He died poor wearing a bracelet of bullets, which had pierced his body in the dozens of battles he participated in
The historical tribute is published by Infognomon publications “Pantelis Karasevdas-Three Lives” of the journalist, Kostis Tsiakanikasand the historian, Nikos Houtas.
The shocking story of the “unknown soldier” Pantelis Karasevdas who reached the rank of Lieutenant General by winning every “gallon” for bravery! Olympian, military, politician, liberal Venizelian, visionary and resistance fighter, President of Panhellenic, President of Panathinaikos and member of the Greek Olympic Committee, he left life poor wearing a bracelet made of bullets that had pierced his body in the dozens of battles he participated in, but who never managed to crush his unwavering passion for freedom and democracy…
The Karasevda family came from Souli in Epirus. His name perhaps also “gives away” the history of the family during the years of the Turkish occupation. “Karasevdas” in the Greek language means “black woe” and the family of Souliots fought many battles for survival during the years of enslavement. The Karasevdeikos were a branch of the Karapanos family, expelled by Ali Pasha and forced to settle further south from Souli, in the area of the Akarnanikos Xiromeros.
Pantelis’ grandfather, Yiannis Karasevdas, fought in the siege of Messolonghi and lived through the heroic moments of the Exodus. Historical sources have little to add about his own life. However, it is certain that he imbued his children with Greek consciousness and high ideals. Pantelis Karasevdas never hesitated, not even for a moment, to put Greece above his own life.
The publication is honored with their texts by: Prokopis Pavlopoulos (Academic, former President of the Republic), Evangelos Apostolakis (Honorary Head of GEETHA, former Minister of National Defence), Pyrros Dimas (Olympian), Konstantinos Filis (Internationalist) and Panos Sombolos (President of the Association of Aitoloakarnano Journalists). Also, the University student and writer Spyros Tzokas presents the historical context of the Karasevdas era.
The 318-page edition includes rare photographic material and an appendix with historical inserts (texts and testimonies).
Here are excerpts from the book:
He honored Greece at the Olympic Games with a hat…
Karasevda’s medal in shooting (silver was then… gold and a laurel wreath was the prize) and the five other medals won by his fellow athletes were the rich harvest for the Panhellenic team, which was deservedly dubbed the “Association of Olympians” at the time. At that time, the great artist of the time and later member of the Academy of Fine Arts of Paris, the sculptor George Brutos, had crafted a beautiful statuette which was given as a gift to the Statuette of George Brutos which was given as a gift to the young Olympian. Famous works sculpted by Brutos are the statues of Korai in front of the University and of Constantinos Zappa in front of the Zappeion Megaro.
Karasevdas “benefactor” of Panathinaikos…
The contribution of the immovable Karasevdas to the development of Greek sports in the interwar period is not limited only to his Association, the Panhellenic, but also extends to other associations. Specifically, during the work of the 4th National Assembly, the Municipality of Athens managed to approve the concession of the field “Perivola” to Panathinaikos.116 The relevant decision was published in the Government Gazette No. 165/1924. With the actions of Karasevdas, Panathinaikos acquired the only stadium in the Greek capital at that time on Alexandras Avenue, “Leoforo”, as it has become popular to be referred to by the fans, although since 1981 it has had the official name “Apostolos Nikolaidis”. As a sign of deep gratitude and appreciation, the leadership group of “Triphyllum” – Kalafatis, Nikolaidis, Papazoglou, Panourgias – elected Karasevdas president of Panathinaikos twice (1924-1926, 1928-1930). During his first presidential term, the Association received its final name of Panathinaikos Athletic Club (PAO), while during the second he had many competitive successes.
In the Asia Minor Campaign…
“…On leaving the Asia Minor Catastrophe, on board an English ship, he slapped the English admiral in command of the ship, and forced him to take down stairs from the ship to collect the half-dead, bloodied, pursued Greeks, who were swimming to escape the massacres of the Turks and certain death by drowning”.
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
