86. Kavaki Square
Brief documentation:
avaki Square is formed at the junction of Evripidou and Aeschylou streets. This public space was formed as a square in an unknown period. It bears the name Kavaki, which in Turkish means poplar. It is named so, probably because there were poplar trees nearby, which may have demarcated the district in the past.
Oral tradition mentions that during the Turkish occupation, when the construction of bell towers in Christian churches was prohibited, the Christians of the church of Taxiarchs had placed a bell on a small poplar that existed in the square and rang with the wind.
The Church of Pammegistoi Taxiarchs is located in the district of Kavaki and was rebuilt in 1834 according to the relief dedicatory inscription found in the narthex.
It is the oldest temple in Xanthi.
Its construction probably took place on the foundations of an earlier church of the Middle Byzantine period, which was destroyed during the earthquakes of 1829.
This square is dominated by two cypress trees, while around there are houses, the church of Pammegistoin Taxiarchs and free parking.
In this square, during the Old Xanthi Festivals, the Cultural Associations of the city set up their hangouts.
Category of thematic interest: ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST
History:
Kavaki Square is formed at the junction of Evripidou and Aeschylou streets. This public space was shaped as a square in an unknown period. It bears the name Kavaki, which in Turkish means poplar. It is named so, probably because there were poplar trees nearby, which may have demarcated the district in the past. Oral tradition mentions that during the Turkish occupation, when the construction of bell towers in Christian churches was prohibited, the Christians of the church of Taxiarchs had placed a bell on a small poplar that existed in the square and rang with the wind.
The Church of Pammegistoi Taxiarchs is located in the district of Kavaki and was rebuilt in 1834 according to the relief dedicatory inscription found in the narthex. It is the oldest temple in Xanthi.
Its construction probably took place on the foundations of an earlier church of the Middle Byzantine period, which was destroyed during the earthquakes of 1829.
Elements of architecture:
This square is dominated by two cypress trees, while around there are houses, the oldest church of Xanthi (itself called Kavaki) dedicated to the Pammegistoi Taxiarchs and free parking.
Description of other elements:
In this square, during the Old Xanthi Festivals, the Cultural Associations of the city set up their hangouts.
Purpose - Use: Public space
Characterization: Government Gazette 612B/30-4-1976 and Government Gazette 661/Β/17-5-1976 - Government Gazette 1097 D/14.12-1995
Dating (period): Unknown
Year of construction: Unknown
Location of the monument: 41.144611947675074, 24.888792519302807
Bibliographic references:
• Ioannis Bakirtzis, The name of the Mitropoleos district during Ottoman times, Peri Thrace, v. 2 (2002), p. 193 – 206
• Evlambia Avramidou, Vasilios Aivaliotis. "Streets and place names of Xanthi". Xanthi, PAKETHRA, 2003.
• Chryssa Melkidi, The Muslim monuments of Xanthi, Technical Chamber of Greece, Athens 2007, p. 109.
Address: Intersection of Aeschylus and Evripidou streets
Visitable: Yes