JOHN MIHALAKIS

OUR FAMILY
THE JOURNEY OF THE
MIHALAKIS FAMILY FROM
KOUROUNIA, CHIOS

ATHENS 2008
PROLOGUE

In 1943, Grandfather Dimitris Mihalakis, the old Notaros, as he was

known in our village Kourounia, departed from the world of light and
sun. His spore was fruitful, however, and today he has
approximately two hundred descendants living in Greece, America,
Africa, Australia, England and perhaps elsewhere.
Books like this are uncommon. Much more so since our family
doesnt differ from others. It hasnt produced any great
personalities. The family reunion we planned in the summer of
1994 in Chios and its preparation even though it never took place
gave me the idea of writing this book..
The idea was reinforced by the touching interest of my cousin
George Mallas (USA) who has for years occupied his time with our
family. He has drawn up an extraordinarily meticulous and
illuminating family tree which for technical reasons I cannot include
in this book.
The descendants of Grandfather Dimitris Mihalakis are dispersed
throughout the world. Some of them dont speak his language and
have lost their roots. The youngsters dont know who their relatives
are. However, there are many who want to learn. Therefore, I
considered it my duty to record what I know here and with the help
of my daughters to translate it into English and offer it as a gift to all
those who share the same roots.
Most of the information I include, I have learnt by word of mouth;
stories Ive head from my father, my uncles and other fellowvillagers. I had invaluable help from old documents which were
either in my possession or were kindly lent to me by friends. The
book by Dimitris Spanos Egrigoros , the book All I Remember by
Mihalis Kefalas and the book Chian Studies by Antonis P.
Stephanou were also an invaluable source of information.
Athens 2007

ROOTS
Our familys historic record isnt easy to determine due to the
islands long age history and the many misadventures our land has
endured, and especially the people who inhabited it.
The beginning of our family history is in 1822. On that year, the
Turks devastated Chios, slaughtered most of its inhabitants and
burnt down houses and churches. Along with them, whatever
documents existed were also burnt, mostly the codes of the villages
and the notarys documents from which we find so much valuable
information today.
My father told me that the leader of our family was PapaGiorgis
Vrahnos who only had one daughter, Kali. She married Nikolas
Mihalakis who became a priest and his heir.
This story is only half true. As I have confirmed from the notarys
documents, PapaGiorgis Katsaros survived the slaughter of 1822. He
had a daughter, Kali, who married Nikolas Mihalakis. It seems,
therefore, that PapaGiorgis Katsaros had a hoarse voice (Vrahnos)
and he remained known with that nickname to our day. From the
documents that have come to my attention so far, the name
Vrahnos is not found in our village, although I have encountered
many other surnames and nicknames which no longer exist.
Before I proceed to specific people, lets take a look at a few
people who lived I the village and in the greater region of the island
with the surname Mihalakis.
Kostas: son of Ioannis. He is mentioned in the Code of St.
Georgios Sikousis in 1751.
Stephanos: he bought some property in Kardamada in
Kambos, time unspecified.
An area called Mihalakika in Pispilounta.
PapaIoannis: he signed as a witness in the Code of
Pispilounta in 1751.
PapaMihalis: in Pispilounta in 1760.
Konstantis: in a dowry settlement of Chalandra in 1799.
Leontios: a monk, antecedent of Nea Moni. He was found
murdered by Turks in 1822 near the chapel of St. Loukas, at
the foot of Mount Provatas.
According to the verbal testimony of my father, there were seven
branches of Mihalakis families living in Kourounia and Egrigoros
which were either distant relatives or relatives far removed. These
branches were: The Notaros family, the Xouliadis family, the
Galipos family, the Christofakis family, the Liapis family, the Fouskos
family and Tsilimos. Before I proceed to our clan, the Notaros
family, lets learn about the other Mihalakis families.
The Xouliadis Family

This is the Mihalakis family that lived in Egrigoros and they were
not related to the Notaros family. Ive reached this conclusion
because Georgis Mihalakis, who survived the Massacre of 1822,
married Stamatini, the daughter of PapaNikolas Mihalakis.
There is, however, some vagueness in other documents which
refer to Dimitris and his wife named Irini. The name Giorgis is
mentioned by Giannis Mihalos in the list of survivors which he
recorded from his father-in-laws (Giannis Zannis) accounts. I believe
that the real names are those mentioned in the documents.
In his book Egrigoros Dimitris Gr. Spanos mentions the priestmonk Seraphim who went to Smyrna after the Massacre. There he
encountered his nephew Dimitris and his sister who had been taken
hostages by the Turks. He bought their freedom and they returned
to Egrigoros where Seraphim became a Parish priest and teacher. He
died in 1862. His nephew Dimitris also became a priest and died in
1890. The names Dimitris (son of Panayiotis) and Evgenou
(daughter of Pote PapaGiorgis, sister of Dimitris) are mentioned in
the notarys documents. Evidently, its the girl that Seraphim saved
from captivity. There is however, another Evgenou, daughter of
Konstantis, who is mentioned in a document dated 1831 as Pote
Dimitris Makriskeliss spouse.
Dimitris: In 1829, he purchased items from those who had died
in the Massacre of 1822. In 1844, a daughter named Stamatini is
born. In 1859, we encounter him as a deacon. A document dated 21
November 1842 states Dimitris Mihalakis, son of PapaGiorgis.
In this book Egrigoros,
Dimitris Gr. Spanos refers to another
PapaDimitris
Mihalakis,
obviously
the
grandson
of
the
aforementioned who was born in 1862 and died in 1943 in
Egrigoros. His father was named Giorgis. He became a priest in
1889. He had a brother named Stamatis who drowned himself at sea
because of an unfulfilled love affair. Their sister was Kalliopi
(Kotsatokalliopi or Tsouvalena).
The Galipos Family
After the massacre of 1822, there were four Mihalakises living in
the village with the first name Nikolas. One of them must be an
ancestor of the Mihalakis family which remained known by the
nickname Galipos. In documents dated 1859 and 1861, the name
Nikolas Mihalakis is recorded, while in 1906, a document is
witnessed by Dimitris.
Kyriaki, daughter of pote Nikolas Mihalakis and the wife of Giorgos
must also belong to the same family. In 1832, they are recorded to
have a young child by the name of Nikolas.
The Liapis Family
According to the dictionary, Liapis is an Islamic Albanian who lived
in Liapouria in Southwest Albania. To us though, its a synonym of
thief.

According to tradition, a few years before the Massacre, pirates

raiding our village took a young boy, Giannis Mihalakis, with them.
He was, of course, trained to be a pirate. When the nation rebelled
for freedom or death, Giannis gave up piracy and fought for his
country. It is in fact believed that he fought at Dervenakia, by
Kolokotronis side.
When the Revolution was over, however, Giannis, like many other
warriors, was left destitute. He resumed his old trade and became
a bandit.
However, he was arrested and the charges against him were
heavy. He would have faced execution. Amongst the judges there
was a bishop. According to Mihalis Kefalas, this bishop had stayed in
our village as a guest of his uncle Deacon Stamatis Mihalakis. This is
hard to believe since at that time, traveling was difficult, particularly
in remote villages such as ours.
It is a fact that the judge and the defendant came to an
agreement. The former would spare his life while the latter would
give up looting. He returned to our village and settled down. Of
course he never failed to recount his adventures and the villagers
nicknamed him Liapis, which became his surname.
In the documents of those years, we encounter the signature
Giannis Liapis frequently, starting in 1859. In his book All I
remember, Mihalis Kefalas also writes that the woman he married
was named Irini Kakavrou and they lived in Platanaki. Irini was so
beautiful that two brothers had killed each other for her love. Finally,
when at one point pirates raided Egrigoros, Giannis Liapis managed
to save the village by confusing the pirates as he knew their code
words.
The Fouskos Family
They settled we dont know when in Keramos and from there to
Kardamyla and Chora. Their descendants live in Chios and the USA.
The name Fouskos Konstantis, son of Giorgos is recorded in
documents dated 1891 and 1868.
The Christofakis Family
Christofis Mihalakis: He changed his first name into a nickname
and then into a surname. He was married to Marou, the sister of
Nikolas Mihalakis (Silima). She survived the Massacre of 1822 and is
mentioned in many documents from 1829 and on.
Nikolas Mihalakis-Christofakis: He remained known in the history
of our village by the surname Silimas, a synonym of criminal. He
was an informant for the Turks, which is why the village elders
sentenced him to death and executed him at a spot called Pentias
in Egrigoros. Mihalis Kefalas has more information on this in his book
All I Remember, pg. 34.
Giorgis, son of Christofis, is mentioned in a list dated 1831. Irene,
daughter of Christofis is mentioned in 1848. Giorgis was known by
the nickname God because of the fake miracles he performed so
as to deceive nave people. More details are mentioned by Mihalis

Kefalas in his book. According to verbal accounts, Christofis

Christofakis had five children: Nikolas (Simila), Giannis (Giannako),
Giorgis (God), Stamatis (Stamatakos) and Maria (Marou).
From the documents that I have examined to date, the following
Christofakises are also encountered: Pantelis (Pantoleon) in 1885,
Maria, Paraskevi and Nikolas in 1866, Ioannis 1867, Giorgis 1867,
Stamatis 1887 and Kalliopi, daughter of Nikolas, wife of Georgios N.
Koumentis, 1906.
Diakostamatis Tsilimos
We dont know which branch he belonged to. According to
Mihalis Kefalas, he was Gianniss fathers brother, (Giannis being the
man captured by pirates, later known as Liapis). Its quite likely,
however, that he was the last descendant of the seventh branch
of Mihalakises whose members were lost in the Massacre of 1822. If
there was no blood relation, it is certain that they had friendly
relations with the Mihalakis Notaros family. He gave one of his
houses as a gift to Kalliopi I. Mihalaki Bournou, the abducted
one, and later to her daughter Anna (Spanou). He gave his fortune
to PapaNikolas Mihalakis and to his son-in-law Nikolas Kefalas, both
of whom took care of him when he got old.
From the information I have compiled to date, he must have been
a tragic figure. In 1822, according to accounts, he was in a cave
called Peristeria along with other villagers. He survived. His wife
and children did not though. His wife was named Kali and she was
the daughter of pote Giorgis Katsaros. Her siblings were: Dimitris,
Giannis, Konstantis, and Mihalis. Weve drawn this information from
a document dated 1836.
In 1831, a document concerning Chians of Syria is signed by
Stamatis Mihalakis. Could he be the same one? Could he have been
saved by a fishing boat from the massacre and returned when
things had abated? Its difficult, if not impossible to find out with
certainty.
In a document dated 1836, we read the following overwhelming
information:
In the name of our Holy Father, Amen. On this day, Diakostamatis
Mihalakis from the village of Kourounia is to inherit from his wife Kali
(the first-born daughter of Giorgis Katsaros from the same village).
He is to inherit today from his wifes siblings Dimitris, Ioannis,
Konstantis and Mihalis and they give him firstly, a field located at
Gourni, a space in the grave next to Anna, daughter of pote Nikolas
Stamationos. He also inherits a field at Paleambela (Old Vineyards)
and a field with its trees and the threshing floor which is close to the
field of Christofis Mihalakis. This is what he receives from the
children of Giorgis Katsaros: Dimitris, Ioannis, Konstantis and
Mihalis. The family will also pay off all his debts. He can give his
family 1.412 grosia. The date March 2, 1836. This agreement has
been made before witnesses. If by chance one of his children

comes, he can have his share of his maternal inheritance as he

deserves.
giorgis katsaros, witness
stamatis mihalakis, stergo
papaGeorgios katsaros, I write
According to Mihalis Kefalas, his nickname was Tsilimos because
he savored tsilimika grapes and wine. He lived in the house which
in our time belonged to Argyris Pantelakis. The title Diakos was
given to him because he was a chanter. Also, he was the first
teacher in our village after the Massacre of 1822.
The Notaros Family
One of the oldest notary documents I have in my possession dated
1796 refers to a meeting which took place amongst the villagers of
Kourounia and Parparia. The purpose of the meeting was to allot the
slopes of Mt Amani.
The committee of villagers from Kourounia was made up of:
PapaMihalis Mihalakis, PapaIoannis Mihalakis, PapaIoannis Katsaros,
PapaIoannis Gentis, Mihalis Makriskelis, Ioannis Kotsatos, Georgios
Sarantinos and Georgios Katsaros.
The Priest Ioannis was our forefather. His son was Vasilis Mihalakis,
who was lost possibly with his father in the Massacre of 1822. We
learn of the existence of Vasilis Mihalakis from the following
document:
Today, there is a settlement between Konstantis Katsaros son of
Pote Andreas from Kourounia and the children of Vasilis Mihalakis:
Nikolas who is a deacon, and his sister Irini and her husband
Dimitrios Mihalakis. The debt of Konstantis and Pantelis had been
agreed to be paid by Pantelis. However, Pantelis, his wife Stamatini
and their children died in the revolution. Therefore, the inheritance
of Stamatini should go to Konstantis Katsaros. He will receive a
vineyard in Sikies, a field in Lakous along with the trees. Whichever
relative of Stamatini wants these fields back must pay 525 grosia.
1833, January 27
Stamatis mihalakis
georgios katsaros
dimitris Mihalakis
konstantis kiros (?) elderly
I, Papageorgios, write the above
From this document, we learn the very interesting fact that our
ancestor who survived the Massacre of 1822 was named Nikolaos
Mihalakis. His sister Irene, who later married Dimitris Mihalakis
(Xoulias) in Egrigoros, also survived.

Nikolass father-in-law is a legendary figure for our family. My

father and all my uncles claimed that the leader of our family was
PapaGiorgis Vrahnos. Such a person though did not exist in our
village. We dont even have Vrahnos as a nickname. Contrarily, the
person who did exist, was the priest Georgios Katsaros, the only
priest who survived the Massacre of 1822.
He only had one daughter, Kali, who was married to Nikolas
Mihalakis. He gave him his huge fortune and made him a priest. In
1831, Nikolas was already a deacon and middle-aged since he is
reported to have bought orphaned fields. From various documents
that I have at my disposal, Ive drawn the following information:
In 1831, he already appears as a deacon and has a son named
Giannis.
In 1837, the villagers of Kourounia ask that he be ordained a
priest in a letter to the Metropolitan Bishop of Chios.
In 1838, he is ordained a priest.
On July 22nd 1837 he gives 28 sheep and 16 male sheep to
Christofis Mihalakis as a friendly gesture
In a document dated 1835, he appears as a priest, how this is
possible, is unknown.
In 1866 or 1867 and in 1868 he draws up three wills in which
he shares his fields and houses amongst his children Giannis,
Georgis, Irene, Maria, Evgenou and Stamatini. The first will
mentions the date at the beginning of the document as
Saturday 23rd April 1867 but at the end of the document it is
dated April 24th 1866. Sotiris Shiriotis and PapaIoannis
Kappyris sign as witnesses.
The second order is dated 7 th May 1867 and the third is dated
22nd October 1867 (it was drawn up in Vrontados) and the fourth in
1868. He must have died at around that time. Consequently, he had
been born at the end of the previous century.
His children are Giannis, Georgis, Irene, Maria, Evgenou and
Stamatini in the order which he mentions them.
As for PapaNikolas, my uncle PapaGiannis Mihalakis told me the
following story. At some period of his life, he worked as a priest or
deacon in the village of Thimiana. His sons Giannis and Georgis and
his sons-in-law Nikolas Kefalas and Giannis Kotsatos (Vasilakis) went
to Thimiana on mules loaded with wine which they were selling. On
one of those trips, PapaNikolas said to them:
- Hey, arent you embarrassed to go back with the mules
unloaded?
- And what can we do?
- You can load them with agrelous (wild olives) and plant
them on my field at Sparamata.
His sons and sons-in-law however, decided to share them and
plant them in their own fields. These olives, which were the first to
be planted in our village, are found in the spots: Perasia, Tsompo,
Flea, Voui, Kremma and Gria Elia. They didnt remember where they

had planted the rest. As for Gria Elia (Old Olive Tree), he told me it
was sold at some point for the astronomical price of 25 gold loizi
(one loizi was the equivalent of one gold lyra).
He died sometime between 1868 and 1870.
PAPANIKOLASS CHILDREN
PapaNikolass children were: Giannis, who became a priest, Georgis,
whom they called mounouhos and four girls: Maria, Stamatia,
Evgenia and Sophia.
Maria married Nikolas Kefalas and they are the forefathers of
the Kefalas family.
Evgenia married Ioannis Kotsatos (Vasilakis) whom they called
Avramiko as a nickname and they lived in the house which is
in Lotza.
Sophia married Ioannis Hionas.
Stamatini married Georgis Mihalakis (Xoulias).
Georgis was nicknamed mounouhos which means eunuch. One
explanation is that he got his nickname because he castrated his
male animals. My father told me that he had had a hernia operation.
In those days, it was considered castration. Verbal accounts mention
that one day, as he was excreting, in the fields of course, a pig went
to eat his droppings. The animal wasnt careful and along with the
droppings, it also ate one of Uncle Georgiss testicles. His children
were: Giannis (Tsampounas) who was the first of our villagers to go
to America. Giannis had four children: Christos, Georgis, Irene and
Anna from his marriage to Markella Christofaki. He left the village in
1907 as an adult with two or three children. He settled in
Bethlehem, Pa., where he let rooms to immigrants from our village
or surrounding villages. His second son, Dimitris, went to Volos
where he made a fortune as a tradesman. Dimitriss son was named
Nikos.
His third son was PapaNikolas. He lived in the house which is
between Kato Horio and Ftanado in Platsa. He had six children:
Georgis, who lived in Chora, Theodora, wife of Georgis Sarantinos,
Irene, wife of K. Koumentis, Despina, who moved to Volos, Eleni, wife
of G. Spanos and Maria D. Spanou.
The daughters of Georgis Mihalakis (mounouhos) were: Kalliopi
Isid. Sitara (Kali), Kiriaki Sarantinou and Maria G. Zanni.
PAPAGIANNIS AND HIS CHILDREN
Now we come to the first child of PapaNikolas who was our
forefather. He was named Giannis, he became a priest and from his
marriage to Kritou Isid. Vorria, he had three children: Nikolas,
Kalliopi and Dimitris, our grandfather.
PapaGiannis was a teacher at the so-called secret school. My
father once told me that our field at Perasia had been planted with
olive trees by the children of the village that PapaGiannis had taught
kalivogrammata to. (lessons in a cottage).

The lessons didnt take place in church but in fields where the
young pupils learnt to plant trees, to cultivate the land, to fear God
and a little reading and writing from religious books.
PapaGiannis had a kopelli child who helped him with the farm
work called Koumentis. One morning, the priest told the boy:
- Look outside. Whats the weather like?
The boy, however, was sleepy. Instead of opening the house door,
he opened the door of a large cabinet that was in the room. He
remained silent for a moment and then replied:
- Its pitch dark outside, teacher, and it smells like fish.
His first child was Nikolas. His nickname was Ennois (you mean)
and Megalos (big) because he was the leader of a group of village
boys whose actions were not in compliance with the conventions of
the time or with the law. From his marriage to Irene Kotsatou, he had
the following children:
Mihalis or Mihaelos. His children were: Vasilis who emigrated
to South Africa, Giannis who was a tailor in Chios, Stelios who
also emigrated to South Africa, Eleftheria, wife of Dimitris
Georgoulis and Anna, wife of Markellos Liapis.
Giannis or Yiasougiannis. His children were: Georgis, Sideris,
Nikolas, Maria, wife of Panagiotis Kiriakakis, and Sevasti, wife
of Christos Vorrias.
Dimitris or Dimitrios. His children were: Dr. Kostas Mihalakis
who lives in New York and Stelios who was killed in Germany.
Stelios. He was killed in the Asia Minor catastrophe.
Maria, wife of Mihalis Koutepas.
Kalliopi, wife of Ioannis Sitaras
Stamatini, wife of Nikolas Gentis
The Kidnapped One
PapaGianniss second child was Kalliopi who remained renowned
in the history of the village and the family as the kidnapped one.
Lets take a look at her interesting story.
It was the morning of the 26th of October 1863. It was St. Dimitrios
Day and practically all the villagers were at church. Only Kalliopi, the
daughter of PapaGiannis Mihalakis had been delayed at home.
While she was crossing the threshold, five men from Parparia
appeared in front of her. The two were the Drakos brothers and the
other three were their friends. They were all drunk. No one knows or
will ever know what happened at that fatal moment. A little later,
they left the house taking Kali (Kalliopi) with them and they headed
for Mt. Amani.
Old Lady Galipena who had also been late going to church,
witnessed the scene. She realized what was happening , ran to St.
Giannis Church and shouted:
- Run villagers, the Parparousians kidnapped PapaGianniss
daughter!

Turmoil and rage followed. There was a long-standing enmity

towards the people from Parparia on account of the allotment of
Amani. Now, they had also kidnapped the priests daughter who
happened to be engaged. They left the church very aggravated, ran
to their homes, reached for whatever weapon each villager had at
his disposal knives, bats, farming tools, some had old rifles for
hunting hare and grouse. PapaGiannis was left alone to finish his
sermon with Giannis Moshouris who was the chantor.
The villagers ran and caught up with the kidnappers at a clearing
at Kapasa, an area across the chapel of St. George. They surrounded
them, started to approach and asked them to stop. The kidnappers
did not obey and they proceeded towards the mountain. The
villagers from Kourounia followed them.
A while later, PapaGiannis, father of the abducted girl, arrived.
- Hey boys, he said to the Drakos brothers, I know you. Youre
not simple folks. Youre from a good family. If you wanted her, why
didnt you just ask me for her?
Not a word from the kidnappers.
- Let me say a few words to my child, continued PapaGiannis,
and if she agrees, you can have her with honor and glory.
- Talk to her from where you stand, they retorted.
- But she cant speak openly in front of you. Let us go five-six
meters further away.
The kidnappers refused. They had placed Kali in front of them for
protection and they tried to escape from the circle the villagers had
formed.
Only one of the young men, PapaStamatis, who was the deputy
chief of Parparia said:
- Hey boys, the Priest is right.
- Go on, said another young man, are you on the side of the
Kourouniotes? and stabbed him on the buttock with a knife.
- You cant even kidnap a woman, said PapaStamatis making a
rude gesture to his companions.
- If I ask you to be a witness in court, will you say what
happened? asked PapaGiannis.
- Why not? He answered, Ill tell the truth.
After that, the situation got out of hand. The villagers from
Kourounia attacked them. There must have been shots fired since
Kalliopi was wounded in the chest before she managed to escape
from her kidnappers grasp and run to her father.
The kidnapper destined to be her husband was killed. One young
man from Parparia climbed up a tree to hide. At that moment, he
saw his best man from Kourounia and thought it was a good idea to
talk to him and ask for help.
- Hey, best man, he said, Youre after me too?
Our villager heartlessly, without any pity for his life, called over
someone who had a gun. They aimed and shot him dead.

The outcome was tragic. Two dead and one wounded. The other
two were so drunk that theyd fallen asleep.
The Kourouniotes took Kali back to the village, leaving the dead
men and the wounded man at Kapasa.
There was a village feast that day at Trypes. The young people
from Parparia who were at the feast started to worry since their
friends hadnt yet returned after so many hours. Perhaps they were
waiting in Parparia with the kidnapped bride.
The murder had been witnessed by some musicians from Parparia
who had been heading from their village to the feast at Trypes. They
didnt say anything for fear of getting involved. When it got dark,
however, and anxiety rose, one of he musicians sang this
improvised song:
In the city they slaughter goats
In Smyrna cattle
And on the slopes of Kapasa
Young men are slaughtered
The villagers from Parparia got the message, stopped dancing, ran
to the murder scene and brought the two dead men and the
wounded one back to the village.
Kalis wound healed. She married Giannis Bournous to whom shed
been engaged. She had a daughter named Anna and died young.
The villagers said it was because of the fright shed had. Her
daughter Anna married Dimitris Spanos and had three children:
Georgis, Vangelis and Anthi (known in our village as Anthitsa of
Tsaros).
The bloodshed at Kapasa divided the two villages even more for
many years. There were acts of retaliation (without violence though)
and trials. In those days, though, under the Turkish occupation, we
dont know what the verdict was or if there was even a verdict.
In our village, the notion prevailed that those who were involved in
the killings were punished by divine justice. Giannis P. Moshouris
told me that the following three villagers had a bad death because
of the murders.
Georgis Mihalakis, PapaGianniss brother had a hernia operation.
He was the first villager to have an operation. When he returned to
the village and they realized that nothing protruded from between
his legs, like before, a rumor spread that hed had his testicles
removed and was given the nickname mounouhos.
Nikolas Kefalas, PapaGianniss uncle, died suddenly of heart
failure.
Mihalis Koutepas was killed when the oak tree hed cut down fell
on him.
Who was mostly responsible for the murders which gave rise to a
long-standing enmity between the two villages?
My father, who had told me the story on many occasions (he
called Kali the kidnapped one. She was his fathers sister) used to
tell me that the Drakos brothers were from a good family of Parparia
and would often visit PapaGiannis at home. But Kali, too, passed by

the brothers yard whenever she went to Amani. He thought it was

impossible for there to have been a love affair but there could have
been a mutual affection between them. He wondered why the would
be groom hadnt asked for her hand in marriage from her father,
which he would have agreed to. Kali, of course, was engaged to
Giannis Bournous but it seems that both parties were indifferent to
the engagement.
The groom had also been flirting with one of Kalis aunts,
daughter of PapaNikolas Mihalakis. She and Kali were at about the
same age and would often weave together.
My father told me that one night, Giannis Bournous went to
PapaNikolass house (today it belongs to my nephew Giorgos
Mihalakis). It was a secret visit, perhaps concerning the
aforementioned flirt. When, at one point the door opened and
PapaGiannis walked in, they lowered the groom down though the
klavani (attic trap door) to the storage room for the crops and
from there to the basement from where he left the house.
PapaGiannis saw him and as he admitted at a later time, he said to
himself You dont care and I wont thank you, meaning that we
would give him fewer fields than hed originally planned as dowry, a
threat which he carried out.
The villagers of Kourounia were aware of the comings and goings
of the Drakos brothers to PapaGianniss house and of Kali visiting
their yard. One of them, Old Sarantinos, had actually warned
Giannis Bournous with the phrase Hey, theyre going to take her
from you. He replied indifferently So be it.
No matter how peculiar it seems, this story is still discussed
amongst the villagers of both Kourounia and Parparia.
This story exacerbated the relations between the inhabitants of
the two villages even more. A characteristic example of the
atmosphere which prevailed is the undated document below which
was sent to respected council of our country. In other words, the
Turkish administration. In this document, the residents asked for
protection from the claimed violent acts of the people from Parparia.
Respected Council of our country!
We deeply regret to report the unfair situation of last October in
Kourounia when the daughter of Ioannis Mihalakis was abducted by
malicious people from the village Parparia. Since then, there has
been great animosity between the two villages.
The home of Ioannis Mihalakis has been trespassed and the family
honor has been disgraced. We ask the council to secure the honor,
the safety and the property of Ioannis Mihalakis and his family in
compliance with the law and with the willingness of the Empires
highness, the Sultan.

This document is not signed but is stamped with the seals of

Kourounia and Nenitouria.
Grandfather Dimitris
Grandfather was a man with an exceptionally intense personality.
He was born in 1868 and died in 1943. The education he had then is
equivalent to a middle school today. However, at that time, middle
school was significant as the subjects taught were greatly
demanding for children that age.
For some years, he traveled to Alexandria in Egypt, where at the
time, there was a significant Greek presence. He did not care much
for foreign places though. Besides, he was not the sort of man who
could work as a laborer or as a servant to someone else. He was a
nobleman at the village and preferred that role to a more
convenient life in a foreign land.
Grandfather remained in history as an empirical doctor. Still
young, he was seriously injured in the leg in an accident and was
forced to stay for a long time in the Hospital of Chios. He made
good use of that time. He befriended the doctors, especially
Kountouras who was his political ally and he was given lessons in
first aid. Its also said that he got lessons on how to heal broken
hands and legs from a distinguished empirical doctor of Chios
named Old Pitianos.
Its a fact that Grandfather was not only a doctor for our villagers
for many years but the inhabitants of the nearby villages also turned
to him for first aid.
He wasnt a quack doctor. He knew how to administer injections,
particularly inoculations. He knew how to open and clean purulent
swellings, to stop hemorrhaging, to immobilize fractures so as to
send patients to hospital. He never accepted money or other
rewards for his services.
Grandfathers most notable achievement was the knitting of a
human body part at a much earlier time than doctors tried it in
surgery.
One day, Vgenou G. Liapi set off to cut oak branches for her goats.
She was careless though and the small pruning knife svanas cut
not only the branch but her pinky finger as well. She wrapped it in
her handkerchief and with tears of pain and fear went to
Grandfather.
The skin of her pinky finger was still attached and she asked
Grandfather to cut it off because she didnt have the heart to do
it. He washed the pinky finger with boiling water, stopped the
bleeding and said:
- Hey, Vgenou, why dont we stick it together and see what
happens You never know, it might work.
- I dont know, Vgenou answered, do what God inspires you to
do.

Grandfather stuck it together. He immobilized it with tiny sticks

and tied it all around. Then he let nature work its wonders.
The finger stuck together and Vgenou would show it to me years
later as she recounted the story and at the same time praising him
and blessing his departed soul.
Grandfathers second significant medical accomplishment was
saving the life of Georgis Spanos, his nephew (son of his sister).
Georgis D. Spanos, as I mentioned earlier, was the son of Anna, the
daughter of the kidnapped Kalliopi.
Georgis had been very high-spirited all his life. As a child, hed
been extremely naughty. One day, he and his father were competing
over who would open a window of our family home using their
heads.
At one moment, Giorgis gathered too much momentum. He wasnt
able to restrain his body and found himself falling head first on the
street about 3 meters below. Grandfather butchered a goat
immediately. He opened it up and as the body was still warm, he put
the boys weak body inside. This method was called doniasma and
all empirical doctors of the time used it. It proved miraculous. In a
few days, Giorgis was on his feet, ready for more mischief.
In Grandfathers time, people were very politically active,
especially because the political leader then, Eleftherios Venizelos
and King Konstantine (the King of that time) were in disagreement.
Grandfather was an ardent supporter of Eleftherios Venizelos and
the whole family followed his political beliefs. The only reward
Grandfather received was a thank you letter signed by Eleftherios
Venizelos himself.
The only article ever written about Grandfather was written by
Antonis P. Stephanou, and it is included in the book Chian Studies
and I include it here. Antonis Stephanou writes:
I praise the farmer Dimitrios I Mihalakis the Notary and his
wife in this note
Dimitrios Mihalakis is one of the most intellectual noblemen in the
Northern villages. Due to his perception and patriotism, he has a
distinguished position in Northern Chios. Those who knew him,
especially those in his village, a remote village on Mt. Amani, will
always remember him.
He never abandoned the place where he was born. He preferred the
difficult life in the land of his forefathers which is still a difficult land
to live on. He cultivated this land under very difficult circumstances
as it is so arid. He offered himself and his services to his fellow
villagers. As a result, no field was left uncultivated. He encouraged
his hard working fellow villagers to cultivate their land and to stay in
the village.
This holy land which today we need to protect even more is a place
of inspiration for city dwellers. We must therefore encourage
villagers to stay in their villages because they are the healthiest

members of our society. Our interaction with the village serves a

spiritual goal for the common good
Unfortunately, Grandfather left no written documents besides his
letters to his children who had emigrated and the many documents
hed drawn up during the years he was the notary of the village.
Grandmother Lemonia
Grandfather had Grandmother Lemonia at his side. She was the
daughter of Konstantinos Spanos (Hatzis) from Egrigoros and Maria
(maiden name Kotsatos). She was born in 1862 and died in 1946.
She was a petite, pleasant woman, totally devoted and obedient to
her husband. Every afternoon, shed look out the window to see
when Grandfather would come from the fields. When shed see him,
shed run to put the tea-pot on the fire so as to make him tea,
chamomile or sage tea. When Grandfather walked in, the beverage
would have to be ready in his cup, steamy hot and aromatic.
Grandfather was fertile. They had seven children: Giannis, Kostis,
Giorgis, Maria, Vasilis, Diamando and Mihalis. They are our fathers,
mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers. Lets have a closer look at
them.
PapaGiannis
The first child was Giannis. He was born in 1888 and died in 1981.
For a period of time he went to America. When he returned to the
village, he used the money he brought back with him to cultivate a
vineyard. It was destroyed by vine louse, however, before it even
once bore fruit. He told me this himself many years later with great
bitterness.
He married Evgenia H. Mihalou (1890-1979) but the children she
bore would die when they reached pre-school age. PapaGiannis
vowed to become a priest so that the other children shed bear
would survive. As he couldnt make ends meet in the village, he
went down to Chora. The Metropolitan Bishops, however, always
placed him in poor parishes and institutions. The Leper Hospital
(known as Lovokomio) and the Skilitsio Hospital. Priests didnt get
a salary in those days. They lived off offerings. Therefore, Uncle
PapaGiannis had to rent other peoples fields which he cultivated
and kept his share of the produce to make a living.
He was particularly hospitable. Many of our fellow villagers had
been put up in his house and many of his nephews found refuge in
it when we went to Chora for health reasons, to go to Secondary
School or to learn various trades.
He had a deep faith in God. He followed the religious customs until
his death. Every night we would all pray together. If it was a simple
day, wed only go through the evening service but if it was a
holiday, the prayer would last a long time. The children would get
impatient or do naughty things while on some occasions, his wife
would nod off.

There are many stories I still discuss concerning these evening

services from the years I was a student in Secondary School.
Elias (his son) was an expert in velocity. He started with Our Holy
Father continued with a long series of incomprehensible words and
in no time uttered the much-desired Amen. Sometimes, my uncle
would ask me to recite I believe or Unstained, pure or other
prayers. I, however, did not excel in speed. It took me time to recite
and Elias would get quite impatient.
Uncle PapaGiannis and Aunt Evgenia had five children. Panagiotis,
Stamatia, Dimitris, Maria and Elias.
Kostis
The creative member of the family and the philosopher. He was
born in 1890 and died in 1990, at the age of 100 and a half. He was
the only child to take after his father as far as politics was
concerned. While he was living in the village, he was actively
involved in issues concerning the community and for a while he was
president of the village council.
He was also one of the first to try to improve life there by making
gardens and planting fruit trees. When he realized it was next to
impossible to improve his life at the village, he did something very
risky for that time. He sold his fields and moved to Athens.
At first, he ventured into farming, later into commerce and
industry. He raised his family and when his son Giannis became an
adult, he took over the businesses with greater success than that of
his father.
Uncle Kostis got married twice. From his first marriage to Anna
Koutepa (1880-1927) he had Giannis, Lemonitsa and Kalliopi who
died in 1947 ant the age of 25.
From his second marriage to Stamatia Donta (1897-1983) he had
Anna. Aunt Stamatia had a daughter from her first marriage named
Maria (Mary), wife of Theoharis Theoharidis.
Uncle Kostis, nicknamed Kostios was one of the first villagers to
settle in Athens. He helped many fellow villagers whod come to
Athens for health reasons and couldnt afford a hotel, mainly by
providing hospitality.
He was a man of intellectual concerns and read books and
newspapers. He reveled in conversations that were not related to
common issues and he justly received the title of the philosopher.
His children hardly remember his first wife. When their mother
died, their son Giannis was seven, Kalliopi was five and Lemonia was
two. The responsibility of their upbringing was taken on by his
second wife, Stamatia or Stamatinara as she was called as she was
well-built.
Aunt Stamatia was strict in character and blunt in her words. She
was honest and kind-hearted. She was loved by those who knew her
well, by those she put up in her home and by those shed told off.
Giorgis

My father was the comedian of the family. He was born in 1892

and died in 1990 when he was hit by a bus. At a young age, he
emigrated to Egypt and worked as a servant in a Greek mans
mansion. Father himself admitted that his father had made a deal
for him not to be paid but to be taught a trade and to work as an
apprentice instead. However, his boss was a dentist.
Naturally, the dentist didnt take Father with him to the office to
remove peoples teeth and he was left at home to help the dentists
wife.
My father has told me countless stories about those years and the
years he spent in America. Ill relate the most interesting.
The cutest story is about the nanny. Even though he wasnt
particularly young, he had yet to awaken sexually. There was a
nanny living at the house where he worked, a young girl who looked
after the familys baby.
My father loved children. One day, as he was playing with the
child, he asked it:
- Can I kiss your Nanny?
He repeated the question a couple of times. The baby started
laughing and he kissed her on the cheek. The girl blushed.
- Get lost, you wretched boy, she said and slapped him across
the face.
The years passed but my father never grasped why shed slapped
him since he hadnt kissed her in a provocative way. We, though, his
children and grandchildren often teased him by asking him:
- Can I kiss the Nanny?
One of my fathers duties was to cover some large barrels of water
they used to clean the chicken coop. One night, he forgot to cover
them. As a result, several chickens, which had the habit of climbing
up to the rim to look inside, fell in and drowned.
When he saw them in the morning, he was panic-stricken. The
family had many chickens and they wouldnt notice there were a few
missing, so long as he could find a way to get them out of the
chicken coop.
He offered to clean it up, which pleased the lady of the house.
He took some big boxes, put the dead chickens at the bottom and
filled the boxes with chicken droppings. Then, he threw the boxes
away. The lady didnt realize that the chickens were missing and
she was very satisfied with how laborious her servant was.
The years passed but he never got any wages, not even the
money to buy a return-ticket to his village. He wrote to his father
who advised him to turn to Pahnos. Instead, he went to Pahnos,
worked for another two years and bought the ticket to return to
Chios. After eight years abroad, he returned home with empty
pockets.
He stayed in the village for a while and then emigrated again. This
time he went to America. It was 1912 and along with other Greeks,
he reached Ellis Island, the terrible kastigari as Greek-Americans
called it at that time.

He was so weak and tired from the voyage that the doctors
considered him unsuitable as an immigrant. His cousin Dimitris
Zannis, whod emigrated to New York earlier, went there, however,
and vouched for father and so finally he stepped foot on the
promised land.
He worked on the railway lines for the Bethlehem Steel Company
in Bethlehem but mostly in New York as a storage boy for a large
company with chain stores.
They were difficult years. There were eight to twelve people living
in the same room which only had three beds. How did they manage
to live there? They slept in shifts, two boys on each bed during the
day and the others at night. As the springs were broken, they would
usually sleep one on top of the other.
A few months after he arrived in America, Chios was liberated from
the Turks and his father wrote to tell him that perhaps he should
return to the island to do his military service.
Father couldnt afford the ticket. He went to the Greek Consul
along with young men from our village and other neighboring
villages. He told them that it was not necessary for them to go but
they could return if they wanted to. He got the impression, as he
admitted many years later, that the consul was encouraging them
to stay.
During that time, he received another letter from his father
informing him that his brothers Giannis and Kostis had been taken
away as soldiers and that he had to stay in America to help the
family financially.
My father stayed in America for eight years and naturally, did not
make any money. With the money he sent to the village, he helped
his brothers Vasilis and Mihalis, something they did not forget when
they became adults.
He returned to the village in 1918 after six years with a leather
jacket and a gramophone, the first to appear in our village. It was
regarded as a creation of the Devil!
When I asked him what had happened to his money, he told me
his father had taken it all from him (he grimaced with
disappointment because the money wasnt much). Grandfather
invested the money in trade unsuccessfully.
He married Kalliopi Mih. Taktikou (1908-1972) and they spend the
rest of their common lives in the village. In the final years, they
traveled to Africa where their children Dimitris and Barbara lived.
Father went back to America in 1975 when I lived in New York and
he spent many years in Piraeus with Maria.
Fathers stories are endless. I dont wish, however, to write too
much about him at the expense of his siblings. I will finish therefore,
with the following:
As an old man, he spent his time with young people. Once, one of
these young people asked him:
- Uncle Giorgis, why dont you keep company with people your
own age?

I have no intention of going to the cemeteries looking for

them, he answered unruffled.
Our mother Kalliopi was a sweet, hospitable and pleasant woman.
She was very young when she got married, just fifteen years old,
and at first my fathers screams and angry outbursts frightened her.
Later though, she learned how to handle him and they lived a good
life.
She often argued because my father was a gadabout and
careless.
- Youll be killed by a car, shed say often.
- Why? Are the drivers blind? hed reply.
Eventually, it was a blind driver who took his life. He was ninetyeight years old.
Hed often go to Giannis Vorrias shop and ask his son Sideris:
- How do I look to you?
- Youre going to outlive us all, the doctor would say.
When hed return home, hed show his tightened fist to his
daughter Maria and say:
- Ive got a hundred years here. After that, well see.
Giorgis and Kalliopi had four children: Dimitris, Barbara, Maria (S.
Vorria) and Giannis.
Marigo
The beautiful member of the family. She was born in 1894 and
died in 1977. She married Giannis Katsaros (1888-1983) and they
had five children: Dimitris (1919-1942), Elias (1924-1944), Giorgis,
Kalliopi and Nikos.
From the dates of birth and death of the first two children, one can
realize that Aunt Marigos life was tragic. In 1942, during the
occupation, her first-born son, Dimitris, died of tuberculosis at the
age of 23. He contracted the disease in Athens when he was
working as a laborer in the construction of the tuberculosis hospital
Sotiria.
Four years later, her second son, Elias, died of pneumonia. He was
just twenty. They were tough blows and they had a terrible impact
on her health. In her final years, she became senile. Shed leave her
house. One night, some policemen found her on the hill of Prophet
Elias in Piraeus. When they asked her what she was doing there, she
replied:
- Ive come here to cut oak branches for the goats, my poor boy.
Her husband, Uncle Giannis Katsaros, was a pleasant man, mild,
hard working and a very good hunter. He had lived in America. He
had even opened a shop and bought an estate in Ohio. He
abandoned everything though, obeying his father-in-laws orders to
return and live in the village. He never forgot his English and used it
till his final years.
Vasilis

The educated member of the family. He was born in 1903 and died
in 1979. He graduated from the Secondary School of Chios and
finished Law School at the University of Athens. For a short time, he
worked in the shop of his cousin Dimitris Mihalakis in Volos.
However, he returned to Chios where he worked as a lawyer. During
the Second World War, he was actively involved in the national
resistance. Later, disgusted by the postwar situation, he moved to
America where his only purpose was to educate his only child,
Sideris.
In Chios, Uncle Vasilis had the reputation of a good and honest
lawyer, mostly impressing people with his written proposals. This
fact demonstrates his inclination to literature which he did not
cultivate.
On his side during the happy times and in difficult years was Aunt
Malvina - maiden name Monogioudi (1904-1992). She was pleasant,
cheerful, cultivated and loved by us all.
I believe that Uncle Vasilis was the unluckiest of all of
Grandfathers children. He had many skills and sensitivities and a lot
of love. However, he never had the opportunity to exploit his
abilities as much as he could have. Perhaps this is why he wasnt as
cheerful as his siblings. He was more melancholic, what we called
serious.
Diamanto
The romantic sibling of the family. She spent the major part of her
life in America. Her heart and soul, however, never left Kourounia or
her father.
She was born in 1908 and after her marriage to Dimitris (Jimmy)
Mallas from Chalandra, she moved to America. They settled in
Chester, Pennsylvania.
After the Second World War, she and Uncle Mihalis sent countless
parcels to their siblings, nieces and nephews in Greece. Diamantos
two children, Nick and George, know that all too well. They would
look for their clothes, not find them and when they asked their
mother what had happened, she reply that shed sent them to
Greece.
Uncle Jimmy was hardworking and thrifty. He focused his attention
to his life in America whereas Aunt Diamantos life was devoted to
Greece. She was proud to be the daughter of Notaros and I imagine
that shed deified her father in the eyes of her children.
She loved her family to a great extent and she showed it on many
occasions in practical ways. Her memory is pure in us all. She died
in 1992.
Mihalis
The last and most cheerful of Grandfathers children. He was the
last to be born (1916) and the first to go (1977). Generous and
humorous, hed do anything for a little fun and a happy atmosphere.

He graduated from the Secondary School of Chios. Not finding a

way to survive on the island, he left for America. He didnt like it and
moved back. However, he realized that he couldnt even make
enough money for food on the island, let alone make a good life for
himself. Consequently, in 1937, he returned to America for good.
I am of the opinion that a cheerful man like Makis would have
been happier on the island. America never seemed to win him over.
Whenever I asked him to help me emigrate, hed answer:
- America is not for you. It needs strong arms, not people who
work with their brains.
You see, Uncle Vasilis and Uncle Mihalis were the first to learn that
I had an aptitude for literature and journalism. They played a major
role in changing everyones mind about my future prospects.
Uncle Makis married Aphrodite (Effie) Tsiadi with whom he had two
children: Evgenia (Jenny) and Dimitris (Jimmy). They spent their
whole life in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After the Second World War,
Uncle Makis set up his own family business with his brother Vasilis
and his nephew George Katsaros.
He had a small restaurant and of course, he didnt make a fortune.
He too was open fisted and not a very good businessman.
Whichever family member or villager visited his restaurant admitted
that if it hadnt been for Aunt Effie to restrain him, they would have
been in a far worse financial situation.
Whatever education I have, I owe to my Uncle Makis. Whenever I
went to Chora to attend school, my father would take Uncle Mihaliss
check, cash it and with the cash Id pay for registration fees, books,
notebooks and board.
Its difficult to count how many parcels of food and clothes hed
send to us after the war. He and Aunt Diamanto were like the
benevolent angels of the family who fed and clothed those who had
survived the German occupation and managed to live through the
devastation of the Civil War.
The store in Bethlehem, too, was a refuge for so many villagers
and illegal immigrants. Weary from the long voyage, not knowing
the language and with no belongings, these crude villagers were
their first wages, their first opportunity to survive by Uncle Makis in
his restaurant.
On many occasions, his customers would ask him:
- Where did you find these rogues who dont know how to
speak?
- Queen Freideriki brought them, hed reply, meaning the ocean
liner which traveled from Piraeus to New York.
In later years, when illegal immigration was uncommon, and his
former employees had spread their wings for better jobs or their
own stores, he had no waiters. His customers would ask him:
- What happened Makis? Did Queen Freideriki stop bringing
Greek immigrants?
The following two anecdotes are typical of Uncle Makiss
personality:

It was busy time at work, as they say in America and Dr. Kostas
Mihalakis was carrying a tray of sandwiches, coffees and soft-drinks.
As he was walking, Uncle Mihalis pushed the tray. It overturned and
Uncle Mihalis burst out laughing. He said to Kostas:
- Are you blind, or what?
His jokes were so unprofessional that one time, Kostas Mihalakis
and his nephew Elias Mihalakis locked him in the toilet so that they
could get some work done without distractions.
At one time, Nick Katsaros and one of our villagers named Giorgos
Liapis were working in his shop. It was quiet in the restaurant and
Uncle Mihalis was in the mood for a little fun.
- I dont think you can grab Nikolass nose, he said to George.
Nick saw George approaching and he grabbed a yogurt.
- If you touch my nose, Ill throw this on your face, he said.
In a matter of minutes, the shop had turned into a battleground of
yogurt. When Aunt Effie walked in to start her shift, she encountered
a devastating situation. The walls were all covered in yogurt.
- Makis, she exclaimed, whats going on in here?
He burst into laughter.
- Look, if I want to have a good laugh, I have to spend $100 to
go to Broadway. With $10 worth of yogurt, I laughed more
than I would have at the theatre.
At this point Ill stop narrating accounts concerning our family.
Naturally, it doesnt end here. We, our children and grandchildren
are those who will continue the family history.
CAPTIONS
1. Grandfather Dimitris I. Mihalakis, Notaros
2. Uncle Vasilis family before he left for America. Sitting on the
ground is Kalliopi I. Vorria (maiden name Katsaros). In the first
row: Aunt Malvinas father, Grandfather Dimitris and
Grandmother Lemonia. Standing in the back row: Vasilis and
Malvina. Sideris is in Grandfathers lap.
3. The letter Eleftherios Venizelos wrote to Grandfather.
4. A very interesting family photograph. The two children in the
first row are Dimitris Katsaros and Giannis K. Mihalakis. In the
second row: Kostis, Grandfather Dimitris, Grandmother
Lemonia and Giannis (before he became a priest) who is
holding his son Panagiotis in his arms. In the third row: Mihalis,
Diamanto, Evgenia (Aunt Papadia), Marigo holding Giorgis in
her arms and Uncle Kostis first wife.
5. A rare, faded family photo. In the front row and seated are:
Evgenia Mihalou (Aunt Papadia) and Vasilis. In the back row:
Kostis, Marigo, her husband Giannis Katsaros wearing a
vraka and Dimitris N. Mihalakis (Dimitrios).

6. Vasilis (in the middle) is surrounded by his brother Giannis

(before becoming a priest) and his wife Evgenia H. Mihalou.
7. PapaGiannis at an old age.
8. Half-destroyed family photo. Vasilis is in the front, seated.
Behind him: Evgenia Mihalou, her husband Giannis (before
becoming a priest) and Kostis. Giannis and Kostis were
soldiers in the Balkan Wars.
9. Giannis and Kostis in he Balkan Wars.
10.
In the first row: Uncle Makis (before emigrating) with
Antonis G. Zannis. In the back row: Antonis Karousis and
Dimitris Gr. Spanos.
11.
Giorgis as a young man in America.
12.
Giorgis with his wife Kalliopi in the last row, with
Kalliopis parents. Vasiliki Taktikou (maiden name Mihalos) is
holding her son Giannis who died young and her husband
Mihalis Taktikos is holding their son Stelios.
13.
Giorgis in bathing costume of the time in America, some
time between 1912-1918.
14.
Makis Mihalakis, outside his store in Bethlehem.
15.
Diamanto, at an old age.
16.
Diamanto, before leaving for America (standing at the
back) was photographed with her cousin Giorgis N. Mihalakis
and Paraskevi Katsarou, the sister of Dimitris Mallas.
17.
An interesting family photo taken in 1944 in St. Markella.
From the left we can see Dimitris G. Mihalakis, his sister
Barbara, Kalliopi Vorria (maiden name Katsaros), Panagiota
Katsarou, her husband Giorgos, Maria S. Vorria (fathers name
G. Mihalakis). In front, Nick I. Katsaros.

To Those Who Have Gone

And To Those Who Will Come