Twenty-four kilometers from Karditsa and at an altitude of 720 meters is the Amarantos village of Agrafio (formerly Mastrogianni). In its central square, a monument dominates - a symbol for the Jewish history of the region. A monument different from the others because it is not dedicated to the memory of the Jews who perished, but to the memory of their saviors, the residents of the village who, during the German Occupation, gave safe shelter to 62 people, the entire Jewish community of Karditsa, together with another 20 people from other communities: 8 Jews from Thessaloniki, 5 from Trikala and 7 from Volos. The Gratitude and Recognition Monument - engraved with the words "Whoever saves a life saves the whole world" - was placed in the square of Amaranto in 2017, following the initiative and sponsorship of Viktoros Venouzios, whose family was saved by hiding in the village.
This year, for the first time, the Union of Agrafiot Villages of Karditsa and Evrytania, as part of its work to highlight the history of the region, organized an event dedicated to the rescue of the Jewish community of Karditsa and the Jews who hid there in 1943 - 1944. The event took place on Sunday, 11.8.2024, in Amarantos, and began with greetings from the local authorities. The historian Mr. Vasilis Ritzaleos, professor at Democritus University, spoke about the history of the rescue of the Jews, while on behalf of Judaism, the President of the Administrative Committee of the Karditsa Jewish Community, Mr. Makis Kapetas, and on behalf of the Volos Jewish Community, Mr. Victor Sakkis, who emphasized the gratitude of the Jewish community to the hospitable residents of Amarantos and the importance of their heroic attitude, which should be presented as an example of humanity and solidarity. The rich cultural program also included the laying of wreaths at the Monument to the Fallen Agrafiotes and concluded with traditional Agrafio and Sarakatsani dances.