Griva, Kilkis

Griva (Γρίβα, Bulgarian and Крива, Kriva) is a village located in the Kilkis regional unit in Central Macedonia, Greece. The village hovers on the southeastern portion of Mount Paiko at 460 m above sea level.

Griva, with a population of 587 people (2021), is the largest village in the municipal unit of Goumenissa besides Goumenissa proper.

Because of the complete destruction of the village by the Ottomans in 1912 during the First Balkan War, there are no structures still existing that were built prior to this period. The village's architecture is the basic standard architecture for nearly all of the towns of the region, with narrow streets, small passageways between the buildings, and cottages fit perfectly into the natural environment of the mountainside. According to a Yugoslav study, in 1961 of a population of 1,280, an estimated 1,180 Macedonian speakers lived in the village alongside 100 Pontic Greeks.

Location
Griva is located 72 km northwest of Thessaloniki, 542 km north of Athens and is located within the Municipality of Goumenissa.

Economy
Local agriculture produces chestnuts, sheep, and timber.

Education
Griva had one primary school and one elementary school but they both closed down due to the low number of students.

Culture
Filmography: In 1981, director Tasos Psaras filmed The Factory (Greek : Το Εργοστάσιο)(French : L 'Ucine) in various places within Griva.

Churches

 * Church of St. Athanasius the Great
 * Monastery of St. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene at Griva (established 1992).