The 1974 Paphos murder that sparked an uprising: Nikos Kosis’s testimony

Local 1974historymurderPaphosTop News The 1974 Paphos murder that sparked an uprising: Nikos Kosis’s testimony Venizelos 1536x823 Relevant News The 1974 Paphos murder that sparked an uprising: Nikos Kosis’s testimony 7 September 2026 Wildfire breaks out in Argaka, Paphos, strong forces respond 7 September 2026 Greece’s €3bn “Achilles Shield” deal opens new interoperability options with Cyprus 7 September 2026 Costas Venizelos 7 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber On September 8, 1974, with memories of the coup and the Turkish invasion still fresh, remnants of the junta and EOKA B murdered special police officer Dimosthenis Georgiou, 32, in Mesa Chorio, Paphos. Georgiou was shot dead by EOKA B gunmen outside the Church of Agia Marina, in front of his wife. The known perpetrators had entered the community that night and tried to create a climate of fear, firing shots and terrorising residents. The murder triggered reactions and mobilisation across the town, according to journalist Antonis Assos’s documented research into the killing and the actions of both the coup plotters and the democratic resistance (“The Forgotten Uprising of 1974, Paphos, September 8,” 2026). Assos, who was himself a member of the Reserve Corps formed to protect President Makarios and the Republic of Cyprus at the time, draws on his own experience alongside archival research in the book. The murder caused strong reactions in Paphos. A large crowd gathered outside Paphos police station, with the enraged crowd trying to force its way into the courtyard, aiming to seize the station. Eight people were arrested over Georgiou’s murder; one was convicted. The intervention of Nikos Kosis Nikos Kosis, then Minister of Interior and Defence, was informed of the public’s reaction and intentions and rushed to Paphos along with National Guard chief Efthymios Karayiannis, fearing the situation could spiral out of control. Kosis later gave his own account to Assos: “I called both the chief of the National Guard (Efthymios Karayiannis) and Savvas Antoniou, chief of police, who had just been reinstated to his post on my own order. I briefed them in a few words and told them to accompany me to Paphos. The general told me to prepare a platoon of soldiers as an escort. I refused, telling him we were not going to war. We arrived in Paphos and entered the police station. We went in through the back entrance without the crowd noticing us. “I had a brief briefing on the situation and decided we should go out, to the people. When the demonstrators saw us in the courtyard, the shouts and protests intensified. We walked towards the gate at the entrance. ‘They’ll lynch us,’ my escorts told me. I ordered the police guards to open the gate, and we went in among the people. Some of the demonstrators helped clear a path. The shouting grew louder. ‘You’re with the coup plotters,’ many shouted at me. “We moved towards the pavement opposite. Insults and curses accompanied us. When we took our position on the pavement, I told the general, ‘You’re from Greece, say a few words to them.’ Karayiannis began to speak, but the people would not let him, would not listen. Growing angry at one point, he told them that if they carried on like this, the Turks would take over the whole of Cyprus. The answer that came from below was shocking: ‘Let them take it, so we’re rid of your hands. You’re the ones doing this to us.’ “They obviously meant the junta and the coup. Then, furious, Karayiannis handed me the megaphone, telling me: ‘Minister, I am a military man and I act differently. Take it and do what you want.’ “I took the megaphone and, trying to keep my composure, I told them: ‘If I were in your place, I might do and say the same, perhaps worse. But I promise I will do what I can about what you are saying. Right now, though, our duty is to bury the dead man with the honours he deserves, and then you will see what we do.'” The takeover of the cathedral, with 2,000 people mobilised Residents in Paphos, as in other parts of Cyprus, were a volcano ready to erupt, with anger over the country’s destruction directed at those responsible. The takeover of Paphos cathedral, aimed at installing the legitimate metropolitan bishop and removing the deposed Gennadios, was an act of resistance and a loud signal calling for Makarios’s return. In his book, Assos cites a separate, little-known testimony he found in a book by philologists Panikos Kannaouros and Andreas Fylaktou (“The Paphos of the Resistance,” page 126, published 2010). The testimony, centred on Metropolitan Chrysostomos, belongs to Dimitrakis Antoniou, brother of the then-abbot of Agios Neophytos and later Metropolitan of Paphos and Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos II. Antoniou said: “We then began thinking about a struggle for Makarios’s return. I went to Agios Neophytos, where the abbot was my brother, now Archbishop Chrysostomos II, and we discussed what needed to be done. He wanted to go and see the then-Metropolitan of Paphos, later Archbishop Chrysostomos I, who was the senior-ranking Metropolitan. He went secretly, as times were dangerous, to the Kykkos Metochi in Nicosia, where they spoke. “I understood that the instruction from Paphos was to seize the Paphos cathedral as the first act of resistance to the coup. I went to see Mikis Temvriotis to organise this response. He explained to me that he was under close surveillance and could not get involved personally. He gave me, however, a list of his associates who wanted to and could help. I asked Zenios, then Paphos police director, to give me permission to move about at night, on the pretext of watering my fields. For safety, I always kept with me a known anti-Makarios figure, Mimis Kritikos from Konia. “Together we went round all the villages, and I notified the members of the Union of Fighters, and we set a date for the takeover of the cathedral. Kritikos did not know the subject of the discussion with my fellow fighters. In coordination with fellow fighter Maliotis, we organised a plan that involved gathering people at Artymatkies, at the Public Garden and at Mousalla. When everything was ready, someone would ring the bells three times. And so it happened. That day, 2,000 people were mobilised. “And the operation achieved its objective, which was the takeover of the cathedral. Leading the whole operation were the abbot of Agios Neophytos, Chrysostomos, Kyrillos of Chrysorrogiatissa, and Archimandrite Anthimos Loizou. A committee was then appointed to manage the cathedral, headed by Papayiorgis of Panagia…” Mikis Temvriotis responded to Makarios Assos’s book also includes a little-known statement by Mikis Temvriotis, one of the resistance leaders and head of armed groups supporting Makarios, made in response to Makarios himself, considered unusual at the time, given Temvriotis’s standing as a key Makarios supporter. The statement carried particular weight because it came in response to repeated appeals from Makarios, who was still abroad at the time, calling for unity and support for acting president Glafkos Clerides. Makarios’s final such appeal, which led to the cancellation of a planned rally in Paphos, prompted Temvriotis’s public response, in which he stressed the need for Makarios to return as soon as possible. Phileleftheros carried Temvriotis’s statement on its front page on Sunday, October 6, under the headline “Makarios’s return is the people’s demand.” The newspaper wrote: “Makarios’s return to Cyprus is not his own affair, it is our affair. The longer he delays it, the more the dangers increase of the people remaining permanently in an area of death.” The report continued that these points were made in a statement by the Secretary-General of the Paphos Union of Fighters, Mikis Temvriotis, referring to Makarios’s support for Clerides, and underlined that the people, obeying their leader, supported Clerides “with their peaceful and lawful demonstrations.” Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Wildfire breaks out in Argaka, Paphos, strong forces respond Greece’s €3bn “Achilles Shield” deal opens new interoperability options with Cyprus Cyprus tourism overnight stays fall 7.7% as EU market grows Cyprus transport engineer: buses lose the time advantage they need over cars The September 1955 pogrom and Archbishop Makarios III’s response Illegal feeding stations put Cyprus mouflon and hares at risk Motorcyclist, 24, in extremely critical condition after serious crash Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.