Mesopotamia, Greece

Mesopotamia Μεσοποταμία
Location
Mesopotamia
Coordinates	40°30′N 21°9′E / 40.5°N 21.15°E / 40.5; 21.15Coordinates: 40°30′N 21°9′E / 40.5°N 21.15°E / 40.5; 21.15
Location within the peripheral unit
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	West Macedonia
Regional unit:	Kastoria
Municipality:	Kastoria
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipal unit
- Population:	4,100
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Auto:	KT

Mesopotamia (Greek: Μεσοποταμία, Macedonian Slavic: Четирок, Četirok) is a former municipality in Kastoria peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kastoria, of which it is a municipal unit.^[1] population 4,100 (2001).

The municipality was also known as Aliakmonas, named after the river Aliakmonas. The town of Mesopotamia was the seat of the municipality of Aliakmonas.

Sights

Mesopotamia has three Byzantine style churches. The most recent and largest is that of the cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul. The oldest church is the church of St.Constantine and St.Helen which contains the village cemetery, and the church of Saint Demetrios. The chapel of St. George is a few kilometers outside of the village.

Mesopotamia is also the seat of Greek Macedonian culture. For centuries before the Pontians populated the village, there were Slavic Macedonians that founded Mesopotamia who spoke the local dialect of Macedonian Slavic.^{[citation needed]} There is a Macedonian cultural center that teaches Macedonian traditional dance and music utilizing traditional brass and woodwind instruments.^{[citation needed]} The Pontian Greeks were brought to the village in the early 20th century during the population exchange with Turkey.

There is a Pontian Greek Cultural Center as well. This center supports and preserves the Pontian culture. It holds annual ceremonies on May 19, a day of remembrance for Pontic Greeks, at the Forest of Mesopotamia near the Aliakmon River. It maintains an active and growing dance group were people can go to learn Pontian dance. In addition, people can also learn how to play traditional Pontian musical instruments like the Pontian lyra, zourna, and tulum at the center. Finally, the town also has bars and nightclubs.

Economy

Mesopotamia is a rural residential community. Its economy is entirely dependent on the agriculture of wheat. It also houses small private fur industry that is outsourced from the major fur traders of Kastoria. As the seat of the Aliakmonas municipality, Mesopotamia contains the Aliakmonas Municipal Building. It also contains a pharmacy, and a supermarket. The community of Mesopotamia has recently been linked to a branch of Northern Greece's brand new Egnatia Odos highway.

Sport

Mesopotamia has a football (soccer) team called Astrapi Mesopotamia or simply Astrapi (Grk.Αστραπή)and its origin year is believed to be in the mid-1950s, 1956-1957. It hosts games at the Municipal stadium of Mesopotamia.

References

1. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)