History & Culture of Anogi

Anogi

The Village of Anogi is found perched in the Eastern side of mount NIRITO and is one of the districts of the municipality of Ithaca. Its history dates back in the centuries when Ithaca was first inhabited, 6000 years ago. From the ancient times, it has had the same name which was given due to its position on the rocky plateau of mount NIRITO, which is also know as the Anogi mountain (830m). This mountain has the name of Nirito who was the first resident of the region. Prior to the year 1914, Anogi constituted, together with the village of Kioni, called "The Niriteon Municipality" and from the year 1914 onwards it constituted a Community which was called "Community of Anogi" and from the 1/1/1999 it became one of the districts of the Municipality of Ithaca. The Village was densely resided during the medieval years and it reached a large population due to its mountainous position, in which the residents of Ithaca escaped for the shelter from the raids of pirates. Almost the entire island of Ithaca was deserted in the year 1479 when the Turkish fleet, under the command of Kedouk Ahmet pasha of Aulona invaded it and then again was put through an ordeal in the year 1538 by the infamous Barbarosa. Proof that the village was inhabited from ancient times, is evident from the ancient ruins found in the area of Ai Yannis (sternes). These include ruins of ancient temples of Hellenistic seasons and a chapiter (kionokrano) from the ruins was transported and put on display and preservation in the Archaelogical Museum of Stavros Ithaca. Anogi today has 70 residents and the visitor, apart from the miraculous, breathtaking view, can see the enormously dimensioned blocks of stone, (monoliths) that bare striations (groove, fluting) from the Ice Age, according to experts and will no doubt be impressed, by the size and shape of one such rock called "Araklis" evidently derivation of the name Hercules. Another stone - monolith bares the name "Psilo Lithari" (High Stone) a third stone, that of "Kavelaris" and more by other names. In the center of the village, near the small square, the church of The Dormition of The Most Holy Lady The Theotokos is found. A unique monument - museum that deserves to be seen by each and every visitor of Ithaca. It's of large proportions, basilica rhythm and it presents enormous interest because its entire internal space is covered  with Byzantine artistic style murals and due to this fact it has been declared "preservable historical monument". The artist was Antonis from Agrapha, as is quoted on the reredo. His greatest achievements in the mid 17th century, are evidence he emanated from the faculty of Art in Vraggiana, in the region of Agrapha and is known for the maintenance of the tradition of Byzantine Art. The monastery of “Kathara” is situated 2,5 kilometres on the N. Side of Anogi. Its name, “Kathara” (clean), according to some, derives from the religious sect of “Katharon” which persecuted as it were, founded a chapel in the area and is now days the monastery. According to others though, the name emanated from the fact that the icon of the Virgin Mary was found inside piles of scrub cleared in the area and burnt. The chapel is said to have been built in the year 1563. It was refurbished and obviously extended in side in 1696. The icon portrays the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It celebrates on the 8th of September.

 

The Dodekaporto (twelve icons), the Gynekonitis (special place in the church allocated to females) and the Bellfry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remarkable for the visitor is the wooden dodekaporto (loosely translated: twelve icons depicting twelve of the most important elements of the 1921 epoch), the clay wall – embeded, pitchers for the acoustics of the Temple, the old stone monuments and two-storied gynekonitis in the façade of wich the Divine Judgement is portrayed.

Finally, imposing and beautiful from genuine stone, stands stubbornly against time the imposing Venetian style bellfry of the church, symbol of the village and pole of holy adoration of the church of the assumption of the most Holy Lady that celebrates on 15th of August.

 

ITHACA MUNICIPALITY

138 Spirou Razou Street

Ithaca Greece

Post Code 28300

Tel: (26740) 32795

Fax: (26740) 33387

Email: ithaki@otenet.gr

 

 

 

RELIGIOUS POST BYZANTINE MONUMENTS OF ITHACA - ANOGI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CHURCH OF ANOGI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Temple

The temple of the Virgin Mary in Anogi, ithaca, built at an altitude of 500m, is one of the largest, oldest and most important Basilica rhythm church, in the Balkans and as said, was partially 700 years ago.  The interior of the Temple presents enormous interest, since its entire internal space is covered with Byzantine style murals and due to this fact it has been declared by the Ministry of Education & religion, a “preservable historical monument” since 1959. Marvelous pictures of Saints and Angel shapes of infrequent technique, testify for the artists of that era, (Antonios from Agrapha) incomparable talent, famous for his great achievements during the 17th century. Antonis emanated from the faculty of Vraggiana in the Agrapha region, in which the Byzantine tradition of art was maintained and cultivated in large. The forms of Saints and their positions are standardised and their location in the Temple is defined by the breath, the colour and expression the artist himself gives. According to the sign on the stone reredo, Antonios from Agrapha completed and delivered the pictures in 1680.

 

The Earthquakes of `53

The temple suffered serious damage in 1953, during the devastating earthquakes of the period. A little later, it was repaired with the kind care and subscription of ithacitian shipowner  Panos Gratsos and the murals were restored and maintained by the conservator mr. Anastasios Koutsouris. With the successful intervention of the conservator, the murals that were visible, were also renovated and restored, on the north and south side of the main Temple, which are positioned in five parallel zones.

 

The Five Religious Painting Zones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the First zone, simply decorative pictures exist. The Second zone, beginning from above the flooring of the church, shows a succession of whole body Saints. Part of this area on the west side wall, opposite the main entrance, at first impression resembles the San Vitale of Ravenna mosaics and corresponds to the Hagiography of Konstantine the Great and Saint Helen in Anogi’s  church. In the case of the church in  Anogi between Konstantine and Helen, the Icon artist inserts a double cross that today is more widely known as the cross of Lorraine, emblem of general De Gaul in the second World War. The Third Zone, exhibits Saints and holy figures in rings with decoration agrabeli (clematis/wild woodbine). In the Fourth zone, representations of the Virgin Mary’s life and the life of Church Martys are shown. In the Fifth and last zone, which is cut in the middle by the placement of metal furred ceiling in year 1910, the Hagiographer (Holy Icon artist) quotes scenes from the life of Christ. In their entirety, the murals are of Ipiritiko (north east region in Greece) artistic style with influence from Cretan faculties and perhaps from the famous mosaics of Byzantine temple in Ravenna.

 

 

The Old Cathedral of the Island

The murals in the Temple are an iconographic work of Byzantine magnificence which emphasise the culture of Ithaca a hundred years after the conflict of Cross and Crescent (Naval battle Naupactos, 1571) Anogi was then the capital of Ithaca and the church of the Virgin Mary was the Cathedral of the island.

 

The Sign

In the constructed stone reredo the visitor reads the following constitutes historical testimony for the age of the Temple:

 

“Oh Lord, Solidify this temple just as solidified is the faith in You by Yours flock. Faith which was acquired by your suffering on the cross and Your honoured blood”. The metropolitan bishop of Kefalonia & Ithaca Paisios Hoidas 1680. Being the work of Antonios from a friend of labour