Agios Georgios, Rethymno

Summary About This Location

A traditional settlement in Rethymno, Crete, at an altitude of 260 meters within the Community of Agios Konstantinos. It is documented in Venetian records by Barozzi in 1577 as S. Zorzi Messoghoriti and Kastrofylakas in 1583. During the Ottoman era, some inhabitants converted to Islam following the 1770 revolution. By the 19th century, it had a mixed Christian and Turkish population. Nearby are the ruins of Artos village, which features the Church of Agios Georgios, built in 1401 with preserved frescoes.

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Agios Georgios is a small settlement in the Community of Agios Konstantinos, within the Municipality of Rethymno in the Regional Unit of Rethymno, Crete. It is located at an altitude of 260 meters, a short distance from the village of Agios Konstantinos. Agios Georgios has been officially designated as a traditional settlement.

History

The village is mentioned in historical records dating back to the Venetian period. It was recorded by Francesco Barozzi in 1577 as S. Zorzi Messoghoriti. In the 1583 Venetian census conducted by Kastrofylakas, it is listed as S. Zorzi with 86 inhabitants. Francesco Basilicata also mentioned it in 1630 as S. Zorzi dei Barozzi. According to historian Lamprinakis, during the Daskalogiannis revolution of 1770, the inhabitants of the village converted to Islam.

The Egyptian census of 1834, documented by Robert Pashley, recorded 20 Christian and 6 Turkish families in Agios Georgios. In the 1881 census, the village was part of the municipality of Roustika and had 6 Christian and 83 Turkish residents. In the censuses of 1900 and 1928, it was recorded together with the nearby village of Zouridi.

Administrative Information

In 1925, Agios Georgios was incorporated into the community of Agios Konstantinos. Under the Kapodistrian administrative division, it was part of the municipal district of Agios Konstantinos in the Municipality of Nikiforos Fokas. Today, it remains part of the Community of Agios Konstantinos within the Municipality of Rethymno.

Nearby Locations

Near Agios Georgios are the ruins of the village of Artos. This village is mentioned in Venetian censuses; the 1583 census by Kastrofylakas lists it as Arto with 157 residents. Local tradition holds that the village was destroyed during the Ottoman conquest of Crete in the mid-17th century and was not mentioned in subsequent records. Today, only ruins of the village and three churches remain. Among these is the notable Church of Agios Georgios, which, according to its dedicatory inscription, was built in 1401 and contains well-preserved frescoes in its interior.

Settlement: Key Points

Location: A small, traditional settlement at an altitude of 260 meters, part of the Community of Agios Konstantinos.
Historical References: Recorded in Venetian censuses from 1577 (S. Zorzi Messoghoriti), 1583 (S. Zorzi), and 1630 (S. Zorzi dei Barozzi), as well as the Egyptian census of 1834.
Historical Significance: The village had a mixed Christian and Turkish population in the 19th century, following a period of Islamization in the 18th century.
Current Status: A settlement within the Community of Agios Konstantinos, Municipality of Rethymno.
Population Data: The population of Agios Georgios over the years is detailed in the following table.