GOUMENISSA
CENTRAL MACEDONIA
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CENTRAL MACEDONIA
In Goumenissa, a town in the prefecture of Kilkis, Central Macedonia on the foothills of Mount Paiko, was written one of the most brilliant pages in the history of the Greek Silk Road. At the entrance of the town still stands the original stone built silk mill “Chrysalis”. The factory complex was built between 1927-1930 by the “Silk Textile Industry “Chrysalis” Stylianou H. Papadopoulos SA”. It operated from 1930 until 1984, with a workforce of between 35 and 400 people, mainly women. The raw materials came from the local area as a large number of families were involved in raising silkworms. During it’s existence it was a major economic driving force for the development of the entire local community.
Inside the building were the receiving areas for raw materials, cocoon distribution and stifling areas, the silk room, the spinning mill, the engine room, the boiler room, the storerooms, the kitchens and the dining room. Nearby the factory building there were also two residences and the administrative offices.
In 1985 the building was classified as a historic monument and covered by a preservation order together with it’s surviving equipment, as a excellent example of industrial development in Greece. Today it functions as a museum and exhibition space, with the machines, tools and silk articles offering a unique journey through time. It is possible to arrange a visit by contacting Father Christodoulo Papakosta.
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KILKIS | CENTRAL MACEDONIA
The traditional-looking town of Goumenissa is built at the eastern foothills of Mount Paiko at an altitude of 250 meters. Goumenissa is a wine-cultivating center, for centuries reputed for its fine wines. Besides wine-tasting, visitors can enjoy the characteristic Macedonian architecture of the quiet town. Indeed, travelers can relax and enjoy the tranquility by walking through narrow streets, admiring old traditional houses, while being charmed by abundant waters, endless vegetation, the uniqueness of the natural environment, and the warm hospitality of the people. Goumenissa is also a town for alternative types of tourism and multiple interests, providing options such as the old church of the Virgin with its miraculous icon, and the monasteries of Paiko (Saint Raphael, Hosios Nicodemus). Equally impressive is the three- aisled church of Saint Georgios, built in 1864, with its marble templum and its wonderful icons dating from 1825.
But besides the monastic tourism, the wine-tasting, the cultural and architectural charms, not to be missed is the Alevra Folklore Museum. The regional cultural events are remarkable. Festivities and fairs are performed with great grandeur, while keeping customs and traditions intact. In addition, various tradition-oriented events (usually pertaining to folklore), as well as popular festivities (i.e. modern music and dance) draw in local crowds. Especially well-known are “The Copper (Instruments) of Goumenissa”. The town of Goumenissa was once also a major silk-producing center, as claimed by the old factory “Chrysalis”.
Mount Paiko is one of the most beautiful, picturesque, and majestic mountains of Greece. It charms each and every visitor with its wonderful forests, its ravines, its rippling waters, and its gorgeous villages. The villages of Griva, Karpi, Kastaneri, and Livadia have much to offer, ranging from a lovely landscape to organized recreational areas within the forest.
Chestnut-trees, cedars, willows, poplar trees, beeches, and ferns are some examples of the wild vegetation of Mount Paiko.
Evropos is one of the most important sites from an archeological point of view, with findings dating back to the prehistoric era. The site received its reputation from a famous archaic Kouros statue, dated 650 B.C. The statue stands at 1.80 meters tall, of the Cycladic style, and especially valuable for its uniqueness. It is safeguarded in the archeological Museum of Kilkis.
The landscape is idyllic, with unspoiled and wild vegetation. Small but steep slopes boast of crystal clear waters, which in turn form short or tall waterfalls; this countryside is a gem for nature lovers. Also a sight to behold is the Sapphire Lake, so called because of its wonderful green color, due to an array of calcified and petrified microorganisms at its bottom. This small, naturally formed lake lies hidden behind an almost impassable barrier of hazel-nut trees, ivy, and clematis plants; it is known for its beauty and freezing cold waters.
The monastery of Saint Nicodemus of Mount Athos, a part of the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra of Mount Athos, is located 7 km from Goumenissa at an altitude of about 700 meters on the slopes of Mount Paiko. It was created by the Abbot Archimandrite Chrysostomos and a three-member group of young people who accompanied him. In 1981, the monastery’s Katholikon was founded in the presence of three Metropolitans. It is a church dedicated to Saint Nicodemus (the ground floor section is dedicated to Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene).
The Holy Monastery of Agios Rafael is located in the village of Griva, on the slope of Mount Paiko, at an altitude of 600 m. overlooking the valley of Axios. It is a male monastery which was founded in 1992. It is dedicated on Easter Monday afternoon and Easter Tuesday, the day on which the Saints were martyred in Thermi of Lesvos in 1463. The main church of the monastery is dedicated to Saints Raphael, Nikolaos and Irene. It also includes two chapels dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul and to the Apostle Andrew.
The British Military Cemetery “Karasouli” is located in Polykastro. It contains mainly graves of British soldiers. The cemeteries were originally used as an identification station for victims of the 1916 front.
Regional Unit of Kilkis: 2341350100
Kilkis Tourism office: 2341350166
E-mail: info@kilkis.pkm.gov.gr
Fb: experience.kilkis
Instagram:experience.kilkis
Municipality of Paionia: 2343350100
E-mail: info@visitpaionia.gr
Archaeological site of Evropos
Tel: +30 2341022005, +30 23410 76661, +30 23410 22477
Email: efakil@culture.gr
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
First Aid: 166
Police: 100
Fire Brigade: 199
Forest Fires: 191
Forestry Division:
Kilkis: 23410 23578
Goumenissa: 23430 42002
HOSPITALS – HEALTH CENTERS
Kilkis General Hospital: 23410 38400
Goumenissa General Hospital: 23430 42222
Polykastro Health Center: 23430 22222
Mouries Railroad Station Health Services: 23410 31225
POLICE DEPARTMENTS
Kilkis Police Headquarters: 23410 77002
Kilkis Police Department: 23410 77032
Eptalofos: 23410 62272
Isoma: 23410 20220
Axioupoli: 23410 91287
Goumenissa: 23430 41210
Eidomeni: 23430 91333
Evzoni: 23430 51227
Polykastro: 23430 22711
TRANSPORTATION
Bus Services
Axioupoli Bus Station: 23430 31313
Goumenissa Bus Station: 23430 41214
Kilkis Bus Station: 23410 22311
Thessaloniki Bus Station for buses to Kilkis: 2310 595433
Train Services
Organization of Greek Railroads (“OSE”): 1110
Kristoni “OSE”: 23410 28585
Gallikos R.R. Station: 23410 41900
Mouries R.R. Station: 23410 31346
Polykastro “OSE”: 23410 22432
Eidomeni R.R. Station: 23410 91111
Taxi Services
Radiotaxi: 23410 29800
The Holy Metropolis of Polyani and Kilkis
Tel. 23410 26408
Agios Georgios, Kilkis
Tel. 23410 22740
The Holy Monastery of the Virgin, Goumenissa
Tel. 23430 20540
The Holy Monastery of Hosios Nicodemus, Pentalofos
Tel. 23430 20545
The Holy Monastery of Saints Raphael, Nikolaos, and Eirini, Griva, Goumenissa
Tel. 23430 39102
The Archeological Museum of Kilkis
Intersection of Outskouni and Regoukou Streets, Kilkis
Tel. 23410 22477
The Goumenissa Folklore Museum
Tel. 23430 42173, 41362
The Axioupoli Museum of Natural History
Tel. 23430 31214, 31218
The Gorgopi Folklore Museum, Axioupoli
Tel. 23430 31656
The World War I- Battle of Skra Museum, Skra
Tel. 23430 31656
JANUARY
– 17/01 Saint Anthony Feast Day. Fair at Griva.
FEBRUARY
– 01/02 Saint Tryphon Feast Day. Goumenissa hosts a wine festival, also known as the Saint Tryphon “kourbani”.
– Cheese-fair Sunday witnesses carnivals all over the prefecture. On the same day, cheese-pie and pieces of cheese are handed out in Griva, while in Polypetro wheat and cheese are preferred.
MARCH
– Clean Monday celebrations in many areas of the prefecture, i.e. Neo Gynaikokastro, Aspros, Goumenissa, etc.
– The Holy Monastery of the Virgin in Goumenissa hosts a fair on the first Sunday in March.
APRIL
– Reenactment of the Crucifixion of Christ at the Hosios Nicodemus Monastery in Pentalofos, Goumenissa.
– On Easter Monday, holy bread is hidden at the oldest tree in Skra.
– On Saint George Feast Day the “kourbani” custom takes place in Evropos.
– On the Monday after Saint George Feast Day a “kourbani” takes place in Polykastro.
MAY
– 01/05 May Day Celebrations at Mikro Dasos, Kiladi, Fiska; fair with local musicians in Goumenissa.
– 02/05 Observance of Saint Athanasius Feast day; fair in Karpi and Mikrokambos, “kourbani” in the village of Toumba, Thracian wedding and “kourbani” in Kastanies.
– Cultural May in Evropos.
JUNE
– The town of Polykastro celebrates the three-day holiday of the Holy Spirit. Also, the ten-day events of “Polykastrina”.
– 21/06 Liberation of Kilkis festivities, “Eleftheria”.
– 24/06 The Klidonas devination custom at Gallikos and Polykastro; fair at Fanos.
– Memorial services for all those slaughtered and murdered at Foulacik, Asia Minor and Tsado, Eastern Thrace on the third Sunday of June in Evropos.
– 29/06 Observance of Saints Peter and Paul Feast Day. Fair in Stathis and Pentalofos.
– 29-30/06 Reenactment of Vlach wedding in Axioupoli.
JULY
– 14/07 Celebrations at the Hosios Nicodemus monastery.
– 20/07 Feast day of the prophet Elijah; three-day cultural events in Cherso, Kastaneri, Doirani, and Palaio Agioneri.
– The two-day “Pontic Panour”, observed at the Polykastro elementary school by the Pontic club “Akrites”.
AUGUST
– 01/08 The “Evzonitika”, at Evzoni.
– 14-17/08 The “Theotokia”, at the church of the Holy Virgin in Goumenissa.
– 15/08 Livadia hosts the meeting of the Megalolivadiotes Vlachs. Reenactment of a Vlach wedding.
– 17-23/08 Cultural events at the church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Evropos.
– 18-27/08 The “Axioupolitika”: ten-day cultural, athletic, and religious events.
SEPTEMBER
– At the end of the harvest season, the “Sintiankis” custom is observed in Polykastro.
– 14-16/09 Three-day “Cultural September” is dedicated to the commemoration of the unforgettable fatherlands of the Kilkis refugee groups of the 1920’s.
– 30/09-01/10 Celebration of the church of Agia Skepi (“Holy Protection”) in Evzoni.
OCTOBER
– 26/10 Fair in Dogani, Axioupoli, two-day events in Agios Petros.
– The end of October witnesses the chestnut feast in Kastaneri.
DECEMBER
– 25/12 Christmas day; preparation of Christ-bread or Christmas biscuits from all groups of the prefecture.
– The “Rousoulies” custom from Christmas to the Epiphany in Griva, Kastaneri, Pentalofos, and Polypetro.
– “Androkratia” (Patriarchy) and “Gynaikokratia” (Matriarchy) in Aspros and Axiochori.
