Argyroupoli (Rethymno)

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Argyroupoli is a village in the municipality of Lappa, Rethymno Prefecture, Crete, Greece, population 402 (2001 census), altitude 260m. It was previously known as Lappa or Lampa, Stimboli, and Polis.

Name

It is the site of the ancient city (polis) of Lappa, which became known in the Middle Ages as Stimpolis 'In the City', later simply Polis. It took its modern name 'Silver City' in the 19th century. The name of the municipality of Lappa of which it is a part is a revival of the ancient name for the city.

History

Lappa was probably a colony of Tarrha.

It was taken by storm and almost entirely destroyed by the Romans. The emperor Octavian Augustus restored it and in consideration of the aid rendered him in his struggle with Marcus Antonius, he bestowed on the citizens their freedom, and with it the right of coinage.

Ecclesiastical history

Lappa or Lampa is an episcopal see, suffragan of Gortyn.

The episcopal see is mentioned in the Notitiae episcopatuum as late as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

It was re-established by the Orthodox church about the end of the nineteenth century; the bishop resides in the monastery of Preveli.

Lequien (Oriens Christianus, II, 268) mentions from its bishops:

• Petrus, who attended the Council of Ephesus, 431;
• Deneltius, at the Council of Chalcedon, 451;
• Prosdocius, in 458;
• John, who appealed to Rome against his metropolitan Paul, and attended the Council of Constantinople, 667;
• Epiphanius at the Second Council of Nicaea, 786.

It remains a titular see of the Catholic Church.

Notes

External references

• Unofficial Web site of Argyroupolis

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Last updated on Sunday January 13, 2008 at 20:08:41 PST (GMT -0800)
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