The Glorious Bicentenary of Greek Independence and Statehood

[Zeno]

On this day, 25th March, 1821, on the day of the Annunciation of Mary, the battlecry for the national uprising was announced by the Metropolitan Bishop Germanos of Patras in the Monastery of Agia Lavra in Kalavryta, Achaea, in Greece.

From this moment forward, our own struggle for independence, after almost 400 years of complete subjugation was about to begin.

For the next 9 years, Greeks in all over the Greek world, fought to the last man in order to secure our liberty and place in the family of nations.

With the blessing of the Orthodox faith, we embarked on a difficult journey to become a legitimate state, that would no longer have its people despotised by the Sultan or have their faith trampled in favour of the Crescent and humiliated for being rayahs.

Now, a state made by the Greeks FOR the Greeks was about to be created. A state by Christians for Christians.

And this entity would be secured by all means, by blood, sweat and tears. This was made evident by the main motto which still remains to this day: freedom or death.

The time had come. The conditions were ideal. Now, the Hellenes would fight foot and nail to get the sense of freedom we for so much time longed for.

This time we would FIGHT IN FAVOUR OF THE FAITH AND THE COUNTRY!

And 200 years later, despite all the hardships we have been through and we are going through as a nation, be it political, economic or social turmoils, I want to inform you that we still stand strong! And we always will stand strong! And we always are going to fight for the liberty and wellbeing for our people and its liberties!

Greeks never gave up and never will give up because we have proved time and time again that we have iron will!

ΜΆΧΟΥ ὙΠΈΡ ΠΊΣΤΕΩΣ ΚΑΊ ΠΑΤΡΊΔΟΣ!

ΖΉΤΩ Η ΕΛΛΆΣ ΕΊΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΑΊΏΝΑΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΊΏΝΩΝ!

[catgeorge]

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VLADIMIR PUTIN
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
KATERINA SAKELLAROPOULOU

ON THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREEK REVOLUTION

Athens 24/3/2021

The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent the following congratulatory message to the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou:

Madam President,

Receive the warmest congratulations on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Hellenic Republic – Independence Day.

In our relations with Greece, which are based on long-standing traditions of friendship, as well as cultural and spiritual closeness, we attach great importance.

We hope that the holding of the Year of History Russia – Greece, the inauguration of which coincides with the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the national liberation struggle of the Greek people, will contribute to the consolidation of mutually beneficial relations between our countries.

I wish you good health and every success, and to all your fellow citizens – prosperity and well-being.

Sincerely,

Vladimir Putin.

[PaleoEuropean]

Opa

[catgeorge]

[catgeorge]

World celebrates the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution



The anniversary of the dawn of the successful Greek war for independence will be observed around the world on March 25th, and many events will be live-streamed.

The date, which is a double-holiday in Greece (besides marking the start of the revolution against the Ottomans, it’s also Annunciation – an important day in the Christian calendar), is normally marked in Greece and by Greek communities abroad with parades and big feasts of batter fried cod and skordalia (garlic dip).

This year, which will be the second March 25th that Greeks in Greece toast in lockdown, things will again be different, but nonetheless will it be commemorated in some big ways, as this year marks exactly 200 years since the revolution began in the Peloponnese.

Determined to make it an Independence Day to remember, even as the pandemic is putting a stop to the normal annual traditions, events for the social-distancing era have been initiated by Greeks and philhellenes around the globe.

UNITED STATES

In the US especially, the many Greek communities have organized a multitude of light shows for the occasion, and even President Joe Biden sent Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou a letter, newspaper Kathimerini reported, saying that: “I participate together with the Greek people and the millions of proud Greek-Americans in celebrating this joyful anniversary.”

Iconic American landmark buildings that are to be lit up in the colors of the Greek flag include the San Francisco City Hall, the LAX International Airport, Boston’s Zakim bridge and the stadium of the Boston Celtics, and many more. Besides buildings, there will also be special celebratory lightshows projected on the ferris wheel on the Santa Monica Pier (watch it live here), and at the Niagara Falls (watch it live here) on the US-Canada border.

CANADA

Canada will also host several events, including a light show at Toronto’s CN Tower, with its advanced new lighting system (watch it live here), and a special Drive-by parade in Vancouver ending with a wreath-laying ceremony at the St. Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

AUSTRALIA

In Australia, the Greek flag is to be projected on the iconic Sydney Opera House, on the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, and several other historic- and otherwise important buildings. The Greek Community of Melbourne will host a program featuring lectures, musical events, and public art exhibitions, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia is advertising hundreds of events.

SOUTH AFRICA

The Hellenic Federation of South Africa, meanwhile, has initiated the creation of a giant (50x30sq.m) Greek flag for the occasion. Philhellenes are encouraged to “buy a meter” of fabric for the flag in support of the federation, and it’s intended to be used as an events tent cover for future celebrations.

EUROPE

Finally, of course, many European countries will also be honoring the bicentennial with hosts of seminars, lectures and panels, as well as tributes in the form of illuminated buildings and other, less traditional homages; it’s been reported that the famous Manneken Pis (peeing boy) statue in Brussels will once more be dressed in an Evzones costume, as was also done to show solidarity with Greece during the economic crisis in 2011.

[Tauromachos]

Nice images

[gixajo]

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VLADIMIR PUTIN
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
KATERINA SAKELLAROPOULOU

.

It would be interesting to know what text Putin sent to the President of Turkey when it was Turkey's national day.

[gixajo]

[gixajo]

From Buenos Aires:

Spoiler!

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

The love of Odysseus and Ophiussa projected on Lisbon's Arco Triunfal. To those unaware, according to Portuguese mythical folklore Lisbon was founded by the Homeric hero Odysseus.

Congrats Greece.