By Nicolas Bard

At the foot of Pangaio Mountains, at an altitude of 200 meters, is Kokkinochori Kavala, a small village in the municipality of Orfanos, which has about 120 permanent residents. The locals are mainly involved in cultivating vineyards, almonds and olives. And it may seem like a simple village in the Greek province, but it has a great history and archaeological interest.

At the location of Ammoudas, just outside the village, a settlement of Neolithic and Roman periods has been identified with visible surface building relics and ceramics, while at the site of Nifar Bahar or “second category” a Hellenistic -Roman settlement. North of the present village was the Amphipolis aqueduct and today there are scattered pilots, which the villagers used to use for chimneys and loukia. In addition, a marble tombstone was excavated at Ambelia with a bust of four people and the inscription, and at the site of Gale, Hellenistic and Roman coins were discovered.

In the Byzantine years the village was known as Obelos and in April 1341 it refers to the minutes of the Protocol Ioannis Vatatzis for the distribution of taxes of the Iberian Monastery and the Parish. Specifically, it is stated that the Parishes abandoned Ovolon and Dobrovia, fearing hostile attacks and settled on various mansions and military estates. With a golden bull in January 1346, Stefanos Dusan released the taxes of the Iberian Monastery in the Obelos and other villages in the area from taxes. In a golden bull by Ioannis VI Kantakouzenos on July 14, 1351, it is reported that the Parishes of Obelos and Dobobicia were still remaining in neighboring castles.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Kokkinochori had a purely Muslim population, with about 300 inhabitants, and after the exchange of populations it had a purely refugee population. There, a total of 31 families from Pontus and Asia Minor, who were mainly involved in Georgia, settled in the plain opened in front of the village. The central temple of the village is dedicated to Agios Nestoras and its construction was completed in 1954.

Beyond its rich history and its great archaeological interest, Kokkinochori has another reason to boast. And of course he is the late Vasilis Karras, who came from there and loved his village. For him there was his refuge, and whenever he found some time from work he returned there again and again. He was involved in the fields, he was in the cafe with his friends and benefited his place as he could. He wanted to highlight his village and go there, so as not to be deserted. He made a square, opened a farm with crops and animals, and wanted the village to acquire its old, traditional look. Everyone, of course, talk about him with love and pride, and reminiscent of the moments they lived with.

Wherever you stand today in the village, Vasilis Carras’ presence is more than noticeable. Because he may have left the world, but his work and aura are left behind, and he still lives through the narratives of his own people. Where there is Greece, traveling to the prefecture of Kavala, he also made a stop at Kokkinochori and gave the floor to the residents, who spoke with bored eyes about their own Santa Claus.