Filiki Eteria

With the idea of ​​independence from the Ottoman yoke and under the influence of various secret societies of Europe at that time, the Greeks gathered in Odessa on September 14, 1814 and compiled the charter of a secret society, which was to prepare Greece for an uprising. Among the participants were Nikolaos Skoufas , Emanuel Xanthos , Atanasios Tsakalof . Skufas was familiar with carbonary Konstantinos Rados, Xanthos was a member of the Masonic lodge in Levada, and Tsakalof was one of the founders of the Greek-speaking Hotel , which was not successful.

At first, Filiki Eteria grew slowly. In 1814-1816, it had about 20 members. During 1817, the society was replenished mainly by Greeks from Russia, Moldova and Wallachia, but the number of members did not exceed 30. Since 1818, a massive entry into the "Eteria" began. Society has gained influence in many historical areas of Greece and in the Greek diasporas in other countries.

Initially, the headquarters of the Society was in Odessa, then it was transferred to Constantinople . The proposal to transfer the center to Mount Pelion , and then to the Mani Peninsula, where the Turks never reached, was not implemented.

In the first months of 1821, there were about 1,000 people in Eteria, among them merchants and clergy.

The structure of Eteria was similar to the structure of Freemasons and Carbonarians . At the head was the “Invisible Power” ( Greek Αόρατος Αρχή ), the composition of which was the strictest secret, which allowed hinting at the membership of very important persons, such as Emperor Alexander I. In fact, they were only three founders, from 1815 to 1818 five were added there and after the death of Skufas three more people. In 1818, “Invisible Power” was renamed “Power of the 12 Apostles”, each “apostle” was responsible for a certain region.

The entire structure of Eteria was pyramidal . At the top was the Invisible Power. No one knew and could not ask about her. Her orders were not discussed, members could not make their own decisions. The society was called a “temple” and had four levels of initiation: α) Brothers ( Greek αδελφοποιητοί ) or Wlamids ( Greek βλάμηδες ), β) Recommended ( Greek συστημένοι ), γ) Priests ( Greek ιερείς ( g ), δ) . ποιμένες ).

In 1817, the Serb rebel leader Karageorgii joined the Society, but he was soon killed by his rival Milos Obrenovic.

In 1818, the venue of the Eteria moved from Odessa to the city of Constantinople . The death of Skufas was a great loss to society. The rest of the participants tried to find a major personality in order to entrust management, maintain the authority of society and “let the fresh air". At the beginning of 1818 they invited John Kapodistrias , but he not only refused, but also wrote that Filiki Eteria was guilty of unrest in Greece. Also, he refused the proposed membership in the Society after being removed from the throne on Athos in 1808, Patriarch Gregory V , who was visited by the Apostle John Farmakis.

In April 1820, Alexander Ipsilanti was elected leader (captain-general). Preparations for the uprising began, military associations were created, among others, a corps of volunteers, mainly from Greek students from Russia, called the “Holy Corps”.

• Gazis, Antimos
• Sekeris, Panagiotis
• Varvatsi, Ivan Andreevich
• Alexander Ipsilanti
• Herman , Metropolitan of Old Patras
• Karageorgiy
• Papaflessas
• Manto Mavrogenus
• Katakazi, Gabriel Antonovich
• Dmitry Pavlovich Vaticioti

• Geteria

• Greek Cultural Foundation in Odessa