Leonidas Ph. Leonidou |
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Born (October 13,
1947) in Agios Theodoros of the occupied Karpas peninsula of Cyprus, he graduated from the
Famagusta Greek Gymnasium, studied physics at Athens University and
electronics at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology,
Cardiff (MSc). On completing his studies, in January 1974, he returned to
Cyprus but after the July Turkish invasion he
went back to the United Kingdom. He worked for ATV and for British Telecom
(Research Center, data networks and information
systems) for many years and thereafter as director and consultant of other IT
companies. Along with his professional work he was involved in various other
fields, as active member and president of Greek diaspora organisations. Since
1978, he was also involved with the Greek education in London. He is a
researcher of archival sources and author of the award-winning book "Agios Theodoros Karpasias,
Place and People" (1986), the four-volume work "Georgios
Grivas Digenis - Biography" (1995-2008), "Makrasyka,
Place and People" (2010) and "The last escapee"
(2014), ÒEptakomi, Place and
PeopleÓ , "British Politicians
supporting Self-Determination and Human Rights in Cyprus in the 1950Õs ", "Chronicle of the EOKA
struggle ". Many
of his articles and researches were published in the Cypriot, Greek and
UK-Greek media. He is married and lives with his family in London. |
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Agios Theodoros of Karpasia - Place and People,
Cyprus 1986 Awarded the First Prize of the best book of Hellenes
Abroad for that year. The book is perhaps the first published on the occupied territories of
Cyprus by the Turkish army after the 1974 invasion. It begins with a brief
description of the history of the occupied Karpas
peninsula since ancient times with accounts of the first
travellers of the peninsula during the Turkish and British rule. In Chapter 1
describes the history of the region Valia - Elea Cape. For the
first time evidence that the ancient city was called the ELEA and not Knidos or Palea as other authors claimed. Then
gives a description of the occupied village of Agios
Theodoros from ancient times up to our days. In the second chapter
presents the cultural life, folklore poetic tradition, traditional medicine and other customs of
the village. The third chapter deals with the population and the occupations
of the inhabitants. The fourth chapter describes the place, settlement and local names (toponymy). Part B contains the genealogy of all the families
of Agios Theodoros Karpasia. Agios Theodoros
of Karpasia - Place and
People, Cyprus 2015 Available in Amazon Ayios
Theodoros book. |
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Georgios Grivas Digenis -
Biography. Volume I (1897 - 1950); A four-volume work on the life and work of General George Grivas Digenis.
The first volume describes the paternal and maternal ancestry, and gives
evidence and documents about the place and time of birth. It deals with the
childhood and adolescence of George Grivas. Then gives details of his
military career, his studies at the Military Academy in Greece and
participation in the Asia Minor campaign and catastrophy
of 1919-1922. It gives details about his career during the interwar years. It
then describes his involvement in World War II as chief of staff of the 2nd
Division and his contribution of the Albanian epic. Finally describes the
establishment, organization, goals and actions of the secret organization 'X'
in German-occupied Greece. 2nd edition, 2012 Nicosia, ISBN 978-9963-9511-4-7 (hardcover with colour dustcover, 432 pages, in Greek) Available at Amazon |
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Georgios Grivas Digenis -
Biography. Volume II (1950 - 1959); The main topic of the Second volume is the preparation and conduct of the
Liberation Struggle of EOKA (1955-1959) against the British colonial rule.
The author initially informs the reader about the struggles and sacrifices of
Cypriots for union with Greece. Explains national visions and motivations
that led Georgios Grivas Digenis to undertake the revolutionary movement of
Cypriots. Describes step by step the movements of Digenis, his decisions and
plans during those troubled years. 2nd Edition, Nicosia 2009, ISBN 978-9963-9511-2-3 (hardcover with colour dustcover, 754 pages, in Greek) Available at Amazon |
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Georgios Grivas Digenis -
Biography. Volume III (1959 - 1971); 1st Edition, Nicosia 2008, ISBN 978-9963-9511-0-9 (hardcover with colour dustcover, 634 pages, in Greek) Available at Amazon |
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George Grivas Digenis - Biography. Volume IV (1971 - 1974); Based on the secret and unpublished archives of General Grivas for this
period, the fourth volume describes his adventurous escape from Athens, where
the military regime had him under house arrest
since November 1967 and his secret arrival by boat in Cyprus. Analyses
Grivas' motives to return to Cyprus for the third time and gives details of
the purpose, the organisation and staffing of EOKA B. The author describes
the concerns of General Grivas and his aspirations during the last four years
of his life. Reveals key supporters as well as funders of EOKA B. Gives
details of efforts to achieve understanding and agreement between Makarios
and Grivas and reveals the minutes of the meeting of the two men in March
1972 from the handwritten notes of Grivas. Finally, the author gives a
dramatic description of the last days and hours of his life, and detail of
his death. Available at Amazon |
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Makrasyka - Place and People, Cyprus 2010 The book first gives a description of the history of the region Makrasyka - Kouklia - Kalopsida where from time immemorial to 2000 BC for 500
years and developed a local handicraft and trade with the islands, especially
Crete. It then describes the main events that affected the lives of local
residents and Makrasyka during subsequent periods
of Cypriot history, including descriptions by foreign travelers
during the Turkish and British rule. Finally gives details of its contribution
in the liberation struggle Makrasyka 1955-59 and in
addressing the Turkish invasion of 1974. In the second chapter presents the
Education, Social Life, Art Life, People Poetic Tradition, traditional
medicine, the mores and traditions of the village. The third chapter deals
with community life, organization and activities of the community. The fourth
chapter gives information on the population and the occupations of the
inhabitants. The fifth chapter describes the place, settlement and Names. Part B contains the genealogy of all the families of Makrasyka
of existing data from the early 19th century. Available at Amazon |
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By Fire and
Sword - The 1974 Turkish
invasion of Cyprus The book lists the crimes and atrocities during the first (July 20, 1074)
and second phase (August 14, 1974) of the Turkish invasion. It gives details
of the Turkish army operations from the time of their landing in Kyrenia until after the occupation of 37% of the
territory of Cyprus. It explores the issue of Missing and records the
locations of group executions and mass graves. It presents the reactions of
the international media and records the decisions of international bodies
such as the European Court of Human Rights, the European Human Rights
Commission and the United Nations resolutions on Missing during the Turkish
invasion. The book also lists the obligations of states involved in a
conflict in respect to prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. It also
examines the issue of refugees and the enclaved and
the looting and destruction of ancient Greek and religious monuments and
treasures and documents the well thought out and executed plan for ethnic
cleansing in the occupied territories. Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/9963951155 |
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The Last Escapee
- Argyros Kyriakou This book presents the life of an EOKA fighter. It records his initiation
in the armed liberation struggle of Cypriots and their fight for Enosis,
Union of Cyprus with Greece. From April 1955 participates in daring actions
in Nicosia along with Michael Karaolis and Stylianos Lenas. He blew up the
British installations of NAAFI in Limassol. Although he was not a wanted man
or outlawed by the authorities Grivas, the EOKA leader, orders him to join
his partisan team at the Kykkos hideouts. From Kykkos the EOKA Chief sends him to the haunts of Lysos
Paphos in George Raftis guerrilla group and there
he finds the young rebels Evagoras Pallikarides, Vangelis Christofi and Panicos Michaelides. He participates in attacks against
the British camps in the area and sets up ambushes during the day against
military vehicles. In November 1956 he returns for a few days to his village
Geri and there he finds an incredible situation. He devises plans for the
execution of a British officer, colonel Clemens, and negotiates the delivery
of French arms by a French officer. When arrested he was subjected to inhuman
torture for 30 days, that caused the strong protest of the Bar of Cyprus. He
was locked in detention camps and the British authorities for two years
refused to take him to a hospital for surgery. When they finally did, he drew
a remarkable escape plan which he implemented on 9
January 1959, thus becoming the last to escape during the EOKA struggle. This
is the story of Argyros Kyriacou. Unfortunately he
did not manage to read this book about his life that so eagerly awaited. He died four days before receiving it. Available at Amazon |
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Eptakomi, Place and
People. 1st edition, Cyprus
2018, ISBN 978-9963-2394-1-2 (soft cover, 750 pages) 1st edition,
Cyprus 2018, ISBN 978-9963-2394-1-2 (hardcover, 750 pages) The book first takes a look back at the history of the Eptakomi region from ancient times where a local leather
processing and trade with the coasts of Asia Minor developed. It then
describes the main events that influenced the lives of the inhabitants of the
area and Eptakomi during the following periods of
Cypriot history, including accounts by foreign travelers
during the Turkish and British occupation. It then gives details about Eptakomi's contribution to the liberation struggle of
1955-59 and the suffering, expulsion and fate of the inhabitants during and
after the Turkish invasion of 1974. In the 2nd Chapter the author examines
Education, the arts and folk poetry. Chapter 3 describes Social Life, customs
and traditions. Chapter 4 deals with traditional costumes and Chapter 5 with
the furniture and tools of the Traditional House. Chapter 6 deals with
Community Life, the organization and actions of the community, characteristic
events and the migrants of Eptakomi. Chapter 7
gives information and statistics about the population and the occupations of
the inhabitants. The 8th Chapter describes the place, the settlement and the buildings
while the 9th the Toponyms. |
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CHRONOLOGY OF THE EOKA
STRUGGLE, Volume A, 1954-1956, 682 pages, 1st edition 2018, ISBN
978-9963-2394-2-9 CHRONOLOGY OF THE EOKA
STRUGGLE, Volume B, 1957-1959, 884 pages, 1st edition 2018, ISBN
978-9963-2394-3-6 A voluminous work in two large volumes which records day by day what was
happening in the cities and the countryside throughout Cyprus, giving
formidable details of the involvement of the entire people of Cyprus in the
EOKA Liberation Struggle. It also records political developments and
decisions in the international arena regarding the Cyprus issue. The time
period in concern begins with the secret departure of the military leader of
the struggle Georgios Grivas Digenis from Athens at the end of October 1954
and ends with his return to Greece on 17 March 1959 after the signing of the
Zurich-London Agreements. The two volumes covers 54 months of shocking
events, 27 months written by late journalist Myron Christofidis
and 27 months by the writer Leonidas Leonidou based on the archives of M. Christofidis. Two volumes of dimensions 23.5 x 33 cm. Hardcover |
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Βιβλίο
13ο (2019) BRITISH
POLITICIANS SUPPORTING SELF-DETERMINATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CYPRUS IN THE
1950Õs (hard cover)
ISBN 978-9963-2394-5-0 (paperback)
ISBN 978-9963-2394-4-3, 538
pages. It was during the 1950Õs that a
number of British politicians dared raise their voice and express support for
the Cypriots in their demand for self-determination and Enosis. These politicians in general held
liberal views and beliefs and were against the dogma of imperialism and
colonialism. The majority were members of the Labour party that for the major
part of the 1950s were in opposition. Some of them studied the Classics and were
influenced by the ancient Greek spirit and ideals of liberty and democracy.
Others no doubt were influenced by LeninÕs writings and discourses
on the issue of anti-colonialism and the right of self-determination of the
people under colonial rule. Major sections of this book
comprise of biographical notes, debates and interventions in Parliament, and
questions put to Ministers or Prime Minsters during the 1950s on the Cyprus
issue. The list includes British politicians that expressed supportive views
for the Human Rights of the Cypriots including the right to
self-determination and Enosis. They
are presented in chronological order of their election as Members of
Parliament. Some of the politicians that
feature in this book, such as Francis Noel-Baker, may have played the role
of a broker in the Cyprus discussions, being proponents of both sides of the
argument. They are nonetheless included in the book since their involvement in
the Cyprus issue at the time was prominent. With the exception of
references to the debates by Lord Strabolgi that took place in the House of Lords, all other debates, questions and
interventions by Members of Parliament took place in the House of Commons. |
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