The Elders’ council of Xanthi and its representatives
The route is about 2 km long, lasts about 60 minutes and is of moderate difficulty. It starts from the district of Agios Vlasios and ends at the district of Akathist Hymn. In it, the visitor will have the opportunity to learn through the buildings about the Greek Orthodox community, the Elders of Xanthi, the most important elders, as well as about buildings related to the activity of the community.

The Elders’ council was the administrative system of the Greek Orthodox community during the Ottoman Empire. The elders, otherwise known as provosts or kodjabashis, were unpaid or salaried representatives, elected by Christians with the approval of the Ottomans. On the one hand, they facilitated the administration and collection of taxes on behalf of the Ottomans and, on the other, they administered the community, took care of its schools, managed the revenues of churches, monasteries and community property, resolved court issues and imposed penitentiary penalties. President of the Elders’ council was the Metropolitan of Xanthi and Peritheoriou. Active metropolitans were Eugenios (1792-1848) and Ioakeim Sgouros (1864-1912). In Xanthi, the Elders met at the Church of Timios Prodromos and later at the Metropolitan Mansion. The schools of the Elders’ council consisted of the Stalios Kindergarten, the Matsinis School, while a school also operated in the courtyard of Agios Vlasios. Well-known names who served as Elders are Michaloglou, Valixoglou, Karabetsis, Chasirtzoglou, Stalios, Sigalas, Matsinis, Velios, Ladas, Stavropoulos etc. Many of them served as ecclesiastical commissioners in the various churches of the city, as curators/teachers of schools, while their benefactions and donations to the Greek Orthodox community of Xanthi were important.

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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