The concept of “chain migration” was firmly established during the great wave of immigration in the early 1900s. In a post which I wrote for the website of my village, Agios Ioannis, Sparta, many villagers traveled together on the S.S. Themistokles from Piraeus to Ellis Island.
Among the emigrants were my paternal grandmother, Harikleia Arida. Please read the post here.
When our Greek ancestors left their rural villages to escape poverty and pursue opportunities in America, they entered strange and bewildering new worlds in cities such as Chicago and New York. Those who left first, the “pioneers,” paved the way to assist their compatriots who followed. They learned rudimentary English, found employment and housing, and determined how to navigate legal systems and political alliances. They became the primary “links” in the ever-evolving chain of migration.
One such pioneer was Nicholas Calamaras. He and three brothers were among the earliest men to emigrate from the mountaintop Spartan village of Anavryti. In 1895, they made their way to Bordeaux, France, and from there to New York City. Through ingenuity and industriousness, they accumulated enough money to start their own businesses, send money home, and bring family members to the U.S.
Nicholas, however, went one step further. In 1914, he founded and funded an organization to assist newcomers in the bustling New York Greek community: The Greek-American League.
There were many such organizations formed wherever Greeks settled. All aided newcomers by forming the nexus of the immigrant community: organizing a church to practice their Orthodox faith, learning English, catching up on news of their villages, arranging marriages for their sisters/daughters/nieces. However, the Greek-American League – which Nicholas led for 20 years – took one major leap forward: it represented its members in the political arena.
While operating his tiny candy shop in Manhattan, Nicholas was a tireless advocate for the Greek community, extending his influence to local, state and even national politics. Between 1912 and 1934, he worked to support political candidates favorable to Greek issues: law enforcement, business permits, employment, immigration, deportations, export permits, and more. Purporting to represent hundreds of thousands of individuals, churches, businesses and publications, he wielded political power that demanded respect. Although Nicholas did not hold public office, his influence was acknowledged by politicians both locally and nationally until his death in 1939.
Nicholas’ story and the work of The Greek American League would have been lost to history had it not been for two generations of family members who retained his papers. Recently, Dean Calamaras discovered the collection and and set about to catalog and interpret the documents. His work has culminated in the historically important book, The Baron of Second Avenue: Nicholas Calamaras and the Archive of the Greek-American League, A Glimpse into the Greek Immigration Experience in New York.
This book is the first account of the activities of the Greek-American League. It displays the full contents of Nicholas’ archive – correspondence and legal papers 1912-1934, sorted by category, and the writer’s description of their social, historical and political context. Thus, the primary source information in this volume is priceless. Also included are: an annotated Index to all those documents, a separate index of over 100 Greek names appearing in documents, and a selection of pictures highlighting Nicholas’ life and achievements.
Although available on Amazon and at selected bookstores, this paperback book is most economically purchased on the author’s web site: www.calamarasbooks.com for $34.95 + $6.70 shipping.
This volume has enlightened my understanding of the impact of immigrants within their communities, and the power that can be wielded when they are organized and led by a person who is both indominatable and charitable. It is a fascinating read.
I am grateful to Dean for sharing his publication journey with me, and for giving me permission to write this post and print the list of surnames which appear in this book.
Alphabetical Index of Greek Surnames Cited In Documents
of the Greek-American League
Alexandrou K
Anagnostopoulos Argyrios
Anagnostopulos Sp
Antovick John
Apostolou John
Arapis John
Bellios Tom
Bilitsis P
Bilitsis Takis
Braun Thom
Calamaras George
Calamaras P
Calamaras Peter
Calamaras Speros N
Caparell Peter
Carrusula G
Catsanos N
Catsanos Nick
Chrisomalis Char
Chrisomalis P Theo
Chrisomalis William
Christin Em
Chrysomallis James Euth
Chrissomalis Ch
Chryssomallis Char S
Chryssomallis St
Clidas Thomas
Cokkalis Apostol
Cominos Nicholas
Constantino Jamis
Coumantaros NS
Couvaris Theros
Cumantaros George
Darmis John
Demas Demetreos
Dourakos Basiliki
Economakis Christ
Eleftherion Dimitrios
Eliopoulos Sotirio
Farmakis Jim
Fellouris John
Felluris John
Gamanos Calias
Ganos Milt
Garner Takis
Garnier Peter
Gavaris George
Georgiadis P
Gerakaris Louis
Ghotos Jack
Golesteano SM
Gregorakos John
Gregoriades GI
Gregory Steve
Kolias N
Laskas Em
Lelos Athanasios & son
Leras J
Macrides Christoforos
Macrides Margou
Macrides Mike
Macrides Timocles
Makridou Marionga
Mangel Gus
Manos Steve
Memar Ern
Mesologites CG
Michaelidis Bill
Morfogenis Bessie
Morghan Nick
Nastas John
Panafiotis
Papanastasiou
Pappadopoulos Apostollos
Pappadopoulos Nicholas
Pappanastatiou D
Pappas Nick
Pappas Steve
Pappas Thom
Pappatheodoru John
Paranikas Con
Pelitsis P.
Pottaris Bill
Rockas S
Rompos John
Scopas Tom
Spiropoulos Pan
Stamoulis Mathew P
Stefanides ID
Stelakos Panag Theo
Stratos Steve
Thebner Emanuel
Tinger Ch
Toskos Ioan
Touris SA
Tragas Louis
Triantafillakos Thom
Tsirikos James
Tsirikos Louis
Tsirikos Theodore
Varvalides Theo.
Vasiliadis C
Vasilades C
Vouros
Windisch Charles A
Zannos Arris
Zesefianos Panteles
by Christos P. Kapsalis
published in The Faris Newsletter Issue 81, January 2025, Pages 15-16
[NOTE: In his remembrance, Mr. Kapsalis refers to the invading army as Αραπάδες, which translates to “Arab.” However, Ibrahim’s father was ruler of Egypt and his army was composed of Egyptians/Ottomans; therefore, Greek Ancestry has corrected the translation of the term to “Egyptians.”]
War, enemy invasion, and scorched earth constitute the grim scenery in Ukraine today. Somehow this reminded me of a story told to me by the late Ilias Kokkoros, known also by the nickname “Tsaparis,” from Potamia, in the 1970s.
We would go to Potamia with my parents on our donkey from neighboring Gorani, my village, to gather olives from the olive groves we had there. We would gather the “pachni” (olive harvest) in the yard of uncle Lias’s house for protection against theft. I remember him very well; he was a respectable elderly man of advanced age (“I’m approaching a century,” he would tell me proudly), gentle, full of kindness. He was also a relative from my mother’s family, and the love and respect was mutual.
Among his many stories, one has been imprinted in my memory and concerns the Struggle of 1821. He remembered when, still a child, his grandmother had told him about those years: To the revolutionary Goranites (his village of origin) came the rumor that we were not alone in the struggle, that help would come and “Fragkia.” The battles were going well, with victories but also discord (how strange…) among the Greeks, until in 1825 came the terrible news that Ibrahim Pasha had landed in the Peloponnese with myriads of troops who burned and destroyed everything in their path. The army also passed through Laconia, destroying villages and countryside. A large part of it reached Gorani. Upon arriving there, the Egyptians burned all the houses, but the residents had managed to hide in the surrounding forests. After the destruction, the army planned to march toward the nearby mountain villages of Kourtsouna and Arna. However, they had not accounted for the Goranites, who planned and implemented a diabolical attack. Throughout the night, they gathered and put into burlap sacks hundreds of “beehives”¹.
Before dawn, the Goranites raiders took strategic positions, at a safe distance, on the slope along a narrow path at the foot of their mountain village, which led to a crossing at the Gerakaris river, through which the army would pass. Each one held, still closed, a sack with a beehive. The bees, feeling trapped and captive, had already become agitated and were buzzing with anger. The sun had risen just a bit when the Egyptians appeared and began to enter the path. When they were about to reach the river crossing, the Goranites swiftly opened the sacks and hurled them at the enemy. Chaos erupted! The agitated bees attacked anything that moved. The Egyptians, caught by surprise, suffered the merciless stings of the bees and, in a frenzy, scattered to the four winds. Some took the downhill path, jumping over brambles and terraces, others fell into the river, and the swarms of bees followed behind. Swollen, they disappeared, going back down to the flatland. Naturally, they didn’t dare set foot in the area again. The Goranites had taken revenge as sweet as… honey for the destruction of their village.
May the soul of Uncle-Lias rest in peace, for he preserved this unknown episode of the fight for freedom through the tales of his grandmother.
A century and a half later, I read in the newspapers of the time (1975) that the “weapon” with bees was also used in the forests of Vietnam by the Viet Cong guerrillas of North Vietnam against American patrols. It seems that the first users, the Goranites, didn’t bother to patent their invention.
___
¹ At that time, the beehives we know today didn’t exist. Beehives were kept in woven baskets made of reed, and the honeycombs were made by the bees themselves. Consequently, they had heightened reflexes if some external factor shook the beehive.
___
I (Carol Kostakos Petranek) am honored to receive permission from the Katsoulakos family to translate and share articles from The Faris. Translation verification and corrections have been made by GreekAncestry.net. This is the twenty-second article of the ongoing series. Previous articles can be viewed here.
A modern miracle has upended traditional Greek genealogical research. Now, for the first time, a comprehensive collection of birth, marriage and death information from many rural Greek village churches in Lakonia has been made available on the internet.
Greek church records are historically not found outside the village. Normally, you would have to visit the village in person, locate and then meet the priest, and convince him to allow you to look at the books. Most rural village priests do not speak English; thus, you would need to bring an interpreter. Then, you must then be able to read the entries to find your ancestor’s name.
In 2019, part one of the miracle happened: In his wisdom, His Eminence Efstathios, Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta, welcomed and encouraged digital preservation of both the Metropolis archive of marriage records in 2017 & 2018, and Lakonian village church books in 2019. He also approved their online publication at MyHeritage. At the Bishop’s directive, priests from 139 Lakonian villages brought their birth, marriage, and death books to the Metropolis. I spent seven weeks working in the Metropolis conference room to digitize these precious volumes (see post here).
In 2020, part two of the miracle happened: a small group of dedicated people at GreekAncestry.net had the skills to both decipher the handwriting of the priests and to create indexes of the names and vital data. They read every entry and carefully typed the information into a database. Deciphering old handwriting from the 1800s can challenge even the most highly skilled paleographer! Gregory Kontos, founder of Greek Ancestry, then developed a transliteration formula to transcribe the names into English. The images and indexes were transmitted to our colleagues at MyHeritage for processing and preparation for publication.
On March 10, 2025, part three of the miracle happened: today’s technology enabled the publication of the digital images and name indexes in both Greek and English. The records are now accessible at MyHeritage here: https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20905/greece-peloponnese-lakonia-vital-records-1859-1950.
The collection can be searched by name in either Greek or English. In the example below, I typed in English only the surname Kostakos without designating a village or type of record. Birth, marriage and death records for the surname Kostakos in any village are given.
Below are images of each of these three records.
If you are seeking all the records from a specific village, type only the village name in the search box. In the example below, I entered the village of Anavryti. There are 3,444 results.
The image below gives an English translation of the headings of each type of church book.
If you cannot find an ancestor’s record:
Please consult the following list to see which books are available for each village. Should you wish to contact a village priest, a list of all the churches under the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Sparta can be found here.
| Villages | Books | Years *pre-1900 |
| Afissou, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1913-65 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 | |
| Death | 1913-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2017 | |
| Ag. Apostolos Voion, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1959-2015 |
| Birth, Baptism | 2017-19 | |
| Death | 1958-2016 | |
| Death | 2017-19 | |
| Marriage | 1958-2014 | |
| Marriage | 2017-17 | |
| Ag. Dimitrios, Monemvasia | Birth, Baptism | 1971-2019 |
| Death | 1916-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1916-2017 | |
| Ag. Georgios Voion, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1970-2018 |
| Death | 1982-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1970-2017 | |
| Ag. Nikolaos Voion, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1944-72 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2017 | |
| Death | 1948-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1953-2019 | |
| Aggelona, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1912-69 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2018 | |
| Death | 1912-91 | |
| Death | 2010-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1995-2016 | |
| Agios Dimitrios Zarakas, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1955-91 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1977-2018 | |
| Death | 1923-55 | |
| Death | 1946-2000 | |
| Marriage | 1920-87 | |
| Marriage | 2002-19 | |
| Agios Ioannis, Monemvasia | Birth, Baptism | 1912-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2013 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2014-19 | |
| Death | 1912-2013 | |
| Death | 2013-19 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2013 | |
| Marriage | 2013-19 | |
| Agios Ioannis, Sparta | Birth & Baptism | 1878-1978 * |
| Birth & Baptism | 1913-1955 | |
| Birth & Baptism | 1951-1961 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1981-2019 | |
| Death | 1913-1980 | |
| Death | 1982-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-1981 | |
| Marriage | 1982-2019 | |
| Agios Konstandinos – Regkozena, Kastoreio | Baptism | 1983-87 |
| Baptism | 1998-2018 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2002 | |
| Marriage | 2014-15 | |
| Agios Nikolaos, Charisio Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1939-72 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 | |
| Death | 1949-2012 | |
| Marriage | 1949-74 | |
| Marriage | 1975-2019 | |
| Agios Nikolaos, Monemvasias | Birth, Baptism | 1924-79 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2017 | |
| Death | 1917-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1924-2016 | |
| Agios Nikonas Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1938-48 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1948-87 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1968-73 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-86 | |
| Death | 1947-58 | |
| Death | 1984-2011 | |
| Marriage | 1948-1986 | |
| Marriage | 1948-49 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1986-2019 | |
| B-M-D | 1907-20 | |
| Death | 2012-19 | |
| Marriage | 1987-2019 | |
| Agios Spyridon, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1970-2017 |
| Death | 1967-2017 | |
| Marriage | 1967-2017 | |
| Agios Vasileios, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 2003-2019 |
| Death | 2005-15 | |
| Marriage | 2006-18 | |
| Agoriani, Kastoreio | Baptism | 2009-2018 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2016 | |
| Death | 1952-2019 | |
| Death | 2003-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1951-2018 | |
| Alaibei, Panygyritsa, Skala | Birth, Baptism | 1923-24 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1951-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1957-2018 | |
| Alepochori, Geraki | Birth, Baptism | 1970-2000 |
| Death | 1913-2006 | |
| Death | 2010- | |
| Marriage | 1987-2010 | |
| Alevrou, Kastoreio | Birth, Baptism | 1913-2014 (1969-2014 missing) |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2019 | |
| Death | 1914-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2015 | |
| Amykles, Sparta | Baptism | 2017-2019 |
| Death | 2005-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1994-2019 | |
| Marriage | 2014-2019 | |
| Anavryti, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1913-1946 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955- | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-1970 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1913-1946 | |
| Death | 1913-1950 | |
| Death | 1913-1968 | |
| Death | 1987-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-1949 | |
| Marriage | 1913-1983 | |
| Marriage | 1984-2017 | |
| Anogeia, Xirokambi | Birth, baptism | 1869-1921 * |
| Birth, baptism | 1913-1954 | |
| Death | 1913-1955 | |
| Marriage | 1913-1980 | |
| Apidea, Vlahioti | Baptism | varied |
| Birth, Baptism | 1913-96 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2019 | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2019 | |
| Apideas Agios Ioannis, Vlahioti | Birth, Baptism | 1968-2017 |
| Death | 1969-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1970-2006 | |
| Arachova (Karyes or Karyon), Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1913-2017 |
| Marriage | 1907-12 | |
| Marriage | 1912-2018 | |
| Arkasadas, Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1913-1971 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2015 | |
| Death | 1913-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2014 | |
| Asopos, Asopo | Birth, Baptism | 1952-75 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1970-2017 | |
| Death | 1952-79 | |
| Death | 1979-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1955-2010 | |
| Marriage | 2011-2019 | |
| Asteri (Bryniko), Vlachioti | Birth, Baptism | 1918-2017 |
| Death | 1916-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1921-2018 | |
| Chrysafa, Sparta | Birth, baptism | 1912-1923 |
| Birth, baptism | 1913-1957 | |
| Birth, baptism | 1955-1970 | |
| Death | 1915-1966 | |
| Marriage | 1914-1993 | |
| Dafni, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1915-47 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1947-71 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2018 | |
| Death | 1947-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1947-2018 | |
| Daimonia, Elikas | Birth, Baptism | 1914-96 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-2017 | |
| Death | 1913-97 | |
| Death | 1997-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1913-95 | |
| Marriage | 1997-2018 | |
| Elafonisos, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1971-2019 |
| Death | 1966-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1915-33 & 1947-72 | |
| Marriage | 1972-2019 | |
| Elaias, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1977-2018 |
| Death | 1958-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1995-2019 | |
| Elika, Elikas | Birth, Baptism | 1913-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2019 | |
| Death | 1922-2011 | |
| Death | 2012-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1922-2018 | |
| Elos (Douraly), Vlachioti | Birth, Baptism | 1913-54 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-2007 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2008-18 | |
| Death | 1913-2008 | |
| Death | 2009-19 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2008 | |
| Marriage | 2009-18 | |
| Faraklo, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1913-53 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1952-2014 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1970-2017 | |
| Death | 1913-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1913-97 | |
| Foinikio, Asopo | Birth, Baptism | 1966-2018 |
| Death | 1966-2009 | |
| Marriage | 1966-2018 | |
| Georgitsi, Kastoreio | Birth, Baptism | 1913-54 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1916-58 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2010-2017 | |
| B-M-D | 1954-2019 | |
| Death | 1907-2019 | |
| Death | 1913-55 | |
| Marriage | 1912-1950 | |
| Geraki, Geraki | Birth | 1948-2019 |
| B-M-D | B 1860-86; M 1860-78; D 1860-77 * | |
| Death | 1913-1977 | |
| Death | 2003-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-1979 | |
| Gkoritsa, Geraki | Birth, Baptism | 1913-50 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1952-72 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2018 | |
| Death | 1977-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1953-2002 | |
| Marriage | 2002-2019 | |
| Glykogrisi (Bezani), Vlahioti | Birth, Baptism | 1913-59 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2018 | |
| Death | 1913-81 | |
| Death | 1991-2008 | |
| Death | 2009-19 | |
| Marriage | 1913-61 | |
| Marriage | 1980-2017 | |
| Gorani, Xirokambi | Baptism | 1991-97 |
| Baptism | 1998-2018 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1933-70 | |
| Death | 1912-45 | |
| Death | 1999-2019 | |
| Marriage | 2014-18 | |
| Misc | ||
| Gounari, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1947-1978 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1979-2010 | |
| Death | 1947-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1948-2005 | |
| Gouves, Vlachioti | Birth, Baptism | 1915-67 |
| Death | 1915-58 | |
| Marriage | 1937-60 | |
| Grammousa, Skala | Birth, Baptism | 1985-2015 |
| Death | 1985-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1987-2018 | |
| Harakas, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 2006-18 |
| Death | 2006-18 | |
| Marriage | 1988-94 | |
| Ierakas, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1997-2017 |
| Death | 1912-54 | |
| Death | 1954-86 | |
| Death | 1986-2000 | |
| Death | 2000-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1953-67 | |
| Marriage | 1986-2018 | |
| Kalivia Soha, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1914-1971 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2019 | |
| Death | 1920-2019 | |
| Death | 2019- | |
| Marriage | 1916-2012 | |
| Marriage | 2010-2019 | |
| Kallonis, Geraki | Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 |
| Death | 1988-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1952-2013 | |
| Kalogonia, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1915-69 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1967-2018 | |
| Death | 1969-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-69 | |
| Marriage | 1969-2018 | |
| Kaminia, Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1912-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2015 | |
| Death | 1913-80 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2011 | |
| Kampos Voion, Neapolis | B-M-D | 1913-52 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1954-74 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2016 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2017-18 | |
| Death | 1954-2017 | |
| Death | 2017-18 | |
| Marriage | 1955-2016 | |
| Marriage | 2017-18 | |
| Karavas, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1973-91 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1976-78 | |
| Birth, Baptism | various | |
| Death | 1976-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1979-2017 | |
| Marriage | various | |
| Karitsa, Geraki | Baptism | 2005-07 |
| Death | 1996-2019 | |
| Marriage | 2008-17 | |
| Kastanias Voion, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1970-2015 |
| Death | 1949-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1948-2015 | |
| Kastorion / Κastania ΚΑΣ | Birth, Baptism | 1972-2019 |
| Death | 1913-59 | |
| Death | 1959-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2017 | |
| Kastorion-Kastania, Kastoreio | Birth, Baptism | 1913-38 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1940-54 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-71 | |
| Kastri, Kastoreio | Birth, Baptism | 1912-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2014 | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2011 | |
| Kefala, Geraki | Birth, Baptism | 1916-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2017 | |
| Death | 1916-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1916-2019 | |
| Kladas, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1913-1971 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2019 | |
| Death | 1915-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2019 | |
| Koniditsa, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1912-72 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2013 | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2017 | |
| Koulentia (Ellinikou), Elikas | Birth, Baptism | 1888-1913 * |
| Birth, Baptism | 1915-54 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-71 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2017 | |
| Death | 1916-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1915-2005 | |
| Koupia, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1957-2016 |
| Death | 1958-2017 | |
| Marriage | 1956-2009 | |
| Kremasti, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1916-38 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1939-53 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1954-57 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1957-71 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1982-2018 | |
| Death | 1916-18 | |
| Death | 1971-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1916-91 | |
| Marriage | 1994-2018 | |
| Krokees/Levetsova, Skala | Birth, Baptism | 1929-55 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1954-2017 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1885-1929 * | |
| Death | 1946-2017 | |
| Death | 2018-2019 | |
| Death | 1914-44 | |
| Marriage | 2012-2017 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2011 | |
| Kyparissi Zarakos, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1913-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2017 | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2018 | |
| Lachion Voion, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1913-2018 |
| Death | 1914-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1901-1915 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2017 | |
| Lagio, Skala | Birth, Baptism | 1985-2016 |
| Death | 1986-2019 | |
| Marriage | 2003-14 | |
| Lampokambros, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1951-81 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1999-2017 | |
| Death | 1996-2014 | |
| Marriage | 1923-93 | |
| Marriage | 2006-11 | |
| Lefkohoma, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1972- |
| Lefkoma (Kydonia & Karaspai), Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1914-70 |
| Death | 1926-2019 | |
| Leimonas, Skala | Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 |
| Death | 1920-2019 | |
| Marriage | 2006-17 | |
| Liantina, Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1913-69 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-89 | |
| Death | 1916-60 | |
| Marriage | 1916-85 | |
| Lira, Elikas | Birth, Baptism | 1913-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2014 | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2018 | |
| Logganikos, Kastoreio | Birth, Baptism | 1973-2018 |
| Death | 2015- | |
| Marriage | 1993-2019 | |
| Loggastra, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1913-59 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1959-42 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1959-68 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1968-2003 | |
| Death | 1913-2010 | |
| Death | 1956-2015 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2003 | |
| Marriage | 1957-83 | |
| Machmoutbei-Amykles, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1913-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2002 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2004-2018 | |
| Death | 2005-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1940-2002 | |
| Marriage | 2005-2019 | |
| Magoula (Agia Irini), Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1946-2009 |
| Birth, Baptism | 2009-2015 | |
| Death | 1946-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1946-2018 | |
| Magoula (Koimisi tis Theotokou) Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1908-34 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1934-48 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1970-2009 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2009-2019 | |
| Death | 1913-65 | |
| Death | 1966-2019 | |
| Makrinada, Vlahioti | Birth, Baptism | 1984-2016 |
| Death | 1973-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1991-98 | |
| Megali Vrysi, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1944-95 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1974-2017 | |
| Death | 1944-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1944-2004 | |
| Mesochori, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1910-2018 |
| Death | 1935-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1910-2018 | |
| Metamorfosi (Katavothra), Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1912-52 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-2018 | |
| Death | 1913-55 | |
| Death | 1955-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1912-55 | |
| Marriage | 1955-2018 | |
| Mitropolitikou I. Naou, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1913-55 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1952-69 | |
| Molaoi, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1913-54 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1913-55 | |
| Death | 1927-83 | |
| Marriage | 1913-55 | |
| Monemvasia, Monemvasia | Birth, Baptism | 1912-70 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2019 | |
| Death | 1912-86 | |
| Death | 2000-19 | |
| Marriage | 1913-97 | |
| Marriage | 2001-2018 | |
| Mystras, Sparta | Baptism | 1938-72 |
| Birth | 1882-87 * | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1860-85 * | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1913-1972 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1917-1977 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2019 | |
| Birth, Baptism (Kato Hora) | 1913-1940 | |
| Death | 1885-98 * | |
| Death | 1916-1991 | |
| Death | 2017- | |
| Death | 1913-2016 | |
| Death (Kato Hora) | 1913-1939 | |
| Marriage | 1883-89 * | |
| Marriage | 1917-1970 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage (Kato Hora) | 1913-1939 | |
| Β-Μ-D | 1906-1914 | |
| Mytrea, Vlachioti | Birth, Baptism | 1914-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2018 | |
| Neapoli, Neapolis | Baptism | 1962-68 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1912-42 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1941-55 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-60 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1970-2018 | |
| Death | 1912-42 | |
| Death | 1941-1984 | |
| Death | 1985-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1912-42 | |
| Marriage | 1941-1994 | |
| Marriage | 1994-2018 | |
| Niata, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1914-35, 80-88 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1914-48 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1948-56 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1949-2018 | |
| Death | 1913-79 | |
| Death | 1981-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1960 | |
| Marriage | 1913-78 | |
| Marriage | 1948, 57-65 | |
| Marriage | 1979-2018 | |
| Nomia, Monemvasia | Baptism | 1995-2009 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1924-53 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1952-2004 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 | |
| Death | 1925-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1924-2019 | |
| Pakia, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1915-55 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2017 | |
| Death | 1913-55 | |
| Death | 1955-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-54 | |
| Marriage | 1955-2017 | |
| Palaiochori, Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1916-1971 |
| Palaiopanagia, Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1918-1945 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1954-2016 | |
| Death | 1913-1952 | |
| Death | 2003-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1913-1945 | |
| Pantanassa, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1912-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2005 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2005-18 | |
| Death | 1913-2005 | |
| Death | 2006-18 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2004 | |
| Marriage | 2006-18 | |
| Papadianikon, Asopo | Birth, Baptism | 1955-97 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1996-99 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1997-2019 | |
| Death | 1955-57 | |
| Death | 1960-2000 | |
| Death | 1997-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1955 | |
| Marriage | 1960-2001 | |
| Marriage | 1997-2019 | |
| Pardaliou, Kastoreio | Birth, Baptism | 1938-2010 |
| Death | 1928-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1930-2017 | |
| Parori, Sparta | Birth, baptism | 1911-1979 |
| Birth, baptism | 1972-2011 | |
| Birth, baptism | 2011-2018 | |
| Death | 1913-2011 | |
| Death | 2011-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2010 | |
| Marriage | 2012-2017 | |
| Pellana, Kastoreio | Birth, Baptism | 1912-54 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-85 | |
| Death | 1912-92 | |
| Death | 1920-2016 | |
| Death | 1993-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-95 | |
| Perivolion, Kastoreio | Baptism | 2018-2018 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1894-1999 * | |
| Death | 1894-2018 * | |
| Marriage | 1894-2015 * | |
| Pikoulianika, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1913-1972 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1975-2019 | |
| Death | 1916-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1916-2019 | |
| Platana, Sparta | Baptism | 1984-97 |
| Baptism | 1999-2015 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2014 | |
| Death | 1984-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1985-2006 | |
| Marriage | 1987-2006 | |
| Polovitsa, Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1913-66; 2002, 03, 05, 15 |
| Death | 1912-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2010 | |
| Potamia, Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1950-2018 |
| Marriage | 1950-2017 | |
| Reicheas, Molaoi | Baptism | 1980 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1946-54 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1946-62 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1963-70 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2011-18 | |
| Death | 1951-70 | |
| Death | 2011-19 | |
| Marriage | 1991 | |
| Marriage | 1948-65 | |
| Marriage | 1968-74 | |
| Marriage | 2011-16 | |
| Riviotissi, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 |
| Death | 1957-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1985-2018 | |
| Riza-Vafeio, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 2004- |
| Death | 2005- | |
| Marriage | 2005- | |
| Sellasia, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1940-71 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2018 | |
| Death | 1965-2017 | |
| Marriage | 1986-2017 | |
| Sikaraki, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1947-78 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1969-75 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1979-2016 | |
| B-M-D | 1920-47 | |
| Death | 1982-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1982-2017 | |
| Skala, Skala | Birth, Baptism | 1954-72 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1969-2019 | |
| Death | 1957-1968 | |
| Death | 1990-2019 | |
| Death | 1994-2002 | |
| Death | 2002-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1939-68 | |
| Marriage | 1968-2000 | |
| Marriage | 1995-2002 | |
| Marriage | 2000-2019 | |
| Marriage | 2002-2018 | |
| Sklavohori (Amykles), Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1955-2018 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1916-48 | |
| Death | 1919-2003 | |
| Death | 2017-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-1989 | |
| Skoura, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1911-1971 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1970-2017 | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2017 | |
| Stefania, Skala | Birth, Baptism | 1986-2018 |
| Death | 1988-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1988-2019 | |
| Sykea, Molaoi | Birth, Baptism | 1860-1906 * |
| Birth, Baptism | 1912-39 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1939-2009 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1963-2019 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1978-2019 | |
| Death | 1859-1913 * | |
| Death | 1912-81 | |
| Death | 1981-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1912-2007 | |
| Marriage | 1964-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1979-2017 | |
| Talanta, Elikas | Birth, Baptism | 1960-83 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-85 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1986-2015 | |
| Death | 1933-60 | |
| Death | 1960-88 | |
| Death | 1985-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1961-2018 | |
| Theologos, Kalyvia Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1917-1978 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2016 | |
| Death | 1917-2017 | |
| Marriage | 1917-2003 | |
| Theologos, Vresthenon | Birth, baptism | 1972-2013 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1973-2019 | |
| Death | 1913-2017 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2016 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2016 | |
| Marriage | 1907-1912 | |
| Trapezontis, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1934-95 |
| Birth, Baptism | 2005-19 | |
| Death | 1936-97 | |
| Death | 2005-16 | |
| Marriage | 1992-2011 | |
| Tripi, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1917-2018 |
| Death | 1913-78; 1985 (1); 1905 (1) | |
| Death | 1981-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2018 | |
| Tsasi, Filisi, Peristeri, Skala | Baptism, Marriage | 1948-52 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1952-80 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1980-2016 | |
| Death | 1910-23 | |
| Death | 1980-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1910-30 | |
| Marriage | 1930-64 | |
| Marriage | 1979-2013 | |
| Tseramio, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1970-2017 |
| Death | 1972-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1972-2018 | |
| Tsouni – Kokkinorahi, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1912-2019 |
| Death | 1912-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2019 | |
| Vamvakou, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1914-55 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1955-70 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-99 | |
| Death | 1914-2004 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2004 | |
| Marriage | 1914-78 | |
| Varsova, Sparta | Birth, Baptism | 1912-2017 |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2018 | |
| Varvitsa, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1924-1978 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2000 | |
| Vasilaki (Tarapsa), Xirokambi | Birth, Baptism | 1911-91 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1997-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1953-75 | |
| Marriage, Death | 1912-2016 | |
| Vasiliki, Xirokambi | Baptism | 1983-2010 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-73 | |
| Death | 1973-76 | |
| Marriage | various | |
| Vassara, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1901-1957 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1957-2019 | |
| Death | 1913-1956 | |
| Death | 1957-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1913-1956 | |
| Marriage | 1957-2015 | |
| Velanidia, Neapolis | Birth, Baptism | 1915-38 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1939-69 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1969-71 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2003 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 2004-18 | |
| Death | 1915-74 | |
| Death | 2004-19 | |
| Marriage | 1915-2003 | |
| Marriage | 2004-13 | |
| Velies, Monemvasia | Birth, Baptism | 1970-2018 |
| Death | 1947-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1943-2015 | |
| Verdaeiika, Kastoreio | Death | 2013-2013 |
| Vlachioti, Vlachioti | Birth, Baptism | 1912-52 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1949-81 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1981-2019 | |
| Death | 1912-78 | |
| Death | 1978-2003 | |
| Death | 2003-19 | |
| Marriage | 1912-78 | |
| Marriage | 1978-2002 | |
| Marriage | 2003-18 | |
| Vordonia, Kastoreio | Baptism | 1976-1979 |
| Baptism | 1982-90 | |
| Baptism | 1991-2017 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1934-1954 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1954-75 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2013 | |
| Death | 2011-2019 | |
| Marriages | 1978-2011 | |
| Marriages | 1978-90 | |
| Marriages | 2005-2017 | |
| Marriages | 1992-2012 | |
| Voutiani, Vresthenon | Baptism | 1899-1921 * |
| Birth | 1899-1920 * | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1913-72 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1972-2017 | |
| Death | 1899-1921 * | |
| Death | 1913-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1900-1920 | |
| Marriage | 1914-2018 | |
| Vresthena, Vresthenon | Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 |
| Birth, Baptism | 1982-2019 | |
| Death | 1913-81 | |
| Marriage | 1913-2019 | |
| Vrondamas, Geraki | Birth, Baptism | 1972-2018 |
| Death | 1978-2019 | |
| Marriage | 1972-2018 | |
| Vroulia (Sellasia), Vresthenon | Baptism | 1892-1910 * |
| Baptism | 1893-1907 * | |
| B-M-D | 1872-1907 * | |
| Xirokambi, Xirokambi | Birth & Baptism | 1879-1889; 1892-1901; 1903-1906; 1907-1912 * |
| Birth & Baptism | 1913-2014 | |
| Birth & Baptism | 1963-1958; 1961-1971 | |
| Death | 1913-2018 | |
| Marriage | 1893-2015 * | |
| Zarafona (Kallithea), Geraki | Birth, Baptism | 2004-15 |
| Death | 2010-19 | |
| Marriage | 2002-19 | |
| Zerbitsa Monastery, Xirokambi | Baptism | 1975-87 |
| Baptism | 1988-91 | |
| Baptism | 1991-92 | |
| Baptism | 1994-96 | |
| Baptism | 1996-98 | |
| Baptism | 1999-2009 | |
| Baptism | 2009-2019 | |
| Zoupena, Geraki | Baptism | 1984-98 |
| Baptism | 1999-2017 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1914-47; 1964 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1966-84 | |
| Birth, Baptism | 1971-2017 | |
| Death | 1966-2004 | |
| Death | 2005-19 | |
| Marriage | 2001-12 | |
| Marriage | 2014-2018 |
Today, FamilySearch has published its website in the Greek language! For our Greek-speaking friends throughout the world, and especially for those in Greece, this opens doors of discovery for your family history. The url is: familysearch.org/el. Congratulations to the technical specialists and IT engineers who made this possible!
FamilySearch is the largest FREE website in the world. Its collections of digital images from Greece is unsurpassed, and these can be accessed at any of the over 5,000 FamilySearch Centers worldwide.
I especially like using the FamilySearch tree. Each person has his/her own “page” which serves as a personalized memorial site. This is where I upload photos, documents and stories about each ancestor to his or her page. For example, this is the page for my paternal grandfather, John Andew Kostakos (Ιωάννης Ανδρέας Κώστακος). As you scroll through the tabs at the top of the page, you will see the Sources, Notes and Memories that document his life. The “About” page is a synopsis of all the information about him. Everything I have about my grandfather is posted on his page and is accessible to researchers now and in the years to come.
With all of the unrest in the world today, it is critically important that we preserve the work we are doing to document the lives of our ancestors. This preservation should be both personal (i.e., digitizing documents and sharing with family and uploading to a personal online account) as well as universally accessible (uploading to a reputable online genealogy website so that our research can be accessed by others both now and in the future).
I choose to use FamilySearch as my primary online genealogy website for these reasons:
1. FamilySearch International is a non-profit organization. It has always been–and will always remain–free of charge to use.
2. FamilySearch will never go away. Other genealogy websites are owned by investors and thus are subject to being divested, sold or eliminated. FamilySearch is a service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to everyone, regardless of tradition, culture, or religious affiliation. FamilySearch resources help millions of people around the world discover their heritage and connect with family members.
3. The FamilySearch tree is a collaborative tree, which enables people worldwide to share information about their common ancestor(s). Anyone can upload a photo or document, or share a source of information, to a person’s page in the tree (see example above of my grandfather, John Andrew Kostakos). By sharing data, we can work together to ensure that correct information is always available for an ancestor.
4. FamilySearch has many thousands of digitized images from Archives and repositories in Greece which are not found on any other website. The catalog for Greece can be found here.
5. The FamilySearch Wiki Greece page is an excellent resource to find historical documents in Greece, and to learn methodologies for researching in Greece.
I encourage you to explore FamilySearch as a provider of research documents and as a repository to preserve your family history research.
Spartan Roots (Σπαρτιατικές Ρίζες) 