Paradimi, Rhodopi

Paradimi is a settlement in the Prefecture of Rodopi, administratively under the Municipality of Komotini and according to the 2001 census it has 551 inhabitants. It is located about 8 km southwest of Komotini.

It is a refugee village and the inhabitants have come from Eastern Thrace in the period of 1922. Most of them (almost 90%) are Arvanites from the village of Chrysolithos (Altin Tas) as well as some families from the areas of Arkadioupolis and Krya Vrysi (Saranta Ekklisies). ). The village of Chrysolithos (Altin Tas) belonged to the region of Kallipolis. According to a report dated November 25, 1881 by the Thracian Educational Association of Redestos, it was inhabited by 1,200 inhabitants and had a primary school with 60 students. According to the 1920 census, the village had 873 inhabitants.

With their movement, some families remained in the villages of Feres and Ardanio in the prefecture of Evros and the rest settled in the current location of Paradimi. The survival of the inhabitants was based on their involvement in agriculture and animal husbandry, which still characterizes them today. Apart from the younger generations who have settled in the city of Komotini and have been involved in other professions. The inhabitants of Chrysolithos spoke the Arvanite dialect and had a high sense of Greek Orthodox faith and patriotism. Leaving their area, along with their few personal belongings, they brought the icons, the sacred utensils as well as the church bell, so that they could hear (as the ancients testified) the same beat of the bell of the church of the Saints. Constantine and Helen in their new place. In the village of Chrysolithos in the period of 1922 there were two priests, one of whom died during the movement. From then until today, the pride of the village is that it has offered several priests in the ministry of the church. Characteristic of the villagers is that they are smart people, dobros, bessalides and very good farmers. Their stubbornness and assertiveness characterize them as Arvanites. The fighting spirit and sense of patriotism is strong, an example being the Greek-Italian War (1940), during which forty villagers fought on the Greek-Albanian front and all returned without the slightest loss.

In Paradimi there is a church dedicated to Saints Constantine and Helen and it celebrates on May 21. In honor of the saints, on May 20, there will be a festive evening, a procession of the icon and events by the Cultural Association of Paradimi and Friends. There are also two smaller churches that celebrate the day of the Ascension of the Lord and the Holy Spirit. In Paradimi, as a dynamic settlement, it has been operating since 1925 a primary school with a significant contribution to the education and the society of the village. It was only closed for two years during the Bulgarian occupation and closed permanently in 2011 due to Kallikrates. Today the children of the village move every day to the Primary School of Aigeiros. Another equally significant blow to the village was economic migration in the 1960s and 1970s, during which almost all young people immigrated to Germany to find work. In addition, the village has a rural doctor's office, as well as the multi-center "George Papadrielis", a house that houses the two associations of the village, the Cultural Association of Paradimi and Friends and the Women's Association. In the past, "ATROMITOS" was also housed, the football team of the village, which does not exist today. The location of the village is important due to the archeological site of the "mound", where the excavations brought to light prehistoric finds of exceptional importance that start from the Neolithic era and reach the Bronze Age. The findings are on display at the Archaeological Museum of Komotini.
Toumba Paradimis

One kilometer east of the village near the river Vosvozis is the tomb of Paradimi, which is a sample of a Neolithic settlement. [1]

References

Ioannis L. Sigouros (1997). Prefecture of Rodopi: History - Archeology - Geography - Anthropogeography - Culture. Komotini: Komotini Pedagogical Sciences Society. pages 33–35. ISBN 960-85512-6-9.

Municipal unit Komotini
Municipal Community Komotini
Ifaistos (Ήφαιστος, ο)
Komotini (Κομοτηνή, η)
Μέγα Κρανοβούνιο, το
Μεσοχώρι, το
Μικρόν Κρανοβούνιο, το
Paradimi (Παραδημή, η)
Σχολή Αστυνομίας, η
Υφαντές, οι
Community Anthochori
Anthochori (Ανθοχώρι, το)
Community Gratini
Gratini (Γρατινή, η)
Community Thrylorio
Θρυλόριο, το
Roditis (Ροδίτης, ο)
Φύλακας, ο
Community Itea
Ιτέα, η
Community Kalchas
Ιάμπολις, η
Kalchas (Κάλχας, ο)
Μεγάλη Άδα, η
Μύτικας, ο
Σαρακηνή, η
Tychiro (Τυχηρόν, το)
Community Karydia
Karydia (Καρυδιά, η)
Community Kikidio
Κηκίδιο, το
Community Kosmio
Κόσμιο, το
Community Pandrosos
Νυμφαία, η
Πάνδροσος, η
Σύμβολα, τα
Community Sidirades
Sidirades (Σιδηράδες, οι)
Community Stylari
Stylari (Στυλάριο, το)

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