Asprangeloi
Asprangeloi
Ασπράγγελοι | |
|---|---|
Asprangeloi | |
| Coordinates: 39°49′24″N 20°43′43″E / 39.82333°N 20.72861°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Epirus |
| Regional unit | Ioannina |
| Municipality | Zagori |
| Municipal unit | Central Zagori |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Community | 159 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Asprangeloi (Greek: Ασπράγγελοι, before 1927: Δοβρά, Dovra)[2][3] is a village in the Ioannina Regional Unit in Epirus, northwestern Greece. It is the seat of the Zagori Municipality.
Name
The toponym is derived from the Slavic dobъ, -bra, -bro, meaning 'good', through the omission of the definite noun.[4]
History
Local tradition states the village was created by the migration of inhabitants from the now deserted village of Kosartsiko (or Dovra) in the Konitsa region.[4]
Asprangeloi (also spelled Aspraggeloi, Aspraggeli or Asprangeli in English) is a mountain village in the Ioannina Regional Unit, built at an altitude of 989 meters,[5] on the slopes of Mt Mitsikeli.[6] It is the seat of the Municipality of Zagori and its permanent population, according to the 2021 Census, is 159 inhabitants.[1] Until 1927, it was called Dovra (Greek: Δοβρά) or Ntovra (Greek: Ντοβρά). The name "Asprangeloi" was taken from the Asprangeloi Monastery which exists in the area.
The first mention of the settlement is found in 1380 and it experienced development during the 16th and 17th centuries. During the 19th century, it was a large and economically prosperous village. The village was burned by the Nazis on 15 July 1943.[7]
Churches and monasteries
The stone church of Panagia was built in 1915. In the village is the church of Agios Nikolaos,[4] built in 1776. The old monastery (Moni Dovras), dating from 1600, is also preserved in the village.[8]
Demographics
The village is inhabited by Greeks, Arvanite families who assimilated into the local population and some Sarakatsani who settled in the village during the early 20th century.[9] The arrival of Orthodox Albanians (locally called "Arvanites") occurred in the modern period and originate from the wider Souli area in central Greek Epirus, while the Sarakatsani are Greek speakers.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ Institute for Neohellenic Research. "Name Changes of Settlements in Greece: Dovra – Asprangeloi". Pandektis. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ^ Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government. "Διοικητικές Μεταβολές των Οικισμών: Δοβρά – Ασπράγγελοι" [Administrative Changes of Settlements: Dovra – Asprangeloi]. EETAA (in Greek). Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ^ a b c Oikonomou, Kostas E. (2002). Τα οικωνύμια του νομού Ιωαννίνων. Γλωσσολογική εξέταση [The oikonyms of the prefecture of Ioannina. A linguistic examination] (PDF) (in Greek). Nomarchiaki Aftodioikisi Ioanninon. p. 231. ISBN 9789608316010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Ασπράγγελοι ΙΩΑΝΝΙΝΩΝ, Δήμος ΖΑΓΟΡΙΟΥ | buk.gr".
- ^ "Ασπράγγελοι".
- ^ "Ασπράγγελοι" (in Greek). Zagori Municipality.
- ^ Kontopanagou, Katerina. "Μονή Δοβράς, Ασπράγγελοι". izagori.gr. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Kahl 1999, p. 106: "Asprángeli: griechische Zagorisier, zugewanderte arvanitische Familien in übriger Bevölkerung aufgegangen, einige Familien Sarakatschanen seit Anfang des 20. Jh.s im Ort seßhaft"
- ^ Kahl, Thede (1999). "Die Zagóri-Dörfer in Nordgriechenland: Wirtschaftliche Einheit – ethnische Vielfalt" [The Zagóri Villages in Northern Greece: Economic Unity – Ethnic Diversity]. Ethnologia Balkanica (in German). 3: 113–114.