Agiokampos Larissas

The old name of Sotiritsa is "Kapista"; this name indicates the existence of a church in the area and as we can judge from the name the church must have been dedicated to Jesus Christ the Savior (sotiras Christos). There is also another small meta-byzantine church further north on the flat part of Ossa Mountain that is dedicated to Christ Savior. Nevertheless, several findings in the area show that there must have been a post Byzantine monastery.

Sklithro was founded during the Turkish occupation at the same mountainous position that is today. This position helped the residents to avoid the pirates' attacks. According to a legend, at this same position there was an age-long tree called "sklithro"; the village was named after this tree. The Turkish name of the village was Kestene-kioi which translates to chestnut village. The name refers to the chestnut trees that were cultivated there during the Turkish occupation.

The name of this village refers to the place that the monks lived alone away from public view. According to historic research, the ancient Melivia was situated close to Polidendri or Skiti; the ancient Melivia was the metropolis of Filoktitis and very popular for the deep red (Purpura Meliboiae) dyeing of drapery. The ancient city is placed in the south firth of the Bourboulithra stream. In the northwest of Skiti there are the ruins of a fort which most probably belonged to the Byzantine city of Kentavroupoli, which controlled the road to Agia and Agiokampos. Kentavroupoli was the entrenchment in Agiokampos where the inhabitants of the rest of the coastal cities gathered during the first barbaric foray (3rd - 4th c. A.D) and later during the Slav and Saracen foray (6th c.). About 1 kilometer Northwest of Skiti, (on the new road that leads from Larissa to Agiokampos) is the monastery of mount Kelli, called Sts. Anargiroi. The monastery includes two "chambers" for the monks to leave in. The mural was created between 12th and 16th century.

The name "Melivia" is the one mostly related to history since the oldest reference to the dorp is found in the latest Byzantine era. The former name was "Thanatou" (immortal) because of the hardships the residents underwent throughout the centuries. It was named Melivia in 1920.