Megali Panagia, Chalkidiki
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Megali Panagia
Μεγάλη Παναγιά | |
|---|---|
  Megali Panagia | |
| Coordinates: 40°29′N 23°39′E / 40.483°N 23.650°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Central Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Chalkidiki |
| Municipality | Aristotelis |
| Municipal unit | Panagia |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Community | 2,367 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Megali Panagia is a big village in Chalkidiki peninsula. It is located in the east of Chalkidiki prefecture, 80 kilometres from Thessaloniki and 12 from Arnaia, built at 440 meters height, in the slopes of the hill named Chtikela.[2] Until 2011 it was the seat of local municipality (Panagia municipality). Today it is included in Aristotelis municipality.
In the past the village was named Revenikia. In 1928 took the current name (which means Great Virgin Mary) that related with the near pilgrimage, dedicated to Virgin Mary. The oldest references about the village date back in Byzantine era. In the Ottoman period the village belonged to the Mademochoria. During the Greek War of Independence it was burnt by the Turks. A part of the village was destroyed by the big earthquake in 1932, centered in Ierissos. Many disasters in the village were noted during Second World War.[2]