The 9th of July 1821 marks a turning point and beacon of resistance for Cypriot Hellenism against the Ottoman Empire. At a time when the fighters of 1821 were struggling on Greek soil to throw off the Ottoman yoke, the Greeks of Cyprus were fighting their own battle.
Despite the fact that the Philiki Etaireia had decided that, due to Cyprus’ geographical location, no armed struggle would take place, the Ottomans were determined to suppress any attempt at resistance from the outset.
The Archbishop of Cyprus at that time was Kyprianos. An initiate of the Philiki Etaireia and having lived for many years in the Danubian principalities, Archbishop Kyprianos tried to safeguard the safety of the Cypriots at all costs.
However, the Turkish Governor of Cyprus, Kioutsouk Mehmet Agas, was determined to suppress any attempt at revolution. On the basis of proclamations distributed in Larnaca by Archimandrite Theophylaktos Theseas, Agas complained to the Sublime Porte that the Greek Cypriots were preparing a revolution, submitting at the same time a list of prominent figures.
After his request was approved, the Governor proceeded with arrests, confiscations of property and executions. On 9 July, the great massacre of the island’s archbishops and notables began. The Archbishop was the first to be hanged, followed by the beheading of the Metropolitans of Paphos, Kition and Kyrenia. The following year, the Swedish visitor Bergren wrote: ‘And the Virgin Mary was dressed in black everywhere, and many houses were splattered with blood…’
The last moments of Archbishop Kyprianos were described by the English traveller John Carney. Carne visited the Archbishop a few days before 9 July and asked him why he was not trying to save himself, knowing what was to come.
A SOLEMN CEREMONY AND LUNCH
The English traveller also reports that the Archbishop told him: ‘My death is not far off. I know that they are just waiting for an opportunity to kill me.’ And while aware of his imminent death, the distinguished despot voluntarily decided to remain, preserving the dignity of the Greeks and facing death as an offering to his nation and his flock.
He refused to leave the island to save his life, saying that he would ‘remain to offer every possible protection to his people and perish with them.’
Many years later, almost eighty, the national poet of Cyprus, Vasilis Michaelides, based on Karne’s account, wrote the poem ‘9 July 1821,’ in which he eloquently recounted the events and the decision of Archbishop Kyprianos.
So, on Sunday, 13 July, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., at the Holy Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, 3-7 Macedon Avenue North Balwyn, officiated by the Bishop of Melbourne, Mr Kyriakos, and assisted by Father Nikolaos, in collaboration with the Cypriot Organisations and the Coordinating Committee of the Cypriot Struggle, and in the presence of the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Antonis Sammoutis, and other dignitaries, a memorial service will be held in memory of the Archbishop and his fellow Metropolitans, clergy and laity who were killed in the saray of Nicosia. It was 9 July 1821.
Students from the Dance Club of the Cypriot Community, the Pegasus Dance Academy, Oakleigh Grammar and the Hellenic School of Dance of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in North Balwyn will participate with their flags.
After the memorial service, to which our local authorities have been invited, there will be a modest ceremony and lunch in the church hall. Admission is $35.00. To reserve seats, please call: 0487 22 22 37.
KLAIRI GAZI
