Panagia, Arkadia

Panagia is a small, semi-mountainous village in Arcadia that belongs administratively to the Municipality of Gortynia.

Location

It is built on the slope of the last ridge of Mainalo, at an altitude of 569m. and at a distance of 12km. from Dimitsana and 77km. from Tripoli. The village has a panoramic view and a wide horizon to the plain of Alfeios and the whole plain of Ilia, with the villages of Paleokastro and its Mycenaean Cemetery, Theisoa and Matesi (Ilia), the mountains of Andritsaina and Mount Lycaon, the sacred mountain of No. . To the west, when there is a clear atmosphere, the Ionian Sea and the mountainous areas of Zakynthos can be seen.

The village is built on a green wooded hill, the hill of Prophet Elias, which was once full of vineyards. The ruins of some vineyards and three olive mills (which operated until 1960) with millstones and rusty presses testify to the older occupation of the inhabitants with viticulture and olive growing. Also, in the village there used to be fireplaces, for the construction of tiles and limestone (near the church of Ai-Giorgis).

Folklore

Despite the abandonment after the migration of young people to urban centers, Panagia now has well-preserved and well-kept stone houses with wooden balconies and arbors. In the center of the village dominates the paved square and the stone fountain. It also has five churches, the most important of which is Agios Nikolaos, built of stone and simple, at the entrance of the village. Opposite it is Agios Georgios, on the other side of the village towards the school, Agios Athanasios, at the top of the hill, Profitis Ilias, and in the settlement of Pera Meria (Gouri) Panagia. The patron saint of the village is Agios Nikolaos, while the central festival, accompanied by live folk music and traditional flavors, takes place on September 8, on the feast of the Genesis of the Virgin Mary. On December 6, the church of Agios Nikolaos celebrates with a divine service and procession of the icon.

Remarkable is the stone arched fountain at the bottom of the square, with carved awning, ie a trough for watering the animals. A similar construction fountain is located below Agios Nikolaos, in Mousga. Also noteworthy is the Folklore Museum of the village, which is housed in a beautiful rectangular building that also served as a public laundry, built by the Association of Panayiotes everywhere. The laundry room had a groove on the right inner side with continuous running water and special areas in front of it, the sinks, for the iron and the lavender (cauldron), with which the housewives heated water for the laundry.

History

In the past, Panagia was called "Zerzova" (Slavic name: "Zerz" = George, "ova" = place), one of its first permanent inhabitants, the Slavs who arrived in the area between the 6th and 8th century.

The Slavs, shepherds in the vast majority and a peaceful people, came by nomads with their flocks and herdsmen to the area and they called it that. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Initially, it is certain that the Slavs lived nomadically in their huts, and when after a few centuries they developed strong relations with the locals and integrated with them, the needs of their group habitation forced the establishment of a settlement. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Today's Zerzovites know that in the place names Paliogalara and Paliokalivo there are the ruins of stone buildings that characterize a corral. In the place name Xerolivada, there is a lot of pottery and tombs on the ground, while in the place name Troupa there is a lot of pottery. All these points that today remain silent and unexplored, may hide some of all this for the identity and establishment of today's Zerzova.

Administratively

The first official appearance of Zerzova immediately after the formation of the Greek State, took place in the Government Gazette, on page 80 (annex) of 28-12-1836, in which all the Municipalities of the newly formed Greek State per administration and sub-administration were published. It belonged to the Gortynis administration as a settlement of the Municipality of Marathaia (Vlachorafti), which consisted of the settlements of Vlachorafti (Vlachorrafti), Atsicholo, Eglenova, Zoula, Sarakini, Troupe, Tparthenamei tozovarizi poi, Zokora and Kokora, Kakourai.

With the NW of 27-11 (9-12) -1840 (Government Gazette 5 / 8-3-1841) "On merging municipalities", in the administration of the province of Gortyn the 21 Municipalities were merged into 12. With the same NW, Zerzova was detached from the Municipality of Marathaia (Vlachorrafti) and together with the settlements of Dimitsana, Paleochori and Radon (Radou) of the former Municipality of Theisoa, with the settlements of Zatouna, Trestena (Melissopetra), Markou and Vloggos of the former Municipality of Vofagos and Voufagia (Voufagia) Zygovisti settlement of the former Municipality of Kallistos (Kalistis), they merged and formed the now enlarged Municipality of Theseus with its seat in Dimitsana. After the implementation of the KED law of 5-12-1845 (Government Gazette 32 / 8-12-1845), the settlements of Arachova and Strouza (Rizospilia) were annexed to the Municipality of Theisoa, which had not been mentioned in the aforementioned B.D. With the NW of 12-8-1904 (Government Gazette 187 / 18-8-1904), the Municipality of Theisos [which, both with the aforementioned NW and with the NW. of 6-11-1875 (Government Gazette 6 / 26-1-1876) had been renamed to the Municipality of Dimitsani], was divided into two Municipalities. 1). In the Municipality of Dimitsani and 2). In the Municipality of Voufagia later Community of Zatouna. Zerzova was annexed to the Municipality of Voufagia.

In the year 1912, the law DNZI (no. 4057) of 10-2-1912 (Government Gazette 58 / 14-2-1912), "On the establishment of municipalities and communities" was issued. With these laws, the existing Municipalities were reorganized and the institution of Communities was established for the first time. Immediately after and in execution of this law, B.D. by which all the prefectures were divided into Municipalities and Communities. For the prefecture of Arcadia, the NW was issued. of 18-8-1912 (Government Gazette 252 / 24-8-1912) "On the establishment of municipalities and communities in the prefecture of Arcadia". Within this NW, the Municipality of Voufagia was abolished and in its place the Community of Zatouni was formed, consisting of the settlements of Zatouna, Arachova, Vlogos (Vloggos), Markou and Strouza. With the same NW, Zerzova was detached from the now abolished Municipality of Voufagia and was declared an autonomous Community called the Community of Zerzovis, consisting of the settlements of Zerzova and Trestena or Prestena based in Zerzova.

Ten or six months later, with the NW. of 18-12-1913 (Government Gazette 260 / 20-12-1913), the settlement of Prestena or Trestena of the Community of Zerzovis, was detached from the Community of Zerzovis and was declared an autonomous Community with the name Community of Prestena consisting of the homonymous settlement.

With the D. of 20-8-1927 (Government Gazette 179 / 30-8-1927) "On the renaming of communities and settlements", the Community of Zerzovis was renamed the Community of Panagia and the homonymous settlement of Zerzova in Panagia.

With article 1 of law 3852/2010 "New Architecture of Local Government and Decentralized Administration - Kallikratis Program" (Government Gazette A 87 / 7-6-2010), 4 new Municipalities were established in the Prefecture of Arcadia while three pre-existing ones remained unchanged. In our area, the Municipality of Gortynia was established, based in Dimitsana, consisting of the Municipalities of Dimitsani, Irea, Lagadia, Trikala, Kontovazaini, Tropaea, Kleitoros and Vytina.

Today the Virgin Mary has only seven permanent residents during the winter months. In the 2001 census the village has 91 inhabitants. Central role in the village is played by the Association of Panayiotes everywhere, "O AGIOS NIKOLAOS" which was founded in 1904 and is one of the oldest cultural associations in Arcadia and Greece. Panagia has become famous in recent years thanks to the tavern "Zerzova" which operates in the village and is ranked as one of the best taverns in all of Greece. With local meat, village noodles, wild greens and everything else good the Arcadian land brings out, the owners of the tavern have managed to attract all the visitors of Mountainous Arcadia΄

References

Hellenic Statistical Authority - Population-Housing Census 2011

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