Anastasios Theofanis was a wealthy Greek merchant in Moscow. He left money in his will for the establishment of a school in his hometown, Preveza. The Theofanios School opened in 1835 and closed in 1917 when the Russian Revolution resulted in the loss of Theofanis’ bequest. It employed famous educators who laboured for the betterment of their students. A primary school operated on the ground floor while a secondary school occupied the first floor. A school for girls and a kindergarten were added later. In September 1944 a group of republican guerilla fighters (EDES) barricaded themselves in the school during a battle against the communists who occupied the National Bank building.