Castellorizians in Russia

[cristiancarranza]

Hello everybody in this list!

After reading more chapters of the book "Memória Visual da Colônia Grega de Florianópolis", by Paschoal Apóstolo Pítsica, I've learned that it was usual between 1900-1915 in Castellorizo that men able to work travelled to Russia to work and earn money, specially to help sisters to marry, because of the practice of dowry.

Does anyone in this list have a clue about where in Russia men of that time travelled to? Is it possible that they travelled to somewere on the Black Sea shores?

If someone remember of an ancestor that travelled to Russia, please let me know.

Thanks in advance!

Cristián Carranza

[cressie]

Hi Cristián

Many of the Castellorizian men travelled between Castellorizo and the Ukraine in the timeframe you nominate. Most were to act as traders in bringing goods from Asia Minor and North Africa to the areas around the Black Sea.

No doubt they exchanged goods from the people of Ukraine and Russia which they brought back to the Mediterranean.

My own family of the four Karasavas brothers traded between Castellorizo and Russia via the Black Sea. My family has a base at the port of Odessa as did many other Greeks. Nicholas Pappas advises that my family were also at Saratova in Russia.

My great grandmother, Maria Karasavas (nee Malaxos) was based at the Ukraine when the Russian Revolution broke out in 1917. Her sons were elsewhere at the time. According to a family story she sealed two 44 gallon drums with all the family possessions including gold and jewelery and buried them to collect at a later time. She then fled to Athens to escape the uprising against the wealthy. We wonder if anyone ever did discovered these drums?

No doubt other families of Castellorizian descent have other stories to tell about their family association with the Ukraine and Russia.

Regards

Allan

[cristiancarranza]

Thanks Allan!

My wife's grandfather and at least one of his brothers have been there too, I guess trading goods too, but it is really very hard to find at least one story about that...

I know that one of my wife's aunt was born in Russia, but where? Really hard to find out...

Does anyone in this list has a similar story to share?

Regards.

[Gregory]

I know of one family who had a shop in Russia (Stalingrad). The story goes that like many Kastellorizians Emanuel Coutoupes went to Stalingrad. After he established a cake shop his family joined him there. Then he moved to Ekaterinburg with his wife and their four children, then went to Athens in 1915 because his wife was ill. He opened a shoe factory there and migrated to Perth in 1927. The history of the descendents of Emanuel Con Coutoupes and Evdokia here in Australia is reasonably well documented.

[boyadgis]

This is interesting to me because there is a place in Lithuania that is called Salakas . This is my maiden name and I was wondering if my grandfathers family might of originated from there. Is there any way I would be able to find out. My grandparent dropped traditions when they came here so it's difficult to find out much as they have passed on and didn't give out too much information when they where alive.

[Administrator]

With thanks to the family of Max Agapitos in Sydney, here is a group of Greek men in Saratof in 1919. They are pictured with the Greek Consul to that town:



Among them are at least three Castellorizians, the brothers Evangelos, Malaxos and Mihail Agapitos (aka Karasavas) who are standing (respectively)fourth, fifth and sixth from left.

There may be other Castellorizians in the photo, but they have yet to be identified.

Saratof, or Saratov, is a major port on the Volga River.

Nicholas