Minister of National Defence N. Dendias Attends Commemorative Parade for the Celebration of 25 March 1821, in the Holy City of Messolonghi

Minister of National Defence N. Dendias Attends Commemorative Parade for the Celebration of 25 March 1821, in the Holy City of Messolonghi

March 22, 2026

On Sunday 22 March 2026, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, represented the Hellenic Government at the Commemorative Parade for the
celebrations of the National Day of 25 March 1821, in the Holy City of Messolonghi.

The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief/HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, and the Chief/HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, and attended the Memorial Service and Doxology, which were officiated by his Eminence the Metropolitan of Aetolia - Acarnania Mr. Damaskinos in the Holy Metropolitan Church of St. Spyridon.

After the Doxology, the Metropolitan of Aetolia - Acarnania presented the Minister of National Defence with the Golden Cross with Commemorative Star of the 200 years since the heroic Exodus of Messolonghi, as recognition for his work.

Following, Mr. Dendias laid a wreath at the Garden of Heroes and attended the Commemorative Parade by Military Forces and Civilian Organisations, as well as an aerial exhibition by an F-16 "Zeus" aircraft.

The celebrations were attended by MP Athanasios Papathanasis as representative of the Hellenic Parliament, the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Konstantinos Karagounis, MPs Christina Staraka, Miltiadis Zabaras, Spyridon Tsironis, Rallia Christidou, the President of the Movement for Democracy party Stefanos Kasselakis, representatives of political parties, the Head of Region for Western Greece Nektarios Farmakis, and the Mayor of the Holy City of Messolonghi Spyros Diamantopoulos.

In addition, the celebrations were attended by the Head of the Region of the Peloponnese Dimitrios Ptochos, his Eminence, the Metropolitan of Kalavryta & Aigialeia Mr. Ieronymos, his Eminence the Metropolitan of Elassona Mr. Chariton, his Grace the Bishop of Kernitsa Mr. Chrysantos, his Grace the Bishop of Rogi Mr. Filotheos, the Commanding General of the 116 th Combat Wing, Brigadier General (HAF) Dimitrios Goulas, as representative of the Chief/HAFGS, the Deputy Chief/HNGS, Vice Admiral Spyridon Lagaras HN, as representative of the Chief/HNGS, the Deputy Head of Region for the Regional Unit of Aetolia-Acarnania of the Region of Western Greece, Athanasios Mavrommatis, the Mayor of Agrinio Giorgos Papanastasiou, as representative of KEDE, the President of the Regional Association of Municipalities and Mayor of Kalavryta Athanasios Papadopoulos, Mayors of neighbouring Municipalities, Deputy Mayors and other members of Regional and Local Government, Commissioned Officers and NCOs of the Armed Forces, as well as representatives of the Security
Forces, other Authorities, Retired and Reserve Officers, institutions, and associations.

After the parade, Mr. Dendias stated:

"Today, here in the Holy City of Messolonghi, we pay tribute to the 200 th anniversary of the Exodus.

This way, we honour one of the greatest - if not the greatest - events of the Greek Revolution of 1821. An event that has been imprinted on the collective mind of Hellenism as the symbol of freedom, self-denial, and national dignity.

The Exodus of Messolonghi does not constitute a historic moment of heroism. There are numerous instances of that. It is an act of national conscience. An act of duty towards the Country, towards History, towards future generations.

As you know, the defenders of Messolonghi never received any support from an organised state. The Hellenic State did not exist back then. However, under extreme struggle, starvation, sickness, and exhaustion, they willingly chose freedom and sacrifice with a clear conscience.

They chose to offer everything to a Homeland, which had not yet been established, but which existed intact in their historical consciousness.

This way, they proved that freedom is not an abstract notion. It includes a price that needs to be paid. It requires resilience, it requires unity, it requires
self-denial, it requires dedication to non-negotiable principles. This, I think, is the timeless message that Messolonghi sends out. And this message remains timelessly relevant for our Country.

That is how they proved that freedom is not an abstract notion. There is a price that needs to be paid.

Particularly, in our times. In times of general uncertainty, international turbulence, and change of everything we know.

During such periods, historical memory is not just a commemorative reference to the past by way of a memorial service.

It is the foundation of continuation, it is the guide of responsibility for the present and future of the country.

In fact, I have to tell you that today is the first time that military troops and weapons systems are present in the commemorative celebrations here, in the Holy City of Messolonghi, in order to remind us that it is not an idle relic, but a living legacy that falls under our responsibility.

Today's Anniversary is a day of honour, but also of contemplation. During these critical times, the radical changes implemented in the Armed Forces under the title "Agenda 2030", are not an option for this government. They are a requirement for our national survival. It is a prerequisite for us to stand worthy of the legacy of the fighters, who sacrificed their lives here.

At the same time, of course, we have to maintain our unity and enhance our deterrent capabilities, in order to pass down to future generations, the children that marched before us, a secure, strong Greece, just as it was passed down to us; and that is a free Greece.

Today, we pay our respects to the heroes of the Holy City of Messolonghi and the Exodus.

I would like for all of us to think that this city, the Holy City, has remained a symbol of responsibility, sacrifice, continuation, and dignity for the past two hundred years.

Glory and honour to the Free Besieged. Long live Hellas!

Thank you very much".

On Saturday 21 March 2026, in the framework of the commemorative celebrations for the 200 th anniversary of the Heroic Exodus of Messolonghi (1826-2026), the Minister of National Defence visited the Xenokration Archaeological Museum of Messolonghi, where the emblematic painting by Eugéne Delacroix "Greece on the ruins of Messolonghi" has been put up for
exhibition until November.

In addition, he attended the inauguration of the "The Free Besieged" exhibition, which contains 22 original, artistic bookbindings of the poetic composition of Dionysios Solomos, by Babis Leggas. The exhibition is co- organised by the Municipality of the Holy City of Messolonghi, the International Federation of Journalists, the Educational Foundation of the

Journalist's Union of Athens Daily Newspapers, the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Union, and the "Diexodos" Speech and Art Centre.

During his address, Mr. Dendias stated:

"You will allow me, Mr. Head of Region, Mr. Mayor, Chief, your Grace, dear Ms. President, to avoid extensive salutations, in order to save time.

However, I would not like to omit, dear colleague - I am referring to law -, to congratulate you for your contribution, which has been achieved through your consistence, love for your hometown, Messolonghi, and the broader region, as well as our Country, Greece.

Ladies and gentlemen, a lot of currents meet here. Firstly, the memory of the great Exodus. The self-sacrifice of the Guard, which saved the Revolution in practice, because it sparked European interest for what was considered a regional war up until then, which - let's be honest - was facing extreme difficulties. The armies of Ibrahim and Kütahı had neutralised our freedom- fighting co-patriots to a great extent.

The genius of Dionysios Solomos, as it happens with all geniuses, led to almost all of his work being incomplete. You know that. However, he was constantly struggling to perceive and describe the limits of man and his presence, either as a collective effort or as a singular entity.

In my hometown, Corfu, as you know the house where he lived for seven years now houses the Solomos Museum. A poem he has written is titled "Porfyras" (The Shark). He saw a shark maul an English soldier from his house. "Porfyras" is the word we use in Corfu to refer to sharks. It is fascinating how he describes the struggle against death. The self- understanding, the spark in his mind, and the self-knowledge that the impending death bestows to the soldier.

Solomos is an enormous figure for Greek literature; difficult to approach - that is understandable - but he supports our collective, national knowledge of self a lot.

In addition, dear colleague, I would like to absolutely agree with and underline what you said before. National anniversaries, ladies and gentlemen, are not an opportunity for Ministers to make celebratory speeches or for our Country's Armed Forces to perform parades. It is much more than that. It is an effort to set an example for future generations. Especially in our times, when Thucydides' view of power being the necessary rule for survival is completely proven once again.

Setting a national example, which connects all of us to our future course, is a necessary condition and requirement.

Based on that, I would like to thank you all for going above and beyond in order to offer us great joy. I would also like to thank the artist who made the bookbinding of the work of Solomos. I think, that bringing out the Recentions is rather moving. I would like to thank the President of the International Federation of Journalists for being here today. Her presence here, just like the painting of Delacroix, highlight that the Exodus of Messolonghi is not strictly a Greek business. It is a Paneuropean approach to the timeless efforts of man to claim the right to freedom and define his future as master of his own self.

Many happy returns! I am always glad to be in Messolonghi".

Subsequently, the Minister visited the Trikoupion Cultural Centre of Messolonghi, where, in the framework of the celebrations for the 200 th anniversary of the heroic Exodus, the painting "The Exodus of Messolonghi"by Theodoros Vryzakis is being exhibited.