Remains of the late Archbishop Stylianos of Australia’s father identified years after Nazi execution

·

For the first time in Greece’s history, DNA analysis was performed on victims of Nazi executions during World War II and among those remains identified was the father of the late Greek Orthodox Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis of Australia.

The father of Archbishop Stylianos was among 18 victims identified from a Nazi massacre that took place at a little town on the Greek island of Crete called Adele. Other victims included four relatives of the Alexandrakis family.

18 males ranging from age 67 to 16, were rounded up by Nazi forces in the town of Adele on June 2, 1941, marched to a secluded area amongst the olive groves, ordered to start digging, were shot on site, and buried in a mass grave. Their remains were found two weeks later and moved to another grave. In 1960, the remains were exhumed but they could not be individually identified until today.

The identification effort led and sponsored by the Alexandrakis family, is a collaboration between Dr George Alexandrakis, the University of Crete, and the Foundation of Technology and Research [HTE]. The effort not only hopes to bring closure to an 83 year old wound, but to also create awareness of many forgotten injustices that have taken place, not only in Greece, but worldwide.

Memorial at execution site
Memorial at execution site.

“I’ve been working on a family project for several years now, and hoped that one part of the project would be matching the massacre remains to surviving family members through DNA analysis, but the whole process was beyond me. Two years later my father had the idea to make it happen, and here we are,” two-time Grammy-nominated musician Eric Alexandrakis said.

Eric Alexandrakis holding one of the bullets found in one of the skulls
Eric Alexandrakis holding one of the bullets found in one of the skulls.

“It’s been an interesting journey watching the progress, holding the bullets, watching my father unknowingly looking at his grandfather’s wallet and the money in it, and even helping one of the scientists handle the remains.”

On leading, and sponsoring this effort, Dr Alexandrakis said: “Our most sacred oath in Crete is taken on the bonds of our ancestors. I object fundamentally to the inhumanity of mass executions, an act which denies people their identity.”

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Ancient Greeks a connection of the past to the future: National Museum director, Mathew Trinca

National Museum of Australia director Mathew Trinca talks to TGH about the 'Ancient Greeks' exhibition and how the community has embraced it.

Effy Alexakis ‘Forty Photographs: A Year at a Time’ book to launch in Greece

The Australian Embassy in Athens will host Effy Alexakis and esteemed guests to speak on the 'Forty Photographs – A Year at a Time' book.

Greek family mourns loss of son and brother Michael Barsi after crash death

“My brother is never going to be a groom, so for Greeks, we see this as celebrating a wedding,” Dominic said.