Today marks the 120th anniversary of the death of Hellenic Army officer Pavlos Melas, one of the most important war heroes in Macedonia’s struggle for freedom. We will always honor the pure patriot, the ardent warrior, the symbol of the Macedonian Struggle.
Born in Marseilles, France, in 1870, he graduated as an Artillery Officer from the Evelpidon School in 1891 at 21. In 1900, he joined a Macedonian committee founded to liberate the Northern Greek territories from Turkish and Bulgarian control.
In July 1904, he entered Macedonia under the alias “Peter Dedes” to assess the situation and explore the possibility of establishing a revolutionary military unit to fight the occupiers. He soon returned to Athens after discussions with supporters of the Greek cause in the area.
The following month, he recruited 35 men, becoming their leader, and adopted the name “Captain Mike Zezas.” Melas fought bravely with his men until October 13th, 1904, when, according to reports, he was betrayed by a Bulgarian gang in the town of Statista. Surrounded by 150 Turks, he was mortally wounded. His last words were, “May a single Bulgarian not remain.”
The village of Statista, where a statue stands in his honor, was renamed “Pavlos Melas.” His efforts ultimately contributed to Northern Greece’s liberation in 1912, and his name is etched in history as one of the greatest heroes of the Greek struggle for Macedonia.
Statues of Melas stand throughout Thessaloniki, a testament to the enduring pride Greeks feel for his actions and his enduring legacy as a source of inspiration.
Recently, Greek authorities approved an urban plan for a metropolitan park on the site of the historic “Pavlos Melas” army camp in Stavroupoli, Thessaloniki.
According to the Environment Ministry, a presidential decree has defined the project’s special urban plan, land use, and building restrictions.
The 35-hectare site occupies a key location in northwestern Thessaloniki. Part of the former “Pavlos Melas” army camp is closely tied to Stavroupoli’s history, having hosted refugee settlements, mainly Pontic Greeks, in the early 20th century.
Pavlos Melas Park in Thessaloniki
A significant portion of the former camp, with some buildings designated as monuments, has been declared a historic site.
The project envisions public green spaces covering over 90 percent of the total area.
