"I never accepted any payment for my work from a journal or any other printed material. It is unthinkable for me to get paid for writing about Theodoros Kolokotronis”. Nick Papageorgiou spent 30 consecutive years writing about incidents from Kolokotronis's life in the local newspaper "Gortynia". Papageorgiou, a self-taught historian and journalist has written 1,200 short stories about the so called ‘Old Man of the Morea’ to date.

Historical treasure

Eleni Vlachou once said that a newspaper is worthy when its readers cut and save clippings. This holds true for "Gortynia" newspaper, especially for the column "Short stories and quotes from Theodore Kolokotronis's life". This precious column seems like a treasure in a trunk, that one is compelled to open again and again.

Nick Papageorgiou, now retired, comes from what he likes to call ‘the unknown retailers' caste’. The sewing shop he owned on Praxiteles Street had been an intellectual hub for many notable thinkers. This peculiar biographer of Kolokotronis has written articles in many newspapers, but he was most comfortable writing for "Gortynia". He wrote in many other magazines, such as"Maratha", the Arcadian yearbook which is published by the businessman Constantine Aggelopoulos. He has also given at least a hundred lectures in literary institutions and other places.

It is through Nick Papageorgiou's writing that the battle of Halandri was brought to light. It took place on the 2nd of November 1821 and has recently been established as a local festive day by the municipal authority. The leaders of the Greek resistance, Anastasios Lekkas and Demos Roumpesis died heroically in Halandri, but the battle against the Ottomans was ultimately won. Nick Papageorgiou proved with his knowledge, methodical work and sensibility, that the men buried under the industrial buildings of modern Halandri are heroes ought to be honoured.

He knows everything

Nick Papageorgiou also helped many Greek families (both at home and abroad) to establish genealogical ties to 1821 fighters' families. His books and notes fill up five large bookcases in his office. These books and documents contain answers to all the possible questions about the revolution of 1821. Papageorgiou himself admits: "I have read thousands of books and live among thousands of notes. In 1950, while I was still a shop assistant on Praxiteles street, I could never read enough, or eat enough! When I got my first vacation of six days after a year of working, I spent the whole first day in the National Library and the next five days in Servou, my village in Gortynia".

A fountain of knowledge

Nick Papageorgiou knows with absolute precision every part of the liberating fight against the Turks, the dates and locations of hundreds of battles and events. He is a remarkable fountain of knowledge, who could possibly answer any question on the 1821 revolution. As expected, this well-read man's children, love learning and are now brilliant scholars. They never forget to gift their father history books, which always puts a smile on his face.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

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