President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou and president of the 'Greece 2021' Committee Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki visited Areopoli on Wednesday to attend the celebrations for the Bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence of 1821.
A memorial service for the 'Mani Fighters' was held at the Holy Temple of the Greatest Brigadiers, officiated by Metropolitan Chrysostomos III of Mani.
“I am here today, in the heroic Areopolis, to honour the memory of the people of the Mani, who 200 years ago began the struggle for the liberation of the nation from the conqueror, raising a banner with the slogan 'Victory or death'," she said.
“To honour the spirit of the ruthless Mani, who were never trampled by the Turks but were ignited by the spark of the great uprising. Their flag was irrefutable proof of the historical continuity of Hellenism in this place – they offered themselves unanimously to the supreme purpose.
“Our debt to the brave men and women who swore to give the last drop of their blood in favour of faith and homeland, is great. Their example awakens our national mindset and is transformed into responsibility for our present and future," she concluded.
It must be noted Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki mixed 'modern clothes' with pieces of traditional costumes, either from her personal collection or from the gifts she received from craftsmen, clubs and museums during her tour in Greece last year.
Σαν σήμερα, το 1821, οι Μανιάτες σήκωσαν τη σημαία με το σύνθημα «Νίκη ή Θάνατος» και με τη γενναιότητά τους χάρισαν στην Επανάσταση σπουδαίες νίκες. Εδώ, στην Αρεόπολη, τιμούμε την ανεκτίμητη συμβολή τους στον Αγώνα για την Ελευθερία. pic.twitter.com/ph3a6uwWtC
— Gianna Angelopoulos (@GAngelopoulou) March 17, 2021
On March 17, 1821, Greek War of Independence starts in Mani
To commemorate the 200th anniversary, the Municipality of Eastern Mani has released a documentary entitled “MANI AND 1821”.
