{"id":12,"date":"2026-02-25T20:37:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mygdonia.org\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2026-04-14T08:27:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:27:36","slug":"poioi-eimaste","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mygdonia.org\/en\/poioi-eimaste\/","title":{"rendered":"Who We Are"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our History<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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To understand our identity, we must first come to know our place and its history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tWhat was Mygdonia?<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mygdonia was a region of ancient Macedonia, located between the Axios and Strymon rivers. Its geographical extent stretched from areas south of Pella to the Rentina passes, making it a land of strong natural presence and particular historical significance.<\/span><\/p>

The inhabitants of the region, known as the Mygdonians, were among the oldest tribes of the area, maintaining a deep connection to the land, their customs, and their traditions.\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>

According to tradition, the name \u201cMygdonia\u201d is associated with the element of water, as in both the Phoenician and ancient Greek alphabets it was rendered as \u201cthe land of waters\u201d \u2014 a name that reflects the natural wealth and uniqueness of the region.<\/span><\/p>

Mygdonia was not simply a place on the map. It was a living space where nature, history, and culture coexisted, leaving their mark through time.<\/span><\/p>

In the same area, according to certain historical references, the name \u201cAlindoia\u201d is also found. However, its identification with the modern region is not fully substantiated, as other historians place it geographically toward the area of Vasilika.<\/span><\/p>

Alindoia appears to have been part of the wider Mygdonia, a large and important province of ancient Macedonia, which covered an extensive geographical area.<\/span><\/p>

During the prehistoric period, up to approximately\u00a0<\/span>2000 BC, much of this broader region was covered by water. The earliest inhabitants lived in pile-dwelling houses built within or along the shores of the lakes, fully adapted to the aquatic environment.<\/span><\/p>

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Over the course of centuries, and through linguistic and historical transformations, the name \u201cAlindoia\u201d was gradually replaced by the modern name of the region, known as Lagkadas.<\/span><\/p>

The name is not accidental. It derives from the morphology of the area, as it is a natural \u201clagadi\u201d (valley), a land deeply connected with water. The wider region, moreover, is lake-adjacent, with a direct relationship to Lakes Koroneia and Volvi.<\/span><\/p>

From ancient Mygdonia \u2014 the \u201cland of waters\u201d \u2014 to today\u2019s Lagkadas, the identity of the region remains deeply connected to water, which has shaped both its landscape and the lives of its people.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tHow does history connect with our association?<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The beginning of our own history dates back to the early 1990s, when a group of friends\u2014students, university students, and scientists\u2014sharing a common love for tradition, made an initial effort to keep it alive as a dance group.<\/span><\/p>

This effort was warmly embraced and substantially supported by the Holy Metropolis of Lagkadas, where it operated as the \u201cDance Group of the Holy Metropolis of Lagkadas,\u201d under the guidance of Archimandrite Theodosios Emmanouil. For approximately a decade, the local Church served as the main pillar of support, providing continuity and stability to the group\u2019s activities.<\/span><\/p>

A characteristic feature of that period was also the group\u2019s banner: a velvet blue flag with gold-embroidered lettering, bearing the symbol \u201c\u03a7\u03a1\u201d (Chi-Rho), one of the most well-known Christograms of the Orthodox tradition. In the centre, within a circle, the Vergina Sun was depicted, symbolically connecting faith with the historical identity of Macedonia.<\/span><\/p>

In 1997, following a trip to Romania, the need for a clearer identity emerged. At that time, the group adopted the name \u201cMygdones,\u201d connecting the present with the history of the region.<\/span><\/p>

The natural evolution of this journey came in 2000, when the group acquired legal status and was officially founded as the Cultural Organisation \u201cMygdonia\u201d of Lagkadas. Alongside its establishment, the first statute was drafted, laying the foundations for an organised and long-term course.<\/span><\/p>

In October 2001, on the occasion of participation in a festival in the city of Strzegom, Poland, the first elections of the organisation were held. The first president elected was Stylianos Karagiovanis, while Athanasios Karatheodorous assumed the role of dance instructor, a position he continues to hold to this day.<\/span><\/p>

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From then until today, Mygdonia has evolved into a living cultural hub, with more than 200 active members of all ages.<\/span><\/p>

The dance groups \u2014 children\u2019s, youth, beginners, adults, and the performance group \u2014 form the core of the organisation\u2019s activity, keeping folk tradition alive through continuous participation and creative expression.<\/span><\/p>

With respect for authenticity and through systematic research, dances, songs, and customs from all over Greece are taught and presented, while the organisation also maintains a rich collection of traditional costumes and jewellery, both authentic and faithful replicas.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"OLYMPUS<\/figure><\/div>
\"OLYMPUS<\/figure><\/div>
\"51-3-scaled\"<\/figure><\/div>
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\u00a0Mygdonia\u2019s presence extends beyond the country\u2019s borders. We have participated in numerous international festivals across Europe, as well as in Mexico, Bahrain, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, receiving highly positive feedback.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Special moments in our journey include important distinctions at international festivals, such as the first prize at the F\u00eates de la vigne<\/a> in Dijon, France, in 2022, and the first prize, known as the Grand Prix at the Tydzie\u0144 Kultury Beskidzkiej<\/a> and Mi\u0119dzynarodowe Spotkania Folklorystyczne in \u017bywiec, Poland, in 2024, where the victory in the competition was dedicated to Nikitas Karatheodorous, the \u201cgreat absent one,\u201d our fellow dancer and one of the victims of the Tempi train disaster.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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