Kyriakos Matsis

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Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης) (1926-1958) was a Greek Cypriot guerrilla member of EOKA. He was Yiannakis Matsis' brother who is Member of the European Parliament for Cyprus

[edit] Early life

Matsis was born in Palechori, Cyprus. He received his secondary education at Famagusta gymnasium and then studied agriculture at the University of Thessaloniki.

[edit] EOKA

In 1955, when the fight against the British began, he became one of the first members of EOKA. In 1956, he was caught by the British, and was imprisoned. He managed to escape, and fled to the mountains of Pendadactylos (Πενταδάχτυλος), where he set traps and continued fighting. He was then named "αετός του Πενταδαχτύλου", Greek for "eagle of Pentadactylos".

[edit] Bravery and Death

On November 19, 1958, the British discovered a hideout in Dikomo, in Kyriakos Diakos' house, where Matsis and his company, Andreas Sofiopoulos and Kostas Xristodoulou, hid. The British found it when a traitor told them their exact position. The British surrounded the house, and Matsis burned all his letters before telling his two friends to surrender. When the British called for his surrender, he didn't answer immediately, later shouting "If I come out, I'll come out shooting!".

Matsis was killed in the ensuing gun battle.