Cyprus-Forum.com

[yialousa1971]

A wedding ring for Greece.

NOCTOC
http://noctoc-noctoc.blogspot.com/2009/10/wedding-ring-for-greece.html

From ancient times, Cyprus has always stood next to Greece, by sending money, material goods and volunteers whenever the Greeks found themselves in bad situations. During the Greek-Italian War of 1940, the amount of £350.000 pounds was collected after Cypriot women donated their gold jewelry. Sheets were laid outside the churches where the women placed their golden jewels to been send to Greece which was in great need because of the Second World War. They donated gold coins that they used to hung around their neck, earrings and bracelets,were all given away generously. Married women gave away their gold wedding rings, and cooper ones were given to them in exchange, in order that they could still show that they were married. They also made a very unusual collection in material goods: they collected in big boxes the dowries of girls, sheets, cushions with beautiful lace work, winter sheets, blankets, pajamas, socks, woollies and other materials, scattered with rose petals and leafs from other flowers. In the province of Paphos 14 thousand wedding rings were given to the Greek consulate. In a lot of villages, the churches gave way their holy church articles. In the village of Kouklia they gave away their golden cherubs (exapteriga) with the statement of the priest that "when the motherland is in danger we do not need cherubs, we can also make the liturgy without them''. In the village of Kallepia, they gave away the silver votive lamps (kandilia) of their church, in the village of Tala their Holy Communion Cup e.c.t. Even though Paphos has always been the poorest province of Cyprus, nevertheless £50,000 pounds were collected for the Greek cause, £8, 000 for Greek Red Cross, £5, 000 for the Greek Aviation, and £6, 000 for a new ship to be called "ELLI'' after the one that was sunk by the Italians. The province of Kyrenia alone collected enough money with which a new war plane was bought for Greece which was named "KYRENIA". Even though the British did not allow Cypriot men to enlist in the Greek Army, it is estimated that 4.000 Cypriots took part in the Greek-Italian war defending Greece. Another 30.000 thousand Cypriots fought in various other forefronts during the Second World War. This is the greatness of the Cypriot soul.

[Twilight]

Such a heart warming story ..Thanks for sharing it

[fig head]

Yialousa its brillient story xx

[Oracle]

... it is estimated that 4.000 Cypriots took part in the Greek-Italian war defending Greece...

My father was one of those and he was rewarded with a Greek wife!