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It is with great emotion and awe that I am with you today to celebrate the annual memorial service of the hero Heracles Christofis Agathokleous who fell during the Turkish invasion of 1974.
Memory brings us back to that summer of misfortune and suffering. Forty-nine years later, with thousands of refugees in their own country, we are still counting wounds, holding funerals for the missing and experiencing the consequences of the occupation. Our churches remain mute and inoperative, our land is overrun by settlers, the graves of our ancestors have been desecrated, our cultural heritage is in danger of total destruction and the sacrifices of our brave men and women remain unjustified.
However, the supreme obligation of all of us is to keep alive the memory of their sacrifice and to pay tribute to those who fought or fell heroically in obedience to the command of the homeland in the critical hour. We do not forget that the heroic children of our homeland fought and gave what was most precious to them, their lives, defending our land, our sacred and holy places, continuing a centuries-old tradition.
We bow to their sacrifice and express our appreciation and respect to the families and especially to the parents, who raised children with principles and ideals that beautify life and death, when it comes to the freedom of the homeland.
Heracles was born in Ayios Tychonas, Limassol District, on October 31, 1956.
Heracles was born in Ayios Tychonas, Limassol District, on October 31, 1956. He was the first of three children of Christofi and Claudia Agathokleous. He attended the Primary School of his community and later attended the Limassol Technical School, where he pursued the engineering branch. He was a footballer in his village team, Amathous Ayios Tychonas. Everyone remembers him as an honest lad with morals, principles and ideals.
At the age of 17 he joined the National Guard, the KEN Geroskipou. After his training, he was assigned, on 9 April 1974, to the company of the 286 Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
When the Turkish invasion took place on 20 July 1974, Hercules' battalion was ordered to go to Kyrenia. Despite the village of Kontenos, the battalion had come under heavy air attack by the Turks. Although there were casualties, the battalion continued its march towards Kyrenia to repel the Turkish invader. When a truce was called, the Hercules battalion was ordered to return to Latsia to regroup. There his father visited him for the last time.
The traces of Heracles were lost on 15 August 1974 in the area between the villages of Kontenou and Skyloura when the platoon, in an attempt to retreat and break the Turkish encirclement - with no other choice - climbed the hill "Lapatsa" in order to head for the heights of Agia Marina in order to be rescued.
The bones of the hero Hercules, who was missing until recently, were identified by DNA in the summer of 2017. His funeral took place on 17 September 2017 in Agios Tychonas.
With the same strength of soul and the same determination that the unfortunate men of the Hercules platoon, who were under the command of Lieutenant Joseph Sergides, fought with, we too must stand up to the national challenges we face, counting our own responsibilities and obligations.
The current period is particularly critical and our responsibility is to restore historical continuity in our land, so as to ensure the future of Cypriot Hellenism in our homeland.
Our immutable goal remains the resolution of the Cyprus problem, which will lead to the reunification of our island. The President of the Republic of Cyprus is working on the prospect of resuming talks to achieve developments that will transform European citizens of Cyprus into first-class citizens who will not be deprived of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms in their own country.
In this difficult but redemptive path, Heracles Agathokleous will accompany us from the pantheon of heroes, along with all the heroes of the Cypriot tragedy of '74, along with all the heroes who gave their lives for their homeland in the national struggles.
May their memory be eternal.
(ΕΠ)
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