1976–2026

50 years of the Association

From the founding act of 1975 to today. The story of the “O Koumaros” Association, decade by decade.

© Σπύρος Κουρκούλας
50years
25boards
30works in the village
54recorded trips

On 21 October 1975 twenty-four people from Koumaros living in Athens signed the founding act, and on 18 May 1976 the court approved the statute. Since then the Association has built its hall and dozens of works in the village, organised hundreds of trips, feasts and celebrations, and kept those who live away close to Koumaros.

Below is that story, decade by decade, as far as we have recorded it: the boards, the works, the trips, the island feasts, the calendars and the publications. See also the old photographs.

Προς συμπλήρωση: εκδρομές 1978–1998, γλέντια και μουσικοί πριν το 2012, ημερολόγια πριν το 2015 και 2016–2019, και αν έγινε (ή θα γίνει) επετειακή εκδήλωση για τα 50 χρόνια.

1970–79

  1. 1970–71Works

    Before the Association: the road to Pano Meri

    The villagers raised money, hired a bulldozer and opened the road with volunteer labour.

  2. 21 October 1975Milestones

    The founding act

    24 people from Koumaros living in Athens sign the founding act of an association for their village, on the initiative of Petros Vidalis.

  3. 1975Boards

    Board 1975–1977

    President: Σωτήριος Μ. Λεβαντίνος. Προσωρινή Διοικούσα Επιτροπή, από την ιδρυτική πράξη της 21ης Οκτωβρίου 1975. Το καταστατικό εγκρίθηκε από το Πρωτοδικείο Αθηνών στις 18 Μαΐου 1976.

  4. 18 May 1976Milestones

    The statute is approved

    The Athens Multi-Member Court of First Instance approves the statute, drafted free of charge by the lawyer Spyros Manouras (decision 1324/1976). That is why the plaque in the hall reads “Founded 1976”.

  5. 1977–79Works

    The Association’s clubhouse

    The first project: an old shop in the village centre was donated and became the clubhouse, where everyone serves themselves.

  6. January 1977Boards

    Board 1977–1979

    President: Ματθαίος Αντ. Λεβαντίνος. Το πρώτο εκλεγμένο Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο.

  7. March 1977Trips

    Rovies, Evia

    The Association’s first trip, one of the first ever organised by a Tinian association.

  8. 1979Works

    Lighting for the arches; Agios Georgios and the cemetery

    The first public lighting to show off the arches. The church of Agios Georgios and the cemetery were renovated.

  9. January 1979Boards

    Board 1979–1981

    President: Περικλής Τσακλάρης.

1980–89

  1. January 1981Boards

    Board 1981–1983

    President: Γεώργιος Ι. Βιδάλης.

  2. 1982Works

    Sewerage

    The village sewer network, with the community.

  3. 1983Feasts & celebrations

    The Easter lamb

    Since 1983 the Association has offered the lamb for the Easter meal of love in its hall.

  4. January 1983Boards

    Board 1983–1985

    President: Ματθαίος Αντ. Λεβαντίνος.

  5. January 1985Boards

    Board 1985–1987

    President: Γεώργιος Ι. Βιδάλης.

  6. 1986Works
  7. 1987Works

    Four marble fountains; the square at Lagkadakia

    The square was made as a car park.

  8. January 1987Boards

    Board 1987–1989

    President: Ματθαίος Αντ. Λεβαντίνος.

  9. January 1989Boards

    Board 1989–1991

    President: Σωτήριος Αντ. Φόνσος.

1990–99

  1. 1991Milestones

    The Leonteios pupils

    Since about 1991, every spring, third-year pupils of the Leonteios Lyceum of Nea Smyrni have visited Koumaros.

  2. 1991–93Works

    The village paved

    Streets and lanes were paved on the Association’s initiative, with the community. They were inaugurated on 5 August 1993.

  3. January 1991Boards

    Board 1991–1993

    President: Σωτήριος Μιχ. Βιδάλης.

  4. 1992–93Works

    The stone arches restored

    The stone arches were restored; one of them was widened and raised.

    Photos: Arches, steps and lanes →
  5. 1993–1999Calendars & publications

    “Ta Koumariana”

    The Association’s newspaper: 22 issues from 1993 to 1999.

  6. January 1993Boards

    Board 1993–1995

    President: Αντώνιος Στ. Βιδάλης.

  7. 1995Works

    A borehole for the village water

    On the Association’s initiative, with the local authorities.

  8. 1995–96Works

    Playground and basketball court

    For the Association’s 20th anniversary.

  9. January 1995Boards

    Board 1995–1997

    President: Αντώνιος Στ. Βιδάλης.

  10. 1997Boards

    Board 1997–1999

    President: Ιωάννης Γ. Βιδάλης.

  11. 1998Works
  12. 1999Calendars & publications

    “O Koumaros epikoinonei”

    The Association’s members’ directory.

  13. 1999–2000Works

    Lighting, paving and the clubhouse

    Lighting was extended in the village, on the hill and at the playground. A street on the north side was paved. The clubhouse got heating and a pergola and was repainted, as was the playground.

  14. 1999Trips

    3 trips

    Round Tinos · Mycenae – Nafplio · Mykonos

  15. January 1999Boards

    Board 1999–2001

    President: Ιωάννα Πρίντεζη.

2000–09

  1. 2000–2009Trips

    15 trips

    Mykonos · Mount Parnassus · Paros – Antiparos · Zachlorou, mountain Achaia · Zarouchla – Lake Tsivlou · Zachlorou – Kalavryta · Lake Plastiras · Mystras – the Mani · Mountain Corinthia – Lake Stymfalia · Cave of the Lakes – Planitero · Nafplio · Prague · Northern Italy · Mountain Arcadia · Steni, Evia

  2. January 2001Boards

    Board 2001–2003

    President: Ιάκωβος Ι. Βιδάλης.

  3. January 2003Boards

    Board 2003–2005

    President: Αντώνιος Μ. Βιδάλης.

  4. January 2005Boards

    Board 2005–2007

    President: Αντώνιος Σ. Φόνσος. Δύο αντιπρόεδροι (Α΄ ο Ματθαίος Βιδάλης, Β΄ ο Μάνθος Φυρίγος)· η Μαρίτα Τσακλάρη υπεύθυνη εκδηλώσεων.

  5. 2006Calendars & publications

    “O Koumaros epikoinonei”

    A new edition of the members’ directory.

  6. 2007Boards

    Board 2007–2009

    President: Μάνθος Ι. Φυρίγος.

  7. 2008Works

    The Evangelistria courtyard and a handrail to the church

    Pressed and supervised by the Association, the Municipality paved the steps and courtyard of the Evangelistria chapel. The Association put a handrail on the steps from the road to the church and built bollards on the road from the playground.

  8. 2009Works
  9. January 2009Boards

    Board 2009–2011

    President: Ιωάννης Μ. Βιδάλης. Το 2010, μετά την απώλεια του αντιπροέδρου Πέτρου Ξενόπουλου, στο ΔΣ μπήκε το αναπληρωματικό μέλος Βίκτωρας Παλαμάρης.

2010–19

  1. 2010Works

    The entrance slope paved

    After a letter from the Association, the Municipality of Exomvourgo paved the slope at the village entrance. That year the court and playground were also maintained with gifts from friends of the Association.

  2. 2010–2019Trips

    26 trips

    Kalamata – Koroni – Methoni – Pylos · Barcelona · Arta – Tzoumerka – Preveza · Kalavryta · Parnassus – Giona – Itea · Monemvasia – Mystras · Lake Plastiras – Metsovo – Meteora · Sounion – Lavreotiki · Volos – Pelion · Epidaurus – Spetses · Mycenae – Nafplio · Ioannina – Zagori · Evia: Prokopi – Limni · Pylos – Methoni – Diros caves · Karytaina – Ancient Olympia · Mountain Nafpaktia – Delphi – Arachova · Katerini – Vergina – Soumela – Edessa – Thessaloniki · Itea – Galaxidi – Krya (Livadeia) · Areopoli – Kalamata – Methoni – Pylos · Lake Plastiras – Trikala · Karpenisi · Steni, Evia · Volos – Pelion · Delphi – Arachova · Mystras – Monemvasia – Gytheio · Poros

  3. January 2011Boards

    Board 2011–2013

    President: Βαρβάρα Βιδάλη.

  4. 17 August 2012Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2012

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Stefanis.

  5. January 2013Boards

    Board 2013–2015

    President: Βαρβάρα Ν. Βιδάλη.

  6. 16 August 2013Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2013

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Stefanis.

  7. 2014Calendars & publications

    “O Koumaros epikoinonei”

    A new edition of the members’ directory.

  8. 2014–15Works

    The central arch

    In January 2014 a beam collapsed in the second arch over the main street. The Association alerted the Municipality and planning office, and the Falatados community took on the repair.

  9. 17 August 2014Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2014

    Music: Od. Tsoumpos, P. Varveri, P. Manesis, N. Stefanis, I. Gkyzis.

  10. 2014–2015Works

    Volunteer days at the guesthouse

    On 2 August 2014, and again on 2 August 2015, the board called on everyone who could help to a day of volunteer work at the Association’s property, the house that later became the guesthouse, to move its restoration forward. Both years many people took part, and a generous treat followed the work.

  11. 2015Calendars & publications
  12. January 2015Boards

    Board 2015–2017

    President: Αντώνιος Ζ. Δελατόλας.

  13. 16 August 2015Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2015

    Music: P. Manesis, Od. Tsoumpos.

  14. 2016Works

    Clubhouse roof sealed and painted; new basketball nets

    The clubhouse roof was sealed and the whole building painted. The basketball court got new nets.

  15. 19 August 2016Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2016

    Music: Od. Tsoumpos, N. Stefanis, P. Manesis.

  16. 2017Works

    The lower village entrance

    At the Association’s request, the Falatados community and the Municipality of Tinos resurfaced the worn road with concrete.

  17. January 2017Boards

    Board 2017–2019

    President: Βαρβάρα Ν. Βιδάλη.

  18. 19 August 2017Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2017

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Stefanis.

  19. 17 August 2018Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2018

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Stefanis.

  20. 2019Works

    The Evangelistria chapel repainted

    In mid-August, just before the 17 August feast, members of the Association repainted the Evangelistria chapel.

  21. 2011–2019Works

    The Association’s guesthouse

    In 2012 an abandoned house in the centre of the village passed to the Association. Through volunteer work days and many stages (roof, walls, plaster, electricity, plumbing, floors) it became a small guesthouse, let since 2019, which helps fund the Association’s work.

  22. January 2019Boards

    Board 2019–2023

    President: Αντώνης Σ. Βιδάλης. The 2021 election was postponed because of the pandemic; the board stayed on until the January 2023 election.

  23. 17 August 2019Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2019

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Stefanis.

2020–29

  1. 2020–2022Feasts & celebrations

    Years without the feast

    Because of the pandemic the island feast was not held from 2020 to 2022. It returned in 2023.

  2. 2020Calendars & publications

    The 2020 calendar

    Photographs by Spiros Kourkoulas.

  3. 2021Calendars & publications

    The 2021 calendar

    Most photographs by Spiros Kourkoulas.

  4. 2022Works

    The church bells repaired

    In June the two bells of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour were taken down for a necessary repair. The large one shows the Transfiguration in relief, twice, with plant decoration at the top and bottom and the inscription “Voice of the Lord. Foundry of Stavros D. Chrysos. In Syros. 1879”. The small one has no decoration but is much older: it bears the date 1766.

  5. 2022Calendars & publications

    The 2022 calendar

    March, July and August — photographs by Spiros Kourkoulas.

  6. 2023, 2024Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast in Athens

    In autumn 2023 and 2024, at the Eliza venue in Ilioupoli.

  7. 2023Works

    The village entrance and the Evangelistria steps

    In July the Evangelistria steps were repaired. In August volunteers laid new concrete on the worn road at the village entrance.

    Photos: Volunteer works 2023 →
  8. 2023–2025Trips

    9 trips

    Kalavryta – Patras – Nafpaktos · Karpenisi · Methana · Kastoria – Nymfaio – Prespes – Ioannina · Katerini, Mount Olympus and Edessa · Pavliani · Gytheio and the Mani · Korfos (Corinthia) – Nafplio · Meteora – Trikala – Lake Plastiras

  9. 2023Calendars & publications

    The 2023 calendar

    Photographs by Spiros Kourkoulas.

  10. January 2023Boards

    Board 2023–2025

    President: Ιωάννης Μ. Βιδάλης.

  11. 17 August 2023Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2023

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Skalkotos, Stefanis, Palamaris.

  12. 2024Works

    Volunteers in the lanes

    In May volunteers cleared the stone path down to the well. In August they whitewashed steps and walls, and the road to the village was cleared.

    Photos: A walk through the lanes →
  13. 2024Works

    The clubhouse renovated

    In April the Association’s clubhouse was renovated, with a new kitchen and counter.

  14. 2024Calendars & publications
  15. 17 August 2024Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2024

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Palamaris, Skalkotos, Stefanis.

  16. 2025Works

    Chalice and carpets for the church

    The Association gave a chalice to the village church, the Transfiguration of the Saviour, and saw to its carpets.

  17. 2025Works

    Wooden handrails on stone posts

    In May the board, together with members and volunteers of the Association, replaced the old wooden handrail with new wooden handrails on stone posts.

  18. 2025Works

    Path to the well and sewer repair

    At the Association’s request, the Municipality of Tinos and the Falatados community repaired the sewer and cleared the path to the well.

  19. 2025Works

    The village well restored

    New paving, whitewash and cleaning at the old village well. The work was finished in October by volunteers, with materials provided by the Municipality of Tinos.

  20. 2025Calendars & publications

    The 2025 calendar

    Photographs by Spiros Kourkoulas, spring 2024.

  21. January 2025Boards

    Board 2025–2027

    President: Λουκία Ν. Βιδάλη.

  22. 17 August 2025Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2025

    Music: Manesis, Tsoumpos, Stefanis, Skalkotos.

    Photos: Island feast 2025 →
  23. 2026Works

    The road to the Evangelistria chapel cleared

    In June the Association had the road to the Evangelistria chapel cleared. A volunteer also cleared the path to the well.

  24. 2026Calendars & publications

    The 2026 calendar

    “Looking back — 50 years, 1976–2026”. The anniversary calendar for the Association's fiftieth year, made of old photographs from our homes and archive. Thank you to everyone who shared them.

  25. 18 May 2026Milestones

    50 years

    Half a century since the statute was approved. This year’s calendar is an anniversary edition: “Looking back — 50 years, 1976–2026”.

    Photos: Old photographs →
  26. 5 August 2026Feasts & celebrations

    Feast of the Transfiguration 2026

    The feast of the village church and of the Association, with a family party on the eve.

  27. 17 August 2026Feasts & celebrations

    Island feast 2026

    The great feast of the Evangelistria chapel, with live island music.

  28. 20 August 2026Feasts & celebrations

    Διαδραστικό παιχνίδι για παιδιά

    Για παιδιά 4–12 ετών, με την Εμμανουέλα Σανταμούρη. Δωρεάν, με κέρασμα από τον Σύλλογο.

  29. 9 October 2026Milestones

    Welcome to the new Koumaros website

    A new, fast website in three languages, with events, photos, a map of the walking trails and the Association's calendar.

Do you remember something that is missing, or have photos from those years? Write to us.