- The wick of Filiki Eteria sparks the fighting mind of the enslaved Greeks. Through the region, the wind of the Revolution spreads across land and sea!
The fire of the fight for the shaking off of the 400 years of enslavement is starting to burn. With bravery and abnegation, the Greeks register wins and sacrifices.
The island of Samos enters the fire of the Revolution early on. The leading team of the initiates of the Revolution on the island, Lykourgos Logothetis, archbishop Kirilos, Gerasimos Svoronos, teacher Ignatios and Kapetan Lachanas will play a definitive role in its preparation.
Lachanas and Svoronos declare the start of the Revolution in April 1821. Logothetis returns to Samos in May as appointed governor by Aleksandros Ipsilantis. He organizes the island administratively, militarily and institutionally.
Samos constitutes a strategic target for the Ottomans because of its position. In July 1821, they proceed with the first of three failed attempts to occupy the island. The people of Samos fight back heroically at Cavo Fonias. There, they devastate the Ottomans. The Revolution is established. In March of 1822, the People of Samos send a campaign corps to contribute to the start of the Revolution in Chios island. The Sultan is enraged. The ottoman fleet plunders, butchers and enslaves. The slaughter of Chios devastates the whole of Europe.
The following blasting of the Turkish fleet by Kanaris and Pipinos as a revenge of the Greeks for that destruction inspires the Philhellenic movement.
- During the fourth year of the Revolution, greek disputes are shaking the fight. The Sultan asks for the help of the Egyptians, promising things in exchange. In May of 1824, the Egyptian fleet conquers and destroys Kasos. A month later, the Ottoman fleet conquers, after being strongly resisted, Psara.
Samos is the island that the Ottomans wish the Greek fleet sank forever.
It is indeed a strategic target of high importance for the Ottomans and the dominance of their naval forces in the Eastern Aegean.
The head of the Ottomans, Chosref Pasas, promises Crete and Peloponnisos to the Egyptians. The Turkish-egyptian fleet, technologically and numerically superior, is focused on the total destruction of the Greek naval forces and the occupation of the island. The Ottoman ship named “fearless in battle” along with 36 guns attacks both sea and land.
The people of Samos, led by Lykourgos Logothetis, line up on land.
They fortify the island
They set up a complete defensive system employing everyone on the island and designate responsibilities to every village
Civilians mislead by lighting big fires on the mountains
Every afternoon, there are litanies
The Ottomans asks for the surrendering of the island. The People of Samos, in an assembly of 12.000 men, decline. “…We either liberate our home land, or we heroically die fighting for it.”
On sea, people from Hydra and Spetses rush to the aid of the Samians. Renowned naval officers gather. Kanaris. Sachtouris. Miaoulis and Kolandrouzis are leading.
On the dawn of August 5th, the naval officers raise the spirit of both captains and crews.
Just six greek battleships with brave warriors bring terror to the enemy and force them to retreat.
They manage to burn the greatest Turkish battleship, “Fearless in battle”, right across the castle of Lykourgos. Menacing thunder frightens the enemy due to endless explosions. Panic prevails. Two more Turkish battleships explode like tongues of fire in the middle of the sea.
Three battleships, one hundred cannons and one thousand enemy soldiers perish. The pasha hoists his sails and retreats.
Logothetis, Sachtouris, Kanaris and Lachanas and revolutionary fighters, deriving bravery from their faith, on the Eve of Metamorfosis of the Savior, achieve the historical victory of the navy.
Because victories aren’t won by battleships, but by people.
Christ saved Samos on August 6th, 1824.
