By Nicolas Bard

The camera of “Where there is Greece” traveled to the winter Nymphaeum of Florina, where the village priest, Father John Zezios, opened his home and talked to us about life in a small, mountain village, but also the importance of the Church for the local community.

“It is not an easy task of life in the village“, As he himself says. Together with his wife, they decided a few years ago to return to his place of origin, and stay there, both fascinated by the beauty and history of the area. His father’s house is of great historical value and dates back to 1849.

Refreshed now gives us a picture of how the Vlach mansions of the village were old. Of course, all the houses in the village, even the newly built, follow the traditional architecture of the place, so as not to alter the identity of the area. Both he and his wife explain the importance of safeguarding this heritage by younger generations.

But apart from the traditions and the special architecture of the village, they also talked to us about the importance of the church in a small society, such as Nymphaeum. “The strong link in the villages is the Church,” as Father John typically points out. When the bell rings, the village becomes life again, while the church brings people together. In a time, even when alienation has taken on enormous dimensions, coming close to your fellow humans may be one of the first basic steps, to enhance the concept of the whole, and then together, like a body, to do Collective things for their place. Omonia, after all, can do wonders!

The village today lives and is lived by the Bear’s coffee shelter, which attracts thousands of visitors all year long, both from Greece and abroad. Tourism gives new impetus to the place, brings hot money and business ideas, and works positively in not being deserted. Many neighboring villages did not have the same fate as the Nymphaeum and tend to erase from the map. Residents’ anxiety about the future of the place is painted on their faces, but everyone is hoping for a better future.

The snow continued to gently fall and whiten the landscape and roofs of the houses, the chimneys smoked continuously, and the smell of freshly fried bread permeated the atmosphere, and gave you a solid dose of its authentic beauty of times …