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Xanthi – History

Xanthi, or Xantheia, the name by which it has been known since the year 879 A.D. was originally a small village, exposed to all the adventures that Thrace underwent including invasions, disasters, attacks (from the Goths, the Huns, the Bulgarians, the Slavs) and civil strife. The Ottomans came upon the region to find a dwindling population and nearly everything destroyed. They brought over inhabitants from the depths of Asia Minor and created Genisea. Oraio and Xanthi however were Christian and Hellenic centres. The Pomakoi, the mountain people of Rodopi, isolated in inaccessible Rodopi, retained their ancient customs and traditions, but converted to Islam mainly in the 17th century.

In 1715 Xanthi became famous for its tobacco, as did Genisea. Many foreign travellers passed through the region and described the life and struggle of its inhabitants. Xanthi became well-known throughout Europe for its tobacco trade. Two major earthquakes in March and April of 1829 were to have a lasting effect on the town which they destroyed. Re-building was undertaken immediately. From 1860 the Municipal Council of Xanthi was developed. In 1870 Genisea was burnt clown and all official offices were transferred to Xanthi which, by then, had a population of 10,000. In 1891 the railway was built near the town and economic development led to the building of schools and the establishing of associations.

In 1912 the town was taken over by the Bulgarians which, within eight months, was liberated by the Greek Army only to be re-captured by the Bulgarians until the end of the First World War when after diplomatic negotiations Western Thrace finally came under Greek government in 1919-20.

The archaeologist Ev. Pentazos writes the following about the Old Town of Xanthi which was rebuilt after 1830:
“The town is built on the slopes of soft hills, where the mountains of Yeraka descend and, is framed by the three monasteries of Panaghia Kalamou, Panoghia Archangeliotissa and Taxiarches. Two gorges divide it to the west and a river, the Kosinthos, to the east. The variety of land emphasises its special character, while the western Macedonian masters have used their deep-rooted experience to build mansion houses which blend in with the natural environment. The result was a bright variety of rhythms with local and foreign elements placed side by side in a relaxing and enriching sight for the visitor. It is a pleasure to walk down the narrow streets again and again and receive different impressions from every aspect.
The Old Town of Xanthi – a modern town for its time, with its narrow streets, neo-classical and traditional- style houses, its flowered yards and gardens and its lush greenery – still give the feeling of wealth and beauty of the life of those who built and developed it. The tobacco factories and warehouses were built in the plains so as not to disturb the peace of the town and became a special area, which is now surrounded by the modern apartment blocks of contemporary Xanthi”.

In the traditional settlement part of Xanthi, the following churches designated these areas of the Old Town (according to Guide to Xanthi 1969, St. loannidis):

  • Timios Prodromos.
  • Akathistos Hymnos. Built in 1860. Found in the area known as Old Town.
  • Pammegistoi Taxiarches (Kavaki). Built on the site of an older church in 1747, situated also in Old Town settlement behind the Metropolis (Cathedral).
  • Agios Georgios (St. George). Placed also in the Old Town and near by the church of St. Vlasios.
  • Agios Vlasios (St. Vlasios). A former monastery. Possibly built in 1825. Both churches are in quartier where the nobles of the town lived and the quartier is known as Agios Vlasios.

There are also numerous chapels as the old Xanthi residents used to build them in their courtyards.

In the hills surrounding Xanthi there are interesting monasteries. A 12th Century fortress is standing near the Monastery of Taxiarches. This is the Byzantine Xantheia. To the south-east of the Monastery of Taxiarches the foundations of previous (perhaps Thracian) fortifications can be observed. According to folkloric tradition they are mentioned as “Xanthippi walls”-a mythical queen of Xanthi.
The older part of the Holy Monastery of Taxiarches dates back to the late Byzantine years.

Post-Byzantine buildings include the Holy Monastery of Panaghia Kalamou and the Holy Monastery of Panaghia Archangeliotissa. Folkloric tradition holds that the Monastery of Kalamou was built during the time of the lconoclastic Wars and the lcon of the Holy Virgin was found in Kalamies (reeds). There was a precious collection of manuscripts stolen by the Bulgarians and which is found in Sofia. The crypt in the Holy Monastery of Panaghia Archangeliotissa is said to date back to the 11th century. The Metropolis Square is the centre of the Old Town of Xanthi and it is surrounded by important buildings. The main roads of the Old Town meet up here.

In the Metropolis Square the following buildings are standing: The Holy Cathedral of Timios Prodromos (Metropolis), the Bishop’s Residence (Metropolitiko Megaro), the Matsini School, the Stalios Nursery School, the former Greek Consulate mansion houses belonging to rich tobacco merchants and buildings which housed various foreign consulates from time to time.
Further down, the commercial centre with its old cinemas, shops and inns, is met.
Southwest the St. George and St. Vlasios quartier is placed, where numerous mansion houses are standing. In the south of the “Old Town” after 1860 the tobacco warehouses blocks were erected.