{{Infobox Greek Dimos |name = Tsepelovo |name_local = Τσεπέλοβο |type = community |periph = Epirus |periphunit = Ioannina |municipality = Zagori |municunit = Tymfi |population = 220 |population_as_of = 2021 |area = |elevation = 1080 |coordinates = {{coord|39|54|N|20|49|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |postal_code = |area_code = |licence = ΙΝ |website = |image_skyline = Τσεπελοβο 058.jpg |caption_skyline = Tsepelovo }} '''Tsepelovo''' ({{langx|el|Τσεπέλοβο}}, {{langx|rup|Ţipelovo}})<ref name="Kahl106"/> is a village in the Zagori region (Epirus region). It stands at a height of 1,200 meters in a panoramic location on the mountain range of Tymfi. It is the biggest of the 45 villages of Zagori and it was the seat of Tymfi municipality. It lies in the middle of the Vikos–Aoös National Park, 48&nbsp;km from Ioannina.

== Name == The scholar Ioannis Lambridis wrote that the etymology of the placename referred to 'a village under the sword and not belonging to the sword' and said others described it as meaning 'a place full of grass' in Turkish.<ref name="Oikonomou291"/> The linguist Max Vasmer derived it from a proper name of Turko-Tatar origin and the Slavic suffix -''ovo''.<ref name="Oikonomou291"/> The linguist Kostas Oikonomou stated the toponym stems from a Greek-origin surname ''Tsepelis'' and the Slavic suffix -''ovo'', which became productive in Greek and formed the placename.<ref name="Oikonomou291"/>

The surname ''Tsepelis'' comes from the Turkish ''gepel'', meaning 'dirty, filthy or bad, unpleasant', a word that also appears in South Slavic toponyms, although it is absent in South Slavic personal names.<ref name="Oikonomou291"/> The form present in Western Slavic personal names is of a different etymological origin.<ref name="Oikonomou291"/>

== History == Tsepelovo was founded in the 16th century. In the Ottoman period, the village was an administrative centre of the Zagori region.<ref name="Oikonomou291">{{cite book|last=Oikonomou|first=Kostas E.|year=2002|title=Τα οικωνύμια του νομού Ιωαννίνων. Γλωσσολογική εξέταση|url=https://olympias.lib.uoi.gr/jspui/bitstream/123456789/25635/1/949.53%20%CE%9F%CE%99%CE%9A.pdf|trans-title=The oikonyms of the prefecture of Ioannina. A linguistic examination|language=el|publisher=Nomarchiaki Aftodioikisi Ioanninon|page=291|isbn=9789608316010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125035650/https://olympias.lib.uoi.gr/jspui/bitstream/123456789/25635/1/949.53%20%CE%9F%CE%99%CE%9A.pdf|archive-date=25 November 2024}}</ref> It remained relatively prosperous until the end of Ottoman rule (1912). The village was a local trade center, and remains so especially because of the trade of timber. In 1820, before the outbreak of the Greek Revolution and the defeat of Ali Pasha, the poet Ioannis Vilaras and the famous Epirote scholar Athanasios Psalidas came from Ioannina to prepare the people for the great national revolt. Psalidas also taught for 2 years at the local school.

The traditional stone architecture is visible in every building, in the village paths, dwellings and churches. The historical church of Agios Nikolaos was renovated at 1753 and decorated with unique wall paintings by exceptional painters of nearby Kapesovo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nomioan.gr/\docs\Tourism\presentation%20En.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.nomioan.gr |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128060635/http://www.nomioan.gr/\docs\Tourism\presentation%20En.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Two kilometers out of the village, in the Vikaki (Greek: small Vikos) canyon lies the monastery of St John Rogovou. It was founded at 1028 by the sister of Emperor Romanos III Argyros of Byzantium. It was rebuilt in 1749, possibly after it was damaged by fire, and the frescoes were painted by iconographers from Kapesovo. Neofytos Doukas wanted to establish there the Higher School of Epirus ({{langx|el|Ανωτέρα Σχολή}}), a high level educational institution. Because of the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence and the military conflicts the idea could not become reality.

The people of Tsepelovo used to emigrate within Greece to Macedonia, Thrace and to areas of southern Greece. Outside Greece, they mainly migrated to Asia Minor and the U.S.<ref>A.Kathareios (Inspector of the 1st educational region of Epirus) ''Report of Inspection of Zagorohoria in 1913''</ref>

Today, the village is a popular destination for tourists during the winter season.

==Demographics== {{Historical populations |align = none |1991|304 |2001<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archivedate=2015-09-21 }}</ref>|348 |2011<ref name=census11>{{cite web | url = http://www.statistics.gr/documents/20181/1210503/resident_population_census2011rev.xls | title = Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός | publisher = Hellenic Statistical Authority | language = el }}</ref>|261 |2021<ref name="census21"/>|220 }}

The village is inhabited by Greeks, an Aromanian community along with Arvanite families who both have assimilated into the local population, and some Sarakatsani who settled in the village during the early 20th century.<ref name="Kahl106">{{harvnb|Kahl|1999|p=106}}: "Tsepélovo, Ţipelovo: griechische Zagorisier, aromunischer Bevölkerungsanteil in übriger Bevölkerung aufgegangen, zugewanderte arvanitische Familien in übriger Bevölkerung aufgegangen, einige Familien Sarakatschanen seit Anfang des 20. Jh.s im Ort seßhaft"</ref> The arrival of Orthodox Albanians (locally called "Arvanites") occurred in the modern period and originate from the wider Souli area in central Greek Epirus, while the Sarakatsani are Greek speakers.<ref name="Kahl113114">{{cite journal|last=Kahl|first=Thede|year=1999|title=Die Zagóri-Dörfer in Nordgriechenland: Wirtschaftliche Einheit – ethnische Vielfalt|url=https://www.academia.edu/34296574|trans-title=The Zagóri Villages in Northern Greece: Economic Unity – Ethnic Diversity|journal=Ethnologia Balkanica|language=de|volume=3|pages=113–114}}</ref>

==Nearest places==

*Skamneli, east (distance: 4&nbsp;km) *Vradeto, west (distance: 7&nbsp;km)

==Notable people== *Konstantinos Rados, merchant and member of Filiki Eteria. *Marika Kotopouli (1887–1954), actress.

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Τσεπελοβο 07.jpg|Tsouflion Pharmacy and the grave of I. Villaras in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 18.jpg|Partial view of the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 28.jpg|Stone alley in the village File:Τσεπελοβο 030.jpg|Traditional grocery in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 33.jpg|Partial view of the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 058.jpg|Partial view of the square in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 103.jpg|Tradiotinal house in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 108.jpg|Chimney of a traditional house in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 115.jpg|Partial view of the traditional houses in the village. </gallery>

==See also== *Zagori *Vikos–Aoös National Park

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.tsepelovo.eu Official website of Tsepelovo] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061128060635/http://www.nomioan.gr/\docs\Tourism\presentation%20En.pdf Prefecture of Ioannina. Tourist department of Greece]

{{Villages of Zagori}} {{Zagori div}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Ioannina (regional unit) Category:Zagori Category:Aromanian settlements in Greece