Lechovo
Municipal unit in Greece
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lechovo (Greek: Λέχοβο), renamed as Iroiko (Greek: Ηρωϊκό) between 1955 and 1956,[2][3] is a village and a former community in Florina regional unit, Western Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Amyntaio, of which it is a municipal unit.[4] The municipal unit has an area of 22.844 km2,[5] and a population of 782 (2021 census). The village is set amongst the mountains of Northern Greece and the main road runs through the town's centre. There is a museum, a football pitch and an indoor handball stadium. Lechovo has stone architecture common to many northern villages, and has an old upper square and church bell tower.
Lechovo
Λέχοβο | |
|---|---|
Lechovo | |
 Location within the regional unit | |
  Lechovo | |
| Coordinates: 40°35′N 21°30′E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Western Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Florina |
| Municipality | Amyntaio |
| Area | |
| • Municipal unit | 22.8 km2 (8.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 782 |
| • Municipal unit density | 34.3/km2 (88.8/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Vehicle registration | ΡΑ |
The population of the village was brought to the area by the Ottomans.[6] Lehovo as a village became inhabited in the mid-eighteenth century and some of its villagers worked as master builders.[7] In statistics gathered by Vasil Kanchov in 1900, Lechovo was populated by 750 Christian Albanians and 90 Aromanians.[8] Lechovo, with its population of hellenised Albanians, participated extensively on the Greek side of the Macedonian Struggle in the late Ottoman period.[9][10] Following the Young Turk Revolution, the Greek clergy's prominent position in places like Lechovo was contested by Aromanian and Albanian nationalists.[10] During the population exchange between Greece and Turkey (1923), Lechovo's pro-Greek sentiments resulted in Greek authorities removing it from consideration as a resettlement destination in the Florina region for incoming Greek Anatolian refugees.[11]
Lechovo had 1,194 inhabitants in 1981.[12] In fieldwork done by anthropologist Riki Van Boeschoten in late 1993, Lechovo was populated by Arvanites.[12] Arvanitika (close to Albanian) was spoken in the village by people over 30 in public and private settings.[12] Children understood the language, but mostly did not use it.[12] Aromanian was spoken by people over 60, mainly in private.[12] In the early 2000s, the Tosk Albanian dialect was often spoken by village elders.[13] Academic Pierre Sintes was in the Florina area doing research in the early 2010s.[14] Sintes wrote Lechovo was populated by Arvanites who spoke Albanian and had a Greek national consciousness.[6]
Lechovo has not been influenced by the nearby predominant Slavic musical tradition of the area, and villagers have no knowledge of songs from their neighbours.[15] Dances performed in Lechovo are the Berati, Hasapia, Tsamiko, Kalamatiano, along with the Poustseno.[16]
Lechovo Church
Macedonian Struggle Monument honouring Lechovo's participation
Lechovo Folklore Museum
Traditional home items
Icons and other religious items
Traditional female clothing
