Petros Heliadis

He was born in Agros¹, Limassol district, in 1932.

He died on the morning of June 15, 1956 in Nicosia² from injuries he had sustained the previous night.

Petros Heliadis attended the primary school of his village and was a graduate of the Apeiteio Higher School of Agros. He worked in Nicosia as a grocer. He was a member of OHEN and was distinguished for his religious and patriotic feelings. He joined EOKA at the beginning of the Struggle and belonged to the same group as the heroes Iakovos Patatsos and Panagiotis Georgiadis.

Initially, he offered his services in enlightenment, in the concealment and movement of weapons and correspondence and in the recruitment of young people for the struggle. He then sought more action and joined the Nicosia strike groups, where the Organization was most needed.

On June 14, 1956, he managed to approach the post office of the then Metaxas Square, today's Eleftherias Square , through a narrow alley, for a bombing attack against the British. On the roof of the building there was a guard with British soldiers, by whom he was noticed. He was shot with an automatic weapon while he was preparing to throw his bomb. Petros Heliadis, seriously injured, fell on Thraki Street³ and was transferred to the Nicosia General Hospital. He underwent a long operation by Greek doctors, who, however, were unable to save him. He had been shot by two bullets that pierced his right lung, stomach and intestines. He died on the morning of June 15, 1956.

At his funeral, which took place in Agros, his father, who was proud of his morals and patriotism, bid him farewell with a laurel wreath, saying: