IMBROZ PEPALOESSA

    Homeros calls as waving Imvros in his legends. What a beautiful island you are my dear IMROZ. Why did they changed your name by beautiful IMVROS. Who baptize you again in the blue waters of Aegea? Your IMVRAMOS god gave your name thousands of years ago. I have the right to rebel because of I am your dweller for 4000 years. I know you. You are my mother. Do you remember what you said to me when I was in the peak of your mountain? Who ever loves me from my children can come to me although he knows that he should resist to various difficulties. Yes my mother, yes my ancestor's mother I come to you. I come to you knowing all the diffuculties because I grew up in your heart. I can give my life to you.  

THE GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION OF GÖKÇEADA  

    Gökçeada is on the north Aegea. It is 18 km away from Samothraki, 10 km from Limni and 9 km from Gallipoli penninsula. It is the biggest island of Turkey. Also, it is placed in the far west of  Turkey. Its area is 290 Km2. Its shores are not so indented and jutted out. It has a very big penninsula called Kefeloz, it is understood that this penninsula was an island in the past. Its north shores are too rocky and deep. After the east of Rhode island in Aegea, the deepest place is between Gokceada and Samothraki. Its south parts does not exceed 85 m. Its south shores are filled with long beaches. Most of its land is mountanious. It has 4 plains After Samothraki, it is most watery island in Aegea. There is fountains or source in every corner. Whereever you dig you can find water in 3-4 meters. It has a lot of lakes which flows summer and winter. It has four waterfalls. Whole island is a volcanic mass. The highes mountains are Aya İlia, Aya Dimitri, Arasia, Armegut hills. The highest one is 670 meter. The island has four plains. They are Kefalos, Kaleköy, Dereköy and Tepeköy plains. Although, the first view of the island looks so naked and grey, the iner parts are filled with pine, oak and olive threes.

MINES  

    There were two iron ore beds and galinit can be found in the middle of the island which is a mountainous region. Also, in various places there are lignite beds which are not in good quality. A German company operate the lignite beds in 1874 in Nerimata and Kuzu harbour of the island. Still, the two galleries can be seen.

THE SYSMOLOGIC CONDITION OF THE ISLAND

    The fault line which passes from the middle of Marmara sweep the island's east. It also second degree fault line passes from the middle of the island. That's why in history there were very destructive earthquakes in island.

FIRST DWELLERS OF IMVROS

    The first dwellers were LELEGES who were protohellen. Bu in B.C 2000 again a Hellen group PELASKUS settled in Limni, Samothraki and Imvros by the pressure of AKAIOS. Leleyes who were an archaic group integrated with them. They came from the same tribe as Troys that's why in Troy wars Imroz people were neutral.Later, during the Peloppones wars Imroz was dependent to Athens and some of the Kliruhi people in Athens came to Imroz. In  a lot of tablets in Kastro (Kaleköy) this fact was documented. For Kliruhi people in Athens, it is like a outskirts of Athens. The name of the lake which passes from the middle of Athens was given to the lake which passes from the middle of the Kaleköy plain. Its name was ILISOS. The city which was established by the Kliruhi people was considered as part of Athens and its name was: Athens city in Imroz.

CASTLES OF IMROZ

 1) Kaleköy (Kastro castle)

 2) Dereköy (Paleokastro)

 3) Arasia castle

ARCHELOGICAL FINDINGS OF IMROZ

 1) In the excavations done under the mounds of old Bademli, 500 years of findings were found.

 2) In Roksados region, the ruins of one of the oldest damns of the world was found.

 3) Archelogical remains was found in Tepeköy "Thameni" (buried place).

 4) There were different remains on new district,in Kefaloz, Balidos in Tepeköy, Arasia in Zeytinli and Krio neroda, Pirgos in Dereköy and of course in Kastro.

OLD SETTLEMENT IN IMROZ

    Kastro (Kaleköy) was the center. Here, the temples of Imbramos were found. THEA GEA (Soil goddess) which was next to Kastro. (According to Nikostrato) in every first month of the olypics immolations and ceremonies were made. Accordig to the Spon and Antonelli travellers: The settlement places were Kosta, Flio, Salvador, Lusiana, Sotir and Aya İrini. Then, small settlement places come together and formed 7 villages before 1964.

1) Center (Panayia)

2) Dereköy (Shinudi)

3) Tepeköy (Agridia)

4) Zeytinli (Ayii theodori)

5) Bademli (Gliki)

6) New district (Evlampio)

7) Kaleköy (Kastro) villages.

TRIBES PASSED FROM IMROZ

B.C. 2000  Leleges

B.C. 2000  Persians

    In B.C. 515 Persians occupied . In 494, Miltiades from Athens took it from Persians. It was considered as an Athens soil and Kliruhi people settled. The administration was formed according to the Athens laws and traditions. Imroz citizens were considered as Athens citizen. Imroz was controlled by Romans untill A.D. 193. Athens controlled Imroz untill A.D. 4 century. In 267, Gots plundered Imroz. In 323, in the period of Great Constantin, it was added to Byzantine but it was still dependent to Athens. In 767, Slavs and Bulgarians occupied and they took 2500 captives. In 769, Byzantine emperor rescued them. Some of these captives stayed in Istanbul and made the village called IMRAHOR. Some of them went to Crete and formed a village called Imbros. In 1204, Latins came. In 1261, Byzantines got it back. In 1456, an Imroz historian Kritovulos gave it to Fatih Sultan Mehmet.

1457-1458 Pope government

1458-1466 Ottoman

1466-1470 Venice

1470-1770 Ottoman

1770-1774 Russians

1774-1912 Ottoman

1912-1923 Greece

1923 Turkish republic

    The population of Imroz in different years

              Christian                      Muslim

            742                             157 soldier

1520    1035                           58

1886    9500                           -

1895    9116                           -

1923    8500                           -

1940    6200                           200

1960    5487                           289

1970    2571                           4020

1985    492                             7114

2001    230                             9000  

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ECONOMY OF IMROZ BEFORE 1964

    Imroz people were very hard working. They turned mountains and hills into terraces and planted them. When they could not reach with a plough, they entered with a hoe and planted. Unbelievable but it is real. The peak which there is a radar today was planted. Everywhere was filled with vineyards and gardens. The island can earn their living by themselves. Tea, coffe and some part of cloth came from outside. Because, the biggest part was made in workshops and home wowen work-benches. In every village, there were 1 or 2 modern oil factories which were modern for those times. In every village, there were cheddar cheese factories. There was soap factory, There were tile and brick ovens. Everyone has a garden or a vineyard. Animal husbandry, beekeeping and the biggest sponge fleet of Turkey was here. Cheddar cheese, cheese, olive oil, soap, leather, sponge, live animal, leguminosae were exported from the island. And lastly, starting from 1955, without getting any help they started tourism. When Bodrum and Marmaris wasn't popular, a lot of people gave one of their rooms as a pansion. In Kaleköy and all villages, restaurants were opened.

EDUCATION UNTILL 1923

    Starting from 1750, every bishop of the village or people who went to abroad for education gave lessons to the children in their homes. In 1860, schools were made in all of the villages and primary schools were opened. When there were no schools in big Ottoman government, in 1885 there were 6 primary schools and 1 high school there. In 1923, 10 primary school and 1 high school. The people who went to abroad sent money for making schools. Imroz people built their schools without getting any help.

RELIGION IN IMROZ

    When our ancestors Pelaskus came here they brought their own gods. They called them Kavir. IMVRAMOS and their three sons. The island's name IMVROS came from this. At certain times of the year they made mystic rites called KAVIRIA MISTRIA. The oldest temples known in Imroz was in Roksados region. Also, it was placed in the region of Tepeköy called THAMENI YI which passed to Christianity.

CHRISTIANITY

    According to a tale, Imroz people accepted Christianity after a big earthquake in 5th century. Kavir rites were made in Thameni. In those days, a missioner came and invited people to Christianity. People did not listen to him. Konon made a bitter prediction. He said that within one hour there will be a big earthquake. Within one hour, an earthquake was occured and everywhere was destroyed. All temples and cities were destroyed. The date is 470-480. People chase Konon to kill. When he came to a coast called Vrsidia he crashed into the rocks with his hands. A big abyss was formed and he hide in an inn and escaped. After these two miracle, Imroz people accepted Christianity and knew Konon az a saint. They turned the inn that he hide into a church and till now they made two rites every year. After that, Imroz people believed their new religion deeply and owned it. Even in small settlement places in island, there is a church. Untill 1964, there were 238 small churches in the island.

NOW WE COME TO 1923 AND LAUSSANNE

    After big discussions in Laussanne, according to the articles 14 and 38-42 Imroz and Bozcaada left to the borders of Turkish Republic due to their strategic locations. According to the article 14,  together with their  private and autonomous administration, they will be ruled under Turkey. This administration will be formed by local people and life and goods guarantee and continuing to the autonomous administration will be given to the Christian people. The security staff of both islans will be formed from the people of both islands. and they will be under the command of autonomous administration.

    Yes, noone should feel susceptible when the reality is said. If you can defend the opposite you have to prove it. If we say that Turkish Republic is our government so we have right to talk. In 1927, 1151 laws were passed from Th Grand National Assembly. The 14th article of this law is against Lausanne Agreement. It said that education will be made only in Turkish. Only that article was applied. When the law is applied high school was closed. Wealthiness tax did not affect Imroz people so much. Getting into army when they entered into 20 affected them. In 1946, the land of the two churches were expropriated and distributed to the families came from Sürmene. In 1950, Turkish-Greek relations become better. In west Thrace Celal Bayar Lycee and in Imroz Greek high school were closed. Celal Bayar Lycee continue to work but ours was closed. Its building used as a kindergarten for homeless children. In all schools, Turkish-Greek education was given as in the minority schools in Istanbul. 50s was a golden age for Imroz people. Every village built their own schools by their own opportunities. Kindergartens were added next to schools. All children ran into schools like they were in a race. Imroz people wanted to do something for education. Culture and farmers foundations were established. 6-7 September events in 1955 did not affect Imroz very much. In 1958, "a melting programme" was prepared silently. 1964!!! the imprisonment of these two islands. Cprus events started. And melting programme began to be applied. What is my sin if the two sides fight in Cyprus. I am a Turkish citizen.

1) Three plains of the island were expropriated. When a newspaper is 25 cents these productive soils were expropriated to 8 cents per meter square. In two plains, government production farms were established and in one plain an open prison was established.

 2)Sahinkaya village was established next to Dereköy and families who came from Caykara and settled there. A part of Dereköy plain was given to them (appropriate to laws!!)

 3) An open prison was established in Dereköy plain and 600-700 prisoners brought here. These prisoners can walk freely in island.

4) Most of the grassy part of the island declared as forest.

 5) Again article 14 of law 1151 was again in force. Greek teachers were dismissed and education was made in Turkish. (again the article of 38-42 of Lausanne). Even Greek teacher could not give private lessons at their homes.

 6) Exiting live animal and meat from the island is prohibited.

 7) The 400 mythologic name of Imroz was changed.

WHY??????????

    Yorgos, Kostas and Yannies ask this why with a question mark. It means all Imroz people. Why is this discrimination. Did we rebel or did something against las? Did we make discrimination.? No, our name is different and our roots were different. This place could be the most developed tourism place of Turkey. why did we make it like this? The people who made discrimination were administrators. It could be the best mosaic of Turkey why did we forced people to leave their homes. Is it true to force people who lived here 4000 years to immigrate. We should leave them alone, we should defend and protect them. Imroz people were Turkish citizen. It should be an autonomous administration but we could not do it. People could make their military service in Bozcada but they did in every part of Turkey. Imroz people were loyal to the government, loyal to the laws and peaceful. But because of Cyprus they forced to left their ancestors lands. If the two sides in Cyprus fight with each other what is my sin? Their soils were taken, education was destroyed. 7 people were killed in the island when there was none in the past. Where are the murderers? Nowhere. Their churches were robbed. Could any thief be caught? To carry one kilo meat to his child in Istanbul was prohibited. His village and his home was occupied and government did not do anything to the occupiers. Dereköy and Kaleköy were occupied. Which measures were taken? Nothing. It was a real sin to lost such a hard working and civilized society. Without getting any help from the government we could make this island the most touristic place of Turkey. We can contribute to the development of our country and island but did it have a meaning to force 8000 people to escape from island with their small suitcases at night by boats? Whereever Imroz people went they considered as foreigners. Here foreigner, there Turcosporos. They were hungry. Imroz pepole understood with pain that they should not believe anyone except God. Imroz people did not gave up. They become workers, they cleaned shit, they were hungry. They stand against all diffuculties just for sending their children to school. They worked and and they stand straight. Their soul was filled with Pelaskus pride. And today, those people who went to anywhere in the world become rich. They send their children to famous univercities. People who went with only clothes come with Mercedes. I know that most people say that Yorgo you make discrimination. No, Yorgo integrates people. Yorgo is tolerant but he sees the truth and says what he sees and feels. The people who blame are the ones who make this island like this. The actions made to the minorities is enough. None should see them as a potential guilty person whereever in the world in Turkey, in Greece or in Bulgaria. They must not see us as hostages from the point of mutual relations with governments. They should know that they are a mosaic in which country they live and every country should protect them according to laws and human rights. Yorgo is proud of its roots.But both of them are equal. Now how? Yes , conditions are changed. If Yorgo wants to sell a land to Ahmet first they will go to Title-deed Department. First, a view will be takeen from the LAND REGISTRATION AND OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT FOREIGNERS DEPARTMENT.Can Yorgo sell? (When he was a soldier or given a citizenship he was not a foreigner) In 20 days a positive reply came and procedure is finished. When Ahmet want to sell a land to Yorgo. The answer came in 6-7 months and usually it is negative. This is the first thing. The second thing: In the villages where Mehmet and Ahmet has a land a title deed was given to the places which are not safe. When it comes to Tepeköy, there was Yorgo and Yanni. At those places, the same lands were considered as not valuable and left to treasury. DECLARED TO THE AUTHORITIES. Please stop this discrimination and give instruction to the authorities in land registration and ownership.

AND YORGO'S PREYER

    I hope the world will be without weapons, without uniforms and will be limitless. There is noone who will not be friends because of ethnic, cultural, religious or sex group he belongs to. Do not touch my friend. Do not touch the person who is not my friend. Do not touch my loved ones or do not touch the people who I do not like. Tortures should be stopped. Weapons should bestopped and LET PEOPLE TALK. Amen.