ten years, teaching the other monks the lessons of monastic life. He died on 6 May 1602, after foreseeing his death and receiving the Holy Mysteries. [5] His memory is celebrated on 6 May. The village festival is organized on the same day.
Sights
The Monastery of Prophet Elias in Zeli
The Monastery of Prophet Elias
The Chapel of the Virgin Mary/Hermitage of Saint Seraphim
Sights of the village are the chapel of the Virgin Mary a few kilometers outside the village, where the hermitage of Saint Seraphim is also located.
Monastery of Prophet Elias
Another sight of the village is the monastery of Prophet Elias in the location of Kakaros, which has been restored (under the actions of the former mayor of Elateia, Georgios Gogos) and is ready for visit by anyone interested. The exact date of construction of the monastery is unknown. However, it is believed that it was erected during the Frankish period. During the period of Turkish rule, it underwent extensive interventions and renovations. The monastery has an imposing fortified enclosure, which is preserved in fairly good condition. The catholicon in its current form is single-aisled, vaulted, with three large buttresses on its south side and with fresco decoration from the end of the 18th century. However, the closed pointed arched openings in the side walls testify that in its original form it was a three-aisled basilica, which was probably erected under the influence of Western models. Similar elements of blocked pointed arches are also found in the other buildings of the monastery. The cells are two-storeyed and occupy the four sides of the enclosure. [6] [7]
Culture and sports
The Cultural Association of Zeli, called "Hosios Seraphim", is active in various cultural events in the area, such as holding local dances in the village square and organizing a carnival every Clean Monday. It has a dance section with women and young people from the village, which has performed in Istanbul and Italy.
The village also has a local football team, "Panzeliakos", which competes in amateur local categories.
Viki Stamati, wife of former minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, is from Zeli.
References
Information from Nota Kymothoe, Author
Government Gazette 261A - 31/08/1912.
Election results in the Community of Zeli from 1982 to 1994, EETAA.
"Life of Our Holy and God-fearing Father Seraphim of Levadia". Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
Viotian Saints
"Ministry of Culture and Sports | Monastery of Prophet Elias". Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
Prof. Elias Karkari Monastery, Zeli, municipality of Elatia | Dolichos Design Ltd. | Architectural Design Company
| Municipal unit Elateia |
|---|
| Municipal Community Elateia |
| Elateia (Ελάτεια, η) |
| Community Zeli |
| Zeli (Ζέλι, το) |
| Community Lefkochori |
| Lefkochori (Λευκοχώρι, το) |
| Community Panagitsa |
| Panagitsa (Παναγίτσα, η) |
| Community Sfaka |
| Katalyma (Κατάλυμα, το) |
| Sfaka (Σφάκα, η) |
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