Kastraki, Phocis

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Kastraki is a village in Phocis, Greece, part of the municipality Efpalio. It has also been known in the past as Omar Effendi, and Oineon (Gr. Οινεων)

[edit] Overview

The modern day Kastraki was known as Omar Effendi during the Turkish rule and Oineon in Ancient Greece. It is built near the township of Oineon in Esperia Locris of ancient Greece. This township is located about a kilometer from the eastern side of the Mornos River. Kastraki is a village 6 km from the town of Nafpaktos and 2km from Efpalion. It is built on the fringe of the remains of ancient Efpalio, the famous city of Ozolon Lokron. Erythrai (Kokkinos) west of Today’s Monastiraki where the blue lake club is situated was the port of Efpalio and Kastraki (Oineon).

Kastraki today is part of the amalgamated town of Efpalio. Efpalio town was created by the unification of sixteen communities: Kastraki (782),Efpalio/Gregoritika(762), Managouli/Logos/Hiliadou(589), Trikorfo(557), Malamata/Aghios Polykarpos (500) Marathia(492), Monastiraki/Magoula/Skaloma (442), Klima/Pege(418), Sergoula/Paralia Sergoulas(368), Filothei(342), Kampos/Palaiomylos(322), Potidaneia(309), Teixio/Varnakova(235), Drosato/Pefkaki(232), Palaioxari(195), and Pyrgos(20).. The numbers in parenthesis reflect the population of each place according to the 2001 census.

Kasraki belongs in the province of Parnassida that has as capital city Lidoriki The other province of Phokis perfecrure is Dorida with capital city Amfissa.

The visitors to the municipality have the unique opportunity to enjoy the best beaches in the Korinthean Golf, such as the sandy beaches of Chiliadou, the picturesque bays of Monastiraki, and Skaloma, the beautiful villages and lacey beaches of Marathia, and Paralia Sergoulas. The villages of Chiliadou, and Marathia need to be singled out as are seashore resorts, with facilities for the anchoring of small yachts. They are also fishing villages. Visitors can also enjoy, the numerous nearby mountainous terrains.

[edit] History

The ancient township of Oineon was famous for the temple of Nemeiou Dias (Zeus) and the burial site of Hesiod (Isidodos). Hesiod was the second most ancient Greek poet after Homer and he lived Between 750 and 700BC He was born in Ascra of Boiotia and he is known as the father of the “didactic epic”. He spent a good part of his life in Hesperia Locris that inspired him to write his epics. According to the story while he was a guest at the place of the Nafpaktian priest Ganyctora he insulted his daughter and her brothers Ktimenos and Antifos killed him in the temple of Nemeiou Zeus where he asked asylum. He was buried in all likelihood in Oineon or as others claim in Nafpaktos.

Although there is not absolute certainty many believe that the temple of Nemeiou Dias was located where the Orthodox church of Panagia Faneromene is today by the national road and the intersection of the Hiliadou provincial road. In fact, the temple was converted into a Christian church when people of the area accepted Christianity as their new religion. However, others think that the temple was located 3-4 kilometers east not west of Efpalio in the village of New Koukoura where today the church of Analypsis is built.

In the history of ancient Greece Oineon is referred to in 426 BC when the Athenian General Demosthenes with 30 ships sailed to Locris and camped in Oineon. His plans were to bring under the Athenian authority Aitolea and eventually the all areas of, Locris and Phokis. In spite some early military success his gradual but continuous losses of his hoplites forced him to make a treaty with the Aeolians and retreated back at Oineon and Nafpaktos with the remnants of his army. While his remaining army sailed back to Athens Demosthenes fearing a punishment by the sate of Athens for his failure remained in the vicinity of Nafpaktos.

During the 400 years of Turkish occupation the most fertile lands of Greece were given to prominent Turkish families or officials. As a result Greeks out of necessity were located in non prime agricultural lands mainly mountainous areas where they were not bothered as much by Turkish authorities. Phokis was not any different; Turks had taken from Greeks most fertile areas of Mornos plains as it is evidenced by the township names of Omar Affenti (Kastraki), Hasan –Aga,( Aghios Polykarpos), Sule (short of Suleiman) today’s Efpalio.

According to the 1827 writings “Trip around Greece” of French counselor to Ioannina Pougueville, at the early 1800 there were 25 families living in Omar Effendi. Omar Effendi was part of the vilaeti (administration) of Lidoriki. The vilaeti of Lidoriki was under the Pasha of Nafpaktos for some time but also under the authority of the Albanian Ali Pasha (1750-1821) of Ioannina from Tepeleni also known as “Ali the Tepelenis”.

Omar Effendi was the battle site several times over the 1821 Greek struggle for independence. The location of the village at the east side of the Mornos River on the road of Nafpaktos to Amfissa place it in a strategic position and a natural place to resist advancing troops between Aitolia and Phokis in either direction. In June 1822 a division of Omar Vryoni moved from Nafpaktos with destination Salona. However couple of kilometers east of Mornos River near Omar Effendi they met the troops of Triantafyllos Apokoritis and they were forced to retreat.

At the end of January 1826 near Omar Effendi 5 000 the Greek forces of Skaltsodemos fought against the Turkish troops causing them many losses and preventing them from advancing east and forced them back to Nafpaktos. In December 1826 about 1500 Turks and Albanians rushing to Amfissa to assist to break the siege of Turkish troops in Amfissa by Greek freedom fighters never made it there. About two kilometers east of Mornos river near Omar Effendi they were surprised by the cavalry of Hatzimichales (under Karaiskakis leadership although he was not personally there) killing 53, capturing 22 and turning g the troops back to Nafpaktos.

The new and current name of the village Kastraki (little Castle) was given just before the middle 1900’s when many Turkish given names to villages and towns were changed into Greek ones. The name Kastraki was justified by the remnants of a Locric ancient castle at the borders of Locris and Aetolia about 3 kilometers south west of the village Trikorfo.

[edit] Monasteries

The area is also known for several important monasteries such as:

• The monastery of Panagia of Varnakova. It is a Byzantine monastery, built in 1077 A.D. by Saint Arsenios. Varnakova was a centre of Orthodoxy and Hellenism, in the years during which the Latins influenced Western Greece and mainly during the Frankish rule when there were plans for converting Greek people into Catholics under the Pope of Rome. During the war of 1821 it was the center of supply for the freedom fighters of Roumeli. Today the sacred monastery of Panagia of Varnakova, found in the engulf of a great forest is a place of spiritual peace.
• The newly built Monasteries of Trikorfo of St Augustine’s and Seraphim of Sarof. It is well known for its 400 bells and 62 church bells, as well as the musical monk group “Paparockades”
• The historic monastery of St John of Thermes at the big springs of the river of Mantilo.
• The old Christian church of Ascension of the Savior in New Koukoura.
• The beautiful St John’s monastery of Efpalio made with Byzantine technique, and unique art. It is built on the fringe of Efpalio "Platanitsa" area. It is place of refreshment and religious celebrations.

Other points of interest may include: the popular Art Museum of Efpalio, the Mornos river dam and the man made lake it has created, and Kefalogiefyro. Kefalogiefyro is an excellent and unique bridge in the region, perfectly constructed and well preserved over the narrow pass of Mornopotamos.