Elatochori is best understood through its customs and the historical landmarks of the village. Two different questions take centre stage when planning your trip: would you like to plan your stay around a particular custom, or are you mainly interested in the Byzantine church and the history of the old settlement? The traditions provide clear dates in the calendar; the church, mill, and local history offer other cultural highlights.
Village customs with clear dates in the calendar
The annual Antamoma takes place on the last weekend of July in the centre of Elatochori. It includes the “ΑΠΑΛΝΟΙ – ΑΚΑΤΝΟΙ” football match on the village square. If this gathering is the deciding factor for your trip, plan your stay around this recurring weekend date.
For the Kedra custom, young people from Elatochori walk through the village with burning torches on the eve of 25 March. They then burn cedar branches and dance together around the fire. Roka is also tied to a precise date: on the second day of Easter, the entire village gathers after the church service to burn Roka. The custom dates back to the period of Ottoman rule.
The three traditions therefore follow different calendar dates: the last weekend of July, the eve of 25 March, and the second day of Easter. They are not interchangeable when planning your dates; choose your travel period based on the custom you would like to shape your stay.
Byzantine church and old watermill
The Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos is in old Elatochori and was built in 1776. A rare iconostasis made of carved wood makes it particularly notable; Byzantine icons have also been preserved to this day. The combination of a dated building and surviving furnishings makes Agios Nikolaos a clear cultural landmark. An iconostasis is a screen decorated with icons that separates the sanctuary from the main body of the church.
The old watermill adds another dimension to the village’s history, reflecting a different kind of use. The inhabitants ground maize and wheat there into flour, which they used to make bread and pita. The church and mill represent different themes: religious furnishings and architectural history on the one hand, and grain processing and food production on the other.
Local history and crafts
Elatochori comprises an old and a new settlement. The old settlement was destroyed by German troops on 27 January 1944.
The village was originally called Skouterna; the name was associated with the production of coarse woollen fabrics in the area. This history of the name complements the subjects of the church and mill with a connection to local crafts.
In 2025, Elatochori was officially recognised as a martyr village.
Discover more destinations: Nei Pori, Makrygialos, Pydna, Skotina Anatolikos Olympos, Methoni, Katachas, Raralia Panteleimonos, Karitsa
For the overarching travel overview: Pieria.
