Zifias

About 8 kilometers away from the town of Chios, built in a hill, further down from Aghios Georgios Sikousis, is the small village Zifias. The people who lived in Vassileoniko used to call it Zofia, those who lived in Aghios Georgios called it Joufia. It was also mentioned as Zofades or Zifia. Some people believe the name comes from the last name Zizifias and some others from the "zuffe", the Arabian "zuffore". 

It is an old village, even older than that of Aghios Georgios, as there exists written testimonies that the village Aghios Georgios was built by the citizens of Zifia. At the border of the two villages the Monastery of Aghios Georgios Sikousis was built, which was then called "old Monastery". There the three Aghioi Pateres (=Holly Fathers) who led a hermit's life lived. Later they built the monastery of Aghioi Pateres that has their name, and with the financial help of the Byzantine Emperor Konstantinos Monomachos they built the famous monastery of Nea Moni, which is a very important religious monument of Christians. 

Walking through the narrow paths of Zifias, the way that the houses are built so close to each other is very impressing. They are houses built in bad times, when the island suffered from conquerors and the citizens had to jump from roof to roof many times, to escape. 

Still, on every old house that remains, you can read the date of its construction, as it is written on plaques of marble, usually on the wall above the main entrance. A typical one is found above the wooden door of the old municipal school (1869).