Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ address, via videoconference, at the Opening Ceremony of the Philhellenism Museum and the Lord Byron Medal Award Ceremony to descendants of Philhellenes (Athens, 07.07.2021)

“Thank you so much.

Honored Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to join you tonight by honoring the international movement of Philhellenism, during the Greek War of Independence. And I am so sorry that, due to precautionary measures, I could not be present with you.

The timing couldn’t be more relevant.

Two days ago, I visited the Museum of Filiki Etairia in Odessa.

A place of historic significance for the Revolution of 1821.

The Museum inaugurated this evening is an excellent initiative that was long overdue.

It has materialized thanks to the tireless efforts of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism.

We are grateful for its contribution to the documentation of the history of the Greek Revolution;

Philhellenism is an important part of our history, it can never be forgotten.

Tonight, we have the opportunity to honor some of the greatest Philhellenes, through their descendants, who are among us.

The Greek State and the Greek people pay tribute with humility and deep gratitude to those who came:

-from European countries like France, the United Kingdom, the German states of that time, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland,
-even from places far away from Europe, like the young United States or Haiti.

These Philhellenes, inspired by their love for Greek culture, believed in the right of Greece to be liberated from the Ottoman oppression. They believed in the right of all people to be liberated from oppression.

They fought as if they fought for their own country, for their own freedom.

They considered the Greek War of Independence as a cause that concerned all civilized countries, all civilized people.

We cannot also forget those who collected and dispatched financial aid and provisions for the Independence War.

This was mainly done through the Philhellenic Committees.

From Geneva to Paris, from London to New York, these Committees assisted the Greek cause in any way they could.

As documents kept in the Diplomatic Archives of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs show, the Committee of Geneva went so far, as to undertake the raising and education of young Greeks that suffered during the war.

And there were also those who contributed through artistic creation.

Authors and painters who, through their work, helped to spread the message of the Greek cause. Artistically, some of the most interesting and inspiring examples of Romanticism. And art and life sometimes went side by side.

They influenced the public opinion in their countries. They inspired philhellenic sentiments among greater audiences. They influenced the decision makers.

The naval battle in Navarino in 1827 would never have happened without Byron’s death in Messolonghi in 1824.

The relation between Greece and the Philhellenes did not disappear with the creation of the Modern Greek State.

A number of Philhellenes remained in Greece. They joined the Greek army and the Greek public administration.

There were also cases where Philhellenes were appointed as Greek Consuls in their cities of origin abroad.

The sacrifices and the passion of all these people who helped us attain our freedom, we honor tonight.

The celebration of the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution is another opportunity to say “thank you” to all Philhellenes.

Greece’s progress and achievements in these 200 years are a solid proof that their sacrifices were not in vain.

Thank you”.