British actor-comedian Stephen Fry was presented with the medal of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix, by H.E. Mr. Ioannis Raptakis, Ambassador of Greece in London, on Wednesday.
This prestigious medal is bestowed to personalities, Greek citizens or foreigners, who have helped raise Greece’s prestige internationally and have excelled in their field of practice or in public life.
He was bestowed the honour "for his contribution in enhancing knowledge about Greece in the United Kingdom and reinforcing ties between our two countries."
JKR did not invent the Order of the Phoenix. It truly exists. Thrilled & deeply honoured to have the REAL one conferred upon me by H.E. the Greek Ambassador today. Ζήτω η Ελλάδα! pic.twitter.com/nXfh4Q1VuG
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) April 21, 2021
Stephen Fry calls for the return of the ‘Parthenon Marbles’ to Greece
In a video posted by the Greek Embassy in UK, British veteran Stephen Fry congratulated Greece for the 200th anniversary of its War of Independence against Ottoman rule and urged the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles.
“It is a much much longer period that we have to thank you for, because you were there at the birth of our civilisation and you planted the seeds that we have reaped throughout our civilisation,” he said.
“Greece is an idea as well as a modern Republic. And so when we look back at the 200 years in which you established your freedom and independence, through a few problems here and a few problems there, we celebrate the strength and vigour of the Greek people, the descendants of the great heroes,” Fry continued.
Concluding the video, the British comedian repeated his call for Britain to return the Parthenon Marbles. “I shall do my very best over the rest of my life to see if we can, in Britain, return what is yours in the shape of the Marbles of the Parthenon. That would be a great and classy act on the part of my nation that I am urging them to do. It’s probably too late for your birthday as such, but I will keep trying and so will those of us who love Greece will.”
Stephen Fry congratulates Greece on 200 years of nationhood, speaks about the importance of Greek civilisation and his love for Lord Byron and once again urges the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles. “It is a much much longer period that we have to thank you for, because you were there at the birth of our civilisation and you planted the seeds that we have reaped throughout our civilisation.""My great hero, lord Byron, died in the cause of Greek freedom and he inspired me as a boy because I loved his poetry." 'The isles of Greece! the isles of Greece Where burning Sappho loved and sung'"Greece is an idea as well as a modern Republic. And so when we look back to the 200 years in which you established your freedom and independence, through a few problems here and a few problems there, we celebrate the strength and vigour of the Greek people, the descendants of the great heroes.” Speaking about Greece's sovereign debt problems a few years ago, Fry says: "Greece will never owe the world as much as the world owes Greece.”Finally, he repeats his urge to the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles. “I shall do my very best over the rest of my life to see if we can, in Britain, return what is yours in the shape of the Marbles of the Parthenon. That would be a great and classy act on the part of my nation that I am urging them to do. It’s probably too late for your birthday as such, but I will keep trying and so will those of us who love Greece.” "Ζήτω η Ελλάδα! Long Live Greece! Ελευθερία! Freedom!" #Greece2021
Posted by Greek Embassy in UK on Friday, March 26, 2021
