Prokopi - Euboea (Greece)
Prokopi. Prokopi is a small village with 1100 inhabitants in northern Evia. The village is visited year ‘round by thousands of people, especially visitors to the church of Agios Ioannis the Russian. It's actually a place of pilgrimage where the faithful go, not only the Greek Orthodox, but also Russians, Serbs and other Orthodox believers. In fact, in this church lies the body of Agios Ioannis o Rossos (the Russian). Agios Ioannis came from Ukraine. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1711, the Tatars, who fought with the Turks at that time, captured him. The Tatars committed him to a Turkish officer in the village of Prokopi in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). He became a slave of the Turks and he was tortured, mostly since he would not convert to Islam. When he was about 40, he died (May 27, 1730). In 1924, when the Greeks had to flee from Prokopi from Turkey, they took the body of Saint Ioannis with them to Greece. These Greeks settled in North Evia, in the village of Emin Aga. This village is known as “Neo Prokopi,” meaning “new Prokopi.”
Prokopi is located 50 kilometers northwest of Halkida and 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Mantoudi. The road between pine and plane trees is breathtaking. Prokopi is a pleasant village with lovely cafes and souvenir shops where many local products are sold, such as honey and pasteli (a cake of honey and sesame seeds). Every year on May 27, the day of Osios Ioannis the Russian is celebrated and there is a procession in the village. The original Prokopi is located in Kappadokië (Turkey) and today is called Ürgüp.
Text: Jorgos and Wendy Nikolidakis - Text edited by Katrina Butzer
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Prokopi in other languages
Prokopi (GriekseGids.nl)
Prokopi (GriekseGids.be)
Prokopi (GreeceGuide.co.uk)
Prokopi (GriechenlandWeb.de)
Euboea: Where on the map is Prokopi located?
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