Funeral of Konstantinos Tsitiridis, the ELDYK soldier missing for 50 years, since the invasion of Cyprus

By: newgreektv.com

Jun 17 2024
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Funeral of Konstantinos Tsitir

Soldier Konstantinos Tsitiridis of the Hellenic Forces on Cyprus-ELDYK, who was killed duting the Turkinsh invasion of Cyprus and who had been missing for 50 years, "returned" to his hometown, Krya Vrysi Pella. His funeral was brought tears to everyone's eyes.

My brother, finally today you will rest after 50 years. I'm sure you're celebrating today my brother, because your name has been erased from the list of the missing and entered the list of heroes and immortals. Today, you are celebrating and yet the bells are ringing mournfully."

With a heartbreaking speech, tears in her eyes and a voice that "broke" every time she turned her gaze towards the ossuary with her brother's remains wrapped in the Greek and Cypriot flag, Anastasia Tsitiridou said her last goodbye to her brother on Sunday 16 June. Konstantinos Tsitirides, who until recently was included in the long list of the missing from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

At his funeral, which took place on Sunday, in the Holy Church of the Nativity of the Savior in his hometown, Krya Vrysi, after five decades, his sister recounted what her family experienced all these years.

A eulogy that was heard many more times during the funerals, with the first being that of the Cypriot Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athina Michailidou, who represented the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis and was accompanied at the funeral by the Consul General of Cyprus in Thessaloniki Konstantinos Polykarpou.

"With feelings of deep emotion and supreme respect [...] we are burying another worthy child of our country, giving him, as he deserves, the due honor, gratitude and recognition of his heroic sacrifice, for the defense of the dignity of the Republic of Cyprus" the minister emphasized and he referred to the genuine ideals, the non-negotiable principles and the distinct values that characterize the Greek Nation, with which he was nurtured by his family.

Ms. Michailidou, among other things, referred to the identification of the bones of Constantinos Tsitiridis, which confirmed, as she said, the struggle and his heroic sacrifice, but also to the honors given to him and other heroes of the struggle, on May 30, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

In this context, he mentioned that among many other actions implemented by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth of Cyprus, is the decision to include May 19, the Pontian Genocide Remembrance Day, in the days of official ceremonies in the schools of the Republic of Cyprus.

Ms. Michailidou also referred to the ongoing struggle to ascertain the fate of all the missing persons, but also to the ongoing effort for a sustainable solution to the Cyprus conflict.