[2] In 1914, during World War I, he was called to join the Ottoman army, but he was declared a fugitive[further explanation needed] in the period of 1920-1922 and was exiled to Erzurum.
[3][further explanation needed] In Greece, he continued his teaching career, mostly in elementary schools in various areas of the region of Evros,[5] until his retirement in 1951.
On June 29, 1966, the Greek state honored Kandilaptis' work in letters, awarding him with a special ceremony held in Athens and the Gold cross of the Order of the Phoenix.
[8] In addition to being a teacher, Kandilaptis was a journalist and columnist from a young age, working with newspapers and magazines such as the Pharos tis Anatolis (in Trabzon), the World of Odessa, the Argonautis of Batumi, and the Paidikos Kosmos.
[3] His activity continued after he moved to Greece, publishing about 400 essays, articles, studies and literature in magazines and newspapers in Athens, Macedonia, and Western Thrace until 1969.