Andreas Karyos

He was born in the village of Avgorou¹, Famagusta district, on July 16, 1926.

He fell on September 2, 1958 in the battle of Achyronas² in Liopetri.

Andreas Karyos attended the primary school of his village. He had a great aptitude for learning, attended private lessons and was very well-versed in theology, accounting, English and Greek literature. He was a member of the PEC, he took the lead in the establishment of the SEK, the PEON and the religious association in Avgorou. He was initiated early on into the efforts to liberate Cyprus and the upcoming struggle.

In early January 1955 he became associated with Grigoris Afxentiou and throughout February of the same year he devoted himself to recruiting men for the prepared struggle of EOKA. He was the organizer and first person in charge of EOKA Avgorou.

On April 1, 1955, he took part in the operation to cut the electric cables near the village of Avgorou, during which Modestos Panteli was killed by an electric shock and he himself suffered serious burns, which Modestos lifted on his back. Their attempt was to cause a general blackout.

He was arrested several times for his actions and was wanted after his group attacked the Achna police station³.

In November 1956, he was arrested in Ormideia⁴ and imprisoned in the Pyla⁵ detention center, from where he escaped on March 12, 1958, together with the hero Fotis Pittas and two other activists. After the escape, he continued his activities as a sub-district commander in the Kokkinochoria⁶ area. His contribution to the organizational sector and enlightenment was particularly important. He was a man of God. Everything he did, he did with faith in God and the Fatherland.

On September 2, 1958, he was surrounded together with three of his activists in a makeshift hiding place in the Liopetri Barn, which they made a monument of pan-Hellenic importance with their heroic death. Karyos, in addition to his Greek example of sacrifice, also left us many written texts, poems, letters, etc. He was undoubtedly one of the important figures of the EOKA struggle.