"War did not frighten him,
but neither did death.
Like a lion he fought evil.
An angel was Theostalt
with a fiery sword.
And he set his ambushes
on the steppes and mountain tops
for the sake of only one lady,
of Leftheria".
Borrowing the lyrics of the late teacher, former Minister of Education and EOKA fighter Claire Angelidou from her poem "Markos Dragon (Two Despoines)" and with feelings of respect and national pride, we have gathered here today at the premises of the Confederation of Cyprus Workers (CEC) to honour the memory of the "Lycurgus" of EOKA. To also award the prizes of honour to the first place winners of the race organised in honour of the chief fighter of the freedom of Cyprus, Markos Drakos.
First of all, I would like to thank the Workers' Youth Department of the Lefkosia - Kyrenia SEK and the Cyprus Workers' Pancyprian Athletic Union (PASEK) for the very honourable invitation to be here today and to greet the event. I extend my warmest congratulations to the organisers, to the winners, as well as to all participants without exception.
In this case, success does not lie solely in distinction, but in participation and in making every possible effort.
Similar actions and events promote the national and sporting ideal, fair play and healthy competition. They strengthen the active participation of citizens, enable them to improve their physical health and sporting abilities, while through the process of achieving the goal they contribute to improving one's self-confidence and psychology.
All these elements, among others, contribute to strengthening social ties and keep alive the hope for a better and promising future for our country.
A better tomorrow, as the FCC has been promoting continuously, with zeal, determination and consistency since its foundation and as Markos Drakos himself, as an elected member of the General Council of the FCC, envisioned.
Greeks,
It is a great honour and privilege to refer to heroes. But it is also extremely difficult to put into words what the mind is unable to grasp about their heroic deeds and to pay the tribute that is due to those who, through their service and sacrifice, have become symbols of militancy, unfailing heroism and self-denial. One such great hero is Marcos Drakos. History rightly places him in the pantheon of the most heroic figures of our country. Among the first of the first. His actions and his contribution are a point of reference and an object of instruction for the younger generations of the Greeks of Cyprus.
And it is for this reason that the organization of today's event is not only a due recognition and honor towards him, but at the same time contributes to the forging of the attitude and conscience of all of us.
Pericles' famous epitaph to the Athenians to honour the first dead of the Peloponnesian War, as quoted by Thucydides, serves as a fiery hymn to democracy, freedom and dignity, but also as a national salute.
For only those who enjoy their freedom can be truly noble, i.e. happy, according to the great politician and founder of the "Athenian Republic", Pericles.
And only the bold, the brave, the valiant, the spirited can be free.This is true,
Pericles adds,
because "for the brave the humiliation of cowardice is worse than brave and unexpected death."
These virtues were also emitted by Marcus Draco. Bravery, valor, bravery. He was carved with the yeast of the heroes of Hellenism, the heroes who conscientiously, with bravery and manliness, chose the path of service to the homeland, of justice and dignity. He was resolute and philanthropic. For the Organization he was a prominent figure at the top of the hierarchy and a courageous fighter in the struggle to throw off the colonial yoke.
That is why, moreover, during the night mission of 31 March 1955, he was chosen to lead the group called "Lightning", which, by blowing up the Cyprus Radio Service, spread in a deafening manner the slogan of the beginning of that wonderful struggle and the powerful will of the Cypriots for freedom and self-determination.
And later, when on the orders of "Digeni" he went up to the mountains of Kykkos, and formed the notorious guerrilla group "Uranos", he masterfully led many operations, until his heroic death on the field of honour, on 18 January 1957, in the "Sklinitzia" area of Evrychos.
The struggle of the Cypriots to throw off the British yoke was the unquestionable and non-negotiable eternal desire with which the entire people, led by the fiery youth, identified themselves.
The FCC and its members were also identified with this wonderful struggle.
The FCC and its members identified themselves with this wonderful struggle. It is no coincidence that the entire leadership and a very large number of members of the Confederation participated in the struggle, while 40 of the heroes of EOKA, with Markos Drakos as a leading figure, were members of the FCC, offering all their strength for the fulfilment of the national goal.
Friends,
Today, in our turn, we must measure the magnitude of the contribution of our heroes and reflect on our own responsibility towards our homeland.
It is time to formulate the conditions that will forge and strengthen hope and faith, because as the contemplative hero Kyriakos Matsis wrote, "above every weakness stands the strength of faith."
It is precisely this faith that is a prerequisite for awareness of who we are - a prerequisite for self-consciousness. And self-consciousness is a precondition of freedom. So we ought to have faith in our powers, faith in the justice of our struggle, faith in our desire for freedom.
And if we seek the meaning of the EOKA struggle, it is contained in the word freedom. This is what the small Cyprus of the biopolis, of the farmers, the shepherds and the amute students achieved in the face of a powerful empire.
And this is what we are called upon to continue. We have a sacred obligation to our history, to all those who sacrificed to defend our homeland, and to the future generations of this land. We must continue to believe and fight with all our strength until the final vindication.
Especially today, when occupying Turkey is making a crescendo of irrational and provocative actions and statements that directly threaten Greater Hellenism and lead the regional security and peace of the eastern Mediterranean to dangerous paths, universal unity and unity are required.
Today's event is not only a sign of respect, honour and gratitude to Markos Drakos. It is at the same time a call for individual responsibility. For the continuation of the struggle of Cypriot Hellenism for liberation and peace. This future of security and peace is what our country and future generations deserve.
This future will be the best tribute to Markos Drakos, whose example will be a beacon for all time.
(ΕΠ)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
