FOURNA, Greece (AP) — Nestled in the fir-covered mountains of central Greece, Fourna is a small village with a population of just 180 residents. This quaint location, a four-hour drive from Athens, is struggling to maintain its existence but is fighting to remain on the map.
The village is characterized by its near-total silence, which is occasionally interrupted by the sound of church bells and the howling of dogs. The elderly residents often reflect on the future of Fourna, gauging it by the number of children attending the local primary school. Unfortunately, last year, that number stood at a mere two.
However, hope has arrived through an unexpected alliance between a passionate schoolteacher and a devoted priest. The local schoolteacher, who is also a Ph.D. student researching artificial intelligence, and Rev. Constantine Dousikos, a sturdy Orthodox priest with a background in lumber machinery, have joined forces to reinvigorate the village. The Rev. Dousikos was ordained shortly after turning 50 and has been instrumental in this effort.
Together, they launched an initiative driven by desperation to attract new families to Fourna. They began offering financial incentives funded through private donations and municipal programs. Their efforts are indeed paying off: two families have recently moved to Fourna, five more are on a waitlist for 2025, and numerous others have expressed interest. Currently, eight children are enrolled in elementary classes.
Dousikos, who seamlessly transitions from driving his pickup truck to leading services at the church altar, shared that their initiative was inspired by directives from the Orthodox Church hierarchy, which encourages clergy to advocate for family unity. “We simply did what was necessary: to help the local communities preserve their village,” he explained, while standing in the Church of Transfiguration of Christ located in the village square. “Village life isn’t for everyone, though. It requires a knack for manual labor.”
The demographic situation in Greece is alarming, with the younger generations dwindling as the nation faces one of the oldest populations globally—23% of residents aged 65 or older, according to 2023 World Bank data. The Evrytania region, where Fourna is located, has an average age of 56.2, ranking among the highest in the European Union. Moreover, low birth rates and rural exodus are significant issues that have plagued the area.
As the only elementary schoolteacher and co-founder of the “New Life in the Village” campaign, Panagiota Diamanti recognizes the urgency of this initiative. “If we don’t attract children, the teacher may be reassigned, and the school will close,” she noted. “A closed school is unlikely to reopen, and we must take decisive action.”
This issue is not isolated to Fourna, as more than 200 publicly funded schools and kindergartens across Greece were shut down this school year for lack of enrollment, particularly affecting remote areas with limited populations due to the country’s mountainous regions and numerous small islands.
Diamanti has also received inquiries from other local authorities interested in replicating Fourna’s model. After classes, she plays dodgeball with her eight students in a schoolyard that boasts stunning views of Evrytania’s rugged mountains. The enthusiasm of her students is palpable; they have formed a local celebrity status, celebrating their birthdays in the village square.
Vassiliki Emmanouil is one of the recent newcomers to Fourna, relocating with her six children—five sons and a daughter. She shares that the warmth and kindness she has felt since arriving have been overwhelming. Local inhabitants leave food at her door and are encouraging her to revive an old bakery when her husband returns from work in Germany. “I’ve been here for nearly three months, and I would be ungrateful to say I’ve struggled,” Emmanouil emphasized. “The local priest and his wife treat me as part of their family. The entire village supports us, offering both tangible assistance and emotional comfort.”
Greece’s demographic troubles have deep roots, with annual deaths surpassing births since 2010, coinciding with a severe economic crisis, and the situation has only worsened since, hitting almost double the birth rate by 2022. In response, the conservative government established a ministry focused on family and social cohesion and allocated increased family benefits for the 2025 budget. They have also sought partnership with the Orthodox Church to address these pressing challenges.
The Holy Synod of the church released a circular last year, read at all Orthodox services in Greece, indicating that mere financial incentives will not suffice to counteract the country’s demographic issues. “Experts have proposed various strategies to tackle the challenge, underscoring its far-reaching social, economic, and geopolitical implications,” the document stated.
Furthermore, the Church highlights the importance of spiritual family life, advocating for unity, love, and family creation as essential to fulfilling a divine purpose. “Children,” they assert, “are gifts from God, bringing meaning to life and symbolizing hope and renewal.” In Fourna, church attendance is closely tied to the village’s survival, with two dozen churches in the area remaining largely empty for most of the year, yet well-maintained and active during significant religious observances.
Residents have been pleasantly surprised by the influx of families, which revitalizes the mostly quiet village streets. Local business owner Giorgos Vassilikoudis expressed his astonishment at the new arrivals; “Initially, I didn’t think families would consider moving here. It’s remote and very small, lacking in amenities.” He continued, “But to my surprise, they came and seem happy. This is wonderful for our village and for local businesses, and it offers a promising example for other villages.”
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AP journalist Lefteris Pitarakis contributed to this report.
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