Grigoris Afxentiou: The Greek-Cyprus Hero Who Defied the English
Grigoris Afxentiou is a hero of the Greek-Cypriot struggle against the British rulers on the island. He held the second-highest rank in the hierarchy of EOKA (National Organization of Cypriot Fighters) and met his end in a battle near the Holy Monastery of Machairas, where he was killed by the British.
Born in the village of Lysi in Famagusta on February 22, 1928, Auxentiou, upon graduating from high school, traveled to Greece to study at the Hellenic Military Academy. Eventually admitted to the Reserve Officers' School, he concurrently pursued studies at the Faculty of Philosophy. Serving as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Greek-Bulgarian border region, he later returned to Cyprus and worked as a taxi driver.
On January 20, 1955, Afxentiou had his first encounter with Georgios Grivas, known as Digenis - Grivas, the leader of EOKA. This marked his entry into the struggle against the British. In the spring of the same year, he participated in attacks against the Electricity Company and the Radio Station in Nicosia. Quickly distinguishing himself for his leadership skills, Afxentiou was appointed Deputy Leader of EOKA, the largest liberation organization on the island, with the primary goal of the Union of Cyprus with Greece. During his brief resistance activities, he adopted the aliases "Zidros," "Rigas," "Aiantas," "Aris," "Mastros," and "Zotos."
The British occupiers made numerous attempts to capture him, putting a bounty of 5,000 pounds on his head. Afxentiou consistently eluded them, never losing his courage. Once, he disguised himself as a monk and offered refreshments to his English pursuers without being recognized. On June 10, 1955, he seized the opportunity to marry his beloved Vasiliki at the monastery of Acheropoietos.
On December 12, 1955, Auxentiou and the entire hierarchy of EOKA were trapped by the British on Mount Troodos, near the village of Spilia. Not only did Afxentiou lead his comrades to safety, but he also allowed the British to engage in friendly fire, resulting in multiple casualties among them.
In late February 1957, British security forces received information from a shepherd that Afxentiou and his group were hiding in a cave near the Monastery of Machairas on Mount Troodos.
Immediately, a detachment of 60 soldiers arrived in the afternoon of March 2, surrounded the cave, and called for Auxentiou to surrender. The leader of the British detachment, Sub-Lieutenant Middleton, approached the entrance and shouted, "Drop your weapons and surrender, or we will attack." Someone replied, "We surrender." Four men came out, but not Afxentiou. Middleton called him again to surrender, but received the proud response, "Molon Labe" (Come and take them).
At that moment, four soldiers rushed into the cave. Afxentiou greeted them with a hail of bullets. The three British soldiers retreated in fear, while the fourth, a lance corporal, fell dead. Middleton called for reinforcements, which arrived immediately by helicopter. The battle continued for 10 hours, with no success for the attackers.
Faced with Afxentiou's indomitable courage and after exhausting all kinds of weapons, the British threw petrol bombs into the cave. Huge flames engulfed the cave, soon wrapping Auxentiou's body. The battle ended at 2 am on March 3, 1957. The heroic patriot's charred remains were discovered and buried the next day in the Central Prisons of Nicosia, in the area now known as "Ta Filakismena Mnimata." Gregoris Auxentiou was only 29 years old.