On Thursday 20 June 2024, the oath-taking ceremony for Second Lieutenants Class of 2024 “CAPTAIN (MECH) SOTIRIOS STAVRIANAKOS” took place at the Hellenic Military Academy (Evelpidon) in Vari, Attica, in the presence of HE the President of the Hellenic Republic Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who also awarded the swords to the oath-takers.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, representing the President of the Greek Government, the Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Athanasios Bouras, representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament, the Members of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Evangelos Apostolakis, representing the leader of the Opposition, and Mr. Nikolaos Papanastasis, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras, the Chief of the National Guard General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, the Mayor of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni Mr. Grigorios Konstantellos, the Metropolitan Antonios of Glyfada – Elliniko – Voula – Vouliagmeni & Vari, The Deputy Regional Governor of Eastern Attica, Ms. Vasiliki Kavallari representing the Governor of Attica, Ambassadors of Foreign Countries, the Metropolital Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, the Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida, members of the Higher Military Council, the President of the Supreme Disciplinary Court, Lieutenant General Theodoros Papakostas, the Head of the Hellenic Police Headquarters Staff Lieutenant General Asterios Mantziokas, representing the Chief of the Hellenic Police, the Deputy Chief A of the Hellenic Coast Guard Vice Admiral Drosos Reizis, representing the Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Major General Ioannis Kotsakis representing the Chief HAFGS.
The ceremony was also attended by Honorary Chiefs HNDGS and HAGS, the Director of the Military Office of the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic Vice Admiral Efthymios Mikros, representatives of the Local Administration, active Officers of Armed Forces and Security Forces, Defence Attachés, retired Officers of the Armed Forces, academic authorities and relatives of the hero of Class 2024 “CAPTAIN (MECH) SOTIRIOS STAVRIANAKOS”, as well as other guests.
181 Second Lieutenants in total took the oath, of which 158 from Greece, 18 from Cyprus, 1 from Bosnia – Herzegovina, 1 from Montenegro, and 3 from Tunisia.
CV of Captain (MECH) Sotirios Stavrianakos
Born in Skoutari – Lakonia in 1941. He graduated from the Hellenic Military Academy in 1965 as Engineer Second Lieutenant. In 1974 he served in Cyprus as a Captain, as a Corporal of the Engineer Platoon of the Hellenic Contingent in Cyprus. During the Turkish invasion, he manifested a spirit of self-sacrifice, repelling nine Turkish attacks. Even when the Turkish Forces had dominated the positions of his Platoon, he carried on fighting with an unprecedented courage and determination. Furthermore, he participated in the defence of the Camp of the Hellenic Contingent in Cyprus, where after three days of resistance, he heroically fell fighting on the 16th of August of 1974. By his sacrifice and his persistent resistance, he saved the life of the Hellenic Forces in defence within the Camp from captivity or massacre. He has been awarded the grade of the Lieutenant General, and the Camp of the Hellenic Contingent in Cyprus has been named after him.
#ΕλληνικόςΣτρατός, #HellenicArmy
