Refugees from Megalo Zaloufi in Eastern Thrace

The settlement of Megalo Zaloufi is located 35 kilometers southeast of Adrianople (Edirne) and 15 kilometers from Makra Gefyra (Uzunköprü). In the early 20th century, it was administratively part of the Vilayet and Sanjak of Adrianople, while ecclesiastically it belonged to the Metropolis of Didymoteicho. The residents of Zaloufi owned many commercial shops, and the village also had two watermills, two windmills, and a diesel-powered flour mill. The village operated two primary schools, one for boys and one for girls, as well as a church dedicated to Aghios Ioannis. In October 1912, Zaloufi was occupied by Bulgarian troops, and in July 1913 it was recaptured by the Turks, who carried out looting. Many of the villagers were forced to flee, seeking refuge in Mikro Monastiri, Tsekourki, Kavakli, and also in Didymoteicho, Soufli, Alexandroupoli, and the regions of Drama, Serres, Sidirokastro, and Thessaloniki. Only 250 families remained in Zaloufi. With the establishment of Greek administration in 1920, the inhabitants returned. Ultimately, following the population exchange of 1923, the residents settled in Dikaia, Kavyli, Sakko, Kleiso, and Neo Cheimonio in northern Evros, as well as in Macedonia, particularly in the villages of Serres such as Neochori, Paralimnio, Nea Petra, and Tholos, and also in Kalochori, Thessaloniki. Pictured: Sisters Triantafyllia and Foula Mitolidou in traditional costumes (tsoukmania) from Megalo Zaloufi of Eastern Thrace. ©Folklore Association of Kalochorians of Eastern and Northern Thrace “Kaskarka”.