Elos, Kissamos

Elos is a village in the municipal unit of Innachori, in the Kissamos municipality, in the Chania regional unit of Crete, Greece. It is located 23 km south of Kastelli Kissamou and 57 km from Chania, on the road to Elafonisi. The village is built on the slope of Mount Agios Dikaios (Saint Righteous), at an altitude of 560 meters. The Xiropotamos (Dry River) stream crosses the village; it is possible that it formed a marsh in the area, from which the village took its name. The village is surrounded by a forest of chestnut and plane trees.

Historical Information

The village is mentioned by Francesco Barozzi in 1577 as Elos Pervolia, in the province of Kissamos. In the Venetian census of 1583 by Castrofylakas, it is referred to as Elos with 57 inhabitants, and Francesco Basilicata in 1630 mentions the village as Elos. A Catholic church dedicated to Agios Georgios (Saint George) was built in the village by Bishop Bernardo Florio, which no longer survives.

In 1881, it belonged to the municipality of Ennea Choria (Nine Villages), and according to the census, it had 305 Christian inhabitants and 12 Turkish inhabitants. In the 1900 census, it had 334 inhabitants and belonged to the same municipality. In 1925, it was designated as the seat of the Elos community until the Kapodistrian administrative division in 1997 when it was incorporated into the municipality of Innachori, of which it was designated as the seat.

Landmarks

In the village square, there is an old aqueduct, which has been designated as a historical preserved monument. Near the aqueduct is the church of Agios Ioannis Theologos (Saint John the Theologian). The church is built in the type of the single-aisled vaulted church and has been dated based on its frescoes to the early 14th century. Its frescoes have been attributed to Ioannis Pagomenos. The scene of the Deesis (prayer), the Communion with the concelebrating hierarchs, the hospitality of Abraham, and icons of saints, on horseback or standing, are preserved.

The main church of the parish of Elos is the church of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas). It is a newer church, which was founded in 1952 and inaugurated in 1964. Previously, the cathedral of Elos was the church of the Koimisis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Theotokos), near the top of the village. According to a relief inscription, it was founded in 1887, while the bell tower was completed in 1909. The cemetery church of the village is dedicated to Agios Ioannis Prodromos (Saint John the Baptist). At the top of Agios Dikaios, there is a small church of the same name, which celebrates on May 6th.

Economy

The village relies economically on agricultural and livestock products and tourism. The main product of the village is chestnuts. Every year since the 1960s, a chestnut festival has been organized in the village at the end of October. There is a chestnut packing plant in the village, as well as restaurants, a gas station, grocery stores, a bakery, rental rooms, a doctor’s office, and frame construction workshops. There is a primary school and kindergarten in the village, the only one in the municipal unit of Innachori.

Settlement: Key Points

• Historical References: Mentioned as Elos Pervolia in 1577, Elos in the Venetian census of 1583, and Elos in 1630.
• Location: 23 km south of Kastelli Kissamou and 57 km from Chania, on the road to Elafonisi.
• Historical Significance: Existed since at least the 16th century. Once had a Catholic church dedicated to Agios Georgios.
• Population data over the years:

• Current Status: An active village with a population of 112 (2021), with a mixed economy based on agriculture/livestock and tourism.