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My Samothracian Family History. Cretan Family History is in process.
 
Home Both my father's and mother's parents were born in Greece. My father's family came from Crete, and mom's from Samothrace. This page currently features the remarkable story of my mother's great-grandfather's survival.

When i first accompanied my parents to the tiny Greek island of Samothrace in 1965, it was a different place than that which I rediscovered in the spring of 2000.

Located in the northeastern Aegean, the island is in sight of both the foreboding Anatolian cliffs of Turkey and the sheltering port of historic Alexandroupolis.

There is archeological evidence to support the theory that the island was home to religious ceremonies held by the ancient Egyptians and the later Greeks of prehistory in the location now referred to as "Paleopolis"  (literally "Old City").

For the contemporary art and historical cognoscente, the island's rather obscure claim to fame (unless your bloodline sources through there) is that the statue of Nike was found there.   I've seen this amazing sculpture in the Louvre.  While displayed with great honor, Nike and other stolen works of Greek heritage languishing in the British (and other) Museum must be returned home.

Superficially, the twentieth century has caught up with Samothrace.  A relatively reliable ferry system brings a steady stream of tourism (along with its handmaiden, Prosperity) to the little island of my maternal grandparents.
Nike of Samothrace

Map of Samothraki


Electricity is now less of a novelty for many island homes.  For some of the water is available via PVC pipe set under ancient cobblestone walks - taking the place of heavy buckets walked home from the well. 

When I was last there, a new wave of europeans were buying up ancient homes and properties refashioning many structures into a type of germanic ideal; what the Nazi's failed to accomplish fifty years ago, now occurs on a more gradual basis.  What was once Greece will dissolve into the euro...

But just under the surface was still the Greece of my ancestors; more recently of my grandparents and our family's many relations.  The large Greek Orthodox Church and many little chapels throughout the island actively serve the spiritual needs of the faithful.
Chora, the town located at the highest elevation of the rugged island is now covered by a carpet of tall green pines planted by our cousin Bill Bacile's uncle just after WWII (with the help of the island's school children),  making it a much different place than the photo below taken in 1875.

Many of the stories that I had heard from my Father, Grandmother, and Grandfather  sprang to life  as I walked the earth of Samothrace.  

What I had thought to be fictions from the old country designed to terrify little children assumed a reality that made me ashamed that i did not pay closer attention when I first heard them.
Chora, circa 1875
Home built by Athanasis Terzis
The text below is a portion of family (and Greek) history as written by an elder cousin as told to him by his father and references the home his father built after an odyssey that would try anyone's body, heart, and spirit. 

It is a story of childhood's sudden end, the ladder of change from being part of a poor family, to surviving a raid by Turkish slavers, being sold at auction, an eventual escape and return to home, and the search for his brothers also sold into slavery.This amazing story is also an indictment of all who naively accept freedom as a natural state of order.   His story is a reflection on what it means to be a slave, to not be able to speak the language of your birth in public, pursue your religious preferences, and much more.  It is also a testimony to the spirit of survivors everywhere and why we must consciously participate in the affairs of the world around us.

If the stones of Athanasi's home (on the left) could but speak
One day I will post an accurate English translation

ÏÉ ÔÅÑÆÇÄÅÓ ÔÇÓ ÓÁÌÏÈÑÁÊÇÓ
IOANNIS ÔÅÑÆÇ

Ï ðñþôïò êÜôïéêïò ôïõ ÷ùñéïý ôùí Áëùíéþí Þôáí ï ÁíáóôÜóéïò Áèáíáóßïõ ÓõêÜò, êáôÜ ôï Ýôïò 1805 ðåñßðïõ, ï ïðïßïò ðáíôñåýôçêå ôçí ÔñéáíôáöõëëéÜ (áãíþóôïõ åðùíýìïõ) êáé áðÝêôçóáí êáôÜ óåéñÜí ôá êÜôùèé ôÝêíá : ÁèáíÜóéï,ÄçìÞôñéï,Ðáíáãéþôç,Ãåþñãéï êáé èõãáôÝñá áãíþóôïõ ïíüìáôïò. Ôï 1821 ìå ôçí åðáíÜóôáóç ôùí ÅëëÞíùí êáôÜ ôùí Ôïýñêùí óôçí íüôéï ÅëëÜäáåîåãÝñèçóáí êáé ïé ÓáìïèñÜêåò êáé êáôÝëõóáí ôéò ÔïõñêéêÝò áñ÷Ýò åêäéþêïíôáò áðü ôï íçóß üëïõò ôïõò Ôïýñêïõò.Ôï áðïôÝëåóìá ôçò åíÝñãåéáò áõôÞò, Þôáí íá åìöáíéóôåß ôï ìÞíá ÓåðôÝìâñéï ôïõ ßäéïõ Ýôïõò ï Ôïýñêéêïò óôüëïò óôçí èÝóç ËåéâÜäé üðïõ êáé áðåâßâáóå äýï ÷éëéÜäåò óôñáôéþôåò ïé ïðïßïé áé÷ìáëþôéóáí êáé êáôÝóöáîáí ôïí ðëçèõóìü ôïõ íçóéïý. Ï Ôïýñêéêïò óôüëïò åâÜäéóå ìÝóù Áëùíéþí ðñïò ôçí ×þñáí ,óôçí äéáäñïìÞ äå áõôÞ óõíåëÜìâáíáí êÜèå Óáìïèñáêßôç ðïõ óõíáíôïýóáí êáé ôïí ðñïùèïýóáí ðñïò ôï ËåéâÜäé. Ìåôáîý ôùí óõëëçöèÝíôùí Þôáí êáé ç ïéêïãÝíåéá ôïõ ÁíáóôÜóéïõ ÓõêÜ.Óôï ËåéâÜäé åãßíïíôáí ç äéáëïãÞ : ôïõò ìåãÜëïõò óå çëéêßá ôïõò Ýóöáæáí ,ôá äå ðáéäéÜ ðñïïñéæüôáí ãéá óêëáâïðÜæáñá.Ôï æåýãïò ÓõêÜ åóöÜãç óôï ËåéâÜäé ðáñïõóßá ôùí ðáéäéþí ôïõò.Ôá ôñßá Üññåíá çëéêßáò áðü åðôÜ åþò äÝêá ÷ñïíþí ,ôá ìåôÝöåñáí óôá ðëïßá, ôá äå äýï ìéêñüôåñá åðåéäÞ Þôáí íÞðéá åãêáôáëåßöèçêáí óôçí áêñïãéáëéÜ êáé ìåôÜ ôçí áíá÷þñçóç ôùí Ôïýñêùí, ðåñéóõíåëÝãçóáí áðü ôïõò äéáóùèÝíôåò óôá âïõíÜ ÓáìïèõñÜêåò. Áöïý êáôÝóöáîå êáé ëåçëÜôçóå ôï íçóß ï Ôïýñêéêïò óôñáôüò, áíá÷þñçóå äéá ôçí Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëç.Åéò ôçí åßóïäï äå ôïõ Âïóðüñïõ üðïõ âñßóêåôáé ç ðüëç ÔóáíÜêáëå ðáñÝäùóáí óôï óêëáâïðÜæáñï ôïõò ÓáìüèñÜêåò ðïõ ìåôÝöåñáí ðñïò ðþëçóç.Ôá ôñßá áãüñéá ôïõ Áíáóôáóßïõ ÓõêÜ åðùëÞèçóáí óå äéÜöïñïõò Ìùáìåèáíïýò.Ï äåêÜ÷ñïíïò ÁèáíÜóéïò áãïñÜóôçêå áðü Ôïýñêï ôçò Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëçò , ï ïðïßïò Þôáí ñÜöôçò (Ôïõñêéóôß : ÔåñæÞò). Ôï äåýôåñï áãüñé áãïñÜóôçêå áðü Ôïýñêï êáôáãüìåíï áðü ôï Áäñáìýôéïí êáé ôï ôñßôï áðü áðü Áéãýðôéï ôçò ÁëåîÜíäñåéáò. Ï Ôïýñêïò ðïõ áãüñáóå ôïí ÁèáíÜóéï Þôáí Üêëçñïò êáé ôïí õéïèÝôçóå.Ôïí Ýóôåéëå óôá êáëýôåñá ó÷ïëåßá ôçò ðüëçò, åíþ ðáñÜëëçëá ôïõ åäßäáóêå ôçí ôÝ÷íç ôïõ ñÜöôç êáé ôïí áëëáîïðßóôçóå óå Ìùáìåèáíü ìå ôï üíïìá ÏóìÜí.Ï ÁèáíÜóéïò Þôáí Ýíá èåôéêü ðáéäß ,ãé’áõôü ïé íÝïé èåôïß ãïíåßò ôïõ ôïí õðåñáãáðïýóáí êáé ôïí åöñüíôéæáí ðïëý. Ï ÁèáíÜóéïò üìùò äéáôçñïýóå ðÜíôïôå íùðÞ óôç ìíÞìç ôïõ ôçí åéêüíá ôçò óöáãÞò ôùí ãïíÝùí ôïõ, êáé ç óêÝøç ôïõ Þôáí ðÜíôá óôá äýï ôïõ áäÝñöéá ðïõ ðùëÞèçóáí óôï óêëáâïðÜæáñï êáé óôá Üëëá äýï ðïõ âñÝöç áðüìåéíáí ìüíá óôç ÓáìïèñÜêç. Áõôüò ï êáçìüò, üôáí Ýãéíå åßêïóé ÷ñïíþí ,ôïí Ýêáíå íá ðÜñåé ôçí áðüöáóç íá åãêáôáëåßøåé ôïõò èåôïýò ãïíåßò ôïõ, êáé íá ðñïóðáèÞóåé íá êáôÝâåé óôçí íüôéá ÅëëÜäá ç ïðïßá åß÷å åëåõèåñùèåß (Ðåëïðüííçóïò,ÁôôéêÞ êáé ìÝñïò ôçò ÓôåñåÜò ÅëëÜäáò). Ðáßñíïíôáò áñêåôü ÷ñõóÜöé áðü ôïõò èåôïýò ãïíåßò ôïõ Þñèå óå åðáöÞ ìå Ýíáí êáðåôÜíéï áðü ôçí ÌõôéëÞíç ðïõ ìåôÝöåñå ìå ôï êáßêé ôïõ êÜñâïõíï óôçí ðüëç.Ï Ìõôéëçíéüò Üêïõóå ôç äñáìáôéêÞ éóôïñßá ôïõ, ãíþñéóå äå êáé ôç óöáãÞ ôçò ÓáìïèñÜêçò, êáé áðïöÜóéóå íá ôïí ðÜñåé ìáæß ôïõ üôáí äéá ôïí ÐåéñáéÜ ÷ùñßò íá ôïõ æçôÞóåé ÷ñÞìáôá.¸íá âñÜäõ ëïéðüí ìðáñêÜñéóå êáé óå ëßãåò ìÝñåò Ýöôáóå óôïí ÐåéñáéÜ Ý÷ïíôáò ìïíáäéêü ìÝëçìá ôïõ ôçí åðéóôñïöÞ óôç ÓáìïèñÜêç.. ÐñÜãìáôé, ìå âÜñêåò êáé êáßêéá êáôÜöåñå ôåëéêÜ ìÝóù ôçò ËÞìíïõ íá öôÜóåé óôçí ÓáìïèñÜêç. ¼ôáí Ýöôáóå óôïí ôüðï ôïõ ðáñïõóéÜóôçêå ùò Ôïýñêïò êáé öáíáôéêüò ìïõóïõëìÜíïò ãéá íá ìçí äþóåé õðïøßåò óôïí ôüôå ÁãÜ ôïõ íçóéïý êáé äÞëùóå üôé Þôáí æùÝìðïñïò êáé üôé Þñèå íá áãïñÜóåé æþá êáé äÝñìáôá.ÊÜèçóå ðåñßðïõ Ýíá ìÞíá, üðïõ ðñïáãüñáæå ôá Üíù åìðïñåýìáôá, áëëÜ ðáñÜëëçëá ðñïóðáèïýóå íá ìÜèåé ôé Ýãéíáí ôá äýï ìéêñÜ áäÝñöéá ôïõ ðïõ áðÝìåéíáí åêåß. Óôï äéÜóôçìá áõôü äåí Ýâãáëå ëÝîç ÅëëçíéêÞ, ìéëïýóå ìüíï óôçí Ôïýñêéêç ãëþóóá.Ôá âñÜäéá óý÷íáæå óôá ôüôå êáöåíåßá êé Üêïõãå ôïõò èáìþíåò íá ëÝíå åðåéóüäéá áðü ôçí óöáãÞ êé Ýôóé Ýìáèå ãéá ôá áäÝëöéá ôïõ ðïõ ôá åß÷áí ðåñéìáæÝøåé äõï ïéêïãÝíåéåò ,êáé ðÞãå ìÜëéóôá êáé ôá åßäå áðü ìáêñéÜ ÷ùñßò íá ôá ìéëÞóåé. Êáé áöïý Ýêëåéóå áñêåôÜ æþá êáé äÝñìáôá äßíïíôáò ðñïêáôáâïëÝò, áðïöÜóéóå íá åðéóôñÝøåé óôçí ðüëç äÞèåí üôé èá Ýðáéñíå ðëïßï ãéá íá ðÜñåé üôé åß÷å ðñïáãïñÜóåé.ÖôÜíïíôáò óôçí ðüëç äåí ðÞãå óôïõò èåôïýò ãïíåßò ôïõ áëëÜ ðñïóðÜèçóå íá ìÜèåé ðþò åßíáé ç êáôÜóôáóç ìåôÜ ôçí äñáðÝôåõóç ôïõ.¸ôóé áðü ôïí ößëï êáé óõììáèçôÞ ôïõ ï ïðïßïò åîåðëÜãç ðïõ ôïí åßäå äéüôé ðßóôåõáí üôé åß÷å äïëïöïíçèåß êáé ôï ðôþìá ôïõ åß÷å ñé÷ôåß óôïí Âüóðïñï.Ï êáëüò ößëïò ôïõ ëïéðüí ôïí ðëçñïöüñçóå üôé Ýíá ìÞíá ìåôÜ ôçí åîáöÜíéóç ôïõ ï èåôüò ðáôÝñáò ôïõ åß÷å ðåèÜíåé áðü ôïí êáçìü ôïõ äéüôé ôïõ åß÷å ìåãÜëç áäõíáìßá êáé ôïí õðåñáãáðïýóå üðùò êáé ç ôïõñêÜëá ìÜíá ôïõ. ÁðïöÜóéóå ôåëéêÜ êáé Ýíá âñÜäõ ðÞãå óôç ìÜíá ôïõ.Êáé áöïý ðñþôá Ýêëáøáí ôï ÷áìÝíï ðáôÝñá , ðïõ êáé ï ßäéïò áãáðïýóå , äéüôé Þôáí ðïëý êáëïß Üíèñùðïé, ëååé óôç ìÜíá ôïõ ôá åîÞò : « ÌÜíá åãþ åßìáé ¸ëëçíáò.Ôþñá ðïô Ýöõãá , ðÞãá óôïí ôüðï ìïõ, êáé ôá åßäá ôá äýï ìéêñÜ ìïõ áäÝëöéá.ÈÝëù äå áðü åóÝíá íá êÜíåéò Ýíá áðü ôá äýï ðïõ èá óïõ æçôÞóù.Ôï ðñþôï åßíáé íá ìïõ äþóåéò ôçí åëåõèåñßá ìïõ êáé ôï äåýôåñï íá öùíÜîåéò ôïõò ôóáíôåñìÜäåò íá ìå ðáñáäþóåéò óôçí óöáãÞ ».Äéüôé ç ôéìùñßá ãéá ôïõò óêëÜâïõò ðïõ äñáðÝôåõóáí Þôáí ï áðïêåöáëéóìüò. Ç ÔïõñêÜëá ôç äåýôåñç ðñüôáóç ïýôå íá ôçí áêïýóåé èÝëçóå êáé äÝ÷ôçêå íá ôïõ äþóåé ôçí åëåõèåñßá ôïõ õðü Ýíá üñï : Ðñéí öýãåé ãéá ôç ÓáìïèñÜêç íá õðïó÷åèåß üôé èá Ýñ÷åôáé óôçí Ðüëç ìéá öïñÜ ôï ÷ñüíï êáé èá ìÝíåé Ýíáí ôïõëÜ÷éóôïí ìÞíá ìáæß ôçò.Ôï äÝ÷ôçêå êáé ôéò áíôéðñüôåéíå íá Ýñ÷ïíôáí êáé ç ßäéá ìéá öïñÜ ôï ÷ñüíï óôç ÓáìïèñÜêç ãéá Ýíá ìÞíá íá ìÝíåé ìáæß ôïõ. ¸ôóé ôïõ Ýäùóå íüìéìá ôçí åëåõèåñßá ôïõ êáé áöïý ôïí åöüñôùóå ëßñåò êáé Üëëá áãáèÜ ôïõ åõ÷Þèçêå íá ãõñßóåé ìå ôï êáëü óôïí ôüðï ôïõ ÷ùñßò íá îå÷Üóåé ôçí õðüó÷åóç ðïõ ôçò åß÷å äþóåé. ¸ôóé óå ëßãï êáéñü Ýöôáóå óôçí ÓáìïèñÜêç åëåýèåñïò , ¸ëëçíáò êáé ×ñéóôéáíüò.Ðñïóêýíçóå ôï ðñþôï îùêëÞóé ðïõ âñÞêå ìðñïóôÜ ôïõ êáé öôÜíïíôáò óôç ×þñá ÷áéñÝôéóå åëëçíéêÜ áõôïýò ðïõ ôïí ðåñßìåíáí íá Ýñèåé ãéá íá ôïõ äþóïõí æþá êáé äÝñìáôá.Ôïõò áðïêÜëõøå äå ðïéïò Þôáí êáé ïé íôüðéïé ôïí åßäáí ìå ìåãÜëç óõìðÜèåéá êáé óåâáóìü.ÅðéóêÝöèçêå ôïí ÁãÜ êáé ðáñïõóßáóå ôá ó÷åôéêÜ Ýããñáöá ìå ôá ïðïßá öáßíïíôáí üôé åß÷å áðïêôÞóåé ôçí åëåõèåñßá ôïõ êáé óôç óõíÝ÷åéá ìÜæåøå ôá äýï ôïõ áäÝëöéá, ôá÷ôïðïßçóå üëåò ôéò äïõëåéÝò ôïõ êé Ýöõãå.¸öõãå íá ðÜåé íá øÜîåé ãéá ôá Üëëá äýï áäÝñöéá ôïõ ðïõ åß÷áí ðïõëçèåß, Ýíáò óôï Áäñáìýôç êáé ï Üëëïò óå Áéãýðôéï. Ôïí åõñéóêüìåíï óôï Áäñáìýôç ôïí âñÞêå ðáðÜ.Åß÷å êáôïñèþóåé íá áðïêôÞóåé ôçí åëåõèåñßá ôïõ êáé íá ãßíåé ðáðÜò ÷ùñßò íá Ý÷åé ðáíôñåõôåß.Óôç óõíÝ÷åéá ðÞãå óôç ðüëç, ðÞñå ôç èåôÞ ìÜíá ôïõ êáé ôçí Ýöåñå óôç ÓáìïèñÜêç, üðïõ áíôß ãéá Ýíáí ìÞíá Ýìåíå áñêåôïýò ìÞíåò êÜèå ÷ñüíï. ÔåëéêÜ ç èåôÞ ìÜíá ôïõ ðÝèáíå óôçí Ðüëç, üðïõ âñÝèçêå êáé ôçò ðáñáóôÜèçêå ùò ôï ôÝëïò ôçò ï ÁèáíÜóéïò.üëç ç ðåñéïõóßá ôçò ðåñéÞëèå óå áõôüí êáé äåí Þôáí ìéêñÞ ìéá êáé ï Üíôñáò ôçò Þôáí ñÜöôçò êïíôÜ óôï óïõëôÜíï. Óôçí ÓáìïèñÜêç ìå ôçí ïéêïíïìéêÞ Üíåóç ðïõ åß÷å êáëïðÜíôñåøå ôá äýï áäÝëöéá ôïõ ðïõ âñÞêå ôïí Ãéþñãï ÓõêÜ êáé ôçí áäåëöÞ ôïõ. Óôéò 23 Áõãïýóôïõ ôïõ 1842 ðáíôñåýôçêå ôçí ÔñéáíôáöõëëéÜ ÉùÜííïõ ìå ôçí ïðïßá áðÝêôçóå ôñßá ðáéäéÜ ôçí Æáöåéñïýäá , ôïí ÉùÜííç êáé ôïí Ðáíáãéþôç ìå ôï åðþíõìï ÔåñæÞ, ìå ôï ïðïßï ôïí áíÝöåñáí ôá ôïõñêéêÜ Ýããñáöá ìåôÜ ôçí áðüêôçóç ôçò åëåõèåñßáò ôïõ, åíþ ï áäåëöüò ôïõ Ãåþñãéïò åîáêïëïõèïýóå íá ãñÜöåôáé ÓõêÜò.Ôï 1881 Ý÷ôéóå ôï óðßôé ðïõ âñßóêåôáé óôç ×þñá.

Óôï ìåôáîý åß÷å Ýñèåé óå åðáöÞ ìå ôïí áäåëöü ôïõ ðïõ åß÷å ðïõëçèåß óôçí Áßãõðôï ìáèáßíïíôáò üôé åß÷å åêôïõñêéóôåß êáé åß÷å áðïêôÞóåé ðïëõìåëÞ ïéêïãÝíåéá.Ôï 1941 ï áäåëöüò ôïõ ðáôÝñá ôïõ, ÁèáíÜóéïò ÉùÜííïõ ÔåñæÞò ðïõ õðçñåôïýóå óôïí åëëçíéêü óôñáôü ôçò Áéãýðôïõ, êáôüñèùóå íá áíáêáëýøåé ôïõò áðïãüíïõò ôçò ïéêïãÝíåéáò áõôÞò Üðáíôåò Ìùáìåèáíïß êáé áñêåôÜ åõêáôÜóôáôïé ,ïé ïðïßïé äÞëùóáí üôé Þôáí õðåñÞöáíïé ãéá ôçí åëëçíéêÞ êáôáãùãÞ ôïõò.

Special thanks to my friend Sakis Giannakidis in Alexandroupolis for converting
the typed greek text of this story into HTML. a skill I do not have.

 
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