Grigoris Afxentiou
| Grigoris Afxentiou | |
|---|---|
Bronze statue of Grigoris Afxentiou
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| Born |
February 22, 1928 Lysi, Famagusta District, Cyprus
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| Died | March 3, 1957 (aged 29) near Machairas Monastery, Nicosia District |
| Nationality | Cypriot |
Grigoris Pieris Afxentiou (Greek: Γρηγόρης Πιερής Αυξεντίου; 1928–1957) was a guerrilla fighter who fought against the British rule of Cyprus and is considered a national hero. In the hierarchy of EOKA he was second in command to general Georgios Grivas. His nom-de-guerre was Zidhros/Zēdros (Ζήδρος).
Afxentiou was born in the village of Lyssi in Mesaoria, Famagusta District on February 22, 1928 to Pieris and Antonia Afxentiou. He had a younger sister called Chrystala. He attended Lyssi primary school and received his secondary education at the Hellenic Gymnasium in the nearest city, Famagusta. Reports by those who knew him were that he was a keen sportsman and passionate about football. He supported Anorthosis, one of the strongest clubs in Famagusta.
He left for Greece where he was unsuccessful in gaining a place at the Hellenic Military Academy in Athens. In December 1949 he joined the Hellenic Army as a volunteer. From March to October 1950, he attended the Infantry Reserve Officers' Academy on the island of Syros. He then served with the Hellenic Army on the Greek-Bulgarian frontier, as a second lieutenant, before returning to Cyprus and joining the EOKA struggle.
He was discharged from the ranks of the Greek Army on November 15, 1953 and returned to Cyprus, where he helped his father with his business by working as a taxi driver. At that time he also got engaged to be married.
Afxentiou joined the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) where he soon became Second in Command, adjutant to EOKA leader George Grivas. He was originally assigned the regional command of the district of Famagusta which he knew well. It was Grigoris Afxentiou who first thought of obtaining explosives from the sea bed, in shallow waters off the coast of Famagusta, as used by local fishermen to dynamite fish. Explosives were made from the surplus shells dumped in the sea by the British Army at the end of Second World War. Afxentiou was well liked by his peers and it did not take long for General Grivas to promote him to Commander of the Kyrenia district.
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