HERO HISTORY

Aristidis Charalambous was born on September 19, 1936, in the village of Pedoulas, Nicosia District. He was killed on March 11, 1956, in Pedoulas by a bomb he threw against the British.

Parents: Charalambos and Chrystalla Aristidou

Sisters: Theodosia, Maria, and Chrysanthi

A student and hero of the liberation struggle, Aristidis Charalambous died at the age of 17, fighting to overthrow British rule and achieve Cyprus' union with Greece. He first led student protests at his school before joining EOKA.

He was in his final year at Pedoulas Gymnasium when he was killed. For three years, he studied accounting via correspondence courses, working during the summer to pay his tuition fees.

From the beginning of the EOKA struggle, he was active in the Marathasa region. Some Greek teachers at his school trained students in the use of weapons at the secluded chapel of Panagia Vorini, in the village orchards. Aristidis often transported weapons and assisted mountain guerrillas. His sisters also supported the struggle, with their parents' full backing. His mother participated in stone-throwing protests against the British and was injured alongside one of her daughters.

His principal, Konstantinos Yallourides, an EOKA member, recalled:
"I knew about his nighttime activities and how he returned home in the early hours, but he didn’t know that I knew. One day in class, he protested that I wasn’t calling on him to answer questions. I gave him an excuse, but he wasn’t convinced. So, I changed my approach and started questioning him more often. I was astonished—he was the best in the class! I wondered when he found time to study since he spent most nights in the mountains as a guerrilla!"

Aristidis' mother recounted:
"We worried silently every night he was late returning. But it wasn’t just our son working for EOKA—our daughters took part in demonstrations too, and our secret hope was the liberation of Cyprus and its union with Greece."

Defiance Against the British

Aristidis' bravery was evident in school as well. On October 28, students of Pedoulas Gymnasium raised Greek flags on a mountain opposite the school. During a speech by the principal, British soldiers began taking down the flags. Aristidis, the senior class president, stood up and called out:
"Let’s go, Principal, to defend our flag, as you taught us! We must not let it fall into enemy hands!"

With that cry, 400 students, accompanied by their teachers, rushed outside and forced the British to return the flags, demonstrating their unyielding national spirit.

His Final Battle

In March 1956, Aristidis and his classmates attacked a British military convoy with stones, preventing a major British operation in the surrounding villages. In retaliation, the British rounded up 70 students in the schoolyard under freezing rain, beating them brutally to extract information about EOKA members. Some were arrested and taken to the Platres military camp.

On March 11, 1956, a local EOKA team in Pedoulas planned an ambush on British troops at three locations along the road to Kykkos. Aristidis and his classmate, Takis Hadjioannou, lay in wait in the ‘Anthousa’ area. Aristidis held two handmade grenades. As he attempted to throw one, it exploded in his hand, severing his palm and fatally wounding him in the stomach.

His last words to his comrade were:
"Takis, I am dying for Greece!"

His grieving yet proud mother declared:
"My son gave his life for his homeland—he is worthy of it!"

A Hero’s Farewell

His body was transported from Pentayia Hospital to Pedoulas in a triumphant procession, stopping in every village for people to pay their respects. In Kalopanayiotis, Moutoullas, and Pedoulas, the streets were packed. Priests in full vestments performed memorial prayers, and the crowd sang the Greek National Anthem, chanting, "Immortal!"

His funeral was attended by all of Marathasa’s residents. His classmates and teachers carried his coffin, draped in the Greek flag and adorned with laurel wreaths.

"Aristos, Absent"

On March 11, 1956—just three months before completing school and fulfilling his dream of studying in Greece—Aristidis fell heroically for his homeland.

At the graduation ceremony, when the principal called his name from the graduates’ list, a teacher solemnly responded:
"Aristos, absent."