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The ruins of a castle
in the village of Daphni is of extreme historical interest. The
very tall still preserved tower, is Known to the natives as “The Tower
of Maro”.
The Old Code of the Holy Cathedral of Saints Theodoroi of Serres, where the holy vessels and the sacerdotal vestments are registered, also includes the following mention: “an icon froms Mrs Maro with Holy Wood”. It appears that she had donated a sliding icon of the Holy Virgin with Holy Wood. Although Maro was living quite far from the Sultan’s court, she still had an influence on the general politics of Turkey. This provoked the envy of the Turks officers who sent their men to Daphni in order to assassinate her. She however managed to leave in due time and to hide in a neighboring village where she died soon thereafter. |
Maro was the spouse
of Murad II and the daughter of the Serb sovereign George Brakovic.
From the side of her mother, she was the grand daughter of Mathaeus Kadakouzenos
and the niece of Eleni, spouse of David Komnenos, the last emperor
of Trapezus (Trabzon). After the death of Murad II, Maro inherited the
town city of Daphne, the ancient Ezebai, where she established and
lived enjoying honours and power.