Efstratia Mavrapidou, one of the three Greek grandmothers who became a symbol of solidarity with refugees on the island of Lesvos, has passed away at the age of 96.
Efstratia was also a child of refugees that fled to Lesvos from Asia Minor in the early 1920s.
Efstratia, along with Militsa (Emilia) Kamvysi and Maritsa Mavrapidou, became famous in 2015 when a local photographer captured them helping a young Syrian mother who had just landed on the shores of Lesvos island after making the treacherous crossing from Turkey.
Despite their advanced ages, Efstratia, Militsa and Maritsa went down to the shore daily to help other volunteers assist the refugees who were arriving at the time.
All three were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016.
Greece’s President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, had the privilege of meeting Efstratia and Militsa at their homes in 2020, along with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Maritsa died in January 2019 at the age of 92, but Militsa, also 92, is still alive today.
READ MORE: Greek President meets famous ‘Lesvos grandmas’ from iconic refugee crisis photo.
Source: Obituary.
