The Peloponnese village with the most century-old trees of the Greek Revolution - Sellas
The mountain village of Sellas, 19 km from Kyparissia, is the village with the most century-old trees of the Greek Revolution in the entire Peloponnese. As part of the anniversary program "1821-2021, Network of the Century-old Trees of the Greek Revolution", which is under the auspices of the "Greece 2021" Commission, the Messinian Institute of Culture launched the anniversary events marking the 71 century-old freedom trees of the Peloponnese events of the Greek Revolution. Of the total 71 trees-living historical monuments- that will be marked with the memorable metal anniversary logo (which will not affect their physical and aesthetic condition), seven trees, five oaks and two plane trees are located in the village of Sellas of the Municipality of Trifyllia. The design of the anniversary mark was created non-profit by the renowned expatriate painter Joanna Kordos, who lives in Melbourne and comes from Messinia. According to the creator, the logo is inspired by the leading figure of the Greek Revolution, Theodoros Kolokotronis. The olive branches surrounding the artistic depiction of the helmet of the Elder of Moria symbolize peace and democracy.
The anniversary event for the marking of the aforementioned Century-old Trees of the Greek Revolution took place on September 14th and 15th, 2021, a day of celebration for the Monastery of Agios Nikitas.
The research of written sources also played an essential role in selecting the 71 century-old trees. From these sources, the findings of the French Scientific Mission of Moria, which came to Greece in 1829, stand out. French scientists (archaeologists, biologists and historians) studied the biodiversity of the Peloponnese. In fact, they were particularly impressed by the oaks as they considered that they were used as timber for shipbuilding.
The seven century-old trees of the village of Sellas are eyewitnesses of the past and are located in the following places:
1) In the courtyard of the Monastery of Agios Nikitas, there are two century-old oaks that date back to about 400 years. Here, the Sellas fighters knelt under the two oaks and prayed to the village of Agios Nikitas's patron saint to help them face the Turkish troops of Ibrahim that were coming after the burning of the village of Aetos Trifyllia, towards Maniaki.
2) In the battle in the Monastery of Agios Nikitas on the day of his ceremony (15/09/1827), the Sellas warriors scattered and dismembered the Turks. At that time, a part of the Turkish army was concentrated in the plane tree of "Kampilia", which dates back to about 700 years. The plane tree is located in the "Kerkiza" location, just 500 meters from the battle point.
3) The rest of the army gathered at the plane tree called "Tsopani", in the "Symposi" location, which dates back to about 500 years and is 1800 meters from the Monastery of Agios Nikitas. This battle is historically important because the Sellas warriors significantly delayed the Turks. As a result, the men of the ten villages of Tripili were given time to find shelter in Lykoudesi, defeat the Turks and release the hostages and the Aetos sheep and goats.
4) At a distance of 80 meters from the cemetery of Sellas, three oaks date back to about 250 years. During the Greek Revolution of 1821, the leader of the village, Priest Dionysis, gathered the Sellas fighters under these oaks to give them instructions before starting their way to the battlefields (Dervenakia, Tripolitsa, Argos, Maniaki etc.)