Grigorios Dimitrios Dikaios-Flessas (; 1788 – 25 May 1825), popularly known as Papaflessas () was a Greek priest and government official who became one of the most influential figures during the Greek War of Independence. The prefix () in the name Papaflessas indicates his status as a cleric since the word means 'priest' in Greek. He was appointed Archimandrite in 1819. He served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Chief of Police in the government of Alexander Mavrokordatos. Papaflessas was killed during the Battle of Maniaki on May 20, 1825, fighting against the forces of Ibrahim Pasha at Maniaki, Messinia. Name Georgios Dimitrios Dikaios-Flessas was his birth name. His monastic name was Grigorios Flessas (, Grigórios Flessas) or Papaflessas, while the pseudonym he used later in his life was Grigorios Papaflessas (). Early life Grigorios Papaflessas was born Georgios Flessas or Flesias () in 1788 in the village of Poliani in Messinia. His father was Demetrios G. Flessas (), son of the klepht Georgios Dimitriou Flessas (), and his mother, the second wife of Dimitrios, was Konstantina Andronaiou () from Dimitsana. He was the 28th child of the Dimitrios family. In 1809, he attended school at the renowned school of Dimitsana, from whence many Greek national heroes graduated. While in school, he published a satire and pinned it on the door of Dimitsana Pasha (the Turkish local governor at the time) signing it "Grigorios Phos Kalamios" (). Realizing he was in danger from his action he was sent in 1815 to become a priest or monk, taking the ecclesiastical name of Gregorios Flessas or Papaflessas. For a short time, he served in this capacity in the monastery of Velanidia, situated outside of the city of Kalamata, Messinia. Clergy Grigorios was argumentative and defiant by nature and frequently at odds with his ecclesiastical superiors. Further, he was angry toward the Ottoman Turks because they had killed his family members. He also blessed a marriage of Mr. Zervas to his niece who was engaged to another man. He was asked to leave the monastery of Velanidia. In April 1816, he moved to the monastery of Rekitsa (), located between Leontari and Mystras. He soon argued with his superiors and the monastery's administration. He also came into conflict with a local Turkish authority over the boundaries of the monastery property and even used armed men to protect his claims. This eventually was settled