Author Archives: Spartan Roots

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About Spartan Roots

I am of Greek ancestry with roots in villages near Sparta. My paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather were born in Agios Ioannis (St. Johns), and my maternal grandmother was born in Mystras. I love family history research and have been tracing my roots for many years. I was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in a predominantly Greek neighborhood close to extended family. I live in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and work as a volunteer Co-Director of the Washington, D.C. Family History Center and a genealogy aide/project aide at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. I am always updating and adding new information. Please contact me - I would love to hear from you!

Family History Book: John Andrew Kostakos and Harikleia Aridas

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In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy flooded the streets of Brooklyn, New York. Among the damaged homes was that of my Aunt Alice Kostakos. Two of my cousins rescued hundreds of photos and many albums which were floating in the mucky water. In 2016, my cousins and I digitized these photographs, which I described in this post.

These pictures formed the basics of this family history book which documents the lives of my paternal grandparents, Ioannis Andreas Kostakos and Harikleia Aridas, both of Agios Ioannis, Sparta. Combined with family stories and many documents from the U.S. and Agios Ioannis, the book came together easily.

I loved every minute of working on this project. It enabled me to better understand the lives of our grandparents and their ancestors, and to truly appreciate my heritage. A pdf version of this book can be accessed here.

It is time to get information out of my computer and into the hands of family and relatives. With the multitude of documents I have accessed during my research trips to Greece, there are many more books to write about all of my family lines in various villages of Sparta. I have only just begun.

2nd International Greek Ancestry Conference

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The 2nd International Greek Ancestry Conference will be held on January 29 & 30, 2022 from 12:00-5:00 p.m., EST. This is a FREE and VIRTUAL event. It will be presented live and streamed on Greek Ancestry’s YouTube channel where it will be recorded and available permanently. Registration is not required.

The Conference agenda is below. Additional information can be found here at the Hellenic Genealogy Conference website, where class descriptions and speakers’ bios can be found.

You are invited to join us for this exciting event. There will be door prizes and engaging activities. There is much to learn and we look forward to sharing with you!

Fallen and Dead: Civil Conflicts 1941-1944

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Archive of documents of National Resistance and Civil War

Paula Antonakos-Boswell of the Amykles villages Facebook page shared an important research website: Military History Topics. Within this site is a section Fallen and Dead: Civil conflicts 1941-1944, an archive of documents of National Resistance and Civil War. As Paula wrote: this is an amazing resource for finding our ancestors who perished during the Civil Conflicts of 1941-1944.

I reviewed the names and compiled the following list of men who were born in Agios Ioannis and killed by the Communists in Mystras on October 12, 1944. I also found men born in Sparta and killed in Agios Ioannis on October 12, 1944.

Memory Eternal

Argyropoulos Apostolos of Dimos, Evzonos: Born in Ag. Ioannis Lakonias in 1913, of the T.A. of Sparta. Arrested in battle and was executed at the location Zavatos Mystras on the 12th October 1944.
Αργυρόπουλος Απόστολος του Δήμου, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στον Άγ. Ιωάννη Λακωνίας το 1913, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στη θέση Ζάβατο Μυστρά στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Haralampakos/Charalampakos Nikolaos of Panagiotis, Evzonos: Born in Agios Ioannis of Laconia in 1917, of the T.A. of Sparta. He was killed in a battle at zavatos Mystras on October 12th 1944.
Χαραλαμπάκος Νικόλαος του Παναγιώτη, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη Λακωνίας το 1917, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Φονεύθηκε σε μάχη στη θέση Ζάβατο Μυστρά στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Kostakos Panagiotis of Gregory, [my cousin] Sergeant: Born in Ag. Ioannis Lakonias in 1913, of the T.A. of Sparta. Arrested in battle and executed in Zavatos Mystras on October 12 1944.
Κωστάκος Παναγιώτης του Γρηγορίου, Λοχίας: Γεννήθηκε στον Άγ. Ιωάννη Λακωνίας το 1913, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στο Ζάβατο Μυστρά στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Lerikos Georgios of Nikolaos, Evzonos: Born in Ag. Ioannis Lakonias in 1919, of the T.A. of Sparta. Arrested in battle and executed in Zavatos Mystras on October 12 1944.
Λερίκος Γεώργιος του Νικολάου, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στον Αγ. Ιωάννη Λακωνίας το 1919, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στο Ζάβατο Μυστρά στις 12 Οκτωβρίου1944.

Mytilineos Leonidas of Georgios, Evzonos: Born in Agios Ioannis Lakonias in 1918, of the T.A. of Sparta. Was arrested in battle and was executed at the location Zavatos Mystras on the 12th October 1944.
Μυτιληναίος Λεωνίδας του Γεωργίου, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη Λακωνίας το 1918, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στη θέση Ζάβατο Μυστρά στις 12Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Mytilineos Antonios of Andreas, Evzonos: Born in Agios Ioannis Lakonias in 1900, of the T.A. of Sparta. Was arrested in battle and executed in Zavatos Mystras on October 12 1944.
Μυτιληναίος Αντώνιος του Ανδρέα, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη Λακωνίας το 1900, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στο Ζάβατο Μυστρά στις 12 Οκτωβρίου1944.

Nikolaou or Theodorou Dimitrios of Nikolaos, Soldier: Born in Agios Ioannis, Lakonias in 1911, of the T.A. Sparta. Arrested in battle and executed at Zavato Laconia on October 12, 1944.
Νικολάου ή Θεοδώρου Δημήτριος του Νικολάου, Στρατιώτης: Γεννήθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη Λακωνίας το 1911, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στη θέση Ζάβατο
Λακωνίας στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Papaioannou Konstantinos of Theodore, Evzonos: Born in Agios Ioannis Lakedaemonos of Lakonias in 1909, of the T.A. Sparta. Arrested in battle and executed at Zavato,Mystras on October 12, 1944.
Παπαϊωάννου Κων/νος του Θεοδώρου, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη Λακεδαίμονος Λακωνίας το 1909, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στο Ζάβατο Ορίου Μυστρά στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

The following men were born in Sparta and killed in Agios Ioannis on October 12, 1944:

Andrianopoulos Panagiotis of Dimitriou, Corporal: Born in Sparta, Laconia in 1915, of the T.A. Sparta. Arrested in battle and executed in the village of Agios Ioannis, Sparta on October 12, 1944.
Ανδριανόπουλος Παναγιώτης του Δημητρίου, Δεκανέας: Γεννήθηκε στη Σπάρτη Λακωνίας το 1915, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στο χωριό Άγιος Ιωάννης Σπάρτης στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Georgakopoulos Panagiotis of Christos, Evzonos: Born in Sparta, Laconia in 1907, of the T.A. of Sparta. Delivered in Mystras after the capitulation of his Order and was executed in Agios Ioannis Anavritis on October 12 1944.Γεωργακόπουλος Παναγιώτης του Χρήστου, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στη Σπάρτη Λακωνίας το 1907, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Παραδόθηκε στον Μυστρά μετά από συνθηκολόγηση του Τάγματός του και εκτελέσθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη Αναβρυτής στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Dimakos Dimitrios of Nikolaos, Evzonos: Born in Sparta Laconia in 1897, of the T.A. of Sparta. Arrested in battle and was executed in Ag. Ioannis Lakonias on the 12th October 1944.Δημάκος Δημήτριος του Νικολάου, Εύζωνος: Γεννήθηκε στη Σπάρτη Λακωνίας το 1897, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στον Αγ. Ιωάννη Λακωνίας στις 12Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Nikolopoulos Gregory of Polyzois, Sergeant: Born in Sparta Lak/nos Lakonias in 1915, of the T.A. of Sparta. He was arrested in battle and executed in Agios Ioannis, Sparta on October 13, 1944.Νικολόπουλος Γρηγόριος του Πολυζώη, Λοχίας: Γεννήθηκε στη Σπάρτη Λακ/νος Λακωνίας το 1915, του Τ.Α. Σπάρτης. Συνελήφθη σε μάχη και εκτελέσθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη Σπάρτης στις 13 Οκτωβρίου 1944.

Search the website for your family members here: https://stratistoria.wordpress.com/2015/06/06/1944-emfylies-sygrouseis-dead

Agios Ioannis, Election Lists and Male Registers

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I have a second website with specific information about the history, people and records for my ancestral village of Agios Ioannis, Sparta. Two recent posts may be of interest because they highlight information found in 1872 Election Lists and Male Registers (Μιτρωον Αρρενων).

This post about Male Registers provides a pdf link to download an English transcription the Agios Ioannis Male Registers, 1835-1930, contains a list of the transcribed names in the post, and links to the Town Hall (Dimarheion) and Archives of Sparta where you can request records for any village in Lakonia.

This post about 1872 Election Lists of Agios Ioannis has a link to download a pdf file of English transcription of the records and links as to where these lists can be found on various websites.

I have written about these resources previously in Spartan Roots: 1872 Electoral Rolls and Male Registers.

Example of an Election List entry for Agios Ioannis:
Line # – Given Name, Surname – Age – Father’s Name – Occupation
1653 – Αθανασ Γούργαρης – 46 – _____ – γεωργός
1653 – Athanas Gourgaris – 46 – _____ – farmer

Example of a Male Register entry for Agios Ioannis:

NumberSurnameFirst NameFatherMotherBirth YearVillage of Birth
2AlevetsovitisGeorgiosParaskevasVasiliki1925Agios Ioannis
1AlevetsovitisIoannisPantelisnot given1909Agios Ioannis

I hope these posts will help you find more information about your ancestors, wherever they resided in Greece, in these two record collections.

1874, Villagers of Agios Ioannis Request a New Priest

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When I was digitizing the records of marriages from 1835-1935 at the Metropolis of Sparta in 2018, I came across an unusual document. It caught my attention because it was from my ancestral village of Agios Ioannis and there were many signatures. It is a formal request to the Bishop of Sparta for a new priest to be sent to Agios Ioannis. I asked Gregory Kontos of GreekAncestry for a translation.

This was published on my website, Agios Ioannis, Sparta which is dedicated specifically to the families and stories of that village. I am cross-posting here as it is a historic document signed by the majority of the families.

To the Honorable Bishop of Monemvasia and Sparti

Received on April 27th, 1874

No. 221

April 20th, 1874

Agios Ioannis

It is known to you, your Eminence, that Agios Ioannis has over two hundred families, which, as follows, cannot be ministered by the current one priest with all the willingness he has, especially as the families are not concentrated, but are dispersed in neighborhoods, which are quite far from each other, about half an hour from where the priest is based. For this reason, we believe that one more priest has to be appointed and that the priest needs to be from this village and of general renown, so that through his position and his estimation from his co-villagers he will command respect and resolve many little disputes.

If you approve, we ask you to ordain our co-villager, Panagiotis Poulimenakos, a good and honest man of letters, valued by everyone, and also virtuous, pious and with ecclesiastical knowledge.

The residents of the village of Agios Ioannis,

  1. Panagiotis Papa[…]
    2. D. P. Maltziniotis
    3. P. Th. Ko[…]
    4. Efstr. Charitakos
    5. I. Ch. Tzirgotis
    6. Th. D. Tsirigotis
    7. Ioannis Gianniopoulos
    8. Th.  D. Kopanos
    9. K [?] Haralambakos
    10. Anagnostis V[…]lias
    11. Dimitrios Moustakaros
    12. Dimitrios Vasilakos
    13. Georgios St. Laskaris
    14. Ath. Voulgaris, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Geor. Laskaris.
    15. Andreas Loumakis, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Polyzois Loumakis.
    16. Spyros Lampropoulos, illiterate. On his order and behalf, K. Theodosopoulos.
    17. Nikolaos Bougadis, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Theodopoulos.
    18. Ilias Kyriazakis, illiterate. On his order and behalf, G. D. […].
    19. Ioan. M[.]ltiad[.]
    20. Nikolaos […]
    21. Konstantis Psyrakis
    22. Sarantos Stamatakos, illiterate. On his order and behalf, D. [?] P. Tsirigotis.
    23. Zois [?] […]
    24. Konstantis Panagianakos. On his behalf, Chatzipetros.
    25. Ioannis Stamatakos, on his order and behalf.
    26. D. Arniotis
    27. Io. Papagiannakos
    28. Ge. Aramel[…]
    29. Io. Karkoulis, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Geor. Laskaris.
    30. P. Alevetzovitis
    31. Antonios Mitilinaios
    32. N. A. Roumeliotis
    33. Christos Tagkalos
    34. Ilias Zacharopoulos, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Geor. St. Laskaris.
    35. Kargakos Tzounopoulos, illiterate. On his behalf, Geo. Tzounopoulos.
    36. Efta[…]
    37. Ioannis Kopanos
    38. Petros Gourgouris
    39. Ant. Kritikos, illiterate.On his order, P. N. Liakakos.
    40. Vasileios Karteroulis, illiterate. On his order, D. Kopanos.
    41. Leonidas Sotirakos
    42. D. Arniotis
    43. Dimitrios Panagopoulos, illiterate On his order and behalf, Efstr. Charitakos.
    44. Le. Christou Spirou
    45. Apostolis P. Politis, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Efstr. Charitakos.
    46. K. Argyropoulos
    47. Alexandros Kelepouris
    48. Christos Spyrou, illiterate. On his behalf, Dimitrios.
    49. On behalf of D. Gravas [?], G. Kokoris.
    50. On behalf of illiterate Konstas Kontakos, Th. D. Kopanos.
    51. Dimitrios Kontakos, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Anagnostis Vougiouklas.
    52. Anastatios Pantazos, illiterate. On his behalf, his son.
    53. Konstantinos Pantazos, Nikolaos Charalampakos
    54. Sarantos Kourkoulis, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Efstr. Charitakos.
    55. Them. Michalopoulos
    56. An. Kokonis
    57. Petros Soumakis, illiterate. On his order, A. Vougiouklis [?]
    [58.] N. Lagchanikas [?]
    [59.] Papasionis [?]
    [60.] Ioannis Kontakos
    [61.] N. N. Maltziniotis
    [62.] Dimitrios Stamatakos
    [63.] M. Arniotis
    [64.] Panagiotis Pantazos, illiterate. On his order, A. Vougiouklis.
    [65.] Pa. Papagiannakos
    [66.] Sarantos Kourkoulis, illiterate. On his order and behalf, Efstr. Charitakos.

[67.] Panagiotis Mourgokefalos, illiterate. On his order and behalf, G. Ch. Tzirgotis.

[68.] S. […]
[69.] Ioannis Pantazos
[70.] Spyros Pantazos
Charifalitza V. Maltziniotou, her son, Efstratios Maltziniotis

Panagiotis Mpolianitis, illiterate. On his behalf, S. Theodopoulos.

The authenticity of the above 70 signatures of all the residents of Agios Ioannis of the Municipality of Sparta is verified.

Sparta, April 12th, 1874

The Mayor of Sparta,

The Representative of Parori,

G. Ch. Tzirgotis

1874 Letter, page 1
1874 Letter, page 2
1874 Letter, page 3
1874 Letter, page 4