Gomati

On the main road connecting Arnaia with Ierissos, and 20 km from Megali Panagia, is Gomati, a beautiful settlement worth your attention. From here, you have the opportunity to access wonderful beaches like Develiki, Kastrí, Pyrgos, Chiliadou, and many hidden ones near the Cape Arkoudas, such as Petalidi.

In this area, according to archaeologist Ioulia Vokotopoulou, the ancient city of Assira of the Chalkidians is located. According to written sources, until the 9th century, Gomati, or “the land of Gomatos,” was part of Mount Athos and was the “Cathedra of the Elders” of Mount Athos, with the monastery of the Virgin of Gomati. A large part of it belonged to the monasteries of Megistis Lavras, Iviron, Dionysiou, and Xiropotamou.

According to one version, the general of the Byzantine Empire, Gormatos (or Gomos), had jurisdiction over the area of Limnos, where there was the village named “Gomatos” and later “Gomati.” Due to pirate raids, many of the inhabitants fled Limnos to escape. Some of them sought refuge in Lesbos, while others went to northern Halkidiki, where in a wooded and inaccessible but pirate-safe area on the slope of Kakkavos, they built Gomati. The old Gomati or “land of Gomatos,” the ruins of which survive to this day, is located 4 km from the current settlement. It was protected by three towers: Orfanou, Kounoupi, and Develikias.

The village of Gomatos coexisted with the monastery of the Theotokos of Gomatos before 942. In the later Byzantine years, the village of Gomatos was one of the largest in the theme of Thessalonica, according to a study by Harvard University professor Angeliki Laiou. In 1400 AD, the monastery of Gomatos became a dependency of Megistis Lavras. Today, only the ruins of the Orfanou tower remain. Inside it, the church of Saint Athanasius of Athos was built. The destruction of the old village by the 1932 earthquake was the reason for its relocation to its present site, as a dependency of the Monastery of Megistis Lavras, which was expropriated by the state.

From the Byzantine years until today, the main agricultural products of Gomati’s economy are cereals, oil, wine, honey, and tsipouro. A large part of the male population works in the mines of Siderokafsia-Mandemochoria, from the time of Ottoman rule until today. The biggest celebration-festival in Gomati takes place on August 15, at the central church of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

* Source: Records of the Cultural and Educational Association of Gomatians of Thessaloniki.

ROUTE

From Megali Panagia to Old Gomati

From the center of Megali Panagia, follow the signs to the Pilgrimage. At the last sign indicating a left turn, you go straight and enter the dirt road that was once a cobbled path. Continue without turning off any side roads, and after 5.3 km, pass the fountain and the recreation area at the Manna location. About 8 km later, you will see on both sides, among the trees, the few remaining ruins of the old Gomati, which was flattened by the 1932 earthquake.

At 8.4 km, you can get out of your vehicle to search for the Byzantine tower located to the left at the foot of the mountain. Almost 2 km further down, you will see the double-arched bridge of Saint George, next to which begins the cobbled path that leads to a cave. Leaving the bridge behind, you reach the modern settlement of Gomati, behind the church, having traveled a total of 13 km.