Early Life and Character

Prodromos Xenophontos was born in 1941 in the village of Agridaki, Kyrenia. He completed primary school in his village as an excellent student. His father’s financial difficulties forced him to end his formal studies. He then began working as a foundryman. Prodromos possessed a bold and adventurous spirit, with a great love for hunting and sports.

Dedication to the Cause

In August 1957, at just sixteen years old, Prodromos took the EOKA oath. He insisted on joining the fight and worked alongside his brothers. His initial duties involved distributing leaflets, making announcements using a loudspeaker, and monitoring the movements of British soldiers. He also actively helped establish national-minded associations in Agridaki, an effort that Kyriakos Matsis, the area leader, highly valued. Prodromos served on the committees for both the religious association and the new youth guild in his village.

Taking Up a Dangerous Role

When British forces arrested his older brother Zacharias, who supplied the rebel groups in Kyparissovounos, Prodromos immediately assumed the dangerous responsibility. On November 7, 1958, he and a comrade set out to deliver food to the guerrillas.

Capture, Torture, and Death

The English had prior information about his mission. They discovered the food cache and found shoe tracks nearby, which provided them with evidence. They subsequently arrested him. British interrogators at the Zefyros detention centre then subjected him to exhaustive questioning and horrific torture. He refused to reveal any information. The torture killed him. When the authorities returned his body to his family after four days, his skull was fractured from an iron hoop, a tool the English used in their torture. They had also removed all of his fingernails.