In the presence of the President of the Republic, who also delivered a memorial speech, the annual memorial service of the hero Andreas Christofides was held in Limassol – He fell fighting against the Turks in 1964
Today, from the Holy Church of the Apostle Andreas Charakis in Limassol, the annual memorial service of the hero Andreas Christofides, who fell fighting in Agios Sozomenos on the 6 /2/1964.
The memorial service was presided over by the Most Holy Bishop Amathoustos Mr. Nikolaos.
A memorial speech was delivered by the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis, who also placed a wreath on the bust of the hero, Constable 1641 Andreas Christofidis. “There are moments that push you to reflect on the great importance and value of fulfilling your duty towards the service and the country, moments that make you reflect more strongly and critically on the modern history of Cyprus, to see with the eyes of today the figures who sealed the path of the country with their blood, and to realize that many things today are not so self-evident. Andreas Christofidis, the honest and completely faithful to his duty as Constable 1641, is such an example of selfless sacrifice for the country. Originally from Pano Amiantos, with excellent performance in his high school years, raised with the ideals and the values ​​of our race, he joined the liberation struggle of EOKA from his teenage years. Fearless in his nickname, fearless in his character, he defied risks, put fear in second place, actively participating in attacks and actions of EOKA, always motivated by the desire for freedom and shaking off the colonial yoke” said the President of the Republic.
“The fighter Andreas Christofidis, with the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, an establishment as a result of the purest struggle of Cypriot Hellenism, the struggle of EOKA, a Cypriot Republic which is the most important thing we have today, at the age of 22, on the 23 In May 1961 he joined the Cyprus Police Force. As a member of the House, he was found in 1963 by the first divisive tendencies of the Turkish Cypriot community, incited and guided by the terrorist organization TMT and Turkey itself. The first purpose of the Turkish-led extremist groups was to create a climate of discord, instability and an alleged threat to the Turkish Cypriot community by the Greek Cypriots. Real goal, the catalysis and degradation of the Republic of Cyprus. The actions coordinated and organized by Turkey led to a number of hostilities in several areas of our country. Just as it happened in the case of the battle of Agios Sozomenos on February 6, 1964, exactly 60 years ago. It was then that a group of Turkish Cypriots guarded a cartel in the village of Agios Sozomenos for a group of civil servants and farmers, who were traveling for work in the area. The Turkish Cypriots opened fire on the vehicle and killed the policeman Andreas Loukas and the agricultural guard Takis Michael. The clashes, as expected, did not take long to expand and Greek Cypriots from the surrounding areas ran to defend their fellow villagers. Constable Andreas Christofidis dutifully participated in the battle against the Turks. The battles were fierce and intense, with losses on both sides. Andreas Christofidis, serving his duty towards the rights of our people, fulfilling his duty faithfully and irrevocably towards his Service, towards the Republic of Cyprus, bravely straightened his stature in the face of Turkish fire. Unfortunately, he was mortally wounded and is among the fallen of the battle of Agios Sozomenos whose memory we recently commemorated” President Christodoulidis also said in his memorial speech.
“Pain is followed by pride and honor for the family and the entire Police Force. Loss is transformed into an immortal symbol of combativeness and devotion to duty. Andreas Christofidis always remains a young, fearless fighter, he is counted among the heroes of the homeland and the honored members of the Cyprus Police Force.
And it is a duty and a duty, in the context of today's modest ceremony, to remember all the fallen and all members of the Cyprus Police Force, who sacrificed their lives and physical integrity in the service of duty. Besides, the Cyprus Police Force is the guardian of the Republic and the protector of the rights of all Cypriot citizens. Andreas Christofidis, like so many of his colleagues from the ranks of the Police Corps who fell in the line of duty, demonstrate the ethos and integrity of the Force over time, to which we as a State express our gratitude and admiration.
Our presence here today is not of formal significance. As the elected President of the Republic of Cyprus I duly pay tribute to every hero of our homeland, to every genuine fighter for the defense and defense of the rights of our people, to every citizen who defied the dangers and self-interest and offered his life to preserve the democracy, freedom and peace of the land that gave birth to us. That is why today we honor Constable 1641 Andreas Christofides and all those who fell in the battle of Agios Sozomenos, as a sign of recognition of his sacrifice by the State, with feelings of respect and responsibility.
As a Government we have assumed the responsibility of asserting the rights of all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and primarily the great struggle for the liberation and reunification of our homeland. Our fight from the beginning is targeted with a specific strategy.
We know very well what we are aiming for, we know very well what we are after. We are working to bend Turkish intransigence and create the prospects for the resumption of meaningful talks. And I really think that despite the problems and challenges, the appointment of the personal envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as a recognition of our own political will, can, yes, lead us to the resumption of negotiations. And we will continue to take initiatives in this direction because we are more interested than anyone else in ending the occupation and reuniting our homeland.
We cannot be complacent or complacent. With the strength and prestige of the Republic of Cyprus as a Member State of the European Union, with initiatives that highlight the role and importance of our country in the region, we will do everything possible to find a sustainable solution for all legal residents of the country us. This is our goal and we are working towards this goal.
Besides, the hero Andreas Christofides and his fellow competitors show us the way. The way of consistency, stability in our principles, unyielding and sacrificial love for the country and fearless zeal to defend the rights of our people” concluded the President.
He fell fighting in 1964
Andreas Christofidiswas born on October 15, 1939 in the village of Pano Amiantos. His parents are Nikolas (Aipaulitis) Christofidis and Eleni Nikolaou. The family had two more children, Irinarchos Christofidis and Eleftheria Christofidis Angelidis. He studied, among others, at Apeiteio Gymnasium Agro between the years 1952-1956. An excellent student and a very good connoisseur of Greek, but also of the English language. Growing up in a family with strict principles, values ​​and ideals, he started from a very young age (16 years old) with his rich activity in the liberation struggle of 1955-1959 with the nickname 'Fearless', with initiatives, actions and actions, defying the dangers even and for his own life.
On May 23, 1961 he joined the Cyprus Police (Constable 1641) serving in various Departments and Services. On February 6, 1964, he participated in the battle against the Turks in the village of Agios Sozomenos, where unfortunately he was mortally wounded along with the members of the Police Charalambos Varnavas from Lakatamia, Andreas Loukas from Anarita and Tasos Konstantinou from Anafotia. In the same battle, the farm guard Takis Michael from Pyroi and the 17-year-old student Dimitris Hamatsos from Dali were also killed.
Those who had the opportunity to meet him sketch a Leventi with a distinguished personality, with high ideals and principles. . He stood out for the stability of his character, his determination, but also for his respect for his fellow human beings.
The letter of the then Chief to Andrea's father
The then Chief of Police Charalambos Hassapis noted among other things in his letter to Andreas' father:
“The your son fell fighting heroically in the performance of his duties, fighting and defending the ideal of freedom and the integrity of our Greek homeland, you showed unparalleled heroism and self-sacrifice”.
