Agesilaos! An ancient Greek name meaning “the one who leads the people.” Agesilaos Ch. Giannis was someone who led people towards relief from pain. A traditional man, always in breeches, with a distinguished fish-shaped mustache, a noble and proud figure, a person who inspired respect, wise and laconic. When you saw him, you would think that Kazantzakis’ legendary Cretan heroes had come to life before your eyes. He had never placed his hand on the Bible to recite the Hippocratic oath, yet over time, Agesilaos and medicine became synonymous.

His Father

Agesilaos was born in Tala, a village in the Paphos district, in 1903. His father had left for Antalya at a young age. At that time, many Greeks traveled there for work, as the region was agriculturally rich. In his spare time, the young Giannis learned the craft of an orthopedic chiropractor. Upon returning to Tala, he continued farming while also practicing the skill he had learned in Antalya, a trade few knew at the time. Giannis didn’t want to teach his children this craft because, as he would say, the patients that visited him daily prevented him from amassing wealth. He wanted his children to focus solely on agriculture and succeed.

Agesilaos Secretly Learns His Father’s Craft

One day, around 1920, a patient visited them with a dislocated shoulder, writhing in pain. His father began to treat him but struggled. The young Agesilaos, secretly observing from a slightly open door, shouted, “You’re going about it the wrong way.” His father, somewhat annoyed, said, “Come here, you think you’re a master?” Agesilaos approached the patient and, with one simple move, fixed the shoulder. Giannis turned to his son, filled with both anger and admiration, and said, “Didn’t I tell you not to learn this craft?”

“I watched you, father, and learned,” replied Agesilaos modestly.

His sister also secretly learned the chiropractor’s craft and later married in Koili, though she passed away at a young age.

Agesilaos Moves to Chloraka

Agesilaos moved to Chloraka around 1930, where he married Maria Nikolaou, and together they had nine children. His main occupation was farming, but he also practiced the craft he had “stolen” from his father. His favorite hobby was hunting, but the rheumatism that plagued him from his 50s made him limp, forcing him to give up his beloved hobby. Nevertheless, he would eagerly await the hunting stories from his children, who would recount their successes during the hunting season.

Agesilaos practiced his craft at a time when there were no professional orthopedic doctors, and even when they did appear, they were few. He had only studied up to the third year of secondary school, but he had an excellent understanding of human anatomy. Besides what he learned in school, he studied medical texts his father likely brought from Antalya. Yet, Agesilaos didn’t just heal his patients through knowledge. He exuded an aura of kindness, calm, and tranquility that inspired trust. While talking to his patients, he would suddenly relieve their pain with an angelic touch. Many believed his ability was divine. He never charged for his services, always helping others without asking for money.

Various Incidents

His reputation quickly spread across Cyprus. One time, a Turkish Cypriot brought his wife, whose jaw had been dislocated. After visiting numerous doctors who couldn’t help, they were ready to take her to Germany for treatment. Agesilaos saw her, approached her, and with one move, healed her. The woman, in gratitude, fell to his feet and worshiped him like a god. The husband offered a cow as a gift, but Agesilaos refused.

On another occasion, he was called to a Turkish Cypriot home to treat a child severely injured by a mill’s belt. The doctors in Nicosia had given up on him, as most of his bones were broken. Agesilaos assured the parents, saying, “The bones are my job.” He bandaged the child, immobilizing him for a month, and miraculously, the child recovered. A renowned Nicosia doctor later examined the boy and, impressed, stated, “I never believed in practical healers, but this one is extraordinary.”

After the battles in Mouttalos in March 1964, a Turkish Cypriot called the Chloraka village phone, asking for Agesilaos to come to a local cafe where a boy had dislocated his shoulder. Despite the recent panic from the battles, Agesilaos was fearless. When they arrived, a T.M.T. officer greeted them, telling the gathered crowd that this man had once saved his life. He was the same boy that Agesilaos had healed years before. The crowd let him through, and he performed his work undisturbed.

Later Years and Legacy

In the late 1970s, Agesilaos was involved in a serious car accident. The doctors wanted to place a metal plate in his leg, but he resisted, asking for his son to guide him in setting the bones naturally. In the end, the plate was inserted, much to his dismay, as he felt he couldn’t sense the metal inside him.

Even during the final years of his life, Agesilaos continued to see patients. Just days before his death, he healed people who came to his home. He passed away in October 1985, but not from the hearts of those who loved him.

He passed down some of his techniques to his eldest son, Giannis, who continued the practice for a short time after his father’s death. Though many trusted him, Giannis eventually stopped, feeling that he could never live up to his father’s legacy. He knew that Agesilaos’ abilities weren’t just learned—they were innate.