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- Ελληνικά
At an event held yesterday, Saturday 12 August 2023, at the cultural centre of the Community of Lagoudera, the presentation of the book of Andreas Stylianou, entitled "Andreas Stylianou - The Cadis of EOKA - From Lagoudera to Machairas and the epic battle of 3rd March 1957", took place.
Andreas Stylianou was one of the four comrades of the Stavraetos of Machairas, Grigoris Afxentios and the last survivor of his hideout. Through his book, the EOKA cadre vividly recounts his own experiences.
Present at the event were the Minister of Defence Mr. Michael Giorgallas, the former Minister of Justice and Public Order Mr. Nikos Kosis, the Community Authority, the Priest of the community, the Director of the Press and Information Office Mrs. Aliki Stylianou and other guests, relatives, friends, colleagues and fellow citizens of Andreas Stylianou.
In his statement, the Minister of Defence Mr. Michael Yiorgallas, among others, said "I want to say a big thank you. I grew up in a family that first of all gave me the name of the Makis Yiorgallas family. He was truly a special and special man, as special and special people were all his colleagues, such as Mr. Andreas Stylianou, whom we honor tonight. Makis Giorgallas was honoured and left his mark. Afxentios that night promised Makis Yiorgallas, Liakos, that they would avenge his death, and indeed, they avenged Liakos' death and the death of every brave man with his own heroic, unsurpassed, proud death. All these were shocking events for the time. They were events that provoked reactions and support around the world. Today, we are here to honour another equally great hero who by sheer luck managed to survive, Andrea Stylianou. Others were in prison, others in hiding, it was never easy. Some by luck, like the Minister Mr Kosis, who is with us tonight, Mr Andreas Stylianou, and others survived. But they lived, having a mission, to convey these messages, these emotions, these images, these incidents, the details of every moment of that heroic struggle. And I'm glad because they started talking. Those who really lived through the furnace of that struggle, like Mr Andreas Stylianou, who fortunately gives us his own stamp and his own path in his own participation. I want to say a big thank you for giving me the opportunity to say these few words, to wish this book to reach everywhere. Because it is not just a record of Mr. Andrea's testimony. It is his participation in this great effort that the country made at that time. I will close with a big thank you to all of you who filled the hall to capacity tonight, at times when patriotism is out of fashion, at times when such events are, unfortunately, considered unnecessary."
The general editing and presentation of the event was undertaken by Michalis Stylianou, son of Andreas Stylianou, Philologist and Assistant Headmaster at the Nicosia Evening High School, who was also responsible for the writing of the book. Mr. Michael Stylianou, welcoming the attendees, said "First of all, I would like to apologize to all those who are standing. The interest shown by villagers and guests alike in our event today is unprecedented. Honourable Mr. Minister of Defence, our respected parents, Mr. Mayor, all of you, Mr. President and members of the Community Council of Lagouders, Mr. President and members of the Community Council of Sarandi, dear friends of the family of Gregory Afxentiou, the family of Augustis Efstathiou and the family of Phidias Simeonidis, respected colleagues of Andreas Stylianou, dear guests, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you. This large, small community of ours, to paraphrase the poet Odysseus Elytis and the verse "this world, the small the Great from Axion Esti, was destined to be part of the wider historical, political and cultural whole of our Cyprus. It is located at the foot of Madaris and is framed by the pine forest. Many of its children participated actively in the struggles of Cyprus, such as the formation of the group of the liberation struggle of EOKA 1955-59, culminating in the creation of the hideout, where the deputy leader Grigoris Afxentiou lived with his guerrillas. We are also fortunate to have the Holy Monastery of Panagia Arakas built on the soil of our community, which is a world cultural monument and jewel, as well as its frescoes in the place and Cyprus in general, highlighting the Byzantine splendour.
Today we are reaching the end of a long process of writing the book and its preparation and printing. The collection of the material took a long time, since our father remembered new information and details each time. Therefore, we are pleased to present the book by Andreas Stylianou "The Kadis of EOKA: from Lagoudera to Machairas and the epic battle of March 3, 1957". Andreas Stylianou was born in the village of the Nicosia district on 20 October 1930. His parents were Stylianos Nikiforou and Maria Panayiotou. Poor, hardworking and honest people. He attended the primary school of his village and was a very good student. From a young age he learned to love his country and Christ and always sought to become a good man and a good Christian. When he graduated from school at the age of 11, for livelihood reasons, he worked at many private jobs in the summer and in sowing fields. He also worked as an artisan shoemaker in the craft shop of Michael Eleftheriou. As the first-born in his family, he undertook work on many construction projects to help his parents financially. This continued until 1952, when he moved to Nicosia where he worked to financially support his four siblings who were attending the Pancyprian Gymnasium. His first contact with the EOKA struggle of 1955-59 was on 25 March 1954, when Archbishop Makarios III delivered the solemn speech on the anniversary of the National Vanguard. In August 1955 he was sworn in and became a member of EOKA by Michalis Eleftheriou at the house of Kyriakos Nikiforos."
The Commander of Lagoudera, Mr. Michalis Simeou, in his speech, among others, said that it is "with great willingness that we as the Community Council undertook the expenses of publishing this book and for this I thank all our members, believing that the readers will benefit to the greatest extent, drawing all the useful information about both Andreas Stylianou and our community. I express my sincere thanks to Michael Stylianou who edited the book. Let me refer to only three words and a single phrase: Faith, hope, love, the three things, the greatest of which is love."
This was followed by words of love, on behalf of the family and the seven grandchildren of Andreas Stylianou, from his granddaughters Maria Achilleos, Myrto Stylianou, Rania and Rania Stylianou.
This was followed by words of love on behalf of the family and the seven grandchildren of Andreas Stylianou from his granddaughters Maria Achilleos, Myrto Stylianou, Rania and Rania Stylianou: "Our beloved grandfather, because each and every one of you as long as you lived, the purpose of your life was to serve your country, your religion and your family. It is known that you fought alongside the deputy leader of EOKA, Grigoris Afxentiou, and took part in the epic battle of Machairas on March 3, 1957. It is deeply imprinted in our minds by your narratives that Afxentiou chose you to be with him because you carried out the missions he assigned to you without fail, successfully and with all seriousness. He appreciated your character and abilities, and that is why you became a member of the legendary quintet. You were ordered to be the first out of the hideout, and as you revealed to us, your master, Gregory Afxentius, always ordered you first to carry out the missions. You were captured and tortured, but you remained faithful to the values and ideals for which you took an oath."
The book was presented by the journalist, author and Mayor of Lysis Mr. Andreas Kaouris. Mr. Kaouris, in his speech, among other things, said "We are here today, in the presence of our Minister of Defence, in the small and heroic village of Lagoudera, to say to you, Andreas Stylianou, the thanks of our soul because you kept as an impregnable fortress all these difficult and difficult years of our country the values, the ideals, the history and the legacies of our heroes and martyrs, the fighters of 55-59. And because even in your heart and humility, you had hidden for so many years your contribution to the struggle of EOKA and your unforgettable experiences next to the legend of EOKA, Sector Chief Pitsilia and Deputy Chief Gregory Pieris Afxentios from our now Turkish-occupied village of Lysi. Your book "ANDREAS STYLIANOU THE HEAD OF EOKA FROM DAYUDERAS TO MAHAIRAS AND THE EPIC BATTLE OF MARCH 3, 1957" comes at a time when our country and our people need truths."
Then Andreas Stylianou was invited to say a few words.
Afterwards, Andreas Stylianou was asked to say a few words. Among other things, he said "Dear Ministers, Fellow Fighters, Village President, known and unknown, I thank you from the bottom of my heart because you honor me today for doing my duty for my country. I went to a lot of trouble to make this effort. I found some things that were written that were not correct about what happened as I knew it, as I experienced it, so I decided to write my story. That is, from the time I was born to where I am now living, how this cycle of ninety-three years came about. We must always think about why we live and how we should live, what our duties are and how we should perform them. I have written a few things, not many pages, the most important things. Let us all try, together, to realize, young and old, today and tomorrow, that we have a duty to liberate our Cyprus. I have always had the EOKA oath in my mind, that I will fight with all my strength to defend my homeland, sacrificing my life for it, without reward, without exchange, without any other demands. I thank God for having merited me to live after the battle of Machaera. And I am grateful for the man who spared my life, the late Gregory Afxentiou. Thank you all for the honour you do me and I wish a short freedom in our country."
Closing the event, the former Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mr. Nikos Kosis recited a poem in honour of Andreas Stylianos and the fighters of EOKA: nor the thunder that falls
can never their roots raise them up,
whether they stay within, whether they go abroad,
whether they change me, they change me, they themselves stay.
They are the foundation of the earth, they are history,
they are tradition, they are civilization.
Whoever does not appreciate them and does not appreciate them,
is wrong to count and wrong to weigh.
And whoever does not appreciate them and does not count them,
builds without foundations, builds on sand."
The event concluded with the song "Gregory in Lagoudera" with lyrics by Andreas Chr.
(NΓ)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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