Twelve kilometers southwest of Chios Town, high on a hilltop blanketed in centuries-old olive trees, sits Agios Georgios Sikousis — one of the most historically significant and least-touristed villages on the island. At 360 meters above sea level, it commands sweeping views across central Chios in every direction, its position chosen deliberately for both defense and the cultivation of the surrounding land.
The village grew from a monastery — the Monastery of Agios Georgios Sikousis — which is believed to predate even the famous Nea Moni, and whose founders later retired to Nea Moni to lead an ascetic life. The monastery became the nucleus of a thriving community that at its peak numbered around 2,000 inhabitants, controlling lands and fields as far as Lithi on the west coast, Kampos to the north, and the city of Chios itself.
Like so many Chian villages, Agios Georgios Sikousis was devastated by the Massacre of 1822. Ottoman forces burned the village and killed much of its population — accounts speak of two priests martyred in the destruction. The village recovered, slowly, but never returned to its former size. What survived is a community with an extraordinarily deep sense of its own history and identity.
Today the village is known for its traditional stone architecture, its numerous historic churches — several of which were converted into schools during the 19th century — and the restored monastery that still anchors the settlement. The American diaspora of Agiorgousians, as villagers call themselves, has been particularly active in supporting the village, donating a school in 1950 and maintaining a cultural society dedicated to preserving its heritage.
Visiting Agios Georgios Sikousis feels like stepping off the tourist map entirely. The kafeneion on the square serves strong Greek coffee, the old men play backgammon in the shade of the plane tree, and the views from the hilltop are extraordinary — on clear days you can see the Turkish coast to the east and the mountains of the island interior spreading south toward the mastic villages.
What to See
- The Monastery of Agios Georgios Sikousis — predating Nea Moni, partially restored
- The village square with its traditional kafeneion and plane tree
- Historic churches throughout the village, several converted from schools
- Panoramic views across central Chios from the hilltop
- The school donated by the American Agios Georgios Society in 1950
Getting There
Agios Georgios Sikousis is 12km southwest of Chios Town via the road through Kampos. By car it is about 20 minutes. The village sits on the central mountain range and makes a natural stop on a route between Chios Town and the western beaches of Lithi and Elinta.