On Could 10, 2001, precisely 23 years in the past, Papastavros Papagathangelou, the fiery rasophore from Agia Varvara who related his life with the EOKA saga 1955-1959, died. He invited dozens of fighters to the battle, swore to the holy gospel to Fotis Pitta and a number of other others, secretly married Grigoris Auxentiou in June 1955 within the monastery of Achiropoiitos in Karavas. He can rightly be described as the trendy Papaflessas of Cyprus.
The housekeeper Stavros Papagathangelou (Papastavros) was born on March 25, 1911 in Agia Varvara, Nicosia. A very vital day for Hellenism and Orthodoxy.
He completed the Pancypriot Seminary and was retrained on the Faculty of Preachers, Confessors, Catechists of the Church of Greece. He labored in elementary colleges in Alexandretta and in Cyprus and taught non secular research in secondary colleges for various years.
In 1939 he entered the ranks of the holy clergy of the Church of Cyprus and developed a wealthy non secular and social exercise. He promoted the establishment of Catechetical colleges and charity markets in Nicosia. She based OHEN and the Working Woman's Afternoon Faculty. He spearheaded the institution of the Pan-Cypriot Group of Spiritual Orthodox Establishments and actively participated within the effort to revive the non secular motion in Cyprus throughout the Nineteen Forties. His contribution to the preparation and conduct of the Cyprus Liberation Struggle of EOKA 1955-1959 was particular. For his multifaceted nationwide exercise, he was exiled in 1956 by the British to the Seychelles along with Archbishop Makarios III, Metropolitan Kyprianos of Kyrenia and Polykarpos Ioannidis.
He authored many books and composed dozens of songs with non secular and nationwide content material. His high works, the books “My testimony, how I lived the preparation and battle of EOKA” in addition to “Kinds that sanctified Cyprus”.
These are books with invaluable nationwide and spiritual content material.
Zurich
Papastavros disagreed with Archbishop Makarios on the Zurich Settlement, which he thought of because the again door to the destruction of Cyprus. The disagreement with Makarios additionally had its worth, because the Archbishop suspended him for 17 days, that means he was not allowed to perform and train his priestly duties. At the moment, Papastavros had mouths to feed (spouse and 5 youngsters) and the Metropolitan of Kyrenia informed him to go to Kyrenia to share the bread…
He died dignified and upright
In my ebook entitled “With the ability of reminiscence”, revealed in 2011, his spouse, elder Giannoula, states that Papastavros lived 90 years filled with Christ and Greece. 90 years of giving and sacrifice, of which 63 years had been spent collectively. The elder remembers and describes the next:
The day earlier than his demise was the reminiscence of Agios Christopheros. It was Could 9. The daddy, as remembered by those that had been by his facet that day, was notably cheerful and comfortable.
He informed Maroulou, (the woman who lived with them), and known as all of the Christoforos he knew. And he knew fairly just a few. He spoke to everybody, wished them and sang to them along with his commanding and charismatic voice, the epitome of Saint Christopher. Within the night round ten o'clock he known as Archimandrite Ioannis Mallouris, who was his non secular youngster, in Thessaloniki and informed him:
“Father tonight pray. I can even pray to see what God will convey us tomorrow.”
What can one assume? Did you sense one thing about tomorrow? What occurred? The following day, because the elder recollects, she awoke, bought up, went to the bathroom and went again to mattress.
“He laid down, we talked a bit and after a little bit snore he left with dignity. He slept quietly and peacefully.”
On Could 10, 2001, Papastavros left the faux world. He moved to the actual and now turned a citizen of paradise. Worthy citizen.
Three-cover celebration in heaven for the heroes to welcome
“All for the nation. Thank God. My father was a mannequin husband, priest, confessor, fighter, father”
As talked about within the epilogue of the ebook, on this paradise he met his beloved Grigoris Auxentiou and so they drank the wine that they didn’t have time to drink on the marriage ceremony, that June evening there within the Monastery of Acheropoiitos in Karavas.
Just a little additional down, in a brightly lit nook of paradise, Stylianos Lena was ready for him along with his arms extensive open. “Welcome father” she says and kisses his hand.
Re Styllis, Papastauros tells him, are you aware the place Fotis the Pittas is that I introduced him 3 times till I swore him to the battle, and Lena solutions him: “Right here within the heavenly father there’s the pantheon of the immortals. That's the place all of your youngsters are. Patatsos, Samaras, Vagoris, Pallikaridis, Zakos, Charilaos Michael are right here. They’re all right here father. Auxentiou informed them that now you might be additionally right here and tonight they’re getting ready a three-cover feast. We can even sing Raya…”.
“Get up my poor wretch and carry up your head, the glory you as soon as received once more.”
…I sleep with a dream, I get up with a hope, that sooner or later I’ll see gentle, a free homeland”.
Their sanctified voices gave tone and shade to Heaven.
On this welcome, the Most Excessive Goddess of the Heavens, the Virgin Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary who knew firsthand about Golgotha and the crucifixion, was additionally current.
All these true and heavenly issues occurred on Could 10, 2001, the day Papastavros, the poor boy from Saint Barbara, handed into eternity and immortality.
“I lived,” says the elder, “63 years subsequent to Papastavro. 63 full years. We went via bitterness, sorrows, agonies, deprivations, persecutions. My life was a stormy sea. All for the nation. Thank God. My father was a mannequin husband, priest, confessor, fighter, father. He was a person of deep prayer. He stored calling me “love” and many individuals thought that my title was love”.
*Christos Karydis is an economist and journalist
