Europeans Commemorate Exodus of Messolonghi Anniversary

The European Parliament has commemorated the upcoming 200th anniversary of the Exodus of Messolonghi with a special ceremony honouring one of the most defining and symbolic moments of the Greek Revolution.

The event, held ahead of the 2026 milestone, highlighted both the historic significance of the Exodus and its lasting impact on European thought, philhellenism, and the universal ideal of freedom.

The ceremony served as the inaugural event of global celebrations marking the bicentenary. During the proceedings, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was presented with the flag of Messolonghi and a collector’s edition of the Greek national anthem by the city’s mayor, Spyros Diamantopoulos. Metsola expressed her deep appreciation for the honour, while Diamantopoulos described the moment as a unique opportunity for Messolonghi’s voice to be heard “from the heart of Europe across the world.” He emphasised the Exodus as a pivotal moment that rallied European leaders and societies behind the Greek cause.

The event was hosted by Members of the European Parliament Eliza Vozemberg-Vrionidi (EPP), Giannis Maniatis (S&D), and Nikolaos Farantouris (The Left), under the auspices of Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In their messages, the MEPs underscored the enduring symbolism of the Exodus as an embodiment of freedom, dignity, and sacrifice. Vozemberg noted that Messolonghi remains the only Greek city to bear the title of the “Holy City,” a designation reflecting the courage and self-sacrifice of its defenders as well as Europe’s core principles of freedom, justice, and self-determination.

Maniatis described the 1826 Exodus as not only a declaration of a people’s resolve to live free or die but also a precursor to a new European vision—a Europe united in defending the rights and freedoms of its peoples. In a video message sent from Brazil, where he was representing the EU in environmental discussions, Farantouris stressed the timeless message of the event: that freedom is earned through struggle and unity.

European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas attended the ceremony, remarking that the Exodus of Messolonghi is “not merely another page of Greek history, but a defining event that shaped both the Greek Revolution and European history.”

Greece’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas, also addressed the gathering, noting that the relentless resistance of Messolonghi’s inhabitants “breathed new life into the idea of freedom in Europe” 200 years ago. He described the Exodus as a deeply moving milestone of Greece’s early war for independence.

Keynote speaker Mark Mazower, professor of history at Columbia University, appeared in a recorded message, describing the 1826 Exodus as “one of the clearest examples of collective courage, self-sacrifice, and the unyielding pursuit of freedom.”

European People’s Party President Manfred Weber also sent a video greeting as numerous MEPs, officials, and guests from across Europe attended the opening night of a series of commemorative events honouring the heroism, sacrifice, and universal message of Messolonghi.