Summary
Paisidou Melina,
Aspects of the society of Kastoria in the 17th century. Information from the epigraphic material of the churches
In the present article we examine aspects of the society and prosopography of Kastoria during the 17th century , under Ottoman rule, which are related to the donations and other renovation activities in the churches of the town, funded by the Greek Orthodox population. These social issues are illustrated through a considerable number of votive inscriptions that have been preserved in the churches. Through either the archaeological data or the historical sources, it is evident that the Greek Orthodox population, involved in various professions, occupied 2/3 of the urban area of Kastoria, thus forming the majority .
Among the sixteen churches that were decorated during the 17th century we examine twelve donor inscriptions which provide us with a long list of names of thirty-two people associated with the institution of donations to the local churches. The majority of them are mentioned in the archives, such as the Turkish Tax Documents and the Codex of the Cathedral of Kastoria. Ten of them are mentioned during the first thirty years of the century and twenty-two of them during the following thirty years, relating to the gradual economic development of the town. Among the local archons, the most out standing families are the Ralai, the Kyritzi and the Sarantinoi, possibly connected to descendants of renowned Byzantine families, which were dispersed to various regions after the Fall of Constantinople. They held high social positions and they used titles, such as "evgenestatos", "panevgenestatos", "eklampro tatos", alluding to old Byzantine titles and dignities. Among them, the Kyritzi, a family of wealthy merchants related to Venice, were involved in the establishment of the Greek school in Kastoria.
The priests, the monks and the nuns hold an esteemed place among the donors, with regard to the renovation of small urban monasteries, where they officiated. Priest George had the title of "sakellarios of the Cathedral", yet the monks and the nuns were the ones that engaged in collective contributions. In general, this time period is characterized by collective contributions, thus attesting to a more pluralistic society surrounding this institution. The different orientation of society is also manifested through the active presence of women in the donation. Fifteen women are mentioned, mostly as wives and mothers of the male donors but also as the leading figures of the contribution. "Archontissa Theologina" and "archontissa Asana" are two female donors that are also mentioned in the Codex of the Cathedral. The case of the nuns is different due to the special status that pertains to their monas tic milieu.
Through the epigraphic material, it becomes apparent that apart from a great donation for the erection or the renovation of the churches, there are other donations of small-scale property, such as land -mainly vineyards-, movable property or money, namely silver aspers. What is worthy of attention is the donation of products that are necessary for the liturgy (wine, olive oil, wheat) and the salary of the priest. The reference to these details on the inscription pertains to a public contract between the donor and the church.
Some donor inscriptions include instructions for commemorative services for the donors and their relatives. It is highly probable that some of the churches were used as burial places for the donors and their families.
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