Geraki is a village of the district of Lacedaemon in the prefecture of Laconia with about 1.400 inhabitants and is located 39 km. southeast of Sparta. Despite of its size, Geraki has a long history that runs throughout all the historical periods and symbolizes in a way the eternity of the Greek nation.

 

Prehistoric Period.   The place where Geraki is located was inhabited even before the time for which historical records exist. During the excavations that were conducted in 1905 by the British Archaeological School of Athens on the ancient Acropolis of the village, the place which today’s residents call ΄΄Dontakia΄΄ artefacts were found that belong to the Neolithic Period, which according to the archaeologists is placed in the fourth millennium B. C. These finds prove that the location had been settled and inhabited about 6.000 years ago. Finds that are attributed to this period have not been discovered anywhere else in Laconia and in very few other places in Peloponnese. In the same excavations, objects were found from the Copper Period, which followed the Neolithic and according to the archaeologists goes back to the middle of the third millennium i.e. 2.500 B. C. Since all these objects were found in the same place, one can conclude that the Neolithic civilization was not destroyed abruptly, but rather it was replaced gradually by the civilization of the copper period, which spread in Peloponnese from other places of Greece.

 

Mycenean Period.    During this period which begins at about 1.800 B. C. and lasts until the descent of the Dorians into Greece i.e. until 1.104 B.C., a well organized settlement was established, in other words a city, which subsequently was named Geronthrae. The excavations brought to surface many artefacts that belong to that period, mostly Mycenean pottery. It was in those years that the Acropolis of Geronthrae was fortified with a cyclopean wall from which a number of remnants are seen today. It seems that the fortification of the citadel was quite effective and the inhabitants of the city brave and that is why they were able to repulse for a long period of time the attacks of the Dorians, who in the year 1.024 B.C. and under the rein of king Tisamenes overran the area of Lacedaemon and established Dorian Sparta. With tough fighting for 300 years, the Achaean inhabitants of Geronthrae and of two other illustrious cities of Lacedaemon, Amyclae and Pharis (located in the area of today’s town of Xerocampi) defended themselves against the Dorian conquest. However, in 700 B. C. under the rein of king Teleclos, the Dorians occupied by force all three cities, which were the last citadels of the Achaeans in Lacedaemon. The inhabitants of the Geronthrae and Pharis were expelled from their homes to other places in Laconia occupied by Achaeans and the Dorians brought in people from their own racial group. The inhabitants of Amyclae became helots (slaves) to the Dorians.

 

Dorian and Classical Years.   After the settlement of the Dorians and still more during the classical years that followed, the city of Geronthrae prospered and developed into an important civil and commercial centre. This is concluded from the marble inscriptions dating to this period, the consular decrees, the sculptures that were found, the architectural pieces and other objects as well as from the dense network of roads to all directions. Among the sculptures, the most beautiful is that of the sorrowful youth. These antiquities were found and collected by the antiquity- loving resident of Geraki George A. Papanicolaou, mayor of Geronthrae for a number of years, who had devoted himself with sacred enthusiasm and zeal in the act of finding, collecting and safe-keeping the antiquities of the area and for this he was justifiably named the vestryman of Geraki. In recent years, the Archaeological School of Amsterdam carried out extensive excavations on the Acropolis of Geraki and brought to light many ancient objects, including a number of coins dating to the classical period.

    During the classical years, Geronthrae had two temples as the ancient traveller and writer Pausanias testified. The first was devoted to Apollo, the God of Light and Music and the other was devoted to Mars, the God of War. As a result, one can conclude that the inhabitants of Geronthrae were not only capable fighters, as true Dorians, but also lovers of music. The temple of Apollo was located on the Acropolis and was adorned with a gold-ivory statue of the God. The temple of Mars was situated close to the springs, i.e. in the area named ΄΄Kato Vrysi΄΄ and probably in the location that bears the name ΄΄Mitropolis΄΄, where the foundations of a Christian church can be seen today, more than likely built on the same spot as the ancient temple. Around this temple, there was a park, a place of an annual feast from which women were excluded and even forbidden to enter the park itself.

 

Roman Period.   During this period, the city of Geronthrae was a member of the community of the Free Lacons, i. e. an autonomous confederacy, which was established in 146 B. C. by various cities of Lacedaemon that had broken off from the sovereignty of Sparta. Various marble inscriptions, consular decrees and remnants from an aqueduct and public baths have been found from this period

    During the third and fourth century A. D., the city became an important commercial centre, as this is concluded from extracts of a decree of the Roman emperor Diocletian of 301 A. D., which set the maximum sales price for certain consumable goods and decreed the death penalty for violators. These marble columns on which this imperial decree was inscribed were used as side posts and cross bar of the main entrance of the church of St. John Chrysostome , which is located in the neighbourhood ΄΄Kato Vrysi΄΄.

 

Byzantine Period.   The city of Geronthrae continued to prosper during the subsequent centuries and was included in the list of districts and cities, which was drafted by Hierocles in the sixth century A. D. It was during this period and specifically in the fifth century A. D. that a Christian church, a basilica, was built in the location ΄΄Mitropolis΄΄. Also during this period, the Acropolis was fortified with new walls and certain parts of them are seen even today.

     It is very likely that during this period and before the Frankish conquest that certain churches existing today were built, such as the church of St. George at the Castle, a three-naved basilica with a narthex (vestibule) and frescoes from the 13^th century in addition to an elaborate shrine of porous stone surrounding the fresco of the Saint, the cross-roofed church of  Theophania (Christ´s Epiphany) with frescoes from the 13^th century in the middle of the hill where the Castle is located, the single-naved cross-in-square church of the Annunciation of the Virgin with frescoes from the 12^th century in the neighbourhood of ‘Epano Vryssi’ and the two-naved church of St. Nicolas with frescoes from the 13^th century in the location ΄΄Pyrgos΄΄as well as the previously mentioned church of  St. John Chrysostome in the neighbourhood ΄΄Kato Vrysi΄΄, decorated with frescoes on two layers, one from 1300 and a second with an inscribed date of 1450.

    It is probable that to this period belong many other churches around the village, that were destroyed long ago and today only their foundations are visible. It is also probable that the name Geraki by which the village is known at present, started being used at that time and gradually prevailed.

 

Frankish Period.   After the conquest of Constantinople by the Latin crusaders in 1204, the Franks became rulers of Peloponnese,  Moreas as it was called then, in addition to other  areas of the Byzantine Empire. They divided Peloponnese in twelve Baronies or Provinces and one of them was Geraki with its surrounding area. Head of the Barony of Geraki was appointed Guy de Nivelet, who in 1209 built the  Castle , which exists to this day.

    The Barony of Geraki remained in the hands of the Franks for about 50 years. In 1262, however, it was handed over to the Byzantines together with the castles of Monemvasia, Mystra and Maine against the release of Guillome Villeardouine and of the other barons and knights, who in the battle of Pelagonia in 1259 had been taken prisoners by the Byzantines.

 

The Later Byzantine Period.   Under Byzantine rule again, Geraki experienced a new period of social and religious vigour. For this reason, there were families living in the area with notable ecclesiastical and social titles, semi-official names as well as names of eminent Lacedaemonian houses. From this period there exist today in varying structural condition about 30 churches, including 10 within the medieval settlement of the area of the Castle. The most notable of these are the 12^th century cross-in-square and cupola churches of St. Sozon and St. Athanasios both decorated with frescoes from the 12^th and 14^th centuries respectively, the cross-roofed church of St. Theodore, the tri-conch church of St. Elias in Mt. Athos style with a cupola and frescoes from the 17th century located at ΄΄Daphni΄΄ where there was a monastery in years past, the cross-roofed church of St. Paraskevi with three layers of frescoes from the 13^th century, the single-naved church of Virgin the Merciful ( Source of Life ) with frescoes dating by inscription from 1431 in the area below the Castle, the domed-basilica  of St. Elias in the centre of the settlement below the Castle  and the cross-roofed church of the Archangels on the peak south of the Castle with a fresco showing ΄΄ the walls of Jericho come tumbling down΄΄ at the sound of the trumpets of the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua.

    During construction of some of these churches, as an example the church of St. Athanasios, St. John Chrysostome and others, some pieces of marble were used, which is quite obvious, they came from ancient temples, from ancient buildings or they were at one time pedestals of statues.

    In years past, it seems there were many more churches in the area, which were built by residents or families of Geraki compelled by deep piety, characteristic of the people of that period or as a fulfilment of a vow. In all cases, the founders made a point to adorn the inside walls with impressive frescoes Many of these churches were destroyed by the elements of nature and neglect and few traces or no sign of them is found today. Nevertheless, that so many exist to this day, is owed to the antiquity-loving mayor of Geronthrae George A. Papanicolaou, who during his time, had works of restoration carried out under his supervision.

 

Turkish Occupation and Independence.   The Byzantines held Geraki for 200 years after recovering it in 1259. In 1460 however, the district of Lacedaemon, (with the exception of Monemvasia), including Geraki passed to the hands of the Turks, whose leader, Mohammed the Conqueror came to Mystras. Three years later, i.e. in 1463, the Castle of Geraki was taken over by the Venetians, but it remained under their control for only five years and in 1468 the Turks seized it again.

   During the period of Turkish occupation, the pious tradition of the inhabitants of Geraki continued, as was the case in previous centuries. In the years that followed more churches were built within the settlement and in the periphery of Geraki, such as the single-naved churches of St. Nicolas, of St. Kyriaki, of St. Sophia, of St. Dimitrios and others. In 1702 the  Cathedral  of the village devoted to the Assumption of Virgin Mary was built with the exhortation and partial coverage of the construction cost by Constantinos Bratis, who was born in Geraki, but lived in solitude as monk in Mt. Athos. During this period, the monastery of St. John the Baptist was built southeast of Geraki toward Alepohori. In this place and in the previously mentioned monastery of prophet Elias in the location ΄΄Daphni,΄΄many pious residents of Geraki lived in solitude. These monasteries were active till 1833, the year they stopped being occupied by monks, as happened with other monasteries in Peloponnese. The religious zeal of the residents of Geraki, however, continued being strong and as a result, those who wished to become monks went to the monastery of Elona or to the Holy Mountain of Athos, as was the case with Akakios Madis and Sofronios Stamatos, who distinguished themselves for their exemplary monastic life and for the quality of their character. Geraki was also the place of origin of neo-martyr Ioannis, who suffered martyrdom in Larissa in 1773 and whose feast day is celebrated on the 21^st of October.

   Before and during the revolution of the Greeks against the Turks, Geraki was the seat of the Diocese of Helos, which was active till 1833, the year it was merged to the Diocese of Sparta. The last two Bishops in Geraki were Ioasaf Gerakos (+1810) and his successor, the enthusiastic and patriotic Anthimos, who aside his other qualities of character, he is remembered for the important role he played before and after the uprising of 1821. In the middle of the revolution against the Turks and specifically on the 25^th of September 1825, Theodoros Kolokotronis addressed from Geraki the ΄΄brave Spartans young and old, captains and soldiers΄΄and urged them to actively take part in the fighting against the hordes of Imbraim, who had invaded Peloponnese and destroyed and burned everything that stood on their way. At the same time, Kolokotronis with various skirmishes against the Turks around Geraki, was able to delay their march forward and gave time to the women and children to cross the mountain range of Parnon to Leonidion and from there with boats get over to Spetsae and Hydra

 

The Years after the Independence.   Right after the liberation from the Turks, the people of Geraki progressed through their hard work and their love for learning, qualities, which they passed from one generation to the next. As a first step, they were able to make arable the relatively stony fields of the district. The main products Geraki produced in the years and decades following the independence were wheat, barley, olives, olive oil, wine and small quantities for own consumption of legumes, potatoes, figs, honey and vegetables. For a relatively short period, the inhabitants of Geraki were involved in the cultivation of tobacco and the breeding of silk worms.  Also, the involvement with the rearing of sheep and goats as the main occupation was common at the time, the new nation was founded and has continued to date for a number of families of the village.

   Up to the 1960´s when mechanical means started being used, the cultivation of the fields was carried out using mules, horses, donkeys and in older days bulls and cows. Each family had its own animals for cultivation of the fields and in addition in order to meet, at least partially, its food needs some domestic animals and poultry, which was quite important, in particular during the difficult periods the country went through since its independence. To complete the picture of a house in Geraki, it must be mentioned that many women in the village occupied themselves in years past and some of them even today with the weaving of textiles, tapestry and carpets on an upright loom, the result being the carpets of Geraki to become quite famous not only within Laconia, but even outside the borders of the prefecture. Carpets from Geraki received prizes in the International Exhibition of Vienna in 1883 and in the International Exhibition at Zappeion in Athens in 1890.

   In the letters, a number of people from Geraki distinguished themselves. The limited space for this write-up does not permit to mention all of them, but only a few. One of them was the schoolteacher Georgios Doulfas with in depth knowledge of ancient Greek, who created around his house in the southwest side of the village a small park with cypress trees, which he named ΄΄Kronion΄΄ as a replica of the park of the ancient cynic philosopher Diogenis in Corinth. Another teacher, Konstantinos  Konstiantos contributed greatly to the education of the youngsters of the village. More contemporary to these teachers was Panayiotis Elia Poulitsas, who during his lifetime had been President of the Constitutional Court and author of many law books, Member of the Athens Academy and Prime Minister of Greece in 1946, a period politically very difficult. Aside from these exemplary people, others from the educational sector, from local administration and from other areas excelled and contributed a great deal to the well being of the inhabitants of Geraki.

   In 1880, a number of residents of Geraki were among the first people of Peloponnese that started immigrating to the United States and to Canada where they established the first core of prosperous Greek communities, Later some immigrated to South Africa and to Argentina and a number of them, especially in the middle of the 20^th century to Australia. Through their hard work and entrepreneurship, they became in the new places they settled well to do financially and without exception, exemplary citizens. These patriotic immigrants from Geraki, in their new homes did not forget their place of birth and this they demonstrated through generous contributions to various projects, Geraki was in need.

   With the financial donations of the immigrants and the voluntary work of the inhabitants of Geraki, the Elementary School was built. Through the financing of Georgios K. Kourlas the Municipal Library was established. With the contribution of the Polymenakos brothers, the High School/Lyceum was built and with the money offered by Dimitrios G. Gerakos the Monument was built honouring those from Geraki killed in war action. In addition through the contributions of people from Geraki living abroad and within Greece, a number of other projects were implemented. In parallel to the monetary contributions, the residents of Geraki offered as much in terms of voluntary work for road construction and various other projects for the common good. For these public works, the Academy of Athens in the official session of December 30^th 1937 honoured the Community of Geraki with the award of the Hellenic Tourist Organization, projecting its achievements, as an example for other communities of Greece to follow.

 

Note: The history of Geraki in this text was originally written by the late Panayiotis Elia Poulitsas and served as the introduction in the “Album of Geraki” which was published and distributed in 1940 with the financial support of the late Apostolos Valassis, president of the Community of Geraki at that time and for a number of years afterwards. The Greek text follows the original, and is written in the language spoken in Greece today.

   More information about the churches of Geraki and of the Castle can be found in two volumes entitled “ Geraki, The Churches of the Village” by  N. K. Moutsopoulos and G. Dimitrokalis, respectively Professor and Alternate Professor of Byzantine Archaeology and in the book” Geraki, The Frescoes of the Churches of the Castle” by G. Dimitrokalis.

 

                                                                                                           April 2003