"The Greek Exile"

by

Christophorus Plato Castanis

2002 marked the 180th anniversary from the tragic year of 1822 when the Turks massacred over 60,000 Chians and sold another 40,000 into slavery. To pay respect to those who perished during the first genocide of modern times, The Cultural Chapter of the Chian Federation published:

ISBN 0-9721806-0-5;     196 pages name=business>        name=business>

written in 1851. The book deals with the author's adventures during the massacre. As an eight-year-old, he was captured, sold several times into slavery, escaped, and with the help of American Philhellines, was educated in the United States to become a professor of Greek in American Universities and lecturer on the causes of the Greeks.

This powerful book, written in English, is one of the few eyewitness accounts of the Chios massacre. Here is a small sample of passages from Castanis' book:

"On Good Friday, at sunrise, the Turks landed and prepared for their work of devastation. At the call from the Minaret, they performed their ablutions and said their prayers, invoking the smile of Allah upon their dark deeds. The immense concourse of the Pasha's hordes bowed simultaneously, kneeled thrice, and as often stained the pure soil of Scio with their treacherous kiss. After this ceremony, these emulators of Judas turned their faces again eastward, blessed Mahomet, thanked Allah, and then drew their swords. They were subdivided into bands, for the purpose of encompassing and devastating the island. Rams were sacrificed, and their flag bathed in the blood of the brute. The signal of assault was given, and they sprang forth, howling and firing against the Greeks. The city was penetrated; the axes resounded against the doors; victims shrieked; flames raged; walls crumbled."

".... his cruel Highness the Pasha awaited the returning bands of marauders. His officers kept a strict account of the proceedings, to transmit to the Sultan, and thus testify to their destructive industry. Bounty was paid for heads, and then every scribe noted down the transaction on the day-book of tyranny, as was customary. To prevent deception, the ears were cut off from the heads, and then pickled and barreled. They were sent to the Sultan as tokens of their obedience or as bulletins of their success. Sometimes, an entire head was pickled and forwarded to the Grand Seignior. This honor was granted only to such rebel-pates as had belonged to distinguished primates, magistrates, or ecclesiastics."

See the Table of Contents

The book is published by and available from the Cultural Chapter of the Chian Federation for $10 plus $3.50 shipping and handling. Orders can be placed by clicking on the following button:

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or by mailing a check for $13.50 to:

You can order the Greek language edition of the book at the following web page: "Ο Έλληνας Εξόριστος" - στα ελληνικά.