— — THE NOMADS OF THE BALKANS
88
archdeacon and Yerasios the priest and Khristos the priest, in the wardenship of Adham Hondre also called Samaras, and by the hand of Khristos the priest the son of the priest loannis out of the same village, in the year of salvation 1828 February the twentieth. The end. the ikons dates from 1786 and in a klephtic ballad relating to Totskas the church is referred to as being well known at the time between 1770 and 1800, and the present
One
priest
of
has assured us that
it
at least
is
two hundred years
old.
that belonging to the church of Little St Mary's, which stands in a group of tall poplars on a This numbers about a rise at the northern end of the village.
The
third largest parish
is
hundred houses. The church is of the same general type as the others, and has cloisters with a chapel dedicated to the Ayii Anaryiri, and a school which is used by the Greek party since that of Great St Mary's
the church on the wall topped with gateway entering of the church is
is
not large enough.
Round
by a stone over the and seat, serves as a wood which The south door this is a short campanile.
west and south
a pade enclosed
is
on which are carved many St George and the dragon, cherubim, and birds pecking at flowers. Over
strange devices, lizards, lions,
built of stone
men holding flowers,
the door to the right
is
this inscription
:
Holy Virgin, Mother of God, help thy servants dwelling in this village, in the high-priesthood of Ghavril the all holy of our most holy Metropolis Ghrevena, at the expense of Steryioyiani, in the year 1799 May the 28th the master mason Zisi.
and divinely protected exarch :
and
directly
above the door
is
the following
:
This temple of the Holy Virgin of the city of Samarina of old, but was again built beautiful to the world to the glory of the God of all mankind when there served as high-priest in our province the renowned Yennadhios the follower of wisdom, and under the care of and with great Approach zeal by Zisi Exarkhu of the house of Hadzhimikha. ye old men, young men come up, women run, hither Oh maidens, and worship the God of Heaven in fear of soul and
was conspicuous