Theodoros Zenonos

He was born in the village of Choletria¹, in the district of Pafos, on July 8, 1937.

He was killed on July 30, 1958 in his hometown by a bomb explosion.

Theodoros Zenonos attended the primary school of his village and attended night classes. He was engaged in agriculture. He was a member of the Panagrotic Union of Cyprus, PEK.

At the age of 19, he was the animator of the youth and the preacher of the Greek idea in his village, leading every patriotic outing. He was associated with the rebels of the region as their liaison and feeder and took part with them in many attacks against the English.

His father, who was the community leader of the village, when he realized his son’s action, asked his whole family to join the struggle. From then on, their house became the refuge of the rebels, where the wanted persons of the surrounding mountains found family comfort in the face of Theodoros’ mother, whom everyone called “mother” at her suggestion.

“My house is your house, and I am your mother.” With these words, the fighting heroine used to welcome her son’s friends every time.

At dawn on July 30, 1958, two army vehicles arrived at his village with their lights off. The militia gave the signal and the villagers attacked the soldiers with sticks and stones. They shot, wounded a woman and a boy and left. Before they left the village, Theodoros rushed to hit them with a grenade. However, in his attempt to achieve his goal, the grenade exploded in his hands and killed him.

His funeral, which was attended by the surrounding communities, was a national wake-up call.