The first appearance of EOKA on April 1, 1955

On april 1, 1955, The cypriot People celebrate the day on which the armed struggle of the cypriot fighters Of eOKA (National Organization Of Cypriot Fighters) Against the british Began.

The EOKA Struggle had the exclusive aim of the freedom of Cyprus and its union with Greece.

Η ηρωική έξοδος και η πτώση του Μεσολογγίου την 10η Απριλίου του 1826

THE RACE: Half an hour after midnight on April 1, 1955, deafening noises, explosions and bombings at power and police stations as well as at the Cyprus Radio Station (CBC) haunted all the cities of the island that night and were the starting point of the struggle for the unification of Cyprus with Greece.

The first person to die was Modestos Pantelis, from an electric shock, while, according to the story, he was trying to cut cables that had fallen into fog.

The first eOKA proclamation Was released the same night and as the military leader of the organization, "Digenis" signed. George Grivas Digenis he was a passionate anti-communist as he was the leader of the "X" organization during the occupation of Greece and had taken part in the December uprising against ELAS in Athens. The political leader was Archbishop Makarios, while the deputy leader was Gregory Afxentiou, reserve officer.

The EOKA struggle was quickly embraced by the entire Cypriot people.. Men, women and children, each as they could, left their mark in this unequal struggle. The superiority of the English was obvious, the meager armament of the Cypriots and their inexperience in the art of war was not able to break them. On the contrary, their stubbornness and longing for freedom armed them with courage and drive.

In March 1956, the British arrested Archbishop Makarios, along with the then Metropolitan of Kyrenia, who had sworn allegiance to the fighters, and Polycarp Ioannides. All of them were exiled to the Seychelles. However, Makarios continued his political struggle even from there.

During the struggle, Britain took a strict stance with military operations and executions. The first to be executed, on May 10, 1956, were Michalakis Karaolis and Andreas Dimitriou. They were hanged and buried in the so-called "Imprisoned Tombs" in Nicosia. Others followed, resulting in the burial of 13 fighters in the “Prisoned Tombs”, including Grigoris Afxentiou, who was killed on March 3, 1957, in a hideout in the Monastery of Machairas. In order to eliminate him, the British were forced to drop gasoline from helicopters on his hideout and burn him alive, since he had refused to surrender.

This struggle lasted until 1959, and During its course there were hundreds of deaths in battles, sabotage and ambushes. Many fighters watered the cypriot soil with their blood, but not in vain.

From Union to Independence! The struggle and bloodshed of the Cypriots did not succeed in achieving the goal of the Union of Cyprus with Greece, but they managed to gain their independence. With the signing of the Zurich-London Agreements, the EOKA Liberation Struggle ended and preparations began for the creation of the new state. On 16 August 1960, the Republic of Cyprus was officially established, marking a new historical period for Cyprus.

Today, April 1st, is a day of celebration, joy and parades for the Cypriot people. Honorary day for the entire Cypriot nation, who fighting like a fist, even with stones, he presented his chest against the fully armed English army, watering with his blood the tree of freedom and valor.