Overview

Michael Stivaros was born in the village of Pedoulas in 1892 to Michael Stivaros and Penelope Hadjitheodosi. After graduating from Limassol High School in 1910 and from the Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia in 1911, he enrolled in the Medical School of Athens University. On 6 October 1912, following the outbreak of the First Balkan War, he was among the first Cypriot students to join the Greek Army, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the Independent Cretan Regiment. According to official records of the Ministry of Defence, he was killed in the Battle of Bizani, in Epirus, on 5 December 1912. However, according to the account of a comrade, he died on 16 December 1912. In his only letter to have survived, he wrote on 12 October 1912: "All that I feel these days as a soldier I have never felt before. I feel as though my body and soul have doubled in strength. The heavy weapons do not tire me. You can be sure the Cypriot students will honour their country, parents and schools who taught them great patriotism."