Agios Spiridon

By car:

Agios Spyridon is 2km away from Nea Praisos village, about 5 minutes by car.

From the city of Sitia the distance is about 17km and a 25min drive through the Epano Episkopi village.

The village of Agios Spyridonas is referred to as Canene in a 1363 document from the Ducal archive of Handakas, in Tourma, Sitia, fiefdom of Marko Salomone (Solomos, ancestor of Greek national Poet).

It is referred to as Canene in 1363, 1577, 1583 and 1630, as Kaneni in 1671, as Kanenes in 1834, Kaneni in 1881 and Κανένε (Kanene) in 1900.

M. Katapodis assumed that the name may have come from the area's first resident, named Kanene.

In another report the theory is presented that the name comes from a Byzantine general of the same name.

The name of the village was changed from Kanene to Agios Spyridonas in 1955.

Source: praisos.com

Translated and edited by: Yallou

• KONSTANTINOS MAVRIKAKIS

Konstantinos Mavrikakis, lieutenant colonel of the Gendarmerie, born in Kanene (Agios Spyridonas), served as an administrator of the Gendarmerie of Arta.

He was arrested by the Germans, charged with having handed over important documents to rebel groups of the National Republican Greek League (abbreviated EDES); documents containing information regarding plans and actions of the German occupying army.

He was transferred to Italy, and executed by the Germans in Trapoula village, Italy, on 13-6-1944.

His body was transported to Greece following the country's liberation and he was given the posthumous honour of General of the Gendarmerie.

• IOANNIS PANTELAKIS

Ioannis Pantelakis was born in Kanene (Agios Spyridonas) in 1857.

He became a tradesman, an elder of Kanene and head of the Kanene men responsible for the exclusion of the Ottoman-influenced village of Vavelli.

Due to the bad weather conditions at the time of the exclusion, he feared his men may abandon their posts and thus, on the second day, he transferred them closer to Kanene so that they could alternate and never leave their post empty. This left more posts unguarded, and as a result the Ottomans were able to silently abandon the village and join their co-religionists from Kalamafki in the village of Santali and travel together from there to Sitia.

Pantelakis was considered responsible for the Ottomans' escape, but, as Aggelakis points out, Pantelakis, due to his previous work-related connections to the Ottomans, was aware of the fact that the Ottomans outnumbered the Greeks, and that they were well-armed and trained. If he had not insisted on the exclusion the Ottomans would have attacked Kanene, and taken over, and this would have had unforeseeable effects on the inhabitants of Kanene.

Pantelakis chose this plan of action in order to protect his village.

Aggelakis refers to him as being prudent, honest and a good patriot. During the period of the Cretan State he was a member of the council of the Municipality of Praisos, located in Handra, and was also active as president of the community of Kanene.

Source: praisos.com

Translated and edited by: Yallou