Ταξιδιωτικές Σημειώσεις σχετικά με την Κορυτσά Θ. Βελλιανίτης Τελευταίο Μέρος (1919)- Shënime nga udhëtimi në Korçë T. Vellianitet 1919 - Pjesa e Fundit -Traveling Notes On Corytsa by T. Vellianites (Last Part ) 1919

 

Part 1 Part 2  Part 3  Part 4 Traveling Notes On Corytsa by T. Vellianites Essayist, Historian, and Deputy to the Greek Parliament Translated by NICHOLAS CULOLIAS, LL.B1 Published by the Pan-Epirotic Union of America 7 Water St., Boston, Mass.   Printed by the PURITAN LINOTYPE   Cambridge, Mass. 1919   VI   There is no power on earth that can change the Greek character of such a city. Five centuries of slavery failed to do it. One need not make an extended stay in it, to perceive the dominating sentiments of the people. A simple and casual event during my arrival at Corytsa, served as an occasion for a characteristic outburst of the prevailing feeling. The Commander of the Fifth Army corps stationed at Jannina, General Meliotis Comnenos, was kind enough to place at my disposal during my trip in Macedonia, as a companion, a non-commissioned officer of the Euzones - light girded troops. The men of this corps are most beloved of all the Greek soldiers. These are the descendants of the ancient heroes of the Greek mountains. They are agile, brave, impetuous and swift. Moreover, they wear the kilts, the ancient garment of the fighters of the holy struggle. (War of independence, 1821). My companion was one of the most handsome men of this corps. As soon as he appeared in the streets of Corytsa a spontaneous demonstration took place. All ran forward and surrounded him. Flowers were offered him from all sides, and in the evening the youth of the city gave a dinner in his honor. The Corytseans saw in this agile soldier incarnated the idea of freedom which the Greek army six years ago amid unbounded enthusiasm brought to the unredeemed people of Macedonia and Epirus from the banks of Ilissos. This liberty was banished for some time by a cruel diplomatic decision made for the purpose of satisfying the secret aims of Austrian japlicy. This decision was exactly the cause for the flow of much blood in the streets of the city. On the evening of my arrival I met many Corytseans, most of whom I knew from old. They were students attending the University of Athens, and frequented the political and literary circles of the Greek Capital, not only at the time that Bulgarian Comitadzis were carrying on a savage war to impose themselves by the knife and terror upon the peacable inhabitants of the village towns, but even much earlier. Even at that period as well as during the long period of slavery the inhabitants of Corytsa kept in touch with Athens. Since the liberation of Greece they turned their eyes toward that city longing for a political independence, under the protection of the Greek flag. Thus in the first center I entered I found myself in the midst of acquaintances and friends. Then I recalled the common efforts and struggles of older days. The wars of 1912-13 which were inspired by the political genius of Eleutherios Venizelos, had solved most of the Greek questions which the Turkish conquest four centuries ago had placed on the table for solution. Among them the question of Corytza had been solved. No one could have ever imagined that this Greek city, the hearth of Greek letters for two centuries, would be included in a state essentially Mussulman; that immediately a new complex question would have been created, and the people who but recently gained their independence would be kept in constant trouble and eternal turmoil. I passed in Corytza memorable days. Seldom have I felt the national pulse beat stronger. One evening under the light of the moon in a garden outside the city, several friends sat down to a frugal supper. One of them had grown gray in the constant struggle for the Greek "Idea," recalling those years of trouble and danger and looking at the present inconceivable situation, lifted his glass and suddenly recited two verses which were full of heart-breaking melancholy. "For us fate has decreed that we be ever and ever fighting; ever and ever killed and yet live in slavery." Our eyes were filled with tears. For a moment those verses seemed to me a strong protest not only against fate, but against human injustice imposed upon a people which by all human rights is entitled to live in this world in accordance with its wishes and national conscience. I thought that as a citizen of free Greece, brought up from childhood with the idea of justice and freedom, I should not accept such a statement as descriptive of the fate of the people of Corytsa. "No," I cried, "We shall not be always fighting, we shall not be always killed and fate has not pre-determined us for everlasting slavery. At the moment when all the democratic nations are fighting for the freedom of the peoples, the slightest doubt concerning the fate of Corytsa would be a blasphemy against the Greco-Latin civilization." An old poet of ours in similar circumstances recited some verses which are most suitable to the Greek character. "We must take courage, for tomorrow shall bring better things." All of us are awaiting better days for Corytsa. Thus I parted with those patriots whose boiling sentiments are now held by the French flag. So long as that flag waves, it is not permitted to the Corytseans to entertain any doubts about their future national re-establishment. Transcript from original book. ©Pelasgos Koritsas

Pjesa e I Pjesa e II  Pjesa e III Pjesa e IV  Shënime nga udhëtimi në Korçë T. Vellianitet Eseist, Historian, dhe Deputet në parlamentin grek Përkthyer nga NICHOLAS CULOLIAS, LL.B1 ^ Botuar nga Pan-Epirotiku Bashkimi i Amerikës 7 Water St., Boston, Mass. Shtypur nga LINOTIPI PURITAN Kembrixh, Mass. 1919           VI   Nuk ka fuqi në tokë që mund të ndryshojë karakterin grek të një qyteti të tillë. Pesë shekuj skllavëri nuk ia dolën dot. Nuk ka nevojë të qëndrosh gjatë në të, për të perceptuar ndjenjat dominuese të njerëzve. Një ngjarje e thjeshtë dhe e rastësishme gjatë mbërritjes sime në Korçë, shërbeu si një rast për një shpërthim karakteristik të ndjenjës mbizotëruese. Komandanti i Korpusit të Ushtrisë së Pestë i vendosur në Janinë, gjeneral Meliotis Komnenos, pati mirësinë të më vendosi në dispozicion gjatë udhëtimit tim në Maqedoni, si shoqërues, një nënoficer të Euzoneve - trupa me brez të lehtë. Burrat e këtij korpusi janë më të dashur nga të gjithë ushtarët grekë. Këta janë pasardhësit e heronjve të lashtë të maleve greke. Ata janë të shkathët, të guximshëm, të vrullshëm dhe të shpejtë. Për më tepër, ata veshin fustanellat, veshjen e lashtë të luftëtarëve të luftës së shenjtë. (Lufta e Pavarësisë, 1821) . Shoku im ishte një nga burrat më të pashëm të këtij korpusi. Sapo ai u shfaq në rrugët e Korçës u zhvillua një demonstratë spontane. Të gjithë vrapuan përpara dhe e rrethuan. I ofruan lule nga të gjitha anët dhe në mbrëmje të rinjtë e qytetit shtruan një darkë për nder të tij. Korçarët panë në këtë ushtar të shkathët të mishëruar idenë e lirisë që ushtria greke gjashtë vjet më parë mes entuziazmit të pakufishëm i solli popullit të pashpëtuar të Maqedonisë dhe Epirit nga brigjet e Ilissos. Kjo liri u dëbua për ca kohë nga një vendim mizor diplomatik i marrë me qëllim të përmbushjes së qëllimeve të fshehta të japlicisë austriake. Pikërisht ky vendim ka qenë shkaku i rrjedhjes së shumë gjakut në rrugët e qytetit. Në mbrëmjen e mbërritjes sime, takova shumë korçarë, shumicën e të cilëve i njihja që kohë më parë. Ata ishin studentë që ndiqnin Universitetin e Athinës dhe frekuentonin qarqet politike dhe letrare të Kryeqyteti grek, jo vetëm në kohën kur komitaxhinjtë bullgarë po bënin një luftë të egër për tu imponuar nga thika dhe tmerri mbi banorët paqësorë të qyteteve të fshatit, por edhe shumë më herët. Edhe në atë periudhë, si dhe gjatë periudhës së gjatë të skllavërisë, banorët e Koriçës mbanin lidhje me Athinën. Që nga çlirimi i Greqisë ata i kthyen sytë drejt ai qytet të etur për një pavarësi politike, nën mbrojtjen e flamurit grek. Kështu në qendrën e parë që hyra e gjeta veten mes të njohurve dhe miqve. Pastaj kujtova përpjekjet dhe betejat e përbashkëta të kohëve të vjetra. Të Luftërave të viteve 1912-1913, të frymëzuara nga gjeniu politik i Eleftherios Venizelos, kishin zgjidhur shumicën e çështjeve greke që pushtimi turk katër shekuj më parë, i kishte vendosur në tryezë për zgjidhje. Midis tyre çështja e Korçës ishte zgjidhur. Askush nuk mund ta imagjinonte se ky qytet grek, vatër e letrave greke për dy shekuj, do të përfshihej në një shtet në thelb mysliman; se menjëherë do të ishte krijuar një pyetje e re komplekse dhe njerëzit që sapo fituan pavarësinë e tyre do të mbaheshin në telashe të vazhdueshme dhe të përjetshme trazire. Kam kaluar ditë të paharrueshme në Korçë Rrallëherë a kam ndjerë rrahjen më të fortë të pulsit kombëtar. Një mbrëmje nën dritën e hënës në një kopsht jashtë qytetit, disa miq u ulën në një darkë të thjeshtë. Njëri prej tyre ishte thinjur në luftën e vazhdueshme për "Idenë" greke, duke kujtuar ato vite telashe dhe rreziku dhe duke parë situatën e tanishme të pakonceptueshme, ngriti gotën dhe papritmas recitoi dy vargje të mbushura me melankoli që të thyen zemrën. "Për ne fati ka caktuar që ne të luftojmë përherë e përgjithmonë; gjithmonë e përherë të vrarë e megjithatë vazhdojmë të jetojmë në skllavëri." Sytë na u mbushën me lot. Për nje moment ato vargje m'u dukën një protestë e fortë jo vetëm kundër fatit, por kundër padrejtësisë njerëzore të imponuar mbi një popull që me të gjitha të drejtat e njeriut ka të drejtë për të jetuar në këtë botë në përputhje me dëshirat e saj dhe ndërgjegjes kombëtare. E kam menduar si qytetar i Greqisë së lirë, i rritur që në fëmijëri me idenë e drejtësisë dhe lirisë, nuk duhet ta pranoj një deklaratë e tillë si përshkruese e fatit të njerëzve të Korçës. "Jo," bërtita, "Nuk do të luftojmë gjithmonë, do të luftojmë të mos vritemi gjithmonë dhe fati nuk na ka paracaktuar për skllavërinë e përjetshme. Në momentin kur të gjitha kombet demokratike luftojnë për lirinë e popujve, dyshimi më i vogël për fatin e Koriçës do të ishte një blasfemi ndaj qytetërimit greko-latin”. Një poet i yni i vjetër në rrethana të ngjashme ricitoi disa vargje që janë më të përshtatshme për karakterin grek. “Duhet të marrim guxim, sepse e nesërmja do të sjellë gjëra më të mira." Të gjithë ne presim ditë më të mira për Korçën. Kështu u ndava me ata patriotë që ndjenjat iu zjenin dhe tani mbahen nga flamuri francez. Kështu që përderisa ai flamur valëvitet, nuk i lejohet korçarëve për të hapur ndonjë dyshim në lidhje me ringritjen e tyre të ardhshme kombëtare.   Përgatiti, Përktheu: ©Pelasgos Koritsas   *Nuk lejohet ripublikmi pa referim të burimit.

Ά Μέρος  Β΄Μέρος  Γ΄Μέρος  Δ΄Μέρος Ταξιδιωτικές Σημειώσεις σχετικά με την Κορυτσά Θ. Βελλιανίτης Δοκιμιογράφος, Ιστορικός, και Βουλευτής της Βουλής των Ελλήνων Μεταφράστηκε από NICHOLAS CULOLIAS, LL.B1 Έκδοση της Πανηπειρωτικής Ένωση της Αμερικής 7 Water St., Βοστώνη, Mass. Τυπώθηκε από το ΠΟΥΡΙΤΑΝΙΚΟΣ ΛΙΝΟΤΥΠΟΣ Cambridge, Mass. 1919       VI   Δεν υπάρχει δύναμη στη γη που να μπορεί να αλλάξει τον ελληνικό χαρακτήρα μιας τέτοιας πόλης. Πέντε αιώνες σκλαβιάς δεν τα κατάφεραν. Δεν χρειάζεται να κάνει κανείς παρατεταμένη παραμονή σε αυτό, για να αντιληφθεί τα κυρίαρχα συναισθήματα των ανθρώπων. Ένα απλό και παρεΐστικο γεγονός κατά την άφιξή μου στην Κορυτσά, λειτούργησε ως αφορμή για ένα χαρακτηριστικό ξέσπασμα του συναισθήματος που επικρατούσε. Ο Διοικητής του Πέμπτου Σώματος Στρατού με έδρα στα Γιάννινα, Στρατηγός Μελιώτης Κομνηνός, είχε την καλοσύνη να θέσει στη διάθεσή μου κατά τη διάρκεια του ταξιδιού μου στη Μακεδονία, ως συνοδό, υπαξιωματικό των Ευζώνων – ελαφρών ζωσμένων στρατευμάτων. Οι άνδρες αυτού του σώματος είναι οι πιο αγαπημένοι από όλους τους Έλληνες στρατιώτες. Αυτοί είναι οι απόγονοι των αρχαίων ηρώων των ελληνικών βουνών. Είναι ευκίνητοι, γενναίοι, ορμητικοί και γρήγοροι. Ακόμη, φορούν τις φουστανέλες, το αρχαίο ένδυμα των αγωνιστών του ιερού αγώνα. (Επανάσαταση, 1821). Ο σύντροφός μου ήταν ένας από τους πιο ωραίους άνδρες αυτού του σώματος. Μόλις εμφανίστηκε στους δρόμους της Κορυτσάς έγινε αυθόρμητη διαδήλωση. Όλοι έτρεξαν μπροστά και τον περικύκλωσαν. Του προσέφεραν λουλούδια από όλες τις πλευρές και το βράδυ η νεολαία της πόλης παρέθεσε δείπνο προς τιμήν του. Οι Κορυτσαίοι είδαν σε αυτόν τον ευκίνητο στρατιώτη να ενσαρκώνεται η ιδέα της ελευθερίας που ο ελληνικός στρατός πριν από έξι χρόνια μέσα σε απεριόριστο ενθουσιασμό έφερε στον αλύτρωτο λαό της Μακεδονίας και της Ηπείρου από τις όχθες του Ιλισού. Αυτή η ελευθερία εξορίστηκε για κάποιο χρονικό διάστημα με μια σκληρή διπλωματική απόφαση που λήφθηκε με σκοπό την ικανοποίηση των μυστικών σκοπών της αυστριακής φυλής. Αυτή η απόφαση ήταν ακριβώς η αιτία για να ρέει πολύ αίμα στους δρόμους της η πόλη. Το βράδυ της άφιξής μου συνάντησα πολλούς Κορυτσάους, τους περισσότερους από τους οποίους γνώριζα από παλιά. Ήταν φοιτητές που φοιτούσαν στο Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών και σύχναζαν στους πολιτικούς και λογοτεχνικούς κύκλους της Ελληνική Πρωτεύουσα, όχι μόνο την εποχή που οι Βούλγαροι Κομιτατζήδες διεξήγαγαν έναν άγριο πόλεμο για να επιβάλουν το μαχαίρι και τον τρόμο πάνω στους φιλήσυχους κάτοικους των κωμοπόλεων, αλλά ακόμη πολύ νωρίτερα. Ακόμη και εκείνη την περίοδο καθώς και κατά τη μακρά περίοδο της σκλαβιάς οι κάτοικοι της Κορυτσάς διατήρησαν επαφή με την Αθήνα. Από την απελευθέρωση της Ελλάδας έστρεψαν τα μάτια τους εκείνη την πόλη που λαχταρά μια πολιτική ανεξαρτησία, υπό την προστασία της ελληνικής σημαίας. Έτσι στο πρώτο κέντρο που μπήκα βρέθηκα ανάμεσα σε γνωστούς και φίλους. Μετά θυμήθηκα τις κοινές προσπάθειες και αγώνες παλαιότερων εποχών. Οι πόλεμοι του 1912-13, εμπνευσμένοι από την πολιτική ιδιοφυΐα του Ελευθέριου Βενιζέλου, είχαν λύσει τα περισσότερα από τα ελληνικά ερωτήματα που η τουρκική κατάκτηση πριν από τέσσερις αιώνες είχε βάλει στο τραπέζι για λύση. Ανάμεσά τους και το ζήτημα της Κορυτσάς είχε λυθεί. Κανείς δεν μπορούσε κανείς ποτέ να φανταστεί ότι αυτή η ελληνική πόλη, η εστία των ελληνικών γραμμάτων για δύο αιώνες, θα περιλαμβανόταν σε ένα ουσιαστικά μουσουλμανικό κράτος. ότι αμέσως θα είχε δημιουργηθεί ένα νέο περίπλοκο ερώτημα και οι άνθρωποι που κέρδισαν πρόσφατα την ανεξαρτησία τους θα διατηρούνταν σε διαρκή προβλήματα και αιώνια αναταραχή. Πέρασα στην Κορυτσά αξέχαστες μέρες. Σπάνια ένιωσα τον εθνικό παλμό να χτυπά πιο δυνατά. Ένα βράδυ κάτω από το φως του φεγγαριού σε έναν κήπο έξω από την πόλη, αρκετοί φίλοι κάθισαν σε ένα λιτό δείπνο. Ένας από αυτούς είχε γκριζάρει στον διαρκή αγώνα για την ελληνική «Ιδέα», αναπολώντας εκείνα τα χρόνια της ταλαιπωρίας και του κινδύνου και κοιτάζοντας την σημερινή ασύλληπτη κατάσταση, σήκωσε το ποτήρι του και ξαφνικά απήγγειλε δύο στίχους που ήταν γεμάτοι σπαρακτική μελαγχολία. «Για εμάς η μοίρα έχει ορίσει ότι θα πολεμάμε πάντα, παντοτινά και πάντα θα θυσιαστούμε και όμως πάλι θα ζούμε στη σκλαβιά». Τα μάτια μας γέμισαν δάκρυα. Για μια στιγμή αυτοί οι στίχοι μου φάνηκαν μια έντονη διαμαρτυρία όχι μόνο ενάντια στη μοίρα, αλλά ενάντια στην ανθρώπινη αδικία που επιβάλλεται σε έναν λαό που από όλα τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα έχει δικαίωμα να ζήσει σε αυτόν τον κόσμο σύμφωνα με τις επιθυμίες του και την εθνική συνείδηση. Το σκέφτηκα ως πολίτης της ελεύθερης Ελλάδας, μεγαλωμένος από την παιδική ηλικία με το ιδέα της δικαιοσύνης και της ελευθερίας, δεν πρέπει να δεχτώ μια τέτοια δήλωση ως περιγραφική της τύχης των άνθρωπων της Κορυτσάς. «Όχι», φώναξα, «Δεν θα πολεμάμε πάντα, θα πολεμήσουμε  να μην θυσιαστούμε πάντα και η μοίρα δεν μας έχει προκαθορίσει για αιώνια σκλαβιά. Τη στιγμή που όλα τα δημοκρατικά έθνη αγωνίζονται για την ελευθερία των λαών, η παραμικρή αμφιβολία για την τύχη της Κορυτσάς θα ήταν βλασφημία κατά του ελληνορωμαϊκού   πολιτισμού». Ένας παλιός μας ποιητής σε παρόμοιες συνθήκες εκ νέου ανέφερε μερικούς στίχους που είναι πιο κατάλληλοι για τον Ελληνικό χαρακτήρας. «Θάρρος, γιατί το αύριο θα φέρει καλύτερα πράγματα». Όλοι περιμένουμε καλύτερες μέρες για την Κορυτσά. Έτσι αποχωρίστηκα με εκείνους τους πατριώτες που βράζει τα συναισθήματα συγκρατούνται πλέον από τη γαλλική σημαία. Έτσι όσο κυματίζει αυτή η σημαία, δεν επιτρέπεται στους Κορυτσαόυς να διατηρούν κάθε αμφιβολία για τη μελλοντική εθνική τους αποκατάσταση. Μετάφραση, Επιμέλεια: ©Pelasgos Koritsas   *Δεν επιτρέπεται η αναδημοσίευση χωρίς την αναφορά στην πηγή.