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It was in 1481 when
Krokodeilos Kladas and the Maniot fighters revolted. They reached as far as
Epirus and liberated the region of Himara. Unassisted by the West, which had
encouraged him, Kladas was captured nine years later and flayed alive.
In 1489, the last of
the Byzantine imperial house, Andreas Palaiologos, raised the revolutionary
flag in Ottoman-occupied Greece. From 1492, the revolutionary wind took the
form of a crusade, allied with Charles VIII of France. Five thousand
revolutionaries liberated Epirus and a large part of Thessaly. The struggle was
so powerful (writes Konstantinos Sathas) that the Turks "withdrew from the
coasts and prepared to abandon Constantinople." However, a coalition of
Christian states allied against Charles, who was forced to return to France.
Left helpless, the Greeks were mercilessly slaughtered. By 1496, the revolution
had died out.
New revolutionary
movements from 1525 to 1533 resulted in the slaughter of Greeks: In Rhodes, of
Metropolitan Efthymios and the notables. In the Peloponnese, of the
revolutionaries abandoned in Methoni by the Knights of Malta. And, in 1565, the
uprising in Epirus—triggered by the devshirme (the forced levy of Christian
children)—was drowned in blood.
The Battle of Lepanto
in 1571, which resulted in the destruction of the Ottoman fleet, gave new hope
to the rayahs (oppressed subjects). The alliance of the Venetians, Spaniards,
and the Pope prompted a new revolution. The insurgents were abandoned once again.
Slaughters followed in Parnassida, Thessaloniki, and the Aegean. The
Metropolitans of Patras and Thessaloniki were burned alive.
A new uprising broke
out in Acarnania and Epirus in 1585: The armatoloi (local Christian militia
leaders) Theodoros Bouas Grivas of Vonitsa, and Poulios, Drakos, and Malamos of
Epirus liberated Vonitsa, Xiromero, and Arta, and marched toward Ioannina. However,
they were defeated, and many were killed.
From 1609 to 1624, the
Duke of Nevers of France and the Greeks organized an ambitious plan to drive
the Turks out of Greece, creating a Christian army that would join the
revolutionaries. The plan was never put into effect. However, during these
fifteen years, the Maniots revolted several times, while the Metropolitan of
Trikala, Dionysios, stirred up the peasants and, in 1616, campaigned against
Ioannina and captured the city. He was ultimately defeated, captured, and
flayed alive.
In 1659, a new Maniot
revolution broke out, lasting until 1667. Three years later, the Stefanopoulos
family and other Maniots fled to Corsica. Consecutive uprisings of the Greeks,
starting from 1660, were instigated by the Venetians. Morosini fought naval
battles and waged war against the Turks, reinforced by enthusiastic Greek
revolutionaries.
From 1711, another
great power became involved in Greece: the Tsar of Russia, Peter the Great,
issued a proclamation calling on the Greeks to revolt. He named himself
"Emperor of the Russo-Greeks," fuelling their imagination. In the
churches, they commemorated his name, and the text of Agathangelos prophesied
the salvation that "the blonde race would bring." Fifty-five years
later, the world-dominating plans of Catherine the Great led to the revolution
of 1766 and the Orlov Revolt of 1770. The revolutionaries were abandoned once
again. They endured until 1779, when peace was restored to the Peloponnese.
The very next year, in
1780, the Turks set out to wipe out the klephts (anti-Ottoman insurgents) of
the Peloponnese. The Kolokotronis clan resisted for twelve days and nights in
Mani and then made a heroic breakout. Most were lost. The ten-year-old Theodoros
Kolokotronis, his mother, and one of his sisters were the only ones who
survived.
In 1788, the Souliotes
revolted. That same year, the small fleet of Lambros Katsonis appeared at sea.
He was a chiliarch (colonel) in the Russian army. The warlord Andritsos, with
500 klephts, manned the ships. Until 1790, they smashed the Turks multiple
times in naval battles. That year (1790), in a terrible clash between Andros
and Euboea, he soundly defeated the Turks at sea but was left with only seven
ships. The next day, he found himself between two enemy fleets and was
defeated. Lambros Katsonis and Andritsos continued to fight.
In 1792, Russia and
Turkey signed a peace treaty. Katsonis refused to lay down his arms and issued
a proclamation, the famous "Manifesto of Chiliarch Lambros Katsonis,"
in which he denounced Catherine and declared that the Greeks would gain their
freedom on their own. Katsonis and Andritsos were defeated at Cape Tainaron and
parted ways. Katsonis retired. Andritsos with his 500 men, fighting for forty
days and nights, managed to reach Preveza.
The Souliote revolution
ended on December 12, 1803, with a treaty that allowed them to leave with their
weapons. Ali Pasha, however, broke the truce and pursued them. On December 23,
a group of Souliotes found themselves in Riniasa, between Preveza and Arta.
Hordes of Albanians fell upon them and slaughtered them. Despo Botsi, with ten
daughters, granddaughters, and grandchildren, managed to fortify herself in the
Dimoulas tower. The Albanians besieged her. She resisted as long as she could.
In the end, they all blew themselves up so as not to fall alive into enemy
hands. Kitsos Botsaris managed to reach Agrafa, where the Albanians caught up
with him. He fortified himself in a monastery and held out until the following
April. Only eighty managed to escape.
A new revolutionary
wave swept through Greece in 1806, from the Peloponnese to Macedonia, as the
Russians and Napoleon's French competed to win over the Greeks. Once again, the
insurgents were left to their fate, and the Turks took their revenge out on them.
In the Peloponnese, the Turks wanted to finish off the Kolokotronis clan.
Theodoros Kolokotronis's companions did not want to leave. They fought for
months before being forced to cross over to Kythira and, from there, to
Zakynthos. This was followed by the epic exploits of Nikotsaras in Macedonia
and Yiannis Stathas in the Aegean, which forced the Sublime Porte to negotiate
with the revolutionaries.
In 1814, the Filiki
Eteria (Society of Friends) was founded. Seven years later, the 124th uprising
broke out, leading to freedom.
The Greeks struggled
and shed blood for centuries for their freedom. It is the best answer to the
revisionists of our history who try to convince us that the Greek Nation was
"manufactured."
Greece may be
smaller in size and population, compared to Turkey, but its Armed Forces are
built on professionalism, advanced technology, exceptional training, and
unwavering determination. Throughout history, Greece has repeatedly shown that
courage, preparedness, and national unity outweigh numerical superiority.
With its modern
air power, strong naval tradition, and highly capable personnel, Greece remains
a reliable guardian of peace, freedom, and stability in the Eastern
Mediterranean. When it comes to defending its sovereignty, the spirit of the
Hellenic nation has always been its greatest strength.
Κρατώ τα μάτια σφαλιστά.
Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησόν
με.
Όλα πιο καθαρά μπροστά
μου. Την ομίχλη του ο Άθωνας την στολίζεται μονάχος. Και κείνη δεν
παραπονιέται… Στην κορυφή της Μεταμόρφωσης προτιμά να παραμένει σαν άλλος
μετανοημένος μαθητής… Καλόν ημάς εστί ώδε είναι…
Βήματα απαράλλαχτα,
μετρημένα τώρα στο μονοπάτι του Ουρανού… Πατήματα στο χώμα, σκαμμένοι
οδοδείκτες για το κελί του Αγίου. Η γη κρατά στο φόρεμά της, μονάχα όσα με
φιλότιμο πόνο και πίστη χαράχτηκαν απάνω της. Για τα άλλα βρίσκει χώμα ξερικό
και τα απαλείφει στη στιγμή.
Κρατώ τα μάτια σφαλιστά.
Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησόν
με.
Δεν λοξοδρομούν οι ψυχές
όταν ελπίζουν. Προσμένει ο Όσιος κεραστής με γλύκα και δροσιά να τις φιλέψει.
Φτάνω ξανά στην αυλή της Παναγούδας. Οι αισθήσεις, ακονισμένες ψάχνουν για
ακήρατες πλευρές του Δεσπότη Χριστού να τον ψηλαφίσουν. Οι μνήμες ερημήτικα πουλιά ταξιδευτές, σαν τον Όλετ τον
φτερωτό προσκυνητή που άφοβα ακόμα τρώει και πίνει απ’ τη χούφτα του Αγίου.
Θαύματα και θαυμάσια ίχνη του Γέροντα τόσα χρόνια μετά. Σαν να μην κύλησε ποτέ
ο χρόνος. Όλα όπως τα άφησε, όλα όπως τα ευλόγησε. Όλα όπως τα οικονομεί.
Κρατώ τα μάτια σφαλιστά.
Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησόν
με.
Τώρα στην αγιόκαρπη γη
τυπώνονται ίχνη από γόνατα. Μυριαρίθμητα ζευγάρια γόνατα, που στέκουν στην
μεγάλη σειρά της ευγνωμοσύνης, καρτερώντας με υπομονή και δάκρυα, λίγο-λίγο να
φτάσει η ώρα που θα τον συναντήσουν, μετανοίζοντας στο μέρος της καρδιάς του, που εκείνος έλεγε
πως είναι πολύ μικρή για να χωρέσει την απέραντη αγάπη του Κυρίου. Κι όμως
αυτήν την καρδιά την πλάτυνε τόσο ο Χριστός, που πάνω της ανάπαυσε και λύτρωσε
έναν Παράδεισο ψυχές…
Ζήλεψαν τώρα τα χείλη τα
ευλογημένα γόνατα. Πόθησαν κι αυτά να συναντηθούν με το ευωδιαστό χώμα στο
ταπεινό του κιβούρι, στη σκιά του
Παρθένου μαθητή, στου Θεολόγου το μοναστηράκι.
Κρατώ τα μάτια σφαλιστά.
Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησόν
με.
Ξανά στην ταπεινή καλύβη
του Γέροντα. Παραμονές της Αγίας Ευφημίας. Μαζί κάνουν στρωτές μπρος στη χάρτινη εικονίτσα της Αγίας
Τριάδας, όπως εκείνο το πρωινό μετά την
ενάτη στο κελί, στον Τίμιο Σταυρό ήταν τότε. Και ύστερα ξανακάθονται, εκείνη
στο σκαμνί κι αυτός στο μπαουλάκι του, να μιλήσουν για τα φριχτά μαρτύριά της
και το αντιδόξασμα του Ουρανού.
Δεν σταματά του θέρους η
καμπάνα να διαλαλεί την Αγία μνήμη. Δεν
σταματά το συναξάρι να αφήνει χώρο για νέους αθλητές, για νέες παρηγορίες,
νέους στρατιώτες παρακλήτους. Γεμάτος από κορυφές και ψηλώματα λιόχαρα ο Ιούλης.
Στις έντεκα η Αγία Ευφημούλα! Μια μέρα ύστερα ο ασκητής της Παναγούδας, του
Θεού ο ασυρματιστής, ένσαρκος Άγγελος κι αυτός σαν τον Θεσβίτη. Χωρίς πύρινο
άρμα όμως στο δρομολόι του Ουρανού… Παναγούδα –Σουρωτή.
Με μάτια σφαλιστά και στα
χείλη η ευχή του Ιησού δια πρεσβειών του.
Τόσο βαστάει τούτη η
διαδρομή…
Νώντας Σκοπετέας
Το βίντεο είναι εδώ
Στην Ελληνορθόδοξη
Κοινότητά μας, των Απ. Πέτρου & Παύλου στο Bristol,
διανύουμε την 5η χρονιά των Πνευματικών Συνάξεων. Η τέταρτη ομιλία για
φέτος, μέσα στο πλαίσιο των Πνευματικών Συνάξεων, δόθηκε χθες, Κυριακή 12η
Ιουλίου 2026, με μεγάλη επιτυχία.
Ομιλητής ήταν το διακεκριμένο
μέλος της Κοινότητας Σοφοκλής Zανός, Ναυπηγός,
ο οποίος παρουσίασε -με επιστημοσύνη και γλαφυρότητα- το εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέρον
θέμα: «Η Ναυτική Παράδοση του Ελληνισμού».
Το βίντεο της ομιλίας είναι
εδώ
The Ancient
Greeks were the first Europeans to invent an alphabet, paving the way for all
modern European languages!
Their writing
evolved from mysterious origins - some say it began with Proto-Greek speakers
as early as 2500 BC, others believe it came even earlier!
Imagine how this
ancient alphabet shaped the way we communicate today!
Η Ελληνορθόδοξη
Κοινότητα των Αγίων Αποστόλων Πέτρου και Παύλου στο Bristol
συνεχίζει και φέτος τον επιτυχημένο θεσμό των Πνευματικών Συνάξεων,
προσφέροντας ευκαιρίες πνευματικής καλλιέργειας, γνώσης και δημιουργικού
διαλόγου. Την Κυριακή 12 Ιουλίου 2026, στις 12.15 μ.μ. (ώρα Αγγλίας) και
2.15 μ.μ. (ώρα Ελλάδος και Κύπρου), έχουμε τη χαρά να φιλοξενούμε τον κ.
Σοφοκλή Ζανό, Ναυπηγό, ο οποίος θα αναπτύξει ένα ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον και ακραιφνώς
ελληνικό θέμα. Όσοι δεν έχουν τη δυνατότητα να παρευρεθούν στον Ιερό Ναό θα
μπορούν να παρακολουθήσουν τη σύναξη ζωντανά μέσω της διαδικτυακής μετάδοσης
της Κοινότητάς μας.
Η
ομιλία με θέμα «Η Ναυτική Παράδοση του Ελληνισμού» θα αναδείξει τη
διαχρονική σχέση του Ελληνισμού με τη θάλασσα, από την αρχαιότητα έως τη
σύγχρονη εποχή. Μέσα από ιστορικές αναφορές, ναυπηγικά στοιχεία και
πολιτισμικές προσεγγίσεις, θα παρουσιαστεί ο καθοριστικός ρόλος της ελληνικής
ναυτοσύνης στη διαμόρφωση της ιστορίας, του εμπορίου, της επικοινωνίας των λαών
και της διάδοσης του ελληνικού πολιτισμού. Πρόκειται για μια ιδιαίτερα επίκαιρη
και ενδιαφέρουσα εισήγηση, η οποία αναδεικνύει μια από τις σημαντικότερες
πτυχές της ταυτότητας και της διαχρονικής προσφοράς του Ελληνισμού στον κόσμο.
A distinguished
theological, ecumenical and ecclesiastical personality, namely The Revd Canon
Dr William Taylor, an Anglican Priest and eminent scholar, has died in Guy's
Hospital at around 11:00 am on Tuesday 7th July.
The Revd Canon Dr
William Taylor was the Chairman of the Anglican and Eastern Churches
Association and Vicar of St John Notting Hill. He had worked and lived in
Jordan, Cairo, and Turkey; served in parishes in England, as a Chaplain in the
Middle East, on the ecumenical staff of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth
Palace, and as Dean of Portsmouth Cathedral.
He had travelled and
lectured extensively throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. A linguist by
training and inclination, his languages included Syriac, Arabic, and
Turkish.
His publications
include Light from the East, Christians in the Holy Land (ed), Ahl al Dhimmi: A
Study of minorities in Islam, Christianity in Iraq, Antioch and Canterbury, and
Narratives of Identity - a copy of which was presented to HRH The Prince of
Wales in 2013 - and Turkey, Looking Behind and Before (ed).
His Ph.D, from SOAS, is
on the dhimmi system of the Orthodox Churches in the late Ottoman Empire.
Fr William requested
that his body be donated to The London Anatomy Office for anatomical
examination.
May his memory be eternal.
Photo: Fr.
William (on the left) on Friday 1st February 2019 at his Church of St. John in
London, during the official presentation of the publication of Dr. Demetris
Salapatas’ Doctoral Thesis.
