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- Ελληνικά
The 98 year old
Ilias Tsooutsouki Tsangaras
One of the oldest prisoners of the village of Kormakitis passed away, Ioannis Ilias Tsouchouki Tsangaras, passed away on Wednesday 14/02/2024 at the age of 98. His funeral was held today at the Synagogue Church of St. George in Kormakitis. Relatives, friends and fellow villagers bid farewell to Ioannis Ilias Tsoutsoukis Tsangaras, who was born and lived in Kormakitis but passed away far away from his beloved village.
On behalf of the President of the Republic Mr. Ms Anna Aristotelous, Head of Humanitarian Affairs for Missing and Trapped Persons, was present, who in her funeral speech expressed her emotion, respect, pride and gratitude, saying goodbye to an emblematic personality of the occupied Maronite village, a great man who, as she stressed, never left his village.
As Mrs. Aristotelous mentioned, a few days ago, on February 2, we were celebrating the 98th birthday of Ioannis Ilias Tsoutsoukis Tsaggaras. "He was one of the oldest prisoners of Kormakitis. A few days later, on February 14, the beloved father, grandfather and brother passed away and today we are all here, modestly, humbly and with absolute respect to bid him farewell," he continued.
He added that Ioannis Ilias Tsoutsouki Tsangaras was born in 1926 in Kormakitis, "in his beloved village. It is where he lived his childhood and grew up. Where he made dreams", said the Head of Humanitarian Affairs, noting that, as the lyrics dedicated to him by his fellow villagers say, "he remained steadfast in his roots, in the place where he was born and never denied it. As Mrs. Aristotelous said, he did not want to leave his village for a moment. "He knew that the conditions were such that sacrifices would be needed. Nevertheless, he chose to remain in the place where he was born, not to leave his home, his roots, his village. He accepted to deprive himself of much, to sacrifice so much more, but to stay in the place where he was born. He worked as a farmer. He had his own family with his beloved Martha. They had seven children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren."
The Head of Humanitarian Affairs pointed out that Ioannis Ilias Tsouchoukis Tsangaras was one of the first persons she had the honour to meet during her first visit with An. Village Commune Chief, upon assuming her duties, in Kormakitis. "His face and eyes said so much and even though he didn't say as much as he wanted to say. I remember in his words the anguish for his village, that our incarcerated people who keep our Maronite villages alive might receive support. Every wrinkle on his face and a story of what he experienced in Kormakitis. In the soil where he was born, in the soil where he grew up, in this soil he wanted to die," Ms. Aristotelous continued.
The Head of Humanitarian Affairs also mentioned that his health condition, after 98 long years, forced him to leave his village and move to the free areas so that he could go to the hospital. Unfortunately, however, he did not succeed and one of the most characteristic, emblematic figures of Kormakitis, who offered so much with his sacrifices to our land, who taught his children and grandchildren what love for our roots is, left for the long journey.
"He left proudly, because despite the adversity he contributed together with all our prisoners to keep our Kormakitis alive. Along with his wife, Martha, who marched together through it all, supporting each other. Fierce, with morals and boundless love for his village, his children and the church of the Cathedral of St. George," Mrs. Aristotelous continued.
"Sadly, this is the third villager to pass away in a few days, with the number growing smaller and smaller as our agony grows, the agony of all of us to continue to keep our Maronite villages alive."
"Unfortunately, this is the third villager to pass away in a few days, with the number growing smaller and smaller, the agony of all of us to continue to keep our Maronite villages alive. It is our duty to these people who have been deprived of so much over the years. For this reason, as the President of the Republic announced, incentives are constantly being considered to address the obstacles and solve the problems, making life easier for our stranded and resettled people in order to increase their numbers," Ms. Aristotelous concluded.
The Head of Humanitarian Affairs laid a wreath on behalf of the President of the Republic.
(PM/GC/EAth/MS)
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