Filiki Eteria

The Filiki Eteria (spelt also Philikí Etaireía), meaning Friendly Society in Greek, was a secret organisation activating in the early 19th century, whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman rule over Greece and to establish an independent Greek state.

Eteria members were mainly young Greeks from Russia. Eteria received political and material support from Tsar Alexander I, who had interest in extending Russian influence in the Balkans.

One of the leaders of the Eteria was Alexander Ypsilanti.

The beginnings

In the context of ardent desire for independence of Turkish occupation and with explicit the influence of secret societies of Europe, three Greeks meet one another in 1814 in the Odessa and decided the constitution of a strictly secret organisation, which would prepare the revolution of all Greeks. These men were Nikolaos Skoufas, from Arta province 42 years old, Emmanuel Ksanthos 42 yaers old from Patmos Island an Athanasios Tsakalov 26 years old from Ioannina city of Epirus. Skoufas had already particular contacts with Konstantinos Rados, who was initiated into Carbonarism. Ksanthos was initianted in a Free-Masonic Lodge of Lefkada («Society of Free Builders», of St. Mavra), while Tsakalov has been founding member the "Greek-speaking Hotel", (Ελληνόγλωσσο Ξενοδοχείο or Ellinoglwsso Xenodoxeio) a former but not successful society for the liberation of Greece.

The growth of Friendly Society has been impressive. At the begining during the 1814–1816 period her members are roughly 20. During 1817 Society is developed mainly between the Greeks of Russia and Moldovlachia (Moldavia and Wallachia), but once again its membership does not exceed the 30 members. But from 1818 they do start massive initiations. In 1820 it expands in almost all regions of Greece and most Greek communities abroad. The first months of 1821 her members number tens thousands and the society had exceeded her own limits. Among her members there were tradesmen, clergy, executives of Ottoman Empire from Fanari, chieftains as Theodoros Kolokotronis, Odysseas Androutsos, the metropolite of Old Patrases German and more.

The organisational structure

The whole structure of Philiki Etaireia was imitating the organisational models of Carbonarism and Freemasonry. The leading team was called "Invisible Authority" and was surrounded at the first moment with such secret glamour, that everybody believed that a lot of important personalities participated, not only Greeks but foreigners, as it was czar Alexander I of Russia of Russia. Actually, during first time there were only her three founders. Then, from 1815 until 1818, were added five more and after Skoufas' death three more were added. In 1818 the Invisible Authority was renamed to "Authority of Twelve Apostles" and each Apostle shouldered the responsibility of a big region