This year marks the 70th anniversary since the commencement of the Cyprus Emergency (1 April 1955) when violent explosions disrupted the capital and other cities of the country.
Cyprus, since 1878, had been under the rule of the British Empire.
Those of us who lived through the events remember the midnight of 31 March to 1 April 1955 when the people poured into the streets in fear and the men took up arm and went to the mountains, with the slogan professing a union with Greece.
Their oath still echoes in the ears of the survivors.
“I swear in the name of the Holy Trinity that:
I will fight with all my strength for the liberation of Cyprus from the English yoke, sacrificing this life as well.
I will not abandon the struggle under any circumstances whatsoever until I am ordered to do so by the Head of the Organisation and after the purpose of the struggle has been fulfilled.
I will absolutely obey the orders of the Head of the Organisation and him alone.
If arrested, I will maintain absolute secrecy both on the secrets of the Organisation and on the names of my allies, even if I am tortured into confessing.
I shall not communicate any order of the Organisation or secret which has come to my knowledge except to those to whom I have been authorised by the Head of the Organisation.
My actions shall be guided only by the interests of the struggle and shall be free from all self-interest or party interest.
If I violate my oath I will be DISHONEST and worthy of all punishment.”
At the dawn, then, one thing was certain. The British authorities were taken by surprise, while everywhere the desire for freedom was pervasive.
On the same day, the first leaflet of EOKA’s leader, Georgios Grivas, was published, calling on the Cypriot people to have faith in the struggle.
Indeed, the uprising and struggle of EOKA during 1955-1959 demonstrated the fight for freedom and the defence of national honour and human dignity.
Proud of all those who maintained strong national spirit, unwavering faith in freedom, put into practice “freedom needs virtue and courage” and paved the way for the proclamation of Cyprus as an Independent Republic in 1960, the Cypriot Community ‘Apostolos Andreas’ in Sunshine is organising this Sunday (30 March) a memorial service to commemorate the historic anniversary.
The commemoration will take place after the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Temple of Apostle Andreas on St. Andrews Street in Sunshine by Father Evangelos.
Following that will be a memorial prayer at the Heroes’ monument located in the churchyard to honour the memory of the fallen, as well as speeches, recitations and the laying of wreaths.
The President of the Community ‘Apostolos Andreas’, Eleni Christodoulou, noted that invitations have been extended to various individuals and organisations for the event, calling on all Cypriots and Greeks to attend and honour their memory.
“It is a national duty to honour the brave men and women who fought with faith and passion for freedom, who wrote brilliant pages of self-sacrifice in the Book of the Cyprus’ History and today parade in the pantheon of heroes,” Christodoulou told Neos Kosmos.
The Sunshine Community Council will serve a meal at the conclusion of the proceedings to all those present.
