Christakis Zografos - Early Years-Career

Early Years-Career

Zografos was born in the village of Qestorat in southern Albania (Northern Epirus), when the region was under Ottoman rule. He attended the Zosimaia School in Ioannina and then went to Istanbul to join his father's business there. He was initially a co-partner in a small money changing stand at Galata. During 1854-1881, Christakis became one of the major creditors of the Ottoman state. Zografos became one of the leading banker and financiers and president of the Ottoman capital's trolley company. He was awarded by three sultans and sat on the Imperial Board of Estimate and served as president of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Clerico-Lay Advisory Board. Because of the social status he acquired among the society of the Ottoman capital he was widely known as Christakis Effendi (Lord Christakis).