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The Bishop of Citrus, Nikolaos Lousis,s an important leading personality of the 1878 Revolution. He is a figure that
follows the way for the cause of faith and homeland and
also the way for the sacrifice of the great prelates of
the Greek Nation.
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Biography
- He was born in Stenimaho (Northern Thraki) in 1848. After
studying in the school of his homeland and after his
distinction for his attention and progress in his studies
and for his morales, he received a scholarship and went
to the Rizario School. He stayed there studying for 5
years and he returned to his homeland, where he was
consecrated deacon by Metropolite of Philipoupolis. As
deacon he offered a lot to the Nation. He struggled
against the domination of the Bulgarians, he fought in
the first line during the battlements of Philipoupolis.
- In 1868, when the
revolution against the Turks in Crete was declared, N. Lousis left his home, went to Hania (Crete)
as a teacher and took part in the revolution, leader of
the volunteers' department. When the revolution was over
he went to Constantinople and started teaching in lyceum
until 1874.
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His acquaintance with the Metropolis of Thessaloniki,
Ioakim, who later became Patriarch of Constantinople,
brought him to Thessaloniki, where the synod of the
Bishops, consecrated him Bishop of Citrus on April 1875,
having Kolindros as a See.
- The
revolution of Kolindros on February 1878 was his project. He
premeditated it himself and he took over with responsibility. This
revolution of Kolindros and of Litohoro did not bring the desirable
result of freedom in the area, but it quashed Saint Stefano's Big
Bulgaria at the expense of the Greek Nation. Also, thanks to this
revolution, Thessalia and one part of Ipiros were annexed in the Greek
parts.
- The
Bishop, feeling embittered at the fail of the
revolution, he went to Thessalia, where he collaborated
with the rebels of the area and later he went to Lamia,
where the inhabitants and the authorities welcomed him
with enthusiasm.
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He never returned to his See at Kolindros but he with
drew in house at Pireas, where he died from
consumption on the 21th of July in 1882, aged 42 years
old.
The Greek government honored him as a Major - General
after his death. His funeral was watched by the crowd,
by deputies, ministers and by Prime Minister, Harilaos
Tricoupis.
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