This year marks 120 years since the death of the hero of the Macedonian Struggle, Pavlos Melas. The Armed Forces honor the memory of the ethnic martyr who gave his life for the liberation of Macedonia.

The Sacrifice of Pavlos Melas

In 1885, Bulgaria’s coup d’état annexation of Eastern Romilia signaled its methodical attempt to exterminate the Greek element in Macedonia. Artillery Second Lieutenant Pavlos Melas (1870-1904), an active member of the National Society, was one of the first officers officially sent from Greece to Macedonia to organize revolutionary groups. 

In collaboration with the vice consul of Monastiri, Ion Dragoumis (November 1902), they created a defense mechanism and formed the Macedonian Committee in Athens with Dimitris Kalapothakis as president. In July 1904, Melas left for Macedonia, where he met with local fighters. A month later, under the pseudonym Mikis Zezas, he was appointed leader of the guerrilla forces in Western Macedonia by the Macedonian Committee of Athens and crossed the Greek-Turkish border to confront Bulgarian armed activity. 

In October of the same year, Pavlos Melas was surrounded by a Turkish detachment in the village of Statista (Melas), where he was mortally wounded. His sacrifice was marked as a symbol of the struggle for the liberation of Macedonia.

Events of Memory and Honor

From 12 to 13 October 2024, in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Lt. General Georgios Kostides, celebrations were held in the city of Kastoria on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the start of the Macedonian Struggle and the heroic sacrifice of the Anti-Hispanic (PB) Pavlos Melas.

In particular, the events included, among others, a Memorial Service at the Pavlos Melas Monument, which was officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Kastoria, Mr. Kallinikos, wreath-laying, and speech for the Commemoration of the Beginning of the Macedonian Struggle by the GES Chief Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis.

Source: GES

Also read: Pavlos Melas | The emblem of the Macedonian Struggle