GET TO KNOW THE MUNICIPALITY > AGIOS NIKOLAOS The village of Agios Nikolaos is only 3 Km away from Desi, 900m above sea level, between the Cap Gras (1950m) tops. Agios Nikolaos was burnt down during the German Occupation. A few houses built at the end of the 19th century have been preserved till nowadays. On the last Sunday of May, the celebration day of Agios Nikolaos’ country church in Sfaka takes place, 3 Km away, on the way to Gardiki, which has a significant icon painted on a rock. Each year from the 25th to the 27th of July (Saint Paraskevi) a 3-day fair is held in Saint Nikolaos’ main square. You should not fail to taste milk-pies, herb-pies (“batzina” and “pisinitsa”) and crushed grain in the local stores and remember to buy some cream cheese, local vegetables and mountain-tea. CHURCHES-MONASTERIES Churches-Monasteries - Saint Nikolaos, basilica (1743), in the village. In 1784 the temple was built with the help of religious people and the church. - Saint Nikolaos, in place “Asfaka of Aspropotamos” (icon-stand). In the country church there is an icon of Saint Nikolaos, painted on the rock. EDUCATIONAL AND FOLKLORE SOCIETIES - The Training Society (2431 034990), not active - The Ecclesiastical Council (Run by Saint Nikolaos) CULTURAL – FOLKLORE FESTIVALS - July 26th, Saint Paraskevi’s Day (3-day festival): The celebration starts with the festive Mass, blessing of the holy bread and “raising” of the wafer, at the church’s court yard. At this time a member of the congregation holds the Saint’s icon and all the others lay their hands on each other’s shoulders. The celebration continues with dance shows, organized by the cultural society of the village, and ends on the third day with the traditional “old-men’s dance”. - December 6th, Saint Nikolaos’ Day (in the homonymous country church in Asfaka): the day before, the congregation set fires and prepare meals in caldrons which will be served to all those who will attend the Mass the next day. - May 23rd (celebration of Saint Nikolaos’ Day because in winter there aren’t any people in the village), in Saint Nikolaos’ country church in Asfaka: the day before, the congregation of the entire area set fires and prepare meals in caldrons which will be served to all those who will attend the Mass the next day. The night is spent in the courtyard. The celebration starts the next day with the Mass and the blessing of the holy bread (an offer by the people who attend the Mass) and ends with the dance shows organized by the cultural society. - On Saint Nikolaos’ Day the custom of “The Vlachian wedding” revives with the village’s inhabitants playing the roles: A boy is dressed as a bride and another one as a groom, while the rest of the villagers play the guests in one of the houses. Later on, they escort the bride with traditional music from her house to the church, usually on a horse. At the end, the bride dances at the central square. ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES Hiking Excursions: - Agios Nikolaos – Desi – Drosochori – Pyrra (also by car) - Elati – Vlacha – Pyrra (setting off from Agios Nikolaos, you can enjoy a beautiful walk or drive along the forest road) - Pertouli forest – Neraidochori or Pyrra – Agios Nikolaos (just follow the signs or the path in the woods) - Sfaka – Cap Gras (forest road to the canals and on foot from there on) Places of exceptional natural beauty: - Agios Nikolaos’ forest (nature reserve for bears, wolves and partridges) - “Small cellar” (50m away from the village, access through a small path): in the fir-forest of Agios Nikolaos. This is the place where usually old-men spent their time, but in summer it turns into the haunt of the youth with open air pic-nics and fires. - “Big cellar”, (70m far from the village): magnificent view to Kamnaitis river, Drosochori and Gardiki (accessible forest road). Climbing: Two-hour climbing path to Cap Gras. BUY: Dairy products, meat made of grazing cattle milk, mountain-tea (in certain stores, taverns, cafes and also from individual producers) TASTE: Milk-pie, herb-pie, crushed grain