User:George transl8s/Helati, Kozani

}} Helati [ɛˈlɑːti], formerly known as Louziani [luzɪəˈniː], is a small village of the regional unit of Kozani. It is located in the southernmost tip of that regional unit, on the borders with the regional unit of Grevena and theregional unit of Larissa.
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 * image              = Elati view from West.JPG
 * caption     = West view of the village
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 * broad geographical region= Macedonia
 * region          = West Macedonia
 * regional unit = Regional Unit of Kozani
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 * municipality               = Municipality of Servia
 * municipal unit    = Kamvounia
 * municipal community  =
 * local community    = Helati
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 * latest year of cencus      = 2011
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The village is built at the bottom of the "Bonassia Mountain" (aka "Kamvounia Mountains"). This heavily forested mountain is mainly covered with fir trees - a fact which inspired the modern name of the village (en. fir tree= el. helato -> Helati). According to the population census of 2011, the village only counts 415 residents today, while many locals have sought residence in urban centers.

In terms of administration, Helati was considered as a community department up until December 31st, 1998. With the Kapodistrian reform of 1998, Helati joined the municipality of Kamvounia, while a few years later, it acceded to the municipality of Servia-Velventos under the Kallikrates Programme of 2010. Later, under the Cleisthenes Programme I and in accordance with the Greek Government Gazette 43Α - 09/03/2019), the village rejoined the reestablished municipality of Servia.

History
The remnants of an ancient settlement have been unearthed in a location close to the village of Helati, on the bank of a tributary of the Haliacmon River called "Tourniki". The residents of that settlement are believed to have been in control of the natural passage that connected the upland region of Elimiotis with the flatland of Diminitsa (a nearby village currently known as Karpero).

The village of Helati is referred to as "Louziani" in the code of Zavorda in 1532.

The name "Louziani" is of Bulgarian origin and translates to English as "vineyards".

The village was originally created by the merger of two earlier settlements (called Stephani [stɛˈfɑːni] and Paliochora [pɑlˈjoxorɑ), which were located east of Helati's current location. Popular folklore has it that those two populations were mutually exterminated while practising the rite of "Rougatsaria" at a place called "Palikaria". According to the custom, these two populations shouldn’t meet while the rite takes place because, should they meet, they would fight each other to the finish.

That is the story used by the locals to account both for the extinction of the two anterior settlements and the formation of a novel village by those who survived in the area that has now come to be the village of Helati.

The present-day position was chosen by the survivors of the annihilation over previous loci because of its dominant position and its abundance of fresh water sources and arable farmland.

In 1872, the village was populated by 80 Greek Christian families. It counted 127 families in 1901 and a total of 751 inhabitants in 1906. In 1907, it had 127 families and 780 inhabitants. In 1933, Louziani was renamed Helati, apparently after the fir forest that sprawls over the village up the side of the Bounassia Mountain.

The forest
The forest of Helati, which belongs to the community of Helati by terms of full freehold and occupancy, sprawls majestically on the south of the village.

Adjacency:


 * In the North: The private forest of Lazarades.
 * In the South: The public forest of the Helassona Baths and the public forest of Deskati.
 * In the West: The public forest of Helati.
 * In the East: The community forest of Livadero.

The forest covers a total area of 2159 hectares. Along the forest, one can find firs (Bulgarian fir), broad-leaf oak and even Oriental plane in certain cooler areas. The wildfire of 1945 destroyed 1500000 square metres of fir and oak woodland.

Helati's Local Association
"ELATOS: Helati's Association of Sports and Culture " (ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΟΡΦΩΤΙΚΟΣ ΣΥΛΛΟΓΟΣ ¨ΕΛΑΤΟΣ¨ ΕΛΑΤΗΣ) was established in 1979.

Its main activities


 * Meet-ups with fellow denizens: Held annually during August.
 * Rougatsaria: A local tradition that is celebrated late on New Year's Eve.
 * Cultural hall: A venue that is specially configured and decorated with original antiques (cookware, miscellaneous gear, old photos etc.)

Concerts, group trips and theatrical performances are also held throughout the year.


 * Sports Club:

Our local team plays in the Amateur League (2nd national category of the Football Clubs Association of Kozani), as well as in the Greek Cup.


 * Cultural Association:

Cultural events are held at various locations in collaboration with numerous extra-regional (Greek and non-Greek) traditional dance clubs.

The Zavorda Monastery
The imposing Monastery of Zavorda (also called the Monastery of the Saviour's Transfiguration) is located over the Haliacmon River, in a facing position from the village. This monastery operates under the administration of the Metropolitan Church of Grevena. It was founded by the Holy Nicanor the Thessalonian(1532 or 1534) close to the Byzantine chapel of Agios Georgios (Saint George). The main temple of the Monastery is decorated with frescoes which are attributed to the Theban painter Fragkos Katelanos. Folklore has it that the name "Zavodra" originates from a Turk pasha of that district, whose child was ill. When the Holy Nicanor effectively treated his child’s illness, the Turk thanked him with the phrase "Za Varda" which loosely translates as "take everything in return".

Local Attractions

 * The forest of Helati
 * The Monastery of the Holy Nicanor
 * The lake of Polyfyto
 * The temple of Agia Paraskevi, built in 1725