1. Text: During the Ottoman occupation of Greece between the 15th-19th centuries, it is said that Greeks were subordinated to censorship and a lack of free expression by the colonizing empire. Under the enemy rule, Greeks were said to be prohibited from freely expressing their patriotic, religious and cultural identities, forced to forgo their heritage and what defined them. As a consequence, the Greek people are said to have built out schools across the nation that would operate in secrecy. These schools allegedly needed to be outside the purview of the Ottoman empire. Consequentially, Greeks would base these schools in caves, underground tunnels, perhaps even monasteries. They were led by priests or monks who had the knowledge and education to impart information onto younger audiences. Rumors circulated that these priests would have to sparsely light their underground schools with single candle lights so as to prevent their organizations from being ousted and found out by Ottomans. These secret schools are said to have been solely responsible for preserving the Greek language, Orthodox Christianity and the history of the country.
2. Informants Context: Growing up as a first generation Canadian, my parents forced me to attend Greek school on the weekends. It was in that space that I learned the fundamentals of my Greek heritage. This included learning how to read and write in Greek, the history books, Greek dancing… these are the usuals for any Greek child. I dreaded being there when I was young. A brutal way to spend a Saturday. I understood why I needed to be there as a kid, but it wasn’t until I began sending my own kids to Greek school that I learned how this concept of a Hellenic education actually started. It turns out the tradition of a “Greek school” stems from as far back as the War for Independence. My wife told me about this – she’s much better educated on this stuff than I am. It turns out that while Greeks were subject to occupation, something called Krifo Scholio (Secret school) developed. These were apparently secret schools that existed during the occupation for the purpose of keeping Greek culture alive, in all its forms. The Turks didn’t want Greeks stirring patriotism through education, whether that be through something as simple as preserving Greek language or something more significant, like sharing the war stories of Greeks who had previously rebelled against the empire. The existence of these secret schools apparently became fuel for the revolution towards independence. Increasingly, word spread amongst Greeks of the alleged underground society that was upholding the culture. The image of the Holy Priest teaching sage, forbidden knowledge about the beauty and destiny of our people to younger generations – its a beautiful image. This quiet, simple act of rebellion became one of the key images of the revolution. Long story short, when Greeks immigrated from Greece to different countries, they established Greek schools that were inspired by Krifo Scholio’s of the revolution. Immigrants likewise didn’t want their heritage to dissipate as they arrived in a new country. That’s the whole idea. I can’t speak to whether these alleged secret schools were ever real. The whole concept was that they would never be discovered, only heard about through word of mouth. I personally believe their popularity may have been exaggerated to inspire a rebellious fervor. That said, I think the emphasis on the value of secret schools probably reflects the greater durability of Greek heritage. Our culture, our language are some of the oldest in the world. Greek people are intent on maintaining their long-standing identity, no matter the cost.
3. Collectors Interpretation: The alleged secret schools of the Greek independence movement are an example of a piece of history that is centered around folkloric culture, at every layer. Firstly, the actual rumored existence of the schools is an example of legendary folklore. As a consequence of the fact that these schools were only discovered through secretive word of mouth, it’s impossible to confirm whether they ever existed. The way the very rumor of their existence inspired the rebellion movement feels almost Jungian though. The priest feels like the reemergence of the sage archetype that Jung often described. Jung theorized that archetypes introduced themselves in the general populace to meet the needs of the collective unconscious whenever necessary. The popularity of the priest figure, imparting back onto the Greek people their true potential, feels almost mythic. To that point, the concept of the secret school becomes even more connotated with folklore as it was folklore narratives that the priests often educated the youth about. In addition to traditional education, children and youths were taught about stories of Greek independence, rebellion, heroism and greatness. Stories that would inspire future generations to take back their homeland. The school itself, if real, used folklore as its currency. As this story relates back to the values of the Greek people, I must echo the sentiments of my informant. Greece is one of the oldest cultures in the world. It’s preserved and maintained a general consistency in that culture for a long time, and it can be assumed that’s a consequence of Greek prioritization of cultural maintenance. Additionally, the story demonstrates key themes about how education is critical for overthrowing tyranny. If anything, its the most essential basis for overthrowing tyranny.

Fields

AGE: 55

Date_of_performance: April 15, 2025/May 9, 2025

Informant Name: (Confidential)

Language: English/Greek

Nationality: Canadian/Greek

Occupation: Lawyer/Entrepreneur

Primary Language: English

Residence: Canada