The celebration for the National Anniversary of October 28, 1940 was organized on Thursday, October 26 at the Municipal Theater Sotira by the 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

The event was addressed by the Commander of the 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Costas Chrysiliou, while a speech was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Theodoros Tekedis.

A number of officials attended the event, among them the Chief of GEEF, Lieutenant General Elias Leontaris, the Metropolitan of Constantia-Famagusta, Mr. Vassilios, the Mayors Sotiras and Deryneia, the Secretary of the Council of Ministers Theodosios Tsilemos and Vodosos Tsilemos.

During the event, a special honorary plaque was awarded to Ms. Erma Indiana Christofidou for her huge contribution to the public and the National Guard for the concession for 43 years of her house which has been turned into an outpost in Deryneia (Dipato).

Erma Indianou Christofidou

Erma Indianou Christofidou was born in Nicosia.

She is the daughter of Emilios Indianos, originally from Limassol, and Hariklia Mouskou, originally from Larnaca.

He graduated from the girls' school of Faneromeni and then studied business administration in Ayylia. From a very young age she wanted to study classical dance, but unfortunately her family was against, due to the prejudices of the time. But she continued her favorite ballet even after, when her two daughters were involved in it and as long as her physical condition allowed.

After finishing her studies she came to Cyprus where she worked at the Agricultural Research Institute and later at the FAO (Food Agriculture Organization) of the United Nations.

Continuing her mother's work, she was involved in many charities.

In 1967 she met and married Takis Christofidis from Famagusta and they settled there until 1974 where they were found by the brutal Turkish invasion and uprooting. Together they had two daughters, Epa and Elena.

After her marriage to Takis and their settlement in Famagusta, she continued to work in her husband's audit office.

In Famagusta he developed an intense charitable activity and was a founding member of the Association of Spastic and Disabled Children of the Famagusta branch and a member of the advisory committee of the Shelter for Children with Mental Retardation "Nea Eleousa".

He worked for a number of years as a member and president of the center for mentally retarded children "Apostolos Pavlos".

She is a volunteer in the schools of Special Vocational Education and Training Laboratories of the Prefecture of Serres, which she visits every two years and has developed a very strong bond with the people in Serres.

Immediately after the Turkish Invasion, he worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations World Food Program.

She has been involved in a wide range of issues related to the refugee world.

She was a member of the Coordinating Committee of Women Famagusta Associations, in whose activities her participation was important, especially in the twenty-day events that took place in Deryneia in February 1987, proving with her attitude not to close her eyes for 20 days, that the games sacrifices are needed.

She has been honored by the Greek and Cypriot press for her contribution and became known as "The Lady of Deryneia" because she was recognized as the woman who pledged to fight to the end for justice. On the occasion of her children's studies, she regularly went to London and, taking advantage of her time, became active, presenting non-profit on the Cyprus Radio Station of London (LGR) for 2,5 years, broadcasts on the occupied and other folklore topics.

At the same time he decorated with great skill the factory reception hall, turning it into a space with a strong Cypriot style. At the same time he attended psychology classes for 4 years at Open University.

Her direct contact with the parish resulted in her getting to know in depth the life, the hardships, the evolution of the expatriates. Her desire to promote the history and tradition of the Cypriots of England, became a work of life with an excellent book yia the people of the parish. In its range it has piles of poems, vignettes and novels.

The Christofidis family, two days after the second phase of the invasion, lived in Deryneia, specifically in a two-story house right next to the location of F. DIPATO of 611 TSM, whose name has been given since then because of the two-storey house.
In the course of all the years from then until today, the Christofidis family and especially the lady of the house (Mrs. Erma) took care of both the soldiers of the outpost as if they were their own children and the outpost as if it were a building extension of their own house. .

It is noteworthy that, as she complains, after the death of her beloved husband 6,5 years ago she remained a resident in this house because of the security she feels from the presence of the soldiers of the outpost.

Famagusta.News