Kratero (Rakovon)

The village of Kratero is located 18 km from Florina and is built at an altitude of 1,050 m.
Kratero was founded in the 18th century ( 1770 ). Its inhabitants came from a region of Albania ( Mat ) and spoke the Arvanitic language.
Originally the village was called Rakovo. This name, according to one version, comes from the fact that in the area of the community because of the many waters and springs there were abundant crayfish and in the local dialect the crayfish is called Rakoi. Rakovo is the village with many crayfish.
In 1926 the village was renamed Kratero, in honour of Alexander the Great’s general Kratero.
In general, the inhabitants of Krateros, wherever they were either at home or abroad, helped Greece in all critical moments of danger.
Kratero, a legendary village, was burned and rebuilt three times.
-In 1903 it was burnt down by the Turks, completely.
-In 1907 it was burnt down by the Bulgarian komitajis, completely.
-And in 1947 it was burned down for the third time by the rebels, only to be rebuilt in 1950 at the expense of the state. Farming is the main source of income for the inhabitants.
The landscape is of particular natural beauty and combines beautiful natural surroundings with traditional architectural elements. The houses are very interesting: stone-built, two-story houses with hagiati, brick-built ground floors.
There are many churches in Kratero. The church of St. Nicholas was built in 1843 and inside it there are hagiographies of the Snowdite painter Ioannis (1884 – 1885). The other churches are Ag. Paraskevi , Ag. Trinity , Metamorphosis of the Saviour, Ag. Kyriaki and Ag.
Also, within the settlement there are bridges and 7 watermills, of which four are in operation.
On 2/5 of St. Athanasius the village celebrates. On 7/7 various music and dance events take place in the village.

TEXT SOURCES: https://florina-history.blogspot.com/2010/06/h.html
Florina tourist guide (TGPF) – 2003
TEXT REVIEW: Christos Tegos
SOURCES OF PHOTOS: 1 Archive of the Municipality of Florina
2 – 22 Christos Tegos