Evagoras Pallikarides was born in 1938 in Cyprus and joined the rebel group EOKA fighting for Cyprus' independence from British rule at age 15. He participated in demonstrations, distributing pamphlets, and attacking British targets. At age 17, he left school to fight full-time. He was arrested in 1957 while carrying weapons and sentenced to death at age 19, becoming the youngest of nine Cypriots hanged. Before his execution, Evagoras accepted responsibility for his actions and said he fought only for Cyprus' freedom.

2.  Evagoras Pallikarides was born
on the 28th of February, 1938 in
Tsada, a village in Pafos, Cyprus.
He was the fourth child of
Miltiades’s Pallikaros family,
from Larnakas Lapithou.
 He went to the Elementary
School of Tsada and in Neofytio
Estate School. He continued his
studies at the Greek Gymnasium
of Pafos.
 Since his early childhood years he
developed his personality traits,
which he manifested throughout
his short life time: his dynamism,
his leadership abilities and his
patriotism, as well as his artistic
side and creativity.

3.  At the age of fifteen, he played a
leading part during the anti-British
events.
 In April 1955 he joined EOKA and he
participated in demonstrations, in
the distribution of proclamations,
writing of slogans and blasting
British targets.
 When he was seventeen years old, he
gave up school and joined the rebel
groups of EOKA.

4.  On the 16th of December he was
proclaimed by the English. During his
one-year rebellion, he took part in
attacks on British guards, police
stations and camps as well as blasts
and ambushes.
 He fought with courage and self-
sacrifice. He always said that he
would never surrender but he would
die in the “fight field”.
 While being an athlete he carried on
with his poetic creation, which he
had started when he was at school.

5.  On the 18th of December Evagoras
with two other fighters carried
arms. Suddenly they were faced
with an English patrol. Evagoras
was arrested.
 When he was arrested he told the
English soldiers : “ I am Evagoras
Pallikarides and I am fighting
for my country”.
 He was accused for carrying and
transferring weapons and was
sentenced to death.

6.  He accepted the charges
and declared:
 «I am aware that the
court will give me the
death penalty. I want
to say this: I did what I
did as a Greek Cypriot,
seeking for freedom.
Nothing else.»

7. «I am going to follow my fate with courage. This may be
my last letter. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t feel sorry for
anything. Even if I loose everything. One dies only once.
I will be walking to my last home feeling happy. What
does tomorrow mean? Everyone will die one day. Giving
your life for Greece is a good thing. The time is 7:30. The
most beautiful day of my life. The most beautiful time.
Don’t ask why»…

8.  Evagoras was hanged on
the 14th of March, in 1957.
He was the youngest
among the nine hanged
Cypriot soldiers.
 His grave is found at
Fylakismena Mnimata
(imprisoned graves) in
Nicosia.

9.  The following is the last letter- poem that Evagoras wrote for his classmates. He
left it on his teacher’s desk one day before he went up to the mountains to join
the E.O.K.A. armed forces.
 Dear classmates,
At this time someone among you is missing. Someone who is
looking for freedom. Someone whom you will see only when he is dead.
Don’t cry above his grave. You shouldn’t cry. Just spread over his
grave some May flowers. That’s enough!
I am going to walk up the hill
to find the pathway,
to find the staircase,
which leads to freedom…

10.  Goodbye my dear classmates. These last few words I write
for you today. Whoever wants to find a lost brother, an old
friend may
…walk up the hill
to find the pathway,
to find the staircase,
which leads to freedom.
Along with freedom
he will find me.
If I am alive,
I will be there.

11.  «The time is 7:30. The
most beautiful day of
my life. The most
beautiful time. Don’t
ask why.
 I hope I will be the last
one who will be
executed by hanging».