Some of the heroes of
the Greek Revolution of 1821 who with their self-sacrifice and blood, granted
freedom to Greece and inspired the European people!
THEODORO KOLOKOTRONIS
The general and leader
of the Greek War of Independence has gone down in history for his great success
in the defeat of the Ottoman army under Mahmud Dramali Pasha at the Battle of
Dervenakia in 1822. Appointed commander-in-chief of the Greek forces in the
Peloponnese in 1825, Kolokotronis is considered to be one of the most
significant figures of the Greek War of Independence. Following the war, he
became a supporter of Count Ioannis Kapodistrias and a proponent of alliance
with Russia. After the assassination of Kapodistrias in 1831, Kolokotronis
created his own administration in support of Prince Otto of Bavaria in king of
Greece but later opposed the Bavarian-dominated regency. In 1834, he was
charged with treason and was sentenced to death, however pardoned. He died in
1843 in Athens, a day after his son’s wedding.
LASKARINA BOUBOULINA
Born in a prison cell
in Constantinople, she was the daughter of Stavrianos Pinotsis, a captain from
Hydra. She married twice, but took on the surname of her second husband,
Captain Dimitrios Bouboulis, a wealthy shipowner. She allegedly joined the
Filiki Etairia, an undergound organisation which worked towards the Revolution.
She gave all she had, buying arms and ammunitions at her own expense, which she
said she did “for the sake of my nation”. Her daughter, Eleni Boubouli, later
married the son of Kolokotronis, Panos Kolokotronis.
GEORGE KARAISKAKIS
A famous brigand,
military commander and hero of the revolution. Born in a monastery near the
village of Mavrommati in the Agrafa Mountains, he joined the service of
Katsantonis, a local brigand at a young age. He was cunning, brave and
reckless, rising quickly through the ranks to become lieutenant. He was killed
on 23 April, 1827, after he became fatally wounded by a rifle bullet in battle.
ATHANASIOS DIAKOS
A great military
commander, Diakos was born Athanasios Nikolaos Massavetas. The grandson of a
local brigand, he was drawn to religion from an early age and was sent to the
Monastery of St John the Baptist for his education. He became a monk at the age
of 17 years and was ordained a deacon of the Greek Orthodox Church not long
after.
MANTO MAVROGENOUS
A wealthy woman, she
spent all her fortune for the freedom of Greeks. She also managed to raise
funds by getting her European friends to contribute money and guns to the
Revolution. Born in Trieste, which was part of Austria, but is now located in
Italy, she grew up in an educated family and studied Greek philosophy, while
also speaking fluent French, Italian and Turkish. In 1809, she moved with her
family to Paros and learnt that plans were underway for a Revolution. She later
moved to Mykonos, her island of origin, and influenced many of the leaders of
the region to join the Revolution.
CONSTANTINE KANARIS
Kanaris grew to
prominence during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), and was known in
particular for his role in destroying the flagship of Turkish admiral Nasuhzade
Ali pasha in revenge for the Chios massacre on the night of 6 June, 1822. There
were 2,000 Ottoman casualties, including the pasha himself. Kanaris later became
Greek prime minister and was one of the few people to gain the trust of Ioannis
Kapodistris, the first Head of State of independent Greece.
MIAOULIS
Andreas Vokos,
nicknamed Miaoulis, was an admiral and politician who commanded Greek naval
forces during the Greek Revolution. He gained wealth through trade, and
contributed to the cause of resistance against the Turks in every possible way,
spending money from his wheat-shipping business during the Napoleonic Wars. He led
Greeks to victory in skirmishes off Modon, Cape Matapan, Suda and Cape Papas
from May 1825 to January 1826.
ODYSSEAS ANDROUTSOS
Odysseas Androutsos
was born in Ithaca in 1788 and was the only son of the famous Arvanite bandit
Andrea Verousi, and his mother was from Preveza. As soon as the Revolution
broke out, he was immediately on the front lines of the struggle and incited
the Greeks of Eastern Roumeli to fight.
Androutsos was found trapped with 120 Greek men in what would become the
famous Battle of Gravia Inn. Up against 8,000 Ottomans, Androutsos led the
Greeks to victory and was proclaimed the military leader of Roumeli.
MARKOS
BOTSARIS
Markos Botsaris was
born in 1790 and is known as a Greek General and hero of the Greek Revolution
from Souli. Numerous are the heroic deeds of Markos Botsaris: In Kumtzades he
destroyed a large army of Ottoman Turks, in Pente Pigadia he clashed with a
force of 500 0 Turks along with his few Souliote brothers, he conquered the
Reniasa fortress without any casualties, defeated 2000 Turks in Vargiades and
in Dramesi, battled against Hasan Pasha in Arta and his army of 1000 Turks,
participated in the siege of Arta and in many more battles including in Lelova,
Olitsika and Bogortsa. On August 9, 1823, during a battle in Karpesnisi, Markos
Botsaris received a fatal shot which cost him his life. His body was
transported to Mesologgi where it was buried with the highest honors.
So much suffering! So much
abuse!
And the soul was within the
body.
Because Christ had not yet
called it.
And we die not from torture
or from illness or from anything else.
We die because Christ wills
it.
Shall we not have an
incurable disease? Shall we not have anything?
The soul does not go out
unless the Lord says so.
Shall we not eat and drink?
Man does not live by bread
alone.
+ Fr. Ananias Koustenis
This is the greatest proof of love.
And if they wrong us, if they make it difficult for
us, if they take away our possessions, if our lives are threatened, if they
injure us, and if they hurt us mentally or physically, let us be transported to
the one who was unjustly slaughtered and unjustly died for our justice, our salvation
and for our sins.
Therefore, every pain, every injustice, everything
contrary that happens to us is related, when we think and mentally visit the
honest and life-giving cross...
That is why Jesus Christ is our everything.
It is our first and last love, the alpha and the
omega, the beginning and the end.
We say this many times, because it is the center and
the essence.
And he became a convict on Golgotha to become a
convict for everyone...
+
Fr. Ananias Koustenis
Even when we do not read it,
-how beautifully the saint says it!- we have a blessing.
When we read it a little,
the good increases.
We also have light.
And when we read it more, we
have more light.
And when we read it and do
it, then we have Paradise.
We have Paradise! Of course!
Some say, “We read and we do
not understand.”
“Look, read and do not
understand.
The other understands and
leaves”! …
Like this!
Let us not leave the Holy
Gospel!
+ Fr. Ananias Koustenis
