By Miltos Sakellaris
The Roman letters, that is, the literature of the Greeks of Azov, originally they were oral and were an integral part of the unified Greek folk poetic tradition. At times many were those who tried to record the history of the Greeks in Mariupol and the surrounding villages. To gather the Greek cultural heritage. Others hear songs and poems from people who fought daily for their lives. Writings remain. This is why many have started writing their own personal treasures for at least the last 60 years.
Such a treasure of history remains “Buried” probably under the rubble in an apartment in Mariupol. Unfortunately, the losses in a war are many. They are not limited to humans. War many times, despite being written in history books, destroys history itself, the heritage, but also the emotions that people of the past recorded on a piece of paper or sang while writing a melody on a guitar or piano. In time of peace.
The paternal affection for the heritage
In 1979 Eduard Hatzinov he let out his last breath. He was a great one Greek folklorist. He had studied at Kiev University, where he did his dissertation, which unfortunately he did not manage to complete. His legacy? Unbeatable. He left it to his daughter Athena Hatzinova but also to his wife one huge collection of poems, proverbs, songs, stories and books. Many continued to send their poems for years to his daughter, who collected them with affection. Like the paternal care she felt growing up before she lost her beloved dad.
«He had united these people to write their poems in the dialect. This movement of poets had developed greatly at that time. They wrote a lot of poems. Translated by Ukrainian poets. They published books. All the poets, since they particularly respected my father’s work, presented him with their typed books with their signatures. We almost have all the manuscripts of all the poets who wrote at that time“, Said Athena Hatzinova about her father’s file.
The resident of Mariupol, who escaped the horrors of war and along with loved ones and managed to escape the bombed cityeven today she is anxious about what has happened to her father’s record. Part of it was stored electronically, but it was so large that no hard drive could fit it all. In the library of her mother’s house there are around 300 CDs with songs of the Greeks. «All this material is at home. All articles, books and poems. On hard disks and manuscripts. We also have rich photographic material. Some works of art by painters of Greek origin that we had in our houseShe says excitedly as she remembers her father telling her how went door-to-door in every village in the Azov. Recording stories and emotions. He left nothing to be lost.
Life between shells and the dilemma of death
At dawn on the morning of February 24, Athena spoke with her mother. He hugged her and told her he was going to work. That day he gave her a loud kiss. It was different because this time it was very anxious. He worked as an interpreter for a Greek channel. Then he hoped that the war would not last long. The Russians invaded Ukraine, while troops arrived from the Crimea. He had made sure to get canned food, enough salami, rice, cereals, coffee and tea. Mariupol began to be bombarded with rage by the Russian forces. Some days, he said, they had to sleep in the lobby of the apartment because “we were afraid we might be bombed. “We were afraid we would die.”
Communications and network lost. After a few days the electricity and water were cut off. He went to a well. The wait for a little water exceeded two hours. Next to her were hundreds of residents of Mariupol. Suddenly he began to hear the whistle. It was the sound of death. «The shells whistle when they fall due to the speed“, He said, saying that then he was in great danger and was forced to fall to the ground to be covered. Like everyone who was next to her. Then he returned home. A friendly family told them that they had found a road that was “clean” and that they could escape from there. Athena was thinking: “If we leave and they kill us, no one will recognize us, no one will find us. If we die at home they will at least know who we are». Think about the dilemma. It is black, full of death. It’s the moment you have to make a decision. Perhaps the most important of your life.
Athena Hatzinova made her decision and was saved. Now he wants to go back. To see the condition of the house where he grew up. So is her mother. Despite the fact that he is 83 years old, he tells her every day with emphasis that “I want to live so long to see Putin’s death».
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