In the neighborhood of Kavaki
The route is about 1 km long, lasts about 50 minutes and is of moderate difficulty. It gives the visitor the opportunity to explore the so-called Kavaki, a picturesque district at the southeastern end of old Xanthi, located in the immediate vicinity of the river Kosynthos.

The district was named after a poplar tree (kavaki) that is said to have existed in the courtyard of the church of Pammegistoi Taxiarchs, a three-aisled basilica inextricably linked to the area. Starting from the homonymous square, the traveler will be able to see small and large traditional buildings, which coexist in narrow streets and compose the landscape of a neighborhood, which was created by tobacco workers and small professionals.

Alongside these buildings, however, other impressive ones coexist, such as the Mega Kin Cinema, the Karadimoglou Mansion and the Xenia Hotel, where the route ends. Thus, the visitor can explore the harmonious coexistence of traditional and modern architectural elements, which characterize the city of Xanthi and are perfectly expressed in the district of Kavaki.

49. St. Joseph's Catholic Chapel

Brief documentation:

The original building that existed here belonged to the family of Konstantinos Sgourov. In 1925 the descendants of the family sold the house to the Catholic monk Pere Gaetan Van Papel and from the following year the Catholic Church of St. Joseph, which was under the jurisdiction of the order of the Franciscan Friars Minor, began operating on the ground floor. The existence of a small Catholic population in the city created the need for the establishment of a religious center, where they could perform their religious duties.
The Catholics of Xanthi were initially served by the Lazarists of Kavala, who offered their religious services, apart from Xanthi, to Serres, Drama and Chalkidiki. In 1888 there was probably a Catholic church in the name of St. Michael.
After the end of World War II, the church of St. Joseph, as well as the rest of the Catholic churches of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, passed under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of the Catholic Church of Thessaloniki. The building, after its long-term abandonment, was demolished in 1975.
In the early 1990s, a two-storey building was erected on the site where the church was originally located, on the ground floor of which today there is the Catholic chapel of St. Joseph.
The original building was a two-storey building, probably of folk traditional architecture. We do not know more about the architecture of the building, as it has been demolished since the mid-1970s.


Category of thematic interest: RELIGIOUS INTEREST


History:

hematic interest    RELIGIOUS INTEREST
5. History    The original building that existed here belonged to the family of Konstantinos Sgourov. In 1925 the descendants of the family sold the house to the Catholic monk Pere Gaetan Van Papel and from the following year the Catholic Church of St. Joseph, which was under the jurisdiction of the order of the Franciscan Friars Minor, began operating on the ground floor. The existence of a small Catholic population in the city created the need for the establishment of a religious center, where they could perform their religious duties.
After the end of World War II, the church of St. Joseph, as well as the rest of the Catholic churches of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, passed under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of the Catholic Church of Thessaloniki.
The building, after its long-term abandonment, was demolished in 1975.
In the early 1990s, a two-storey building was erected on the site where the church was originally located, on the ground floor of which today there is the Catholic chapel of St. Joseph.


Elements of architecture:

The original building was a two-storey building, probably of folk traditional architecture. We do not know more about the architecture of the building, as it has been demolished since the mid-1970s.


Description of other elements:

The Catholics of Xanthi were initially served by the Lazarists of Kavala, who offered their religious services, apart from Xanthi, to Serres, Drama and Chalkidiki. In 1888 there was probably a Catholic church in the name of St. Michael.


Purpose - Use: Religious building


Characterization: Government Gazette 612B/30-4-1976 and Government Gazette 661/Β/17-5-1976, Government Gazette 1097/14.12-1995


Dating (period): Early 1990s


Year of construction: Early 1990s


Location of the monument: 41.144255, 24.889135


Bibliographic references:

•    Thomas Exarchou, Islets Polis Xanthi 2, P.A.KE.THRA., Xanthi 2003


 Address: Pindarou 11b


Visitable: No

 

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