Christos Christovasilis
Encyclopedia
Christos Christovasilis was a Greek
journalist and author, representative of Greek pastoral
literature. He was a collector of rural and folk material and one of the most important figures in the literature of Epirus
in late 19th-early 20th century.
(Epirus), then in the Ottoman Empire
. As a teenager he ran away from school in order to join the Epirus revolt of 1878
, and participated in the guerilla operations near Sarandë
. As a result he was twice arrested by the Ottoman authorities and sentenced to death, but he managed to escape. In 1885 he moved to Athens
, where he studied, compiled and published several works on Greek history. In December 1889 he won the literary competition of the Athenian newspapaper Acropolis, with his countryside tale Pastoral new year. He subsequently decided to devote himself to journalism and literature. When the Balkan Wars
(1912–1913) ended and most of Epirus became part of Greece, he moved to Ioannina and published a newspaper named Ελευθερία ("Freedom"). Additionally, in 1936 he published the cultural magazine Epirote Leaves. Christovasilis was twice elected as a member of the Greek Parliament
.
literature of that era. He wrote his works in the Demotic (vernacular) language, which he called "koine
of the future". His work was inspired by high degree of patriotism
aimed against Ottoman rule. Christovassilis best prose is gathered in the Stories of Exile (1889) and in Stories from the Stockyard (1898), a compilation of eleven stories inspired from his rural childhood. Additionally, in 1901 he published the Tales of the Mountain and the Valley, which earned him another literary prize, promulgated by the supporter of the Demotic language, Ioannis Psycharis
.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
journalist and author, representative of Greek pastoral
Pastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
literature. He was a collector of rural and folk material and one of the most important figures in the literature of Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
in late 19th-early 20th century.
Life
Christovasilis was born in the village of Soulopoulo, near IoanninaIoannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
(Epirus), then in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. As a teenager he ran away from school in order to join the Epirus revolt of 1878
Epirus Revolt of 1878
The 1878 revolt in Epirus was the part of a series of Greek uprisings that occurred in the Ottoman-ruled Greece during the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War . Although Greek officials individually supported the revolt, the Greek Government, being aware of the international situation in eastern...
, and participated in the guerilla operations near Sarandë
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
. As a result he was twice arrested by the Ottoman authorities and sentenced to death, but he managed to escape. In 1885 he moved to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, where he studied, compiled and published several works on Greek history. In December 1889 he won the literary competition of the Athenian newspapaper Acropolis, with his countryside tale Pastoral new year. He subsequently decided to devote himself to journalism and literature. When the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
(1912–1913) ended and most of Epirus became part of Greece, he moved to Ioannina and published a newspaper named Ελευθερία ("Freedom"). Additionally, in 1936 he published the cultural magazine Epirote Leaves. Christovasilis was twice elected as a member of the Greek Parliament
Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament , also the Parliament of the Hellenes, is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House , overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece....
.
Work
Christovasilis was a collector of rural and folk material and one of the main representatives of Greek pastoralPastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
literature of that era. He wrote his works in the Demotic (vernacular) language, which he called "koine
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
of the future". His work was inspired by high degree of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
aimed against Ottoman rule. Christovassilis best prose is gathered in the Stories of Exile (1889) and in Stories from the Stockyard (1898), a compilation of eleven stories inspired from his rural childhood. Additionally, in 1901 he published the Tales of the Mountain and the Valley, which earned him another literary prize, promulgated by the supporter of the Demotic language, Ioannis Psycharis
Ioannis Psycharis
Ioannis Psycharis was a French philologist of Greek origin, author and promoter of Demotic Greek.- Biography :...
.
External links
- Works of Christos Christovasilis. openarhives.gr
- Works of Christos Christovasilis. el.wikisource.org