1. The family’s origins and settlement
Family of Greek settlers in Taiganio (Taganrog) of Azov Sea with origins from Kefalonia distinguished for their activity in trade and the arts.
The members of Avgerinos family played a significant part in the economic and artistic life of Taganrog having a distinct presence in trade business as well as a significant activity in the domain of arts , mainly in music.
The founder of the family was Gerasimos Avgerinos who arrived in Taganrog from Kefalonia in 1806 and was registered as a merchants. He became the owner of several stores in the Square of the Commodities Stock Exchange. In 1807 he was assigned a tract of land in Malayia Tserepatsa gorge in order to set up a vodka distillery. His descendants were linked through powerful intermarriages to the most renowned Greek families of Taganrog. His daughter, Eleni, became the spouse of Elias Alifierakis while the other one, Sofia, was married to Markos Komninos –Varvakis.
Nikolaos Mihael Avgerinos (Taganrog 1848-189) was a composer and conductor. His son Konstantinos Nikolaou Avgerinos was a violinist in the symphonic orchestra of the city of Taganrog. The other son, Alexandros Nikolaou Avgerinos, was a businessman and ran the House Aleksandros Avgerinos and Co being one of the first grain exporters in the decade of 1850.
Nikolaos Kostantinos Avgerinos (Taganrog 1872-1948) was a famous violinist. He was the grandson of the composer Nikolaos Mihael Avgerinos. He studied in the Moscow Conservatory with Rahmaninov and Scriabin and run the Rostov conservatory.
2. Family’s representatives and their activity
The paternal house of Avgerinos’ family is situated at the crossroads of Greek Street (Grecheskaya) with Ukrainski street. It is a two-storeyed stone building of 1818. During the Krimean war it suffered damages when the allies bombarded the city (1855). It was rebuilt in an early classicist style with baroque elements. It had a triangular shape covering the façade of the two streets and a big balcony with view over a wonderful garden decorated with ancient statues. In the beginning of the 20th century the house was bought by the Greek shipowner F.K. Svoronos. Along the civil war it became the seat of the general Denikin counter-revolutionary forces (1919).