Early Life and Education
Panayiotis Chrysostomos was born in 1921 in the village of Stylloi, located in the Famagusta province. He received his primary education at the local Stylloi elementary school. After completing his studies, he established his life in the city of Famagusta.
Profession and Path to Resistance
Chrysostomos worked professionally as a shoemaker. During the 1950s, he made the consequential decision to join the E.O.K.A. organization. This Cypriot nationalist group was actively fighting to end British colonial rule. His membership in this movement would ultimately define his legacy and lead to his arrest by British security forces in October 1958.
The forgotten Hero
On October 3, 1958, British security forces arrested fighter Panagiotis Chrysostomou. They seized him inside his Famagusta home. Soldiers wearing red berets beat him at the scene. They then forced him into an army vehicle.
Witness to Brutality
Other arrested Cypriots shared harrowing testimony. They stated that soldiers continued the abuse at the camp. Two soldiers trampled on Panagiotis. One pulled his arm while the other beat him severely. The assault continued until Panagiotis lost consciousness.
The Medical Evidence
A government pathologist conducted the autopsy. The examination revealed extensive bruising across his body. The violence had broken seven of his ribs. The pathologist concluded that these injuries caused a fatal cardiac arrest.
A Life Remembered
Panagiotis Chrysostomou remains one of Cyprus’s many unheralded freedom fighters. This shoemaker from Stylloi answered his nation’s call by joining EOKA’s struggle. His story, like so many others, has faded from public memory despite its profound sacrifice.
An Enduring Legacy
Though his name rarely appears in history books, Chrysostomou’s sacrifice embodies the high price paid for Cypriot liberty. He represents the countless ordinary citizens who demonstrated extraordinary courage. Remembering his story honours all those who fought and died in obscurity for Cyprus’s freedom.
