OVCHARENI (VOSHTARENI)

The village of Ovchareni was forcibly made to change its name by the Greek government to Meliti. The village is about 17 kilometres northeast of Lerin. It is on the ridge of the Kajmakchalan mountain under the branch Piratsa at 21 degrees 35 minutes longitude and 40 degrees 50 minutes latitude, and 680 metres above sea level. It has an area of about 34 square kilometres.

The village borders to the northeast with the villages Jurukovo and Krushoradi, to the east with the mountain Golem Vrv, to the south Zabrdeni and to the west with the villages Vrbeni and Neokazi. The river Stara Reka runs through the village from which the villagers irrigate the plains.

Before the start of the Greek Civil War, about 1,770 residents lived in the village of whom 1,530 were of Macedonian background and 240 were Greek (Pontians-Madzhiri). The residents were employed in agriculture, raising livestock and other important activities.

During the Greek Civil War, the residents actively took part in the organization of NOF and the armed forces of DAG with about 70 active fighters. 29 gave their lives.

They were:

1. Adzhieva Mara
2. Ashlakov Goche
3. Balev Gjorgi Lazo
4. Banichotov Brajan Trajko
5. Brajanov Brajan Trajko
6. Brajanov Trajko Todor - father and son
7. Gurunovski Dimitar Mire
8. Delikotev Risto Kocho
9. Javramov Risto
10. Japrakov Lambo Dimitar
11. Kalajdzhiev Gjorgi
12. Karagirov Tsane
13. Kacharov Trajko Spase
14. Kacharov Trajko Petre - brothers
15. Kotsmanov Tane Done
16. Mariovski Stojan Kole
17. Mitrovolchev Vane Petse
18. Mihalidi Dimitar Toto
19. Mihalidi Dimitar Kocho - brothers
20. Petkomomchev Dine Jane
21. Prdlov Ruse Kocho
22. Pupkov Lambo
23. Sovichanov Petse
24. Trtorov Risto Vangel
25. Trtorov Iljo Risto
26. Trtorov Tanas Tashe
27. Turnikidis Pavlo Mihail
28. Chochkov Kole Kale (Mihali)
29. Chochkov Lazo Natse

The details of the above were completed by Trtorov Alekso Taki from Ovchareni.

Of all of the fallen fighters who gave their young lives there were 28 men and 1 woman heroine.

After the Greek Civil War and emigration from the village and forced migration to the village, the number of residents fell significantly. The 1991 census in Greece recorded 1,562 residents in the village.

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