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- Ελληνικά
It is with a feeling of deep emotion and national pride that we have gathered here today to pay, with due respect, the tribute due to the hero Stelios Mavromatis and Andreas Panagidis and Michael Koutsofta who climbed together on the scaffold of the gallows.
At the same time, to pay tribute to the courageous fighter Nitsa Hatzigeorgiou and Maria Mavrommatis, sister of the hero, who lived a large part of her life in a wheelchair because she was shot by the colonialists during searches of her parents' house, as well as to the fighter Kostas Konstantinidis.
To commemorate also Panagiotis Artemis, Michael Panagi and Savvakis Michaelides who also passed into eternity by offering their lives on the holy altar of our country's struggles during the intercommunal conflicts of 1963-64.
We also honour the Greek officers of ELDYK, Captain Sotirios Stavrianakos, Captain Vasilios Stamboulis and Lieutenant Sotirios Tsionos who gave their lives in the martyrdom of Cyprus, during the heroic battles of ELDYK against the Turkish invaders, in the black summer of 1974.
Along with the heroes of ELDYK, we also commemorate the "grandmother of ELDYK" Kalliopi Avraam, who was at the side of the "grandchildren of Eldykaria", who was found dead along with 39 others who were killed during the bloody battles that took place inside the camp.
It is not easy and not at all fitting to pay tribute in words worthy of the deeds of people who, with unfailing patriotism, greatness of soul and enviable courage in defiance of death, sacrificed themselves for the freedom of their homeland. He who sacrificed,, as Stelios Mavrommatis wrote in bidding farewell to his people, for the common freedom. "Who sacrificed himself because he wanted to enjoy, together with all the Greeks of Cyprus, the greatest gift that God has given to humanity."
Stelios was the eldest son of Christoforos and Helen, brother of Maria, Irene and Kostas. He was born on November 15, 1932 in a village on the ridge of Pendadactylos, the now occupied Larnaca of Lapithos, Kyrenia District.
He grew up and grew up in his village, where he completed primary school and subsequently, continued his education by attending the Samuel Commercial School in Nicosia.
As a student, he stood out for his ambition and was particularly conscientious. Seeking knowledge and through his imbibing of humanistic ideals and values, he aimed to become a responsible and active citizen, useful to society.
He was an active member of his community with a rich social contribution. He developed a rich activity and took the lead in the various cultural, ethnic and religious events of the village. He was a committee member of the board of directors of the Cyprus Workers' Guild (SEK) and the board of the Religious Orthodox Movement (THOI), following in the footsteps of his father who pioneered their foundation.
After completing his high school studies he worked for two years in the British army in Suez and in 1954 he returned to Cyprus and continued to work as a clerk at the Nicosia airport. Because of his job he had to rent a house in Nicosia and he went to the village every weekend.
With the beginning of the liberation struggle he joined EOKA. With his unquenchable desire for Freedom and Union deeply rooted in him, he was mentally and spiritually ready to take action against the British colonialists.
At dawn on 1 April 1955, Stelios Mavromatis, together with his fellow fighters, undertook the sabotage of the Nicosia airport against British planes. His house in Nicosia was turned into a place to hide fighters, weapons and ammunition. His parents and brothers were his close collaborators in the transport and concealment of arms, as well as in the hospitality and escape of wanted persons.
But the highlight of his contribution to the struggle was his joining the executive of Nicosia, with a focus of action on Ledra-Onasagorou Streets, the "Mili of Death", as it was called by the British.
There, under the most difficult conditions and despite the draconian measures taken by the colonialists with their army lurking everywhere, the lads of EOKA managed to accomplish their mission.
During a difficult and ultimately unsuccessful mission against the English Sergeant Normal Alfred and the British Royal Air Force aviator Lawrence Lith in Agios Pavlos Street in Agios Dometios, Nicosia, Stelios was intercepted as he was leaving by an English resident of the area and was captured by the two English aviators.
The lad fell into the hands of the enemy and ended up in a prison cell, where he was sentenced to death by hanging. In prison he fought the great battle. There the greatness of his soul was shown. He suffered horrible torture along with the other prisoners on death row. But he did not bend for a moment. That's how he was made. To be free, to have strength, to have faith in God and in the honest struggle, to be able to endure anything until the final achievement of the goal.
With jovial fortitude and patience he endured the physical and mental pain of torture and with courage, dignity and gentleness he made his way to the gallows.
From inside the cell Stelios corresponded with his family, giving them strength and courage. He asks them to be patient, to pray to God and not to be sorry.
Among other things, he writes to his mother:
" I know what will happen to us, but I am neither afraid nor sorry. Three times so far we have been led to the place of the gallows together with Panagides and Koutsofta for trials to add to our anxiety and break our morale.."
In his swan song, in a letter to his family a few days before the gallows, he writes to his family:
"I don't want mourning and lamentations... I want you to know that your son and brother died with a smile on his lips, keeping to the end the sacred oath he took: to sacrifice himself for the sake of the freedom of Cyprus".
At dawn on September 21, 1956, three condemned freedom fighters of our country, Stelios Mavromatis, Andreas Panagidis and Michael Koutsoftas were led to the gallows. The three lads, hand in hand, climbed the trapdoor. The convicts in the Central Prison lived the last act with them. They accompanied them with songs and cheers. And they, their faces illuminated, chanted the Acclaimed Hymn and bade farewell with: "farewell, brothers, good Leftheria, good riddance..."
And the three upright, proud, with noble bearing, with eyes fixed on the sky and a smile on their lips before the dawn of Friday, became themselves light, passing into eternity among the heroes of our homeland.
Today we reverently bow to the heroism and valor, the morality and dignity of our heroes. Drawing from their example, with the same faith and determination, we too must stand up to the national challenges.
The liberation struggle of 1955-59 was not the last struggle of our homeland, as a few years later the Turks invaded our island and the tragic consequences are still being suffered today.
It is our obligation to justify the sacrifice of our heroes and to live up to our history and our duty to the present and future generations. We must never forget our occupied homeland and persevere in the goal of the reunification of our island. Lasting memory is a function of lasting resistance. Resistance against the oblivion of the deceased, resistance against compromise with the tragic consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation of a large part of our homeland.
The efforts of the Government and the President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem continue unabated. September is an important month for our national cause as the President of the Republic is in New York where he will address the United Nations General Assembly. There he will again stress that the goal is the resumption of talks to resolve the Cyprus problem.
To this end, the President of the Republic will hold meetings with Secretary General Antonio Guterres, representatives of the Permanent Members of the Security Council and other actors of the international community.
On behalf of the State, we renew our commitment to continue the struggle with all our forces for a just, fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, in which the human rights and basic freedoms of all the Cypriot people are guaranteed, so that they can live in peace and security in the land of their ancestors.
This will be the greatest honour for our heroes.
Glory and honour to our heroes.
Eternal memory. Respect and deep gratitude will accompany them forever.
(OP)
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