Episkopi Gonias Explained

Episkopi Gonias
Name Local:Επισκοπή Γωνιάς
Type:community
Coordinates:36.385°N 25.4597°W
Periph:South Aegean
Periphunit:Thira
Municipality:Thira
Municunit:Thira
Population As Of:2021
Population:1252

Episkopi Gonias (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Επισκοπή Γωνιάς) also Mesa Gonia (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Μέσα Γωνιά) is a village and a community on the island of Santorini in Greece, located 6 km southeast of the capital Fira.[1] The village is built on the foothills of Profitis Ilias mountain and had 187 inhabitants according to the 2021 census. Episkopi Gonias was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1956. As a result, most of its dwellers moved near the coast and built the village of Kamari. Today, Episkopi Gonias and Kamari comprise the community (Δημοτική Κοινότητα) of Episkopi Gonias with a total population of 1,252 (2021).

The village derives its name from Panagia Episkopi, a nearby 11th century Byzantine church which used to be the seat of the Orthodox diocese of Santorini.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Episkopi (Mesa) Gonia . Municipality of Thira Official Tourism Portal . 3 May 2016.