Sigri is situated in the west end corner of the island of Lesvos; in the heart of the Aegean sea. Surrounded by other islands, Nissiopi, Kavalouros and Fanes. It’s a natural port and gives shelter to boats out at sea when the weather is bad. The story of Sigri, its Greek history, goes back many years, through good and bad times. Pre-History
The first mention of Sigri was from historian Stavron (65BC – 23 AD). He described the Ellispontos (the stretch of sea before the Black Sea, near Istanbul), which reaches Sigri. Since this time, until the Renaissance, there was no mention of Sigri from other historians but in the European maps of this period we find Sigri with the following names: Porto Sigri, Castello Siguro, Sigrium. When Gateluzi (Genovese aristocracy, 1355-1462) took Lesvos as a dowry, the main settlement was “Saint Theodoros”, but the site is unknown. Settlement remains have been found at Paliocastro (possibly piratical) and Paliochori. It is believed the inhabitants of both settlements lived mainly by farming and stockrearing. Also, in the Adamania area ruins of olive mills and presses of that period have been found.
The first mention of Sigri was from historian Stavron (65BC – 23 AD). He described the Ellispontos (the stretch of sea before the Black Sea, near Istanbul), which reaches Sigri. Since this time, until the Renaissance, there was no mention of Sigri from other historians but in the European maps of this period we find Sigri with the following names: Porto Sigri, Castello Siguro, Sigrium. When Gateluzi (Genovese aristocracy, 1355-1462) took Lesvos as a dowry, the main settlement was “Saint Theodoros”, but the site is unknown. Settlement remains have been found at Paliocastro (possibly piratical) and Paliochori. It is believed the inhabitants of both settlements lived mainly by farming and stockrearing. Also, in the Adamania area ruins of olive mills and presses of that period have been found.
Historical Times
During the Turkish occupation of Lesvos and after the abandonment of the catles of Kalloni the castle of Sigri was established in 1757. The strength of the castle was 100 men and 200 canons. In 1885 it’s recorded that there were 60 houses and in 1908, 200 houses. Most villagers were Muslim.
In 1912 there was liberation from Turkish occupation. In 1922, n exchange of population took place, ethnic Greeks who had lived in what was now Turkey were sent to Lesvos and ethnic Turks were returned to Turkey.
The Greek refugees from Turkey that resettled in Sigri came from Tenedos and the islands of Ellispondos (mainly from the villages of Houlia and Artaki) also from Istanbul, Fokaes, and Moschonisia.
Sigri, before the German occupation had 1100 inhabitants mostly farmers or merchants. During this time Sigri had many merchant ships but this trade slowly decreased. Many people emigrated to Australia, the United States, Canada and Germany, and of course to Athens and Thessaloniki, and other parts of Greece.
According to the census of 1991, Sigri has 352 inhabitants. The main occupations being stockrearing, fishing, tourism, and merchant marine.
Since 1978, a Community Group has been thriving in the village and in 1992 established a Youth Club which every year presents a theatrical production.
Recently, two associations have been set up, one for those involved in tourism, the other for fishermen.
During the Turkish occupation of Lesvos and after the abandonment of the catles of Kalloni the castle of Sigri was established in 1757. The strength of the castle was 100 men and 200 canons. In 1885 it’s recorded that there were 60 houses and in 1908, 200 houses. Most villagers were Muslim.
In 1912 there was liberation from Turkish occupation. In 1922, n exchange of population took place, ethnic Greeks who had lived in what was now Turkey were sent to Lesvos and ethnic Turks were returned to Turkey.
The Greek refugees from Turkey that resettled in Sigri came from Tenedos and the islands of Ellispondos (mainly from the villages of Houlia and Artaki) also from Istanbul, Fokaes, and Moschonisia.
Sigri, before the German occupation had 1100 inhabitants mostly farmers or merchants. During this time Sigri had many merchant ships but this trade slowly decreased. Many people emigrated to Australia, the United States, Canada and Germany, and of course to Athens and Thessaloniki, and other parts of Greece.
According to the census of 1991, Sigri has 352 inhabitants. The main occupations being stockrearing, fishing, tourism, and merchant marine.
Since 1978, a Community Group has been thriving in the village and in 1992 established a Youth Club which every year presents a theatrical production.
Recently, two associations have been set up, one for those involved in tourism, the other for fishermen.
Churches
The first community church of Sigri was Saint Nicholas, which today is the church of the cemetery situated at the entrance of the village. Its position was bounded by an icon, whose whereabouts were revealed to a soldier in the Greek army in 1912, in his dream.
Today, the community church is the Holy Trinity church, which was a Turkish mosque and its basement a huge water cellar. Most of the icons have been transferred from Houhlia, from the harmonious church of this lost country.
Last year, the church of Saint Theofanis of the Sigrian area was built and is celebrated on the 12th of March. The church of Saint Faneromenis (saint of Revelations) situated by the seaside is celebrated the first Friday after Easter. It is built inside a cave – the place where Saint Theofanis lived. Saint Theofanis built Ipsilo monastery after being extradited from the Patriarch of Constantinople.
At Paliorchori, the church of Saint Paraskevi (Saint Friday) is built on a rock, where ruins of an old Christian church existed. At Asomato there is the church of Taxiarchis (Archangels Michael & Gabriel) and is celebrated on the 1st of May.
Other small chapels include the churches of Saint Anna and Saint George, and are scattered on the land surrounding Sigri.
Finally, on the island of Nissiopi there is the church of Saint George. Until today, the foundations of the previous church exist. In 1855 the grave of an English sailor still existed and it is believed that an Archbishop was buried there on an unknown date.
The first community church of Sigri was Saint Nicholas, which today is the church of the cemetery situated at the entrance of the village. Its position was bounded by an icon, whose whereabouts were revealed to a soldier in the Greek army in 1912, in his dream.
Today, the community church is the Holy Trinity church, which was a Turkish mosque and its basement a huge water cellar. Most of the icons have been transferred from Houhlia, from the harmonious church of this lost country.
Last year, the church of Saint Theofanis of the Sigrian area was built and is celebrated on the 12th of March. The church of Saint Faneromenis (saint of Revelations) situated by the seaside is celebrated the first Friday after Easter. It is built inside a cave – the place where Saint Theofanis lived. Saint Theofanis built Ipsilo monastery after being extradited from the Patriarch of Constantinople.
At Paliorchori, the church of Saint Paraskevi (Saint Friday) is built on a rock, where ruins of an old Christian church existed. At Asomato there is the church of Taxiarchis (Archangels Michael & Gabriel) and is celebrated on the 1st of May.
Other small chapels include the churches of Saint Anna and Saint George, and are scattered on the land surrounding Sigri.
Finally, on the island of Nissiopi there is the church of Saint George. Until today, the foundations of the previous church exist. In 1855 the grave of an English sailor still existed and it is believed that an Archbishop was buried there on an unknown date.
The Petrified
As the western part of Lesvos and an area of 150,000 acres exists the petrified forest.
Approximately 20 million years ago (Miocene era of the Cenozoic Age), an intense volcanic eruption began on the land occupying the area of the Aegean Sea. The position of the Lesvos volcano has not been located up to this day, but evidence of its existence is still evident by the many thermal springs of the island.
The petrified wood was at that time a moorland basin, where plants and animals abounded, and which was dominated by thick rainfalls and strong winds. Volcanic gushes covered this existing plant and animal life while at the same time excessive water falls passing through organic matter, deposited its silicon dioxide; and the process of petrification was completed with a gradual replacement of particles of alive matter by particles of silicon dioxide and a simultaneous deposition of various coloured minerals.
Today, there exist approximately 200 surface trunks, fossils of plants and animals and a huge number of other fossil, buried under tons of volcanic tuff and conglomerate rocks. The longest trunk is 4.80 m, whereas the thickest one has a diameter of 2.65m.
As the western part of Lesvos and an area of 150,000 acres exists the petrified forest.
Approximately 20 million years ago (Miocene era of the Cenozoic Age), an intense volcanic eruption began on the land occupying the area of the Aegean Sea. The position of the Lesvos volcano has not been located up to this day, but evidence of its existence is still evident by the many thermal springs of the island.
The petrified wood was at that time a moorland basin, where plants and animals abounded, and which was dominated by thick rainfalls and strong winds. Volcanic gushes covered this existing plant and animal life while at the same time excessive water falls passing through organic matter, deposited its silicon dioxide; and the process of petrification was completed with a gradual replacement of particles of alive matter by particles of silicon dioxide and a simultaneous deposition of various coloured minerals.
Today, there exist approximately 200 surface trunks, fossils of plants and animals and a huge number of other fossil, buried under tons of volcanic tuff and conglomerate rocks. The longest trunk is 4.80 m, whereas the thickest one has a diameter of 2.65m.
The Seasides
The seashores of Sigri are defined by many sandy beaches in which each and every visitor can choose the one that suits them most. Starting from the south, Eressos side, there is the beach of Tzichliondas, upon continuing, the beaches of Lafri, Limena, Plaka and then reaching the beach of Sigri. Continuing north, there are the beaches of Lambrini and Paliokastro, Andromachis’s Embrace, Hasanaria, the seaside of Faneromeni with the White Rock and Lemankia, Keramidi, the Mega Limenas, Saint Thanassis, Pochi, and finally reaching the seaside of Lapsarna.
Certainly, there are many more small seashores in addition to these. Also, on the small islands of Sigri, there are more seasides.
The seashores of Sigri are defined by many sandy beaches in which each and every visitor can choose the one that suits them most. Starting from the south, Eressos side, there is the beach of Tzichliondas, upon continuing, the beaches of Lafri, Limena, Plaka and then reaching the beach of Sigri. Continuing north, there are the beaches of Lambrini and Paliokastro, Andromachis’s Embrace, Hasanaria, the seaside of Faneromeni with the White Rock and Lemankia, Keramidi, the Mega Limenas, Saint Thanassis, Pochi, and finally reaching the seaside of Lapsarna.
Certainly, there are many more small seashores in addition to these. Also, on the small islands of Sigri, there are more seasides.
Sigri
An exceptional area, able to be charm and bewitch you. A place for everyone and anyone, home to the winds, fruition of the rocks, the glory of the sun and the gods.
It is worth reaching the end!
An exceptional area, able to be charm and bewitch you. A place for everyone and anyone, home to the winds, fruition of the rocks, the glory of the sun and the gods.
It is worth reaching the end!
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