In 1961 he studied at the Pedagogical Academy, from which he graduated in 1963. He was characterized by his patriotism, his integrity, deep faith in God and love for Greece. Everyone loved and appreciated him.

He took part in the movement against the Turkish mutiny in Limassol and he then joined the new battalions of the National Guard as a volunteer, where he served for six months as a lieutenant governor of the Company, trained during 1-18/6/1964 and from 1-17/9/1964 at Kakomallis training centre.

In October 1964 he joined the National Guard, where he served as a second lieutenant at the 32nd Commandos’ Squadron. During this time, he came close to Chief Grivas Digenis and became a member of the small group always next to the Chief. He was also close to Colonel Karoussos, Commandant of Commandos and to the Commandant of the 32nd Commandos’ Squadron and then Chief of the GGA lieutenant colonel Kourkapas.

He was a founding member of the movement for National Rehabilitation (MNRC) and of the Reservists Lieutenants Association in Limassol (RLAL).

When his service at the National Guard ended in 1965, he continued his national action and enlightenment. His acquaintance with General Grivas Digenis was extremely important for hero Pourgourides, a milestone for his future life.
He was employed as a teacher in 1965 and served in primary schools in Limassol district. He worked ceaselessly for Greek and Christianity ideals. His desire for unification with Greece motivated him.

In 1967 he left for Lyon in France, where he studied Economics at the University of Lyon. He returned to Cyprus in 1972.

The reservist second lieutenant Panikos Pourgourides, at the age of 32 was one of the first enthusiasts to join the volunteer reservist battalion in 1974, with bold and decisiveness to fight against the Turks that were in the Turkish settlement in Limassol with weapons and were attacking the city. He was wearing his uniform with his initials and was carrying a “Kalashnikov”, the personal automatic weapon of the glorious Chief of EOKA, General Georgios Grivas Digenis. This weapon was kept by the family of the fighter after the death of Digenis.

According to a testification, hero Panikos Pourgourides did not a gun and was honorary given the gun of Digenis to go and fight.

A co-fighter of hero Panikos Pourgourides, Lakis Papastavros (son of the exile to Seychelles by the British, Papastavros Papagathaggelou) describes the death of the hero as such:

 “Around Saturday (20/7/1974) noon and at the same time that the Turkish machine gun missed me, Pourgourides, chief of the EOKA team, was attacking from the opposite side, from east, the enemy at the Turkish Gymnasium”. My ears were still hearing the noise of the bullets coming from the “bren” located near us, when I heard someone shouting from the other side of the building that Pourgourides was killed. The “brauning” of an unseen Turkish emplacement 50m away had killed him.

I run covered near him. He had his eyes shut and a calm expression on his face. He did his duty and kept his oath until his death. A few minutes later we were more eager to fight against the invaders and kill them”.

Hero Pourgourides is now immortal; he is where God enwreathes the brow of winners. He is amongst the legendary figures of heroes’ and martyrs that gave their lives for our country and sealed its nationality.

Panikos Pourgourides as indicated by his national activity, dedicated his short life serving our country and sealed his beliefs and all his fought for with his heroic death.

The sacrifice and teachings of the HEROES of our history need to be set as examples. As the poet said, he need:

“To take a drop of your blood to cleanse our own
To take a drop of your blood to add to our own
To take a drop of your blood to dye our own
In order for fear never to fade away again”.

Source:
Moniatis Community Council Archive