Issuu

220 × 295 SPINE: 20.6 FLAPS: 130

“The Journey of Life” refers to the family history of the author’s father, through the very history of each place. All events that have happened through the centuries are real, proved by documents and archives found, which were researched in different places. Our journey begins in Krieza, on Evia Island, in 1606, and from there takes us to Hydra, Mykonos, Syros, Andros, Russia, returns to Piraeus, to the prewar Athens of 1939 and reaches the 21st century and up to July 2019, following the roots and the course of the family. Unraveling the biography and family trees of the ancestors, it focuses on the peculiarities of each era, that were analogous to the events of the times mentioned.

ISBN 978-960-564-810-7

The Journey of Life Haroula Kriezi was born November 1956 in Athens, where she grew up. She graduated from the Moraitis School in 1974 and from the Vakalo School in 1977, where she studied interior design. She married Nikos Sviriadis, a business hotelier, in 1979, with whom she had two children. She was at the side of her husband in the hotel business until 2003, the year that Nikos died. She continued to work in hotels until the end of 2008. She was a volunteer at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, with an active role at the opening and closing ceremonies. From 2004 to 2006 she was the General Secretary of the Board of Directors of the SASM (Moraitis School Alumni Association). From 2006 to 2008 she was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SASM. As President, she was the publisher of the journal “Syndetiras” (Paper Clip). From 2005 to 2009 she was the General Secretary of the Board of Directors of the NOA (Andros Yacht Club), being responsible for the editing of the “Album for the 50 years of the Andros Yacht Club” in 2007. Today, having two grandchildren to continue her family, she divides her time between Athens, Andros and Arahova. “The Journey of Life” was her first writing experience in 2012 and had a distinction in “Kriezotia 2014” by the “Filomousos Organization of Karystia” of the Municipality of Kymis-Aliveri in 2014. Her first book was followed in 2017 by her second book “The Haven of Life” and in 2019 by the “The Journey of life”, in an English edition translated by the same. All of her books were published by Ocelotos publishing.

Vatatzi 55, 114 73 Athen Τel. : +30210 6431108 e-mail: ekdoseis.ocelotos@gmail.com www.ocelotos.gr

0_cover_taxidi english_fonto.indd 1

Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi

The Journey of Life

Fotini (Fofi) Rafeletou-Kriezi was born in Constantinople, originated from a Chios and Sifnos Islands family and was the last in a family of many siblings. Her family came to Athens when she was 9 years old. Her acquaintance with Antonis Kriezis, in March 1943, marked the rest of her life. She started design courses, at the instigation of Antonis, with the tutor at the Polytechnic, Thanasis (Takis) Marthas. Professor Dimitris Pikionis, seeing her plans, told her that she had talent. In 1947, she passed an examination for the Ministry of Reconstruction, where she worked as a designer, drawing topographical charts. In the ministry, she also began decorating courses with Professor Papaloukas. Whenever she found time, she drew sketches and created paintings. In April 1950, she married Antonis, after 7 years of endless love. In the years to come, she helped him, always standing by his side, having the responsibility of raising the five children they had. Over the years she did not have time to continue drawing and painting. When the children grew older and left the house, she found the time to deal with her beloved painting. At the same time, she began handicrafts, weaving, ceramics, copper and hagiography courses at the Kifissia Y.M.C.A. She has been a member of the “Dialectical Group of Kifissia”, ITC, for many years and President of the Dialectic in 1987-1988, with a program full of activities. In fact, she represented the Dialectical Group at the ITC Written Contest in 1992, with her text, “Pirates of the Aegean”. For many years she has been an active member of the “Enosis Andrion” (Andriots Union) events committee. She participated in a group exhibition of paintings at the Cultural Center of the Holy Church of Panaghia Theoskepastou on Andros, in 1981. She also participated in the exhibition “Kifissia”, in the years 1980 and 1981, by the Y.M.C.A. of Kifissia. In 1989, she participated with her paintings at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Kifissia. Unfortunately, she was struck by cancer and fought it for several years, taking her last breath in August 1992. She left behind her beloved Anthony, their five children and their seven grandchildren. Antonis followed her a year later, unable to live in her absence. Today, her family numbers: five children, twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi

The painting on the front cover is by Fofi Kriezi, 1979 (Oil on canvas). (The painting belongs to the private collection of her granddaughter, Natalia Sviriadi-Roukou).

ο c ε lotο ς Ε D I TI O N S

25/7/2019 11:36:47 πμ

Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi

THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

ATHENS 2019

Title: The Journey of life Author: Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi Translation from Greek to English: Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi Editing: Susan Perry-Theodoraki Layout-Design: Myrtilo, Lena Pantopoulou CopyrightÂŠ 2019 Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi First Edition Athens, July 2019 ISBN 978-960-564-810-7 Contact with the writer: hsviriadi@gmail.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

Vatatzi 55, 114 73 Athen Î¤EL. : +30210 6431108 E-MAIL: ekdoseis.ocelotos@gmail.com www.ocelotos.gr

FROM 1606...

THE HISTORY OF MY FATHERâ€™S FAMILY THROUGH TIME

In memory of my father Antonis Kriezis 1923-1993

Dedicated especially to my children and my grandchildren

PROLOGUE

was first motivated to research and write the history of my ancestors and my family from the material that was gathered for this purpose by my father Antonis Kriezis. Although he had told me of his intention to write down the family history, he didn’t achieve his goal, because he died shortly afterwards. Following his death in 1993 this matter was on my mind, but I didn’t then seem to have the time. 2009 was the decisive year when my son-in-law Alexis asked me about our relatives and their history. I then made the decision to implement my intention to bring light to the past, in the hope that my children and grandchildren will get to know their roots and the family legacy that has been forgotten in past centuries. In beginning this search, we must first look for the origin of the ancestors involved and the geography and history of the places where they lived and inherited from. We will understand how the environment and their ancestors influenced them and formed their characters. Thus we will get to know our own origins better. The family tree is a very important source of historical data and a good chance to learn about our personal blood line. Without the record of human experiences, our collective memory dies out and history loses one of its basic constants. There is always the question; will I like what I find? No one has anything to lose while looking into their family’s past; it hides nothing more than little secrets that happen to all of us, such as wars, orphans and refugees. No Greek family has lived through the centuries without refugees, immigrants, casualties on one side or the other and injuries to the soul. Let us look at our family story with love and emotion, without worrying about that what might appear, insult us or hurt us. All the references in this book are genuine, as are the locations. Any gaps or omissions are due to lack of archives. I started this search from 1606, where I found the first evidence of my ancestors. The beginning of my investigation started in the village of Krieza on Evia Island, where I discovered the start of our story and, while investigating, it took me to the islands of Hydra, Syros, Andros, Mykonos and up to the Bosporus and the Black Sea, resulting in this book. I have now attempted a translation of my Greek book into English - a great challenge I undertook and have made come true. I enjoyed every minute of the journey!!! I leave the rest to you.

THANKS First of all, a big thank you to Jan Summerlin, for taking the time to have a first look at my translations and edit them. Also to Susan Perry-Theodoraki, a big thank you, for her editing my translations. Special thanks to Maro Kriezi-Vrachnou, for her valuable help, her patience during our meetings and her many stories about the family. Without her help, it would have been impossible to know about people that passed through the family throughout the 19th and the 20th centuries and the facts. I also want to thank: Maria Kriezi-Tsami, for the valuable letters and photographs she gave me from the archives of her father, Nikolaos Demetriou Kriezis. Alexis Roukos and Natalia Sviriadi-Roukou, for arranging the layout of the family letters, as well as the construction of the family trees in Excel. Konstantinos Kriezis, for sharing valuable books about the Kriezis family and the Black Sea. George Kriezis, for sharing valuable print-outs about the Kriezis family. Spyridonas Kountouris, a citizen of Krieza village on Evia, for sharing his book “Krieza Evias” Giannis Pavlou, a citizen of Hydra Island, for his tour of the Kriezis houses on Hydra. Katerina Vrachnou-Moschopoulou, for the very precious book she gave me about Ermoupolis, on Syros Island Elena Karigianni, a Syros Island lawyer, for her valuable help with the Syros authorities. Vakis Tzortzis, a citizen of Syros Island, for his tour around Syros. Angeliki Psilopoulou, for her valuable help in the General Archives of Syros Island and for finding birth certificates. Mrs Plita, from the Public Library on Syros Island, for her help in finding archives of old Syros newspapers of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Mykonos Registry Office, for providing copies of birth certificates of the Kriezis family. Eirini Dambasis, as well as the employees of the Kairios Library on Andros Island, for providing archives from the library. Vasilis Xenos, for letting me use some of his poems and extracts from his books. The late Antonis Polemis, a citizen of Andros island, for sharing the memories of the Kriezis family from his childhood. Stamatis Vasilaros, for letting me use some of his poems. Anastasios Tsamis, for letting me use some of his poems. Last but not least to my editor Lena Pantopoulou and the publications OSELOTOS for all the help editing my book.

INDEX PROLOGUE �� 11 THANKS �� 13 PART ONE

THE KRIEZIS FAMILY-HYDRA �� 19

PART TWO

THE EMBIRIKOS FAMILY-ANDROS �� 79

PART THREE

THE KECHAGIAS FAMILY-SYROS �� 121

PART FOUR

THE WEDDINGS �� 153

PART FIVE

RUSSIA �� 179

PART SIX

PIRAEUS �� 221

PART SEVEN

ATHENS �� 247

PART EIGHT

21ST CENTURY �� 309

EPILOGUE �� 338 BIBLIOGRAPHY �� 340

All of the letters and post cards from 1907-1951 come from Nikolaos Kriezisâ€™ archives All the letters in Word were written out by Alexis Roukos and Natalia Svyriadi-Roukou

â€‚ 16

THE THREAD OF LIFE I want to unwind the thread of life, that put our life together. To see the mistakes and the commendable, with the past and present to enlighten the future

Vasilis Xenos

Andros Island

The brigantine “NEREUS” of Demetrios Kriezis. Water color painting by Antonis Kriezis (1936), Historical Archive-Museum of Hydra

PART ONE THE KRIEZIS FAMILY

That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. By Edgar Allan Poe

2η

2. PAPA-ANTONIS (1650-1710)

1η

1. DEDES or TITOS (1606-1680) 12. FRAGISKOS (1721-1788)

15. GIORGOS (1708-;)

16. PAPA-ANTONIS (1710-1789)

24. IOANNIS (1760-1804)

14. MANOLIS (1706-1788)

31. DEMETRIOS (1756-1831)

30. GIORGOS (1752-1812)

29. IOANNIS (1750-1836)

28. DEMETRIOS (1738-1840)

27. NIKOLAOS (1740-1820)

26. KOSMAS (1745-1809)

25. ANTONIS (;-1806)

23. ANTONIS (1730-1789)

13. MANOLIS (1730-1775)

8. FRAGISKOS (1706-1770)

22. FRAGISKOS (1760-1817)

21. MANOLIS (1770-1830)

5η

9. PAPA-IOANNIS (1680-1779)

7. MITROS (1705-1789)

6. MANOLIS (1690-1760)

4η 11. ANTONIS (1720-1785)

3η

5. STAMATIS (1675-1740)

58. ALEXANDROS (1787-1845)

57. GIKAS (1803-1847)

56. IOANNIS (1788-1878)

55. ANTONIS (1795-1865) (Prime minister of Greece)

54. DEMETRIOS (1798-1875)

53. ELEFTHERIOS (1796-1880)

52. GIORGOS (1793-1879)

162. GIORGOS (1859-….?)

173. PERICLES (1879-1913) 122. DEMETRIOS (1810-1896)

172. ALEXANDROS (1871-1949)

120. IOANNIS (1827-?)

171. GIORGOS or DEDES (1888-1961)

170. ANTONIS (1882-1934)

169. ANTONIS (1879-1880)

168. DEMETRIOS (1875-1951)

167. IOANNIS (1872-1958)

166. ANTONIS (1872-1945) (Painter, copier of Roux's paintings)

161. IOANNIS (1881-1945)

160. ALEXANDROS (1878-1957)

159. GIORGOS (1879-1880)

158. GIORGOS (1876-1878)

165. ANGELOS (1865-1875)

164. KONSTANTINOS (1869-…?)

163. NIKOLAOS (1867-19..?)

121. LAZAROS (1825-1889)

119. PANAGIOTIS (18??-?)

118. GIORGOS (1830-1865)

117. GIORGOS (1837-1847)

116. KONSTANTINOS (1827-1914)

115. ANTONIS (1825-1860)

108. EMMANUELE (1850-1850)

109. KONSTANTINOS (1847-1933)

114. MILTIADIS (1846-1847)

110. EPAMEINONDAS (1843-1894)

111. IOANNIS (1838-1862)

112. DEMETRIOS (1836-1905)

113. GIORGOS (1823-1863)

107. DEMETRIOS (18??-?)

106. MANOLIS (1834-?)

105. IOANNIS (1821-1882)

104. GIORGOS (1819-1860)

101. ANTONIS (1846-1875)

102. NIKOLAOS (1841-1938)

103. IOANNIS (1840-1882)

97. NIKOLAOS (1824-1880)

98. ANDREAS (1815-1840)

156. ANTONIS (1853-1890) 157. NIKOLAOS (1856-1880)

155. STAMATIS (1879-…..?)

100. IOANNIS (1807-1889)

96.MICHAEL (1843-1895)

154. IOANNIS (1849-….?)

99. GIORGOS (1811-1884)

95. DEMETRIOS (1850-?)

50. ANDREAS (1816-1880) (famous painter) 51. ANTONIS (1785-1840)

94. VASILIOS (1824-1899)

49. STAMATIS (1808-1870)

93. DEMETRIOS (1825-1885)

151. IOANNIS (1837-…?) 152. EFTHIMIOS (1846-….?) 153. LAZAROS (1848-1880)

48. ALEXANDROS (1797-1878)

47. CHADJIGIORGIS (1795-1860)

46. KOSMAS (1817-18..?)

45. NIKOLAOS (18..-18..)

150. IOANNIS (1844-1927)

91. GIORGOS (1800-1870) 92. NIKOLAOS(1805-1870)

147. LAZAROS (1879-….?)

148. NIKOLAOS (1875-….?) 149. IOANNIS (1861-…?)

89. LAZAROS (1800-1865)

44. IOANNIS (1795-1855)

146. DEMETRIOS (1864-…?)

145. IOANNIS (1869-….?)

142. GIORGOS (1877-….?) 143. SARANTIS (18..-18..?) 144. KOSMAS (18..-18..?)

140. GIORGOS (1877-…..?) 141. DOSITHEOS (….-….?)

8η

90. ILIAS (1823-1880)

86. PANTELIS (1832-1908) 87. ELEFTHERIOS (1830-1882) 88. NIKOLAOS (1837-1910)

42. GIORGOS 1803-1868)

85. NIKOLAOS (18..-18..?)

82. GIORGOS (?) 83. NIKOLAOS (18..-18..?) 84. VASILIOS (18..-18..?)

78.VASILIOS (18..-?) 79.NIKOLAOS (1828-1878) 80. IOANNIS (1830-1895) 81. KOSMAS (1836-1896)

77. STAMATIS (1839-1880)

7η

43. LAZAROS (1793-1875)

41.DEMETRIOS (1795-1817)

40. MANOLIS (1784-1878)

39. IOANNIS (?)

38. GIORGOS

37. GIORGOS (1803-1860)

36. FRANTZESKOS (1810-1870)

6η

203. KONSTANTINOS (1912-……?)

200. KONSTANTINOS (1910-…..?)

199. NIKOLAOS (1906-…..?)

202. THEOHARIS (1905-…..?)

201. IOANNIS (1900-…..?)

198. NIKOLAOS (1876-….?)

9η

229. ALEXANDROS (1946-…)

10η

11η

GENEALOGICAL TREE OF TITOS OR DEDES KRIEZIS

4. UKNOWN Χ (changed last name)

3. DIAMANTIS (1633-1700)

10. IOANNIS (1683-1750)

20. DIAMANTIS (1730-1810)

19. DEMETRIOS (1720-1800)

18. GIKAS (1714-1780)

17. MICHAEL (1712-1780)

35. DEMETRIOS (1740-1800)

34. IOANNIS (1745-1815)

33. ANTONIS (1740-1810)

32. PAPA-MANOLIS (1767-1815)

174. GIORGOS (?)

211. EVANGELOS (1918-…..?)

210. PANTELIS (1916-1944)

209. PETROS (1903-1965)

208. DEMETRIOS (1896-….?)

76. MANOLIS (?)

75. KOSMAS (1802-1850)

74. DEMETRIOS (?)

73. MICHAEL (1799-1857)

72. GIORGOS (1799.18??)

71. STAVROS (1795-18??)

70. MICHAEL (1792-18??)

69. NIKOLAOS (1828-18??)

67. DEMETRIOS (1825-1885)

68. PAPA-IOANNIS (1800-18??)

66. GIORGOS (1790-18??)

65. ANTONIS (1785-1840)

188. ANTONIS (1844-1929)

139. IOANNIS (18..-18..?)

134. THEODOROS (1844-?)

138. DEMETRIOS (1836-1880)

135. MANOLIS (1823-1908)

137. PETROS (1822-1911)

136. KOSMAS (1821-1895)

133. THEODOROS (?-1855)

132. ARISTIDES (1820-?)

197. MANOLIS (1879-…?)

196. DEMETRIOS (1877-1952)

195. CHARALAMPOS (?)

194. IOANNIS (1865-1930)

193. ELEFTHERIOS (1883-…..?)

192. MANOLIS (1877-1935)

191. IOANNIS (1870-1966)

190. MANOLIS (1845-…..?)

189. IOANNIS (1846-…..?)

217. MANOLIS (1880-1967) 218. NIKOLAOS (1881-1957) 219. MINOS (1882-1968) 220. IOANNIS (1883-1967) 221. ANDREAS (1885-1962) 222. THEODOROS (1888-…?)

187. MANOLIS (1845-….?)

129. SOLON (1834-1906) 130. ARISTIDES (1843-?)

131. MANOLIS (1811-1895)

216. UNKNOWN (1905-….?)

186. LAZAROS (1882-1942)

128. SOKRATES (1836-1880)

228. PETROS (1921-….?)

227. PETROS (1901-1952)

226. KONSTANTINOS (1902-….?)

225. PETROS (1899-….?)

224. EPAMEINONDAS (1930-….?)

223. ADRIANOS 1895-1969

215. ARISTIDES (1901-…..?)

213. SPYROS (1926-…?) 214. SOLON (1905-1947)

185. SOCRATES (1869-….?)

127. DEMETRIOS (1832-1890)

212. IOANNIS (1919-1944)

184. FOKION (1869-….?)

183. PETROS (1865-1928)

182. PANTELIS (1864-1907)

181. PANAGIOTIS (1862-1927)

KATINA unmarried

FLORA husband GAFOS from Tinos

180. ANTONIS (1882-1907) Unmarried

179. DEMETRIOS (1871-1936) (1) wife ZACHAROULA A. KEHAGIA

178. KONSTANTINOS (1867-1931) unmarried

177. GIORGOS (1864-1949) wife MARIA KALOGERA from Myconos

176. ALEXANDROS (1879-1948)

175. KONSTANTINOS (1873-1957)

64. MANOLIS (1805-1862)

126. DEMETRIOS (1817-1869)

125. IOANNIS (1824-?)

124. NIKOLAOS (1831-1906) * Wife EIRINI KONSTANTINOU (from Mykonos)

123. PETER (1822-1906)

63. ATHANASIOS (1804-1825)

62. IOANNIS (1802-1825)

61. ANTONIS (1799-1860)

60. PANAGIOTIS (1792-1850)

59. GIORGOS (1790-1855)

122. DEMETRIOS (1810-1896)

235. EMMANUEL (1968-….)

234. PAVLOS (…..-……)

233. PETROS (1914-….)

232. ANTONIS (1911-…)

231. PANAGIOTIS (1923-….)

236. NIKOLAOS (1951-…..)

238. MANOLIS (1951-……)

237. DEMETRIOS (1960-……)

KATINA Unmarried

FLORA Husband GAFOS from Tinos

180. ANTONIS (1882-1907) Unmarried

179. DEMETRIOS (1871-1936) (1) Wife ZACHAROULA A. KECHAGIA (1886-1983)

178. KONSTANTINOS (1867-1931) Unmarried

177. GIORGOS (1864-1949) Wife MARIA KALOGERA from Myconos

8th

NIKOS (died a baby)

RENA (1912-2010) Husband MICHALIS POLEMIS (1906-1995)

KATINA (1910-? ) Unmaried

Baby that died

HAREE (she died young)

MELPO (Husband TAKIS ZAFIRIOU)

TONIA (Unmarried)

PETER (Unmarried)

FLORA (1st husband ATHANASIOU) (2nd Husband MARSHAL CLEMENS)

TITIKA Husband DEMETRIS MANTZARIS

NIKOS (Unmarried)

RENA (Husband VATIS) (19â€¦-1981)

ZENIA (Unmarried)

9th

MINA (1951-today) Husband SAKIS TODOULOS

RENA (1971-today)

HAROULA (19..-today) Husband GEORGE RODOPOULOS

OURANIA (1987-today) Husband DIMITRIS ANTONIADIS

EIRINI (1982-today) Husband THODORIS POLITIS

MICHAEL (1982-today)

CHRISTOS (1974-today)

KATERINA (1996-today)

ANNA (1966-today) 1st Husband SPYROS ALISAFAKIS

LEONIDAS (1968-today) Wife BRIGITTE SANO

MICHAEL (1962-1991)

ELENA Husband SWEN

AIKATERINI Husband NIKOLAOS KALOGEROPOULOS

IASON

DEMETRIOS-ALEXIOS Wife JENNIFER GALES

11th

2nd wife STACIA PETROU

SPYROS (1937-today) 1st wife MARO STAMATIADOU

ELENI (SOULI) (19..-today) Husband LEFTERIS NIKOLAKIS

LOUKAS (LOUKIS) (19..-today) Wife LAUREL (LAURI) GOODWEEN

10th

MARIANA (2000-today)

MICHAEL (1999-today)

NAFSIKA (2005-today)

DANAE (2002-today)

MICHAEL (1999-today)

ARTEMIS (1996-today)

KASSANDRA-VICTORIA (2018-today)

ANASTASIA (2009-today) DAPHNE-LAUREL (2012-today) JASON (2015-today)

LUCAS WILLIAM (2003-today) MARGARITA-COVERNY (2005-today) ALEXANDRA-LOUISE (2011-today)

12th

GENEALOGICAL TREE OF NIKOLAOS G. KRIEZIS

207. ANTONIS (1923-1993) Wife FOTINI RAFELETOU (1928-1992)

MARO (1917-today) Husband STAVROS VRACHNOS (1910-2000)

206. NIKOS (1915-1999) Wife RENA PAPADOPOULOU (1917-2011)

237. KONSTANTINOS (1963-today) Wife ELENA GALANOU

236. GIORGOS (1963-today) Wife PATTY KAKRIDA

HAROULA (1956-today) Husband NIKOS SVIRIADIS (1942-2003)

IOANNA (1952-today) Husband JEAN LOUIS LE BOLLOCH (1952-1997)

230. DEMETRIS (1951-today) wife SUSAN SCHNEIDER

KATERINA (1955-today) Husband NIKIFOROS MOSCHOPOULOS

ALEXANDROS (1950-today) Wife ELEANNA STRATIGOPOULOU

MARIA (1951-today) Husband GIORGOS TSAMIS

235. DEMETRIOS (1946-1996) Wife TATIA PERDIKARI

249. DEMETRIS (2002-today)

248. ANTONIS (1999-today)

247. ANTONIS (2004-today)

246. ARGIRIS (2000-today)

FOTINI (1997-today)

KONSTANTINOS (1986-today) Wife NATALIA KATARA-RIVERA

NATALIA (1981-today) Husband ALEXIOS ROUKOS

Husband DAMIANOS HATDJIANTONIOU

ALEXANDRA (1975-today)

DEMETRIS (1973-today) Wife EMY TSANOU

Wife COURTNEY COLANTUNO

245. ANDREW (1988-today)

244. JOHN (1984-Ttoday) Wife EMILY MA

Wife AMANDA-JANE REILY

243. ANTONY (1983-today)

MARIA (1986-today) Husband NIKOS GIAKOUMAKIS

AGGELOS (1983-today) Wife FOTINI PANTELIDOU-KOFIDOU

STAVROS (2000-today)

MARILI (1990-today)

NIKOS (1996-today)

EIRILENA (1991-today)

DEMETRIS (1988-today)

242. MARIOS (1981-today)

241. NIKOS (1977-today) Wife ARIADNE KARNAROU

NIKOLETA (2012-today)

KONSTANTINOS (2010-today)

ANTONIS (2008-today)

ARIADNE (2006-today)

STEFANOS (2003-today)

251. CALEB-DEMETRIS (2018-today)

SOPHIE-SUSAN (2015-today)

MADELYN-JANE (2013-today)

MANOLIS (2017-today)

KATERINA (2016-today)

ERIFILI (2014-today)

STEFANIA (2012-today)

250. DEMETRIS (2010-today)

Part One • THE KRIEZIS FAMILY

“Krieza on Evia Island”: the place, folklore and history. Spyridonas Kountouris

CHAPTER ONE • KRIEZA VILLAGE ON EVIA ISLAND

CHAPTER ONE

KRIEZA VILLAGE ON EVIA ISLAND

rieza, is located in the center of the Karystia County between Kimi and Karystos on the island of Evia in Greece. It is situated among hills and is one of the best villages on Evia. Krieza was built in a sunny location at the end of a green valley, 58 kilometers southeast of Halkida and at an altitude of 130 meters. Its name has Albanian roots. Krieza is among the oldest villages on Evia. The first settlement goes back to 1000 BC, to the time of the first Greeks. During the most ancient of all quests, “the Argonautic expedition”, people from Evia took part in the “Trojan War” in 1280 BC., 2,000 men were involved, with 40 ships, under the leadership of Elefinoras Halkodontiadis. In “The Iliad”, Homer refers to the villages that took part and Krieza is among them. Even during the time of the Persian wars and later during the Roman, French-Byzantine and Turkish conflicts, the people from Krieza were active, like all the citizens from Evia. Evia, was conquered by the Venetians and later by the Turks, who stayed for 363 years, from 1470 to 1833. Evia was liberated after the Greek Revolution in 1821. During the 363 years under Turkish tyranny, the inhabitants suffered greatly. They were tor-

View of the village

mented, disgraced, worked in drudgery, had their fortunes stolen and were murdered. For this reason, many preferred to live in the mountains or in hideouts and thus maintained their ancestors’ language, religion and their independent spirit. Agriculture was the main occupation of the inhabitants of the valleys and they always remained Greek, although they were oppressed and taxed by the Halkida Commanders. Many inhabitants, in order to escape the oppression and the occupation of their land, put their villages under the protection of powerful Turks, especially in the Halkida area, during the days of Tour-Ali. They paid this protector a kind of tax, giving him some of the exquisite village products such as olive oil, butter, honey and silk. However, there were other villages that became mainly Turkish, as a result of violence and treachery, and were only sold back to their inhabitants after their independence. One of these villages was Krieza. Every village or town on Evia is proud of their heroic citizens who offered so many services to the country. Krieza enjoys this privilege due to the personality and service of General Nikolaos Kriezotis, Papanikolaou Aggelis or Papagelis, the monk Gregorios (brother of Kriezotis), the Kriezis family, Major Konstantinos Zervas, Lieutenant Vasilios Karagiannis and many more. The first known name for the village was “Kotsanades” and it was founded at the place called “Sohora”, where one can find the little chapels of the Holy Apostles, and of Saints Konstantinos and Eleni. There are also the ruins of the old settlement there.

Captain Antonis Kriezis Nikolaos Kriezotis, oil painting (By Antonis Miliarakis, 19th (Athens Historical Museum) century, Historical ArchiveMuseum of Hydra) 25

Part One • THE KRIEZIS FAMILY

The inhabitants, farmers and shepherds, moved south, near to the stream called “Mitakenas”, in order to avoid the invasions. Lookouts on the hills that are found to the east of the village warned the inhabitants when to hide, so as not to be caught and recruited by the Turks. There was no other system or form of defense because there were no castles or anything similar, only the system of lookouts in the surrounding hills and valleys. The village was named Krieza during the Venetian occupation, before the Turkish occupation. The old inhabitants, known as “Kotsanades”, became blood brothers so as to stay united and repel the enemy invasions. They wore a black scarf round their heads, which is still worn by the inhabitants of some islands, such as Crete. Krie-zez in Albanian means black-head or blackhood (krie=head zez=black). This is also a version of the village name. Some others believe that the name Krieza came from Grich-(i)-za=anvil. Southwest of the village are the locations of Grig-iri and Grich-iza, but there are no signs of houses or other activities, just a stone where they used to sharpen knives, scissors and tools. The village inhabitants spoke Albanian, as in the surrounding villages. They probably learned the Albanian language from the inhabitants of the village of Zapanti (which today is called Drosia), where many Albanians lived after the Skenderbeis catastrophe during the 15th century and the enslavement of Albania by the Turks. The oldest families from the village were the Mylonas family (afterwards named Kriezis), the Kountouris family, the Karozis family, the Mamis family, the Stamos family, the Harachlianos family, and many others. The first inhabitants, like today’s inhabitants, were noted for their piety, hospitality, patriotism, progressiveness and solidarity. The Mylonas family had their house at Saint Konstantinos-Sohora-Kotsanades. According to what people said, Pavlos Zoumberis, General Nikolaos Krieziotis’ gun maker, who originally came from Bezanous near Karystos, later lived in the same house. The house was, at that time, derelict, which is why he stayed there only at first and then moved to his own house he had built.

CHAPTER TWO

DEDES OR NTENTES

n 1606, Dedes or Ntentes or Titos or Demetrios Mylonas was born in the house of the Sohora-Kotsanades in Krieza on Evia. He grew up, got married and had a family of two sons and two daughters.

According to the story, one day, as he was cultivating his land, he and his two brothers found a big jar full of silver coins along with his two brothers. They decided to leave Evia with their families, after dividing the coins between them, because they were afraid that the Turkish Sultan’s people would kill them and take their fortune. Some others say that Dedes left Krieza after he had killed a Turk. During the unhappy years of the Turkish occupation, such emigration was very common, due to the violence, injustice, kidnapping of young girls and murdering the people, which was the everyday behavior of the Sultan’s men. The Mylonas family first moved, together with their families, to the island of Poros in 1635. One of the brothers, Giorgos, stayed on Poros and Giorgos’ descendants are the Kriezis family of Poros. The other brother left for the Peloponnese, where his history cannot be traced. The older brother, Dedes, in 1640, at the age of 34, moved to Hydra with his wife, his two sons and his two daughters, where he stayed permanently.

CHAPTER THREE • HYDRA ISLAND 14th to 17th century

CHAPTER THREE

HYDRA ISLAND 14th to 17th century

he emigration of Albanian families to the south started at the beginning of the 14th century. 12,000 people then entered Thessaly and from there moved south into Greece. Around the end of the 14th century, the governor of Morias, Manouil Katakouzinos, invited some Albanian tribes to the Peloponnese. His successor, Theodore Palaiologos (1380-1407) allowed 10,000 Albanians to settle in the Peloponnese with their families. The Albanian tribes that went south lived, during the Byzantine centuries, with the Greeks and were Orthodox. They were integrated, in the south of Greece, into the native Greek population. The Albanians numbered half the population of the Peloponnese. They regarded themselves to be the same as the Greek popu-

lation who lived, mainly in crowded conditions, in the cities. The Greeks occupied themselves with commerce and shipping, despite being less numerous than the Albanians who occupied themselves with agriculture and farming. The Albanians were so integrated with the Greeks that they didn’t form a separate race. At the beginning of the 15th century, Hydra was historically peaceful. A few families, whose main occupation was agriculture and grazing sheep, lived on the island. From 1460 onward began the first intense settlement movement to Hydra of Albanian fugitives, who, after anxious searching, found salvation and safety in inaccessible mountainous areas like Hydra. It was exactly the time when the reconstruction and creation of the Town of Hydra, as it is today, commenced. The first residential center was constructed on Kiafa hill, obviously to protect the citizens from possible pirate invasions. Hydra is a barren rocky island which, due to being plagued by pirate invasions for centuries, was then uninhabited and deserted. The island was covered by a dense pine forest. The Turks called the is-

“Hydra”, Historical Archive-Museum of Hydra

220 × 295 SPINE: 20.6 FLAPS: 130

ISBN 978-960-564-810-7

Vatatzi 55, 114 73 Athen Τel. : +30210 6431108 e-mail: ekdoseis.ocelotos@gmail.com www.ocelotos.gr

0_cover_taxidi english_fonto.indd 1

Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi

The Journey of Life

Haroula Kriezi-Sviriadi

The painting on the front cover is by Fofi Kriezi, 1979 (Oil on canvas). (The painting belongs to the private collection of her granddaughter, Natalia Sviriadi-Roukou).

ο c ε lotο ς Ε D I TI O N S

25/7/2019 11:36:47 πμ