"Word of God" - Theologos, is a small mountain village of a small, but still one of the largest islands in the Aegean Sea - beautiful Thassos. Theologos has been declared the cultural capital of Thassos and its authenticity and traditional architecture have been protected. In order to preserve the historical value of the village, there are standards for the construction of new houses and the reconstruction of old ones. This real authentic jewel of Macedonian architecture left a great impression on me, so here I will show you an unforgettable walk through this magical place.
I can’t say I don’t like modern architecture, but I’ve always been fascinated by the old and the rural. I love authentic and old places, which were created and developed in harmony with nature, accessible resources, relief, climate, culture, and the customs of the locals. Walking through places like this is an amazing experience, like a journey into the past. That is why I am fascinated by this charming village, with a very specific spirit, which preserves its values and its beauty, which is complemented by interesting architecture, but also by very kind locals and their traditional activities.
Theologos is located on the southern part of the emerald island of Thassos, about 10 kilometers from Potos - a nice place where we spent the summer. It belongs to the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace administrative regions.
As soon as we stepped into this village we were mesmerized by the authenticity of this place. When we got off the bus that took us to Theologos we didn't know where to go ... the narrow cobbled streets of this hilly village stretched in all directions, meandered and narrowed. So we simply walked the charming cobbled streets and admired the architecture of the stone houses, with stone roofs, which were built in the so-called Macedonian style.
The history of the village is long and interesting. A tomb and the remains of a settlement dating back to the eighth century were found in the vicinity of Theologos. It was first mentioned in the 13th century. It is interesting that this village was connected with the nearby Athos - Agio Oros, so hence the name Theologos which means "The word of God".
The Turks conquered Thassos in the late 15th and early 16th centuries and remained there until 1912. Theologos became the administrative center of the island and began to develop, maintaining a connection with the mentioned Potos, ie with the coast of the Aegean Sea. Especially significant is the reign of Governor Mehmet Ali Pasha of Egypt (early 19th century), who had a special love for Thassos in general. The Theologos remained the capital until the middle of the last century. Today Limenas is the administrative center of Thaos and the first town where a ferry will take you if you decide to visit this island.
The Theologians has two churches of Agia Paraskevi and Agios Dimitrios. The picture shows the church of Agios Dimitrios, built in the early 19th century.
Although the village is old, it is very lively and visited, which is not visible in my photos :) Tourism here is subordinated to the traditions, tastes, smells, and charms of the village, which does not allow massiveness and commercialism, but Theologos doesn't lag behind the rest of Greece, with its tourist offer.
Here, the wine is delicious, the honey is fantastic, the lamb is a unique specialty, and the cold-pressed virgin olive oil is invaluable.
Thassos is known as the "Swimming Forest" because it is full of pine trees. The smell of this island is unforgettable. Also, beekeeping here is very developed, and really if you come here be sure to buy at least a jar of honey. In addition to honey, you must also buy olive oil here, which is fantastic. You have all this in Theologos and everything is offered to you very unobtrusively and modestly.
As we walked the winding cobbled streets of Theologos, we were increasingly fascinated by how much tradition is preserved here in every sense. The houses are very interesting. I also liked the plane trees, which individually represented small squares.
Seeing a donkey in this village and this environment is expected. Namely, there are a couple of mountain villages on Thassos, but due to the inaccessible terrain, each village developed for itself. They were poorly connected, and mules and donkeys were of great help in overcoming the so-called goat trails that connected them.
When you look at this stone elevation, you can see why the stone was used in the construction of both houses and roofs.
That, in short, would be it. I hope that I have managed to convey to you the spirit of this charming and authentic place, where tradition dominates and which has been preserved from all changes. The Theologian remained in my memory as one of the most beautiful and interesting places I have been to. This place will not fascinate you with its size, richness, splendor, but with its authenticity that has lasted for centuries.
With love,
Snežana
I found historical data about Theologos here, here,and here.