AKEL bids farewell to Papalazaros
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 6th July 2020, Nicosia
AKEL bids farewell to Papalazaros the priest who passed away yesterday at the age of 92. Papalazaros has been a symbolic figure in the History of Cyprus and the Cypriot people, of the Left and Democracy.
A man who sprang from the roots of the people and the poor, a father of nine children, tied to Cyprus and his birthplace, the village of Choleria in Paphos. A fighter of the democratic resistance and targeted by the EOKA B armed illegal organisation during the troublesome years of hardship of Cypriot History. The father of two Heroes of Cyprus, Kyriakos Papalazaros, who was assassinated in July 1973 by EOKA B in the Diocese of Paphos and Sotiris Papalazaros, who fell fighting against the Turkish invasion in July 1974.
Papalazaros personified the drama of the Cyprus tragedy, the pain of our people from the betrayal of the twin crime committed – the fascist coup d’état on the 15th July 1974 and the subsequent Turkish invasion five days later. He became a living and constant reminder of the unfulfilled demand for the punishment of the culprits of the 1974 treason. He resisted the falsification of Cypriot history and the pardoning and decriminalization of the coup d’état, demanding that the guilty repent. He honored priesthood and his robes, with his life stand, ethos and gentleness. As a priest and as a fighter of the Cypriot Left, Papalazaros brought together in his discourse, life and thought the values of social justice and equality, solidarity and love for the common people.
Papalazaros is together now with his murdered sons, Kyriakos and Sotiris, and his respected priestess Agathoniki, who passed away two years ago. At the same time, Papalazaros is now on the pantheon of the heroic figures of Cypriot History, the humble pure fighters serving the people, their struggles and rights. The sacred figure of Papalazaros had and will continue to occupy a special position, a position of immense respect and honor, in the History of AKEL and in the hearts and minds of the militants and members of AKEL.
AKEL expresses its deepest condolences to the children and all the relatives of Papalazaros.
The entire leadership of the Party will attend the funeral of Papalazaros and the General Secretary of the Central Committee Andros Kyprianou will deliver a funeral eulogy.
