Benefactors of the Greek Orthodox community of Xanthi
This route is about 2 km, about 60 minutes and of moderate difficulty. In it, the visitor will be able to tour buildings of architectural or religious interest at the same time, which were either built thanks to the donation of a benefactor from Xanthi, or are related to the residence or shop of the benefactor's family.

The role of benefactors was particularly important for the Greek Orthodox Christian populations during the Ottoman period, since they took care of the construction and decoration of schools, churches and buildings of public character (e.g. clubs) and thus contributed to the preservation of the ethnic and religious identity of the community.

The visitor starts from the chapel of Zoodochos Pigi on Lefkou Pyrgou Street and ends at the chapel of Agia Paraskevi in the heart of the old town. Along the way he will learn about the tobacco benefactors An. Sigalas, P. Stalios, M. Matsinis, the Kougioumtzoglou family, the teacher D. Chasirtzoglou, M. Floris etc. He will also "meet" the metropolitans of Xanthi and Peritheoriou Eugenios, under whose guidance and encouragement the churches of the old town were rebuilt and decorated after the catastrophic earthquake of 1829, and Ioakeim Sgouros, who rebuilt the Metropolitan Mansion and part of the monasteries.

Important were also the donations of professional guilds to the churches, such as the shoemakers' and the cobblers’ unions, which donated to the church of Akathist Hymn the icon of the Holy Trinity, or of Epirotan G. Kagialidis, who dedicated to the Metropolitan Church the icon of St. George of Ioannina, or of the Velios family, who donated several icons to Kavaki.

01. Mansion of M. Chasirtzoglou

Brief documentation:

The building was built during the 1890s by Menandros Chasirtzoglou (1861-1934), who belonged to one of the oldest and largest families in the city. M. Chasirtzoglou was involved in the tobacco trade and was a senior official of the Ottoman state. He served for many years as a municipal elder, ecclesiastical commissioner, as well as consul of Austria-Hungary in Xanthi. The consulate of Austria-Hungary (one of 4 that existed in the old Xanthi) was housed in his residence.

It is a majestic, two-storey residence, which draws influences from the architectural standards of eclecticism. The building combines particularly harmoniously the stonework of local gray granite with wooden masonry. The arched entrance of the mansion and the window frames are also made of granite, while the ground floor windows, and the lintel of the main entrance are covered with elaborate ironwork.

On the back side of the building there is a large courtyard. At a later stage, the buildings next to the mansion were built, which were used as auxiliary spaces. Inside the building there is a bath (hammam).


Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST


History:

The building was built during the 1890s by Menandros Chasirtzoglou (1861-1934), who belonged to one of the oldest and largest families in the city. He was involved in the tobacco trade and was a senior official of the Ottoman state. He served for many years as a municipal elder, ecclesiastical commissioner, as well as consul of Austria-Hungary in Xanthi. The consulate of Austria-Hungary was housed in his residence. In 1983 the descendants of the family sold the house to Dr. T. Asimidis. In 1993 the building was purchased by the Municipality of Xanthi. In the following years, various municipal services were housed there, such as the Municipal Development Company of Xanthi (DEAX), the Cultural Center and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality.


Elements of architecture:

It is a majestic, two-storey residence, which draws influences from the architectural standards of eclecticism. The building combines particularly harmoniously the stonework of local granite with wooden masonry. The arched entrance of the mansion and the window frames are also made of granite, while the ground floor windows and the lintel of the main entrance is covered with elaborate ironwork. On the back side of the building there is a large courtyard.


Description of other elements:

At a later stage, the buildings next to the mansion were built, which were used as auxiliary spaces. Inside the building there is a bath (hammam).


Purpose - Use: Residence


Characterization: Preservable, Institution of the Ministry of Education, Category "B", Decision 5385, Government Gazette 1097/D/1995


Dating (period): 1890s


Year of construction: 1890s


Monument location: 41.14526334614395, 24.887548416740803


Bibliographic references:

•    Dimitris Mavridis, Houses of Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou – DEAX, Xanthi 2009

•    Dimitris Mavridis, Angelophylaktos Xanthi, Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheoriou, Xanthi 2007


 Address: Matsini 8


Visitable: No

 

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