Megalochori

Megalochori Plomari It was built after the destruction of Constantinoupolis. It was once the biggest village in the area. It is also known as the old Plomari because most of its inhabitants went to Plomari in the middle of the 19th century. It is often called “Burned Village” since it was burned down three times in the past from the pirates or from arsonists (1843). Unfortunately its name was “confirmed” in the beginning of the last decade, since it almost was burned twice. The second and biggest fire burned thousands of fields and if the village still exists it’s due to a miracle. Even though very few of the houses were destroyed it was one of the biggest fires Greece has ever known. Its rech vegitation made many people call it “Lesvos’ Switzerland”. After the first houses, you will meet the church of St. Ioannis with its paved with flagstones square, the high plane-tree, walnut-trees and traditional Cafeneia. The temple of St. Ioannis was built in 1795. Its iconostasis is carved, just like in the other big church of the village, Panayia (Mother Mary). The church is devoted to Metaporphosi tou Kiriou, but the habitants celebrate in this church the grace of Mother Mary, too. It was built in 1765 and on its carved iconostasis are icons from the Bible. You can visit the churches if you ask the villagers for the keys. Someone will lead you there. Further you will find the Karidia (walnut-tree) square. The tree which gave the name to the square does no longer exist. You will only see a plane-tree that took its place. Megalohori is the highest village of Lesvos (645 m). That explains the great number of sources that it has (10). At the north of the village is an area called Aklisid (small church) where are two small churches and a huge plane-tree. In the centre of the village is the monument of Wise Veniamin the Lesbian for whom every year Veniamineia Festival is organised.