Zifias

Location

Zifias is a small village built in a hill, further down from Aghios Georgios Sikousis, about 8 kilometers away from the town of Chios. The village's pronunciation was different from village to village: the people who lived in Vassileoniko used to call it Zofia, those who lived in Aghios Georgios called it Joufia. It was also mentioned as Zofades or Zifia. Some people believe the name comes from the last name Zizifias and some others from the "zuffe", the Arabian "zuffore".

Zifias is an old village, even older than Aghios Georgios. This is proved by written testimonies which say that the village Aghios Georgios was built by the citizens of Zifia. The Monastery of Aghios Georgios Sikousis, which was then called "old Monastery", was built at the border of the two villages. There lived the three Aghioi Pateres (=Holly Fathers), who led hermit's lifes. Later they built the monastery of Aghioi Pateres, which has their name, and with the financial help of the Byzantine Emperor Konstantinos Monomachos, they built the famous monastery of Nea Moni, which is a very important religious monument of Christians.

Walking through the narrow paths of Zifias, what most impresses the visitor is the way in which the houses are built, really close to each other. These houses were built in bad times, when the island suffered from conquerors, so the citizens had to built their houses in a way that they could jump from roof to roof to escape.

You can still read the date of its construction on every remaining old house. The date is written on plaques of marble, usually on the wall above the main entrance. A typical one is found above the wooden door of the old municipal school (1869).