Mitrousis Gogolakis
came from Homondos village. He became the nightmare of the Bulgarian
Comitadjis with his national action. One day, in 1907, a Bulgarian
gang under the leadership of chief-comitadji, Arabatzis, after taking
advantage of Gogolakis’ absence, set his house on fire and slaughtered
his whole family. When Mitrousis returned and confronted the frightful
sight of his family’s dead bodies, he swore to take revenge. Soon, he organized
his own guerilla force and started the persecution of the comitadjis. The
people who fought on his side were Athanasios Giovanis, Michael
Ouzounis, Nikolaos Panagiotou from Agrinio and Theodore Tourlentes
from Leontario.
On Friday 15th July 1907, Captain Mitrousis and his men chased after the Bulgarians came to Serres and hid in Papathanasis’ house, a priest in Saint Evaggelistria church in Kato Kamenikia. Unfortunately, he was betrayed to the Turks and 12.000 Turks surrounded the neighborhood at once. Then Captain Mitrousis left the house of the priest and he and his 5 men went to the belfry of the church. An unequal battle started in which two of his men died and the Turks caught other three seriously injured. Captain Mitrousis fought to the end. After killing tens of Turks and running out of ammunition, he killed himself with a knife, so the Turks wouldn’t catch him alive (14 July 1907). His death soon became legendary and a song which was sung for many years. |