Savvas Lolos, the last of the first generation refugees who arrived in the area of Preveza, Epirus during the Greek Genocide, passed away at the age of 104.
The news was announced by the President of the «Η ΑΜΙΣΟΣ» Association, Stella Haitidou.
"In your shape we saw the 'homeland'," the President stated in a Facebook post.
"Today our father Savvas passed away… The last survivor of the first generation refugees in our area. Our dear Savvas today you close with your life cycle the story of the first generation refugees. You take with you the pain and the tears of the thousands uprooted and slaughtered during the Greek Genocide of Pontus. From today you will be with them. In your shape we saw the "Homeland"...We will miss your kind hug, your sweet smile..." she continued.
Earlier this year, Savvas was interviewed by ANMA journalist Mary Tzora and spoke about what he saw with his childish eyes, the sufferings that his family experienced, the fear, the persecution, the uprooting, situations that he lived until he was 7 years old, including his personal experiences with Topal Osman.
"My father, Elias Savvidis- here in Greece we changed the surname, was for a while the president of the community. A Turkish friend of his, from a neighbouring village, saved him, hid him, when he learned that Topal Osman would execute him. She kept him at home for 15 days. He was chased by the bloodthirsty Topal Osman, who wanted to execute him, as he executed many others. Topal Osman used to come to the village at night, to my house..."
He also recalled Turks demolishing churches and schools. "The exchange saved us in 1924... My father, when we were leaving went to worship in the small church on the hill... I remember he said: to arrive alive in Greece. We left the village at night. Through ravines and streams to reach Trabzon where we would enter the ships...".
