With national pride and reverence, but also with a sense of historical debt, we commemorate today the day when Cypriot Hellenism proclaimed its freedom. We honour all those heroes who managed to transform the fear of death into victory and threw themselves into a struggle where self-denial, bravery, philanthropy, self-sacrifice, dedication to the spiritual and moral values of Hellenism were the virtues that wove its glory and greatness. These were the virtues that characterized Gregory Afxentiou, Kyriakos Matsis, Evagoras Pallikaridis, Michalakis Karolis, Iakovos Patatsos, Ionas Nikolaou and so many other fighters of 1955-1959, living and dead.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the life of every nation there are moments that elevate it, that bring it face to face with history, moments when the light floods the souls of people, they are valued and realize their historicity and their duty.
Such a moment takes us back 67 years, to April 1, 1955, when Makarios and Digenes set fire to the souls of Cypriots and the uncompromising generation of '55-'59 told the whole world of its irrevocable decision, to live longer or die, since all peaceful and diplomatic efforts for self-determination were fruitless and the British Government persisted in its negative and obstinate positions.
The die was cast: 'Either it was or it was not'. There was no other historical way out. And then, the amute Levants became tough and unyielding fighters in the mountains of Troodos and Pentadactylos, in Machairas and Dikomo, in Zoopigi, in Spilia, in Chandria, in Mercinaki, in Liopetri and in the Nicosia General Hospital, in the villages and towns, in every corner of Cyprus that was struggling for freedom. In the hideouts and ambushes, in the barracks and on the battlefields, there were written about epic struggles and unparalleled feats of valour, capable of evoking shivers and admiration for ever.
In the Prison Memorials, the heroic martyrs of the gallows, despite the horrible and inhuman martyrdoms, did not bend. The "iron hoop," the virtual drownings, the hanging by the feet, and the blinding light, did not daunt them. With their morale intact and their faith unshaken, at the most critical hour, our nine lads marched to the gallows, cheerful and haughty, transforming the pain into a clear light of justice and the central prison into a bastion of resistance and struggle!
In the call of history, women and elderly people participated with the same self-denial, building shelters, hosting and feeding fighters.
In this effort, but also throughout the slavery by the English, the contribution of the Church of Cyprus, which was always present in all national struggles, was decisive. It was from the Church that the spiritual and national empowerment and awakening of the people emanated. The Church prepared the fighters of freedom, nurtured them with the visions of the tribe, imbued them with the sacred threads of our faith, vowed them and embellished their souls so that they would march heroically in the Struggle and endure martyrdom. Her involvement in that titanic struggle was not limited to them alone. It manifested itself in all areas, actively participating and contributing financially. Among other things, the Archdiocese, the Metropolises and the Holy Monasteries became bastions of the Revolution and a place of refuge and concealment for the fighters, while the monks became messengers, caterers, guards and guides for the mountain groups.
The English conquerors, although they collected many "paraphernalia to wring the souls of our heroes" by the most horrible methods, and although they imposed house arrests, they proceeded with bounties and arrests without trials, closed schools, and murdered schoolchildren, abused young children, they failed to break the spirit of the Cypriot people and to break the spirit of the fighters, who proved, from end to end, that the power of weapons cannot be compared to the power of the soul and faith, principles and values. They had justice on their side and drew irresistible moral strength from God, but also from the glorious Greek past.
At their side are all the heroes of Greek history and their love for Greece. From the Trojan fields come the Homeric heroes with their pride and "aien aristein". From Thermopylae comes Leonidas and the three hundred with a huge "molon lave". The Marathon fighters, the Salaminomachoi and the Spartan women arrive to support the lads of EOKA. From the gate of St. Romanos comes Constantine Palaiologos with his reply "we will all die of our own free will and will not be spared our lives" and from the bloody mountains of Eikosia the heroes arrive with "freedom or death". From Messolonghi come the free besieged, from Epirus and Macedonia come the warriors of the Balkan wars. From the streets of Athens comes the thunderous "no" and from the mountains of Pindos comes the cry of "air". With all this sacred legacy, the heroes of EOKA knew not only how to fight, but also how to die for the supreme good of freedom and the homeland.
Fellow countrymen and women,
In the solemnity of a glorious day such as today's, it is only fitting to commemorate with joyful remembrance and immense praise all these heroes who, with the glorious splendour of their total sacrifice, entered the Pantheon of Immortality. Let us never forget that world-historical masterpiece of the EOKA '55-59 Struggle and let us put our homeland above all else, in order to continue our struggle to find a nationally acceptable and viable solution to the Cyprus problem. A solution that will be based on the principles and values of international law, the United Nations and the European acquis and will ensure the historical continuity of our people in a reunited homeland without barbed wire and occupying armies. We have no right to go astray. Our heroes illuminate the path of duty and we must follow it until the vindication of our martyred homeland and the vindication of every people fighting for the immortal ideals of democracy, freedom and independence. We will never stop defending the human rights and ideals bequeathed to us by our ancestors, which is why today we stand by the suffering people of Ukraine and fight for peace and justice!
Honor and glory to the fighters of EOKA!
Eternal memory!
Happy Resurrection and Happy Easter to all!
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