Antifilo (Kas)

[Administrator]

Before the exchange of populations, the town of Antifilo opposite Castellorizo was a small port town that serviced the island and acted as an entry point for the islanders into Anatolia.

In April 1891, the island's chronicler Achilleas Diamandaras estimated that Antifilo had a population comprising some 50 Greek families, most of these with connections to Castellorizo. This has been equated to a total population of 500-600.

Antifilo had a small Greek primary school which catered for years 1-3. It also had two churches, Evangelistria (or Evangelismos tis Theotokou erected in 1866) which now serves as the town's mosque, and the smaller chapel of Ayios Yeorgios which was destroyed during WWI.

There are only a few images of the town of Antifilo prior to the departure of its Greek inhabitants. Here is an image from 1915:



The Evangelistria church is clearly visible, as is its original bell tower which was later replaced with a minaret. Courtesy of George Mangos, here is a recent photograph of the church's avloyero (courtyard) which is still adorned with the pebble mosaic (votsala) characteristic of the Dodecanese islands.



Nicholas

[despina]

My mother would often mention Antifilo. My mother's family had to leave Turkey.

[Administrator]

Here are two further images of the Evangelistria church in Antifilo.

The first is the entranceway which is very reminiscent of the architectural style of the island, particularly the side entrance of St Constantine:




The second is the foundation stone which is still in situ above the side doorway of the church:

It reads:  This church named the Evangelistria was consecrated in 1849 in the month of November through the benefactions and donations of all pious Orthodox Christians.  Lord have mercy.

Nicholas