Heroic Santa Pontos Karadeniz Heaven 1997

Heroic Santa Region of Pontos (black Sea/ Karadeniz) about 50klm south of Trabzon and 600 meters above sea level (just behind the mountains of Sumela). Santa (pronounced Sanda) region consists of about 7 villages. Each with their main church. This video was taken on my 1997 trip to the region with author George Andreadis tour.

We are in the larger village of "Pistofandon" you latter see the village of the opposite mountain "Zournazandon". The locals welcomed us and gave us tea "Tsai" and Cheese (Salted & unsalted) so nice. In the tradition of the Santetes the shop owner carried a loaded pistol !!!!! :0

The music is the song of Capt. Efklidis who's heroic efforts saw that no Turkish troops stepped foot into the region (you will also notice the narrow entrance/path at the end of the video - like Thermopile). He was never killed and when he was finally captured he was set free under the "exchange" agreement and sent to Greece.

Ironically (as the song says) he would not die under a ottoman knife but he fell under his horse & carriage and was found dead (he was celebrating the birth of his new son in Greece)!!!

In the video you see the now priest of Sumela in Greece father Pavlos hold a memorial service and says afew words in memory of the inhabitance, also munk Makarios from Mt.Olympus and Vasilis Fotiadis (brother of Prof Kost Fotiadis) who is caretaker of Sumela in Greece. You will even notice the "Parhare" winter and summer houses on the top of the Mountains (which are tree-less because of the heavy snow fall through the year)...

I must add that I fell in love with the area like it was truly Heaven on Earth. It is unfortunate though to see all the churches roofs have caved in due to neglect. I got to play some Kemence and Niko who was from the region of Santa passed around sweets in the memory of his ancestors souls.

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