The bells rang mournfully and everyone's eyes welled up. The land of Kleisoura, the land in which they sacrificed themselves, embraced them forever. In a climate of deep emotion and with a delay of about eighty years, the funeral of 85 Greek soldiers who had fallen on the front took place. Their bones had been gathered at various points, on the heights and necks of Kleisoura, and were kept in the Holy Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, where the Greek Military Cemetery is also located. Greece fulfilled its duty. Even if it took almost eight decades. The 85 Greek soldiers rest forever next to about six hundred others whose burial had taken place a few months earlier.
The military cemetery in Kleisoura was built about a decade ago on the initiative of Archbishop Anastasios. It was also on his own initiative that the entire monastic complex in the shadow of the Kleisoura mountains was reconstructed.
The funeral service for the 85 Greek soldiers was performed by Metropolitan Demetrios of Gjirokastra, while other priests from the area also attended.
Moved himself and interpreting the feelings of all those present, he expressed eternal gratitude for the sacrifice of the heroes. A sacrifice for the freedom and dignity of the Greeks and of all the peoples of Europe.
The soldiers' bones had been examined by anthropologists and forensic experts within the framework of the implementation of the bilateral Agreement.
The ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General Konstantinos Aggos, on behalf of the National Defense General Staff, Brigadier General Christos Bakirtzis, the Commander of the Navy General Staff Spyros Skourtsidis, the First Secretary of the Greek Embassy in Tirana Grigoris Delavekouras, representatives of the Greek Consulate in Gjirokastra, the President of Omonia Vasilis Kagios, the President of KEAD Vangelis Doules, Giorgos Sourlas as a representative of the Union of Children and Relatives of the Fallen of the Epic, as well as people from the minority who see that the obligation towards history is being fulfilled.
Also present were the teams of field experts From greece And albania, coordinated on behalf of the greek side by Officer Nikolaos kyrkos, who has excellent work to present.
Wreaths were laid at the large cross that dominates the narrow streets of Kleisoura. A few laurel branches for the sacrifice that passed into eternity...
The ceremony, officiated by the Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Mr. Demetrios, was attended by representatives of the Greek Ministry of Defense, the Embassy of Greece in Tirana, as well as the Association of Relatives and Friends of the Fallen.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses satisfaction that almost 70 years after their sacrifice, the souls of the Greek fallen soldiers will finally rest in peace and welcomes the cooperation with the Albanian side on this particularly sensitive and humanitarian issue, emphasizing the importance it attaches to the rapid completion of the work on the ground and the full implementation of this intergovernmental agreement between Greece and Albania.
Reports and photos from EpirusPost.gr
