Leonidas Ph. Leonidou

 

 

Ελληνικά

Born 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.

 

 

Agios Theodoros of Karpasia - Place and People,  Cyprus 1986
1st Edition  (soft cover, in Greek)

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,  2nd Edition  (soft cover, in Greek)
In second edition more than 200 pages have been added as well as updates to the Genealogy part.
The book presentation took place in London by H.E. the Cyprus High Commissioner Mr. Evripides Evriviades on 9.6.2015 under the auspices of the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood. Video of the Presentation

Available in Amazon Ayios Theodoros book.

 

Georgios Grivas Digenis - Biography. Volume I  (1897 - 1950);
1st edition, 1995 Nicosia, ISBN 9963-7585-6-8 (hardcover with colour dustcover, 426 pages, in Greek)

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)
The new edition of this volume in 2012  included significant new information about the life of General Grivas in the period under review. Of particular importance is the new Chapter 9, which includes a number of the released secret documents of the British Archives referred to the action of Colonel Grivas during the German occupation.

Available at Amazon

 

Georgios Grivas Digenis - Biography. Volume II (1950 - 1959);
1st Edition, Nicosia 1997, ISBN 978-9963-9511-1-6 (hardcover with colour dustcover, 720 pages, in Greek)

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)
The second edition published in 2009 includes new evidence from released Foreign Office documents such as the reasons of failure of the talks between  Harding and Makarios in 1956, the plans of execution of Digenis by the British secret services, and detail (names, time and place) of the death of British army soldiers killed during that period .

Available at Amazon

 

 

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)
The third volume recounts the life of George Grivas Digenis after the EOKA struggle, describes his reactions to the Zurich - London agreements and his unsuccessful attempt to become a politician. Refers to the political events of 1963 which led to his second arrival in Cyprus in 1964 when he took over leadership of the Greek Cypriot National Guard and the Greek Army forces on the island. It presents the American plans for the solution of the Cyprus issue and the reactions of General Grivas. It gives a detailed account of the deliberations of the American mediator for Cyprus Dean Acheson in the summer of 1964 and the situation created after the failure to find a solution acceptable to all. Reveals new detail on how, after the collapse of the Acheson negotiations, the U.S. proposal to Greece to unilaterally declare the Union of Cyprus with Greece in late August 1964, has failed. Analyses the Kofinou fiasco in November 1967 that led to the removal of General Grivas and the Greek army division from Cyprus and his isolation and house arrest in Athens. Reveals the secret anti-junta organisation of General Grivas, during the years of the military dictatorship in Greece and the preparations for his last return to Cyprus in 1971.

Available at Amazon

George Grivas Digenis - Biography. Volume IV (1971 - 1974);
1st Edition, Nicosia 2008, ISBN 978-9963-9511-1-6 (hardcover with colour dustcover, 718 pages, in Greek)

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

 

 

Makrasyka - Place and People, Cyprus 2010
1st edition, ISBN 978-9963-9511-3-0 (hardcover, 512 pages, in Greek)

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

 

 

By Fire and Sword - The 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus
1st edition  2013,    ISBN 978-9963-9511-5-4 (soft cover, 412 pages). In Greek.

The book lists the crimes and atrocities during the first (July 20, 1074) and second phase (August 14, 1974) of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. 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

The Last Escapee - Argyros Kyriakou
1st edition, 2014,  ISBN 978-9963-9511-6-1 (soft cover, 384 pages). In Greek.

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. Grivas, the EOKA leader, ordered him to join his partisan team at Kykkos hideouts and from there he was sent to the haunts of Paphos in  George Raftis guerrilla group where he met the young rebels Evagoras Pallikarides, Vangelis Christofi and Panicos Michaelides. He participated in attacks against the British camps and set up ambushes against military vehicles. In November 1956 he returned for a few days to his village Geri and negotiated the delivery of French arms by a French officer. When arrested on 4 December 1956 he was subjected to inhuman torture for 30 days, that caused the strong protest of the Lawyers Association of Cyprus. He was locked in detention camps and for two years he was refused hospital for treatment. When finally did, he drew up a remarkable escape plan which he implemented on 9 January 1959, thus becoming the last to escape during the EOKA struggle, since a few weeks later there was an agreement. Unfortunately he did not manage to read this book about his life that so eagerly waited. He died four days before receiving it.

Available at Amazon 

 

Antonis Fanieros, 1st edition, Cyprus 2016, ISBN 978-9963-9511-8-5 (soft cover, 352 pages) In Greek.

Antonis Fanieros was characterized as a gambling lord, gang leader and king of the underworld of Cyprus. But those who benefited from his all-round help considered him a philanthropist and benefactor. He was proud of himself because he was a close associate of Archbishop Makarios III and Vasos Lyssaridis. He kept the police and the mass media of Cyprus busy for decades. He was hunted by the police for his unlicensed gambling clubs and casinos and was imprisoned twice. It has been the subject of interest in both the press and television and radio media. An assassination attempt was made against him, from which he barely escaped death while the bullets he received wounded him in the neck, resulting in his voice being affected ever since. He managed various businesses which enabled him to acquire a large fortune.

This book presents various aspects of the turbulent life of Antonis Fanieros through his relations with the head of the Cypriot state and the Church, enabling the reader to form his own opinion of who he really was.

Available from the Author

 

 

 

 

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.

Available from the Author

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

Available from the Author

 

British Politicians Supporting Self-Determination and Human Rights in Cyprus in the 1950s (2019) (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.

Available from the Author

 

The Kofinou trap – The beginning of CyprusÕ subjugation to the Turks, 1st edition, Cyprus 2021, ISBN 978-9963-2394-6-7 (240 pages, size 140 x 210 cm.)

The events that took place in the Turkish Cypriot village of Kofinou in the province of Larnaca, Cyprus, in November 1967, marked the course of the Cyprus case. Following the Turkish Cypriot rebellion of 1963-64 and regular threat by Turkey to invade the island, the Greek prime minster George Papandreou and his Minister of National Defense Petros Garoufalias, sent thousands of Greek troops along with their armaments to Cyprus, to defend the territorial integrity of the island against Turkish threats. The command of all armed forces of Cyprus, was then taken over by General George Grivas who returned to the island from Greece in the spring of 1964. By 1967 Cyprus had become an impregnable fortress and the Greek army together with the Cyprus National Guard were able to successfully deal with any Turkish attempt to invade the island. Just then, the events of Kofinou between the Cypriot Police and armed Turkish Cypriots and with the involvement of the National Guard, at the insistence of President Makarios and General Gr. Spantidakis, the Greek Defence Secretary, took place. This publication presents authentic documents and testimonies of primary sources that prove that the involvement of the National Guard was a deliberate act that would cause the expulsion of the Greek Division and General Grivas from Cyprus. CyprusÕ defenses, which until then were under the full military protection of Greece, were blown up and collapsed and the island remained exposed to the appetites of Turkey. The fall of Cyprus in fact began in November 1967 to be completed with the Turkish invasion in July-August 1974!

Available from the Author

 

Twelve betrayals that led to Grigoris Afxentiou's death, 1st edition, Cyprus 2020, ISBN 978-9963-2394-7-4 (156 pages, size 140 x 210 cm)

Grigoris Afxentiou, a national hero in Cyprus, was an ex-Greek army Cypriot officer who was enlisted in EOKA, in early 1955, developed active guerilla campaign but was eventually located in a mountain hideout and burned alive by the British army. The book describes the circumstances of his initiation into EOKA by the leader Georgios Grivas Digenis. It gives details of his action, his persecution and his guerrilla life in the Pentadaktylos and then in the Troodos mountains. It names the twelve agents and collaborators of the British authorities who betrayed his movements and hiding places from the autumn of 1955 until 3 March 1957, when following a chain of betrayals the British army traced his hiding place near Machera monastery. It describes his last hours and dramatic moments, through British documents that first saw the light of day. It details how and why the British decided to burn him alive by dousing his hideout with gasoline. It presents the international reactions and the consequences of the holocaust of Grigoris Afxentiou.

Available from the Author

 

 

 

MakariosÕ Demystification, 1st edition, London 2021, Hard cover, 600 pages, 28 x 22 cm. ISBN  978-1-80049-397-1, (in Greek)

Following many years of research this book examines the life of the late Archbishop Makarios III, since his early years and the factors that affected his personality. It gives detail account of MakariosÕ university years in Athens during WWII and his election initially as Bishop and soon after as Archbishop of the Orthodox church of Cyprus in 1950. Since then and for the following 27 years he became the leading figure in Cypriot affairs.

In the 26 chapters of this 600-page of the 28 x 22 cm book, a new image of Makarios emerges that is not what hitherto his autobiographers and mythmakers presented. The book examines MakariosÕ relationship with the successive Greek, British and Turkish governments, he attitude towards the 1967-71 junta in Greece, his relationship with General Grivas and his handling of the internal situation and since his election as President of Cyprus in 1960.

Available ONLY from the Author

 

 

 

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