Christos Samaras
Timeline Events
He was born in the village of Liopetri1, Famagusta district, on February 12, 1925.
He fell in the battle of Achyronas2 in Liopetri on September 2, 1958.
Christos Samaras attended the primary school of his village until the fourth grade. However, he was a studious person and continued his self-education, reading especially religious books and Greek history. He also learned Byzantine music and sang in the church of Liopetri. He was the founder of the OHEN of Liopetri and the leader of the Christian movement in the surrounding villages.
In 1954 he joined a secret organization that was preparing the armed struggle against the British.
In January 1955 he joined Grigoris Afxentiou, whom Digenis himself had meanwhile informed about EOKA since the beginning of the same month.
Throughout February 1955, as the head of EOKA in Liopetri, Samaras was very active in recruiting members to the ranks of EOKA, together with Andreas Karyos and Grigoris Afxentiou.
In early March 1955, at the house of Christos Samaras, the first members of the Liopetri group were sworn in and were subsequently trained by Grigoris Afxentiou.
On April 1, 1955, with the beginning of the armed action by EOKA, Christos Samaras took part in the attack that took place in Dhekelia3 with Grigoris Afxentiou in charge. He was wanted on the same day and was rewarded with the sum of 5,000 pounds. Since then, he was hiding and developed action in the villages of Liopetri, Limnia, Agios Sergios, Avgorou, Ormideia, Peristeronopigi, Gaidoura, Pyrga, Prastio. His brothers also worked with him in the struggle.
On August 31 to September 1, 1958, Christos Samaras, with his heroic fellow fighters Andreas Karyos, Elias Papakyriakou and Fotis Pittas, were surrounded by strong forces of British soldiers in Liopetri. Their first attempt to break the siege and flee the village failed and they hid in a barn. Christos' brother, Elias, who was arrested for the third time, succumbed to the horrific torture of the British and led them to the barn on September 2, 1958. There the four fighters fought a heroic battle for many hours against the reinforced British forces and all fell fighting.
