The contribution of Apokouros (of the wider area of the current Municipality of Thermo) in the struggle for independence of 1821, was varied and very important. This proposal presents aspects of the historical data and tradition, which either took place in Apokouro, or started from it, or are related to personalities who originate from Apokouro and were particularly distinguished for their contribution to the struggle of polygenesis. Specifically:
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We present the historical events that took place in Apokouros around 1821, mainly the protagonist Georgios Karaiskakis, whose action in Apokouros resulted in his release.
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We show a part of the huge work of Kosmas of Etolos, with a special focus:
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In his huge contribution to Education, since as is well known he founded over 210 schools during that difficult period.
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In his struggle for the rescue and dissemination of the Greek language.
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In his struggle for the protection of Nature and the Environment.
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In his fight for the protection of women's rights.
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In his enormous effort for the uprising of the genus, since as he is known he made 4 tours plowing Greece from one end to the other. The presentation and promotion of all these historical events will be done through the creation of an Infokiosk, with the main goal of informing the public. The events of that period with timeless and overtime significance, but also those wonderful forms of the protagonists, had significant effects on the social, economic, political and cultural data of the region of Apokouros and the whole of Greece. Our aim is to provide the public with all those necessary historical data in a way that is historically documented, modern and understandable by the public, with a special focus on young people. Therefore, we take advantage of the possibilities offered by New Technologies, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and with modern methods of promotion and presentation, we bring the public close to the events of that time, offering them full knowledge using modern methods and Internet practices, mobile applications, interactive systems. Finally, we believe that our proposal, in addition to all this, provides young people in particular with incentives and opportunities to take advantage of the enormous cultural Achaemenid background, of our largely unknown and untapped cultural wealth.
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The brief presentation of the historical data on which our proposal is based, is divided into two categories:
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Historical data related to the Liberation of Apokouros
The historical events that took place in Apokouros during the period of 1821, are the first part of our proposal and are very important, since their happy and final end was the liberation of Apokouros.
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The Apocalypse
In 1825, the Turks, in order to support their siege forces in Messolonghi, to control them from and to Salona (Amfisa) and Zitouni (Lamia) and from Western Greece and Epirus, set up a 2,400 camp in Petrochori. men. The general of Apokouros, Costas Siadimas, calls on Karaiskakis for help in Apokouros. Karaiskakis comes and sets up his camp - a camp in Western Greece - in Dervekista (Analipsi). From there, Karaiskakis accomplishes two great achievements:
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Night battle of Messolonghi
On July 25, 1825, he descends from Zygos to the besieged by Kioutachis Messolonghi, beats the Turks, surprises them, defeats them and manages to revive the morale of the glorious besieged and put food and men in Mesolongi.
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Release of Apokouros
With a series of battles in Petrochori Apokouros, from July 25 to August 8, 1825, he defeats the Turks and manages to force them to leave. Thus, Apokouro was liberated.
Memorial column
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Historical data related to the work of Patrocosmas
Patrocosmas, born and raised of Apokouros - (He describes himself in his letter as Apokouritis, says that he was born in Apokouros, in Megadentro) in an attempt to awaken the consciousness of the enslaved race, plowed literally the whole of Greece by making 4 tours - (On the tours main places (the largest in population), while there are other places of smaller population that visited)
1st Tour 1759 - 1762
He started from Istanbul and visited the areas: Adrianople, Drama, Serres, Edessa, Kozani, Rapsani, Larissa, Trikala, Karpenisi, Apokouros, Galaxidi.
2nd Tour 1763 - 1773
He started from Istanbul and visited the following areas: Komotini, Kavala, Mount Athos, Trikeri, Magnesia, Larissa, Tyrnavos, Elassona, Rapsani, Grevena, Kozani, Florina, Ohrid, Kastoria, Kastoria, Siatochora, Zaitosa, Zaitosa, Zata , Trikala, Agrinio, Nafpaktos, Galaxidi, Aigio, Messolonghi, Kefalonia.
3rd Tour 1775 - 1777
Started from Istanbul and visited the areas: Andros, Tinos, Paros, Sifnos, Naxos, Karpathos, Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Kalymnos, Leros, Patmos, Ikaria, Skyros, Skopelos, Mount Athos, Thessaloniki, Veria, Siatista, Ohrid, Berati, Moschopoli, Kalikontasi, Kastoria, Argyrokastro, Tepeleni, Heimara, Divri, Durracheio, Avlona, Delvino, Paramythia, Souli, Agrinio, Messolongi, Makrynia, Lefroka, Petrohori, Petrohori, Petrochori, Preveza, Corfu.
4th Tour 1777 - 1779
He started from Corfu and visited the areas: Agioi Saranda, Avlona, Dyracheio, Ohrid, Korytsa, Veria, Thessaloniki, Preveza, Arta, Ioannina, Tepeleni, Berati, Kalikontasi, the place of his martyrdom.
In each place he visited he spoke to the crowd that came to his speeches, while in most places and before his departure he founded Schools, more than 200 as he mentions in his letter to his brother Chrysanthos, founder and Headmaster of the Patriarchal Academy of Constantinople and later Director of the Hellenic Museum of Agios Georgios Grottas Naxos.
In his speeches, among many others, he referred to the Nation, and to Orthodoxy, to the Greek language that had been forgotten, to Education that did not exist. He supported the Greek language, fought for its preservation, and left an order to be taught in the schools he founded for this reason in the places he visited. He believed that only if the Greeks were educated would they shake off the Turkish yoke. First of all, he said to make a School, then to make the Church. In his speeches he also referred to the protection of Nature and the Environment, since in every place he went he planted and grafted the trees himself. She is considered a pioneer, for the data of that time, because she strongly supported the rights of women.
With our proposal, we highlight the above-mentioned characteristics of his work, his contribution to Education, language, his love for Nature, his contribution to the protection of the Environment, his strong position in support of women's rights, current issues and extremely interesting today as never before. It should be noted that in 2009 the Archdiocese, at the request of the Forest Service, appointed Patrocosmas as the patron saint of the Forest Service and the Forest Service.
All this very soon historical context developed above, we would like with our proposal to support and to this end we propose:
1. Info Kiosk
In 5 selected places will be placed elegant signs that will contain tourist content information for any visitor, audiovisual material that can be seen through his phone. Each point of interest will be marked with a unique QR code. The visitor of the point with his mobile phone will read the QR code of his Point of Interest and the phone will give him a tour of this Point.
2. Advertising - Promotion
This action will be shown in the print and electronic press, on websites, on radio and on television. Specifically:
- Our proposal is complete. With modern methods and practices, it records and reviews historical data, diffuses historical knowledge in every direction, while enriching the cultural background of the Region of Western Greece, contributing significantly to the formation of regional consciousness, which is one of the great demands of the Region of Western Greece.
- It highlights, perhaps bringing to the fore unknown to many, but extremely interesting aspects of the history of Apokouros, makes the most of the possibilities provided by ICT, and therefore addresses mainly the young population, thus connecting with the modern and contemporary methods and techniques the past with the future. Our proposal is the starting point in the best way of highlighting yesterday and today of our region, while the modern methods and practices that it applies, can be made mainly for young people, the guide to the utilization of our cultural wealth and contributes to the enhancement of extroversion, since modern techniques can work in a multilingual environment. So, with our proposal we address the world public.
PLACE: PETROCHORI ETOLOAKARNANIA
TIME: ΜΑΪΟΣ 2021
