The Lady of Lapithos, a Midwife Beloved by Two Communities
The Lady of Lapithos Efrosini Proestou lived in Lapithos, a coastal town in northern Cyprus. She worked as a midwife, bringing countless children into the world. Both Greek and Turkish Cypriot families trusted her completely. She was called “The Lady of Lapithos” out of deep respect. Her hands delivered babies from both communities without discrimination. This reputation would later save her life in the most dramatic way possible.
Courage Under Fire
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus reached Lapithos on August 6, 1974. Turkish forces quickly occupied the town. During the chaos, twelve Greek Cypriot soldiers found themselves trapped behind enemy lines. They could not escape or surrender safely. Desperate and hunted, they turned to the one person they trusted: Efrosini Proestou.
She did not hesitate hidding the twelve men in a cave near her house. Every day, she brought them food and water. Every night, she checked on their safety risking execution for this act of mercy. Turkish soldiers eventually discovered her secret. They arrested her and subjected her to brutal torture. They demanded the soldiers’ location. She refused to speak.
A Miraculous Last-Minute Reprieve
Turkish authorities sentenced Proestou to death by firing squad. Soldiers marched her to the execution site. They raised their rifles. At that exact moment, a Turkish Cypriot officer stepped forward. He recognized her face. He shouted for everyone to stop. He explained that this woman had delivered him at birth. She had brought him into this world. Now he would spare her from leaving it.
The officer’s intervention saved her life. The army did not release her, however. They imprisoned her in Kyrenia Castle for eight months. She endured harsh conditions but never regretted her actions.
An Enduring Legacy
After her release, Proestou moved to Nicosia. The twelve soldiers she saved never forgot her sacrifice. They supported her and her children until her death on April 17, 1993. She was 93 years old.
Cyprus honours her memory to this day. The Cyprus Post issued a commemorative stamp featuring her image in 2021. A short animated film tells her story to younger generations. Efrosini Proestou represents the best of humanity: selfless courage in the face of certain death. The Lady of Lapithos remains a true Cypriot heroine.
