1821: The heart of the anniversary events beats in Kalavryta, Greece

The heart of the anniversary events for the 202 years since the Greek Regeneration beats again this year in Kalavryta and in the Holy and Historical Monastery of ‘Agia Lavra’, with the participation of a very large number of visitors who attended the events on Saturday, 25 March 2023.

On Sunday afternoon, in the presence of the Mayor of Kalavryta, Mr. Thanasis Papadopoulos, the end of the 45th Thysia Cycling Route took place, as well as the awarding of prizes to the cyclists, while the series of anniversary events concludes on April 23 in Kertezi, with the memorial service for the 1821 Fighter Dimitrios Striftombolas.

“I want to thank everyone who participated in the events for the national anniversary, but also everyone who worked, from any position, so that again this year Kalavryta and Agia Lavra will send messages of national pride, unity, hope, optimism and perspective throughout the country. Especially today, at a time when our country needs all these elements”, the Mayor of Kalavryton, Mr. Thanasis Papadopoulos, said in a statement.

The events in Agia Lavra were again this year characterised by the participation of thousands of visitors, from all over the country, mainly young people who travelled to the historic monastery.

A large number of people attended the Doxology, which was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Ieronymos of Kalavryta and Aegialia  and His Eminence Metropolitan Theoklitos of Stagoi and Meteora, as well as the Trisagion memorial service and the laying of wreaths at the Panhellenic Hero of the National Regeneration Monument, the speech by Emeritus Professor and former-Dean of the Theological School of the University of Athens, Professor of Sociology of Religion and Social Ethics, Mr. Apostolos Nikolaidis, which was followed by the excellent representation of the Swearing of the Fighters by the Theatre Club of Kalavryta “Panos Michos”, as well as the parade of the military units.

The Greek Government was represented at the events by the General Secretary of Public Investments and NSRF, Mr. Dimitris Skalkos, with whom the Mayor of Kalavryta also had a personal meeting at the Town Hall.

Present at the events were, among others, were the former Prime Minister, Member of Parliament for Achaia, Mr. George Papandreou, the Representative of the Parliament, Member of Parliament for Achaia, Mr. Iasonas Fotilas, the Representative of the President of SYRIZA, Member of Parliament for Achaia and former Minister, Ms. Sia Anagnostopoulou, the Representative of the Regional Governor of Western Greece, Deputy Regional Governor Fokion Zaimis, and other officials.

In his speech, at the Meal that was given after the end of the events, the Mayor of Kalavryta, among other things, referred to the special role of Agia Lavra not only as the place where, with the Elevation of the Lavaros (banner), the trigger was given for the Revolution of ’21, but also as timeless national symbol that historically highlights the identification of Nation and Orthodoxy.

“Without Agia Lavra, there would be no independent and free Greece. Perhaps there would not even be Hellenism if we consider that during the four centuries of Turkish rule, the Church, the Orthodox Faith, Christianity was the most decisive factor so that the religious and national identity would not be lost, the national Greek consciousness would not be destroyed or alienated”, he underlined. Mr. Papadopoulos.

The Mayor of Kalavryta also referred to the tragedy of Tempi, pointing out that the accident in Tempi “has created a great trauma that cannot be healed with words and cannot be healed with prayers. Only real healing and overcoming this tragedy can come from action. It is the confrontation with the causes that create and reproduce the known pathogens and the known phenomena of putrefaction and decay”.

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