User:Global Observer 21

ETHNIKON FLORINA

Ethnikon (Greek: Εθνικόν, Bulgarian - Slavic Macedonian: Obsirina or Opsirina) pronounced - op shi rina is a village located within the Prefecture of Florina constituting a segment of the national frontier of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Ethnikon is located approximately 12 kilometres north of the town of Florina and can be accessed by using the Florina - Agia Paraskevi Road. Neighbouring villages to Ethnikon include to its west, Kratero, directly to the north Dragosh and to the east Agia Paraskevi. A short distance south from Ethnikon is the nearby village of Parori.Ethnikon is situated at an elevation of 1,000 metres above sea level and is a small settlement of less than 6o people, primarily farmers or livestock breeders.

HISTORY

The age of Ethnikon village is inconclusive however Ottoman defters cite the existence of the village as far back as 1468, consisting of only 33 households. The village was reported to produce vines, mulberry trees, walnut trees, vegetable gardens, flax, hives, pigs and mills. On September 9, 1927 the village was renamed from Opsirina to Ethnikon. The name Ethnikon was a result of the heroic sacrifices and national duties it performed during the bloody Macedonian Struggle.

Located within Ethnikon is its one church, Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου (Dormition of the Holy Virgin) built in 1909. It has been said that a previous church was located further out east of the village but was destroyed and later rebuilt in its current position. Ethnikon has its community celebration on August, 15.

Historically the first school was operating in 1745 under the instruction of local villager Papakonstandinos Mangos. Over the years the school was headed by various teachers including D. Papadrambis, P. Papakonstandinos of Agia Paraskevi, P. Petros of Monastiri, D. Ioannidis of Agia Paraskevi and T. Papoulkas of Ethnikon. East of the village church and cemetery is the local schoolhouse built in 1931 and after the civil war turbulence, the school was headed by Ilias Sarros of Polipotamos.