K. Sakellaropoulou: The Greek State is on the side of the expatriates of Ukraine who are experiencing the nightmare of the war

“The glorious struggle of the Greeks is the constant reminder of the value of unity and sympathy of our nation, which transcends our borders and extends over time,” said the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou in her message to Greeks abroad. on the occasion of the national holiday of March 25.

As the President emphasizes, “the defense of national heritage and sovereignty, the values ​​of democracy and respect for man, the defense of the rule of law, the peaceful coexistence of peoples, the common pursuit of progress, cooperation and solidarity are the modern projects that we have to serve, those for which as Greeks we are called to give our own sacred struggle “.

Referring to the current situation, he points out that “the thought of all of us is in the tried Greek community of Ukraine, which is suffering the hardships of war”. In particular, he recalls that “civilians, women, children, the elderly, are trapped in conflict zones, their lives are threatened, while they see their place and their property affected by the war disaster, they are killed” and adds that “our expatriates show courage of the soul, drawn from the love for their place, looking forward to the end of the war as soon as possible and the beginning of a new life, through the ashes of destruction “.

Then, he wishes, very soon, the nightmare they experience to be a thing of the past and to continue their historical presence in their ancestral homes in Ukraine. “In Odessa, where the thought of the liberation struggle matured and the Friendly Society lit the wick of the Revolution, in the heroic Mariupol, where a small Azov Greece was created and excelled. The Greek State is on their side” notes and concludes saying “this year anniversary of 1821, and the hopeful message of the Evangelism, let it seal the unity of ecumenical Hellenism and let it inspire it in its effort to defend and consolidate the values ​​of humanity and freedom as a response to all forms of violence “.

The following is the full message of the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou to Hellenes Abroad:

My dear compatriots,

Greek women and Greeks abroad,

In 2021 we celebrated in a solemn way the 200 years since the Greek Revolution and the starting point of the creation of the modern Greek state. Thanks to the events organized around the world, with the participation of expatriate Hellenism, the universal message of the Revolution shone everywhere and became an occasion for the remembrance of the national past and the reflection on our common future.

The influence of the Greeks of the Diaspora in achieving the liberation of the Greek nation from the long tyranny of the Ottoman yoke was decisive. The meeting of the modern ideas of the Enlightenment and the revolutionary momentum led to Greek Polygenesis, as an ideal of national liberation and sovereignty. Against the correlation of power and the certainties of the time, Hellenism sought, designed and fulfilled its own destiny.

The Greek Diaspora “conceived” to a large extent the Revolution of 1821. Emblematic figures of the spirit, such as Rigas Feraios and Adamantios Korais, awakened and united with their ideas and example the forces of a enslaved people. Economically active Greeks abroad, such as Xanthos, Skoufas and Tsakalov, with the founding of the Friendly Society and with the slogan “freedom or death”, contributed not only to the material dimension of the Struggle, but also to the consolidation of a common, national vision and orientation.

In Europe and America, philhellenes published publications, wrote articles, wrote, painted, circulated ideas for freedom, spoke in parliaments and in the public opinion of their countries about the enslaved land, the cradle of ancient Greek and European culture. Slave people, Church, Greeks and philhellenes met at the highest moment for the Nation, stood tall against a superior enemy and claimed a glorious place in history. They performed in a sacred struggle that was sealed by small and big victories, by small and big sacrifices, by acts of heroism and self-denial, by moments of insurmountable greatness, such as those in Zalongo, Kougi, Messolonghi.

The glorious struggle of the Greeks is the constant reminder of the value of unity and sympathy of our nation, which transcends our borders and extends into time. The defense of national heritage and sovereignty, the values ​​of democracy and respect for man, the defense of the rule of law, the peaceful coexistence of peoples, the common pursuit of progress, cooperation and solidarity are the modern projects that we must to serve, those for which we as Greeks are called to give our own sacred struggle.

Today, the thought of all of us is in the tried Greek community of Ukraine, which is suffering the hardships of war. Civilians, women, children, the elderly, are trapped in conflict zones, their lives are threatened, and they see their land and property damaged by the calamity of war, killed. The expatriates show us courage of soul, drawing from the love for their place, looking forward to the end of the war as soon as possible and the beginning of a new life, through the ashes of destruction. I wish, very soon, the nightmare they are experiencing to be a thing of the past and to continue their historical presence in their ancestral homes in Ukraine. In Odessa, where the thought of the liberation struggle matured and the Friendly Society lit the wick of the Revolution, in the heroic Mariupol, where a small Azov Greece was created and excelled. The Greek State is on their side.

My dear compatriots,

This year, the anniversary of 1821, and the hopeful message of the Annunciation, let us seal the unity of ecumenical Hellenism and inspire it in its effort to defend and consolidate the values ​​of humanity and freedom in response to all forms of violence.

Happy birthday to every Greek family abroad, to all and everyone!