With feelings of deepest respect and national pride, we celebrate again this year our two great national anniversaries, the Greek Regency of 1821 and the national liberation struggle of EOKA of '55-'59, during which Hellenism flourished.
The chieftains of the Greek Revolution, upright and haughty, with a look that is pure and noble, appear before us.
With their elaborate costumes and armour and in their hands their rifles.
Around and among them the glorious fighters of the EOKA.
The glorious fighters of the EOKA. Grigoris Afxentiou, Kyriakos Matsis, Markos Drakos, Stylianos Lenas, Evagoras Pallikaridis.
In one hand they have the powder-smoked gun and in the other the Bible.
On their lips they have the EOKA oath sealed and in their eyes the unquenchable desire for freedom.
Radiating grandeur and majesty, they gaze at the glorious and honoured battlefields, from end to end, in Greece and Cyprus.
From Tripolitsa to Alamana, from Chios to Psara, from Hani of Gravia to Dervenakia, from Machairas to Dikomo and from the Barn of Liopetriou to Spilia and the "Sklinitzia" of Evrychos.
Your Grace (Bishop Christoforos of Karpasia) - Reverend Priesthood,
Ladies and Gentlemen representatives of the parliamentary parties,
Gentlemen Mayors of Gerion and Aglantzia,
Mr. Representative of the Chief of the General Staff of the National Guard
Mr. Representative of the Cyprus Police Force,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
In March 1821, the enslaved Greeks of the Peloponnese, centred on the unruly Mani, decided to "take up arms against the Turks", in order to return to their roots, where the universal human values of freedom and democracy, in ancient Greece, emerged.
The Revolution of 21 marked the beginning of the liberation from Ottoman despotism and led to the gradual establishment of the independent Greek state.
The first nation-state of Europe, which, overthrowing the old regime of the "Holy Alliance", marked the beginning of the end of monarchical empires.
"Don't weep at the place where Romoïsia goes to bend
writes the poet of Romoïsia, Yannis Ritsos."
writes the poet of Romoïsia, Yannis Ritsos.
Today, therefore, we honour the heroism of all those fighters, which emerged from the values and ideals that inspired them and led them to offer the ultimate good, their lives, on the altar of freedom.
"They never fail who die for a great cause" suggested very aptly the English, ardent philhellene and poet, Lord Byron.
And what else but a "great cause" can be described as the universal, age-old human need for freedom?
The Revolution of '21, apart from being a striking example of a people's desire for freedom, is at the same time practical proof of the indomitable Greek soul.
The Greeks, without organizational structures and without coherent armed bodies, stood up to an empire and achieved their national independence.
They relied mainly on their spiritual forces and their historical consciousness. Under 400 years of enslavement, they preserved their language, religion and culture unchanged.
The Greek Revolution is the first successful national liberation movement in 19th century Europe and a unique historical landmark event with global implications.
The ideas of the intellectual movement of the Enlightenment, as well as those of the French Revolution, were the foundations on which liberalism and the idea of the nation-state were built and spread in European societies.
These Ideas inspired first the intellectuals abroad, but also the Greeks of the diaspora, who in turn were the visionaries and teachers who led the Nation to seek its own national identity.
The Struggle of the Greek people went through many trials and tribulations, which put in doubt its happy ending, but it finally achieved its purpose.
The "Greek Question" first had to be internationalized.
The Great Powers, feeling the pressure of a rising wave of philhellenism, decided to help the struggling Greek people.
The Great Powers, feeling the pressure of a rising wave of philhellenism, decided to help the Greek people.
They contributed to the final outcome of its struggle for freedom, after their decisive intervention in the naval battle of Navarino in October 1827.
Developments were accelerated by the crushing defeat of the Turks in the Russo-Turkish War of '28 and '29.
In February 1830, with the "Protocol of London", the full independence of the Greek state was recognized.
The decision of the Greats of Europe to grant independence to an enslaved nation was the source of awakening of European societies, leading to the "Spring of Nations."
Thus, from 1848 onwards, a pan-European revolutionary wave followed, sweeping away the existing political system, leading to social transformations and a more liberal political direction.
It also led to the creation of European nation states.
In short, the Greek Revolution was a world-historical event, placed at the centre of the value structure of Europe.
The Greek, aware of his heavy national heritage, proved that when a people, however small and weak, sacrifices everything by fighting, then he can achieve what he really deserves, freedom.
The beginning of the uprising of the Greeks is found outside Ottoman-ruled Greece, when the leader of the Society of Friends, Alexander Ypsilantis, took the initiative to lead armed corps.
On February 22, 21, in Iasi, in what is now Romania, he declared the revolution.
"It is time to shake off his unbearable yoke, to free the Homeland [...] in order to raise the sign by which we always win, [...] the Cross", he wrote in his proclamation.
Although Ypsilanti's movement was stifled in blood, the flame lit the fuse and led to the eruption of the National Revolt.
Greeks in the metropolitan area followed his example.
Thus, a few days later, the Maniates took their turn, led by the Mavromichalians.
This was followed progressively by revolts in the rest of the Peloponnese, in Central Greece, the islands and Epirus.
The struggle of the Greeks had now taken root.
Odysseus Androutsos prevailed against the Turks at the Hani of Gravia.
Konstantinos Kanaris torched the Turkish flagship in June 22.
At sea, a woman who sacrificed her life for freedom, Laskarina Bouboulina, achieved greatness, highlighting at the same time the important role of women in the struggle.
The heroes and heroines of the Greek Revolution carried the unquenchable flame of the Struggle to every enslaved corner, shouting "Freedom or Death".
"For the sun to return, it takes a lot of work (...)
It takes thousands of dead to be on the wheels, it takes the living to give their blood", wrote Ulysses Elytis.
The cool air of the Greek Revolution reached Cyprus, which had been under Turkish slavery for centuries.
Despite the looming danger of widespread massacres by the Turks, the Greater Isle initially responded to the appeals of the Society of Friends for material aid.
Subsequently, hundreds of Cypriot volunteers joined armed units and took part in the battles of the revolution.
This is documented by testimonies and memoirs of chieftains of the Struggle, in which the names of Cypriot fighters are mentioned, proving the undeniable Greek soul and heart of the Cypriots and their unbreakable and indissoluble ties with metropolitan Hellenism.
The reaction of the Ottoman administration in Cyprus was brutal and the price, which Cyprus had to pay in blood, was very heavy.
The events of 9 July 1821 and the hanging of Archbishop Kyprianos, which was accompanied by the hanging of the metropolitans of Paphos, Kition and Kyrenia and the massacre of several primates, culminated in the events of 9 July 1821.
The massacres inspired our poet Vassilis Michaelides, who wrote the poem "The 9th of July 1821 in Nicosia, Cyprus", putting on the lips of the heroic martyr Archbishop the verses that to this day evoke shivers of emotion, pride and national pride.
"[...] I don't want, Kior-oglu, wake up, to leave the Country,
because if I leave, the evil, in' to yni peritou.
I want to stay, Kior-oglu, let them kill me,
let them kill me and let the others escape."
The sacrifice of the Cypriots, and of all the other heroic martyrs of '21, was the spark that lit the flame and gave birth to the next heroes of the homeland.
The epic struggle of EOKA in '55-'59 is the most striking proof.
Nothing can break the invisible thread that connects Kougi with Machairas, the Hani of Gravia with the martyr's barn of Liopetriou, the Gate of the Patriarchate in Fanari with the place of the gallows next to the cells of the condemned.
And on the stone of silence, he sharpens his claws,
lonely and helpless of freedom",
our Monemvasian poet submits to us.
This is the fate of the Greek. To fight and sacrifice for justice and freedom.
To fall, to be shattered, to be torn and to mourn his dead, but to raise his head again, to sharpen his claws and to fight in the eternal search and defence of freedom.
"Since we were young children, the flame was kindled in us, and it grew hot, and pushed us up some climbs and down some roads, which we are determined to walk to the end."
The fiery speech of the intellectual fighter Kyriakos Matsis conveys, in its full extent and in every detail, the need of the people of Cyprus for freedom and self-determination.
On April 1, 1955, the Cypriot Hellenism, realizing a historical transcendence, began a wonderful struggle that overwhelmed the world and proved that if the will of the weak for survival and justice is strong and steadfast, it can achieve the impossible. We do not know what the fate of each of us will be. Whether we live or die, one will be the prize of our struggle for dead and living. Cyprus to become Greek and live free and happy,"
Afxentios advised his fellow warriors on Christmas 56.
A handful of "mad", as they were called, but determined Greeks turned their desire for freedom into a declaration of self-sacrifice.
Turning the overwhelming numerical and military odds against them, they marched headlong to a glorious death.
Ordinary, mostly illiterate, everyday people, peasants and breadwinners, young schoolchildren and teenagers.
Selfless and authentic, they left their families and children, their classmates and school desks and climbed the mountains.
They climbed the gullies and the paths, experienced cold and hardship, hunger and loneliness. They transcended human limits, became myths, songs, poems, stories that will be told for years to come.
The blowing up of the Cyprus Radio Service will forever shake and shock our national consciousness.
Back then, when Markos Drakos, in the night operation of 31 March '55, led the strike team and sent the deafening message of the beginning of the Struggle.
We owe eternal respect to Evagoras Pallikaridis, who, defying death and with a smile on his lips, proceeded wholeheartedly to the horrible scaffolding of the gallows.
Before the dawn of March 14, '57, he hung dead, with Hellenism tearing itself to pieces and bowing before him.
We shall keep as a sacred amulet the unsurpassed heroic sacrifice of Gregory Afxentius.
Then, on March 3, '57, in the burnt-out hideout of Machaera, he faced history and was the first of the first to enter the pantheon of our country's heroes.
We will stand in awe before the four statues erected outside the "New Hani of Gravia", Liopetri.
We will address a hymn of praise to the four heroic martyrs, who on September 2, '58, after a long and shocking battle, with unparalleled courage took the decision to leave the burning barn, knowing that they were marching towards death.
Their struggle and sacrifice offered all of us the Republic of Cyprus, as an independent, internationally recognized state.
In this sense, then, the Greek Revolution of 1821 and the liberation struggle of EOKA in 1955 were magnificent iterations of the same Greek spirit.
Today, taking all the lessons of the struggle of EOKA and the Revolution of 21, but also of other great historical struggles and moments of Hellenism, we must, with collectivity, a sense of responsibility, unanimity and unity, be worthy of our history.
The current situation in Cyprus cannot be the future of our homeland.
The division and the Turkish occupation cannot be perpetuated.
We know very well that there are difficulties.
Restlessness and the stirring up of passions in order to assign blame did not and will not lead anywhere.
What is needed are constructive initiatives and useful and productive proposals, which will lead to further convergence and the creation of a climate of understanding.
In this direction we must move forward and make every possible effort to remove the difficulties, to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of dialogue, in order to achieve the desired goal.
That of the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, with a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the principles and values of the European Union.
It is in this context that the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides and the Government believe that the European Union can and must play a decisive role.
It must be understood by all that a solution to the Cyprus problem that will ensure the withdrawal of the occupying troops, the implementation of the acquis communautaire and the liberation of Cyprus from the anachronistic system of guarantees and foreign intervention will be to the benefit of all.
We owe this to the sacred legacies of our nation's struggles and to the heroes who paid the price with their blood.
We owe this to future generations. A future of peace, progress and prosperity, providing a sense of security for our people.
May the memory and glory that will accompany all those who gave their lives in service to their homeland, in all the Games of our Nation, be eternal.
Thank you.
(NΓ)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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