The President of the Republic of Poland awards the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism
The President of the Republic of Poland awarded the Golden Cross of Merit of the Polish Republic to the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP), following a proposal by the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs. The medal was awarded by H.E. Ambassador of Poland in Greece, Mr. Artur Lompart, to the president of the SHP, Mr. Constantinos Velenzas.
The awarding ceremony took place at the Philhellenism Museum in Athens.
During his speech, the Polish ambassador referred to the work of the SHP and the Philhellenism Museum in order to promote the history of Poland, and in particular its important contribution at the beginning of the 19th century. During this period, the Poles played an important role in Europe and supported the struggle for the liberation of the Greeks. At the same time, many Polish Philhellenes volunteers, fought during the Greek Revolution of 1821, and most even offered their lives to Greece.
Ambassador Lompart also underlined the joint efforts to promote Polish-Greek cooperation, among others, in the academic field, and the common bonds of the two peoples, who are inspired by the same values and the same civilisation.
Mr. Velentzas thanked the Polish President of the Republic for the special honor and presented a rare document from the collections of the Philhellenism Museum, which connects the Philhellenic movement in favor of the Greeks, with the pro-Polish movement that followed in Europe in 1831 during the Polish Revolution.
It is a letter from the French general Lafayette, in which he announces to the American Philhellene Dr. Samuel Howe that he is being honored by the Polish community in France for his contribution to the liberation struggle of the Poles. This document confirms that the Philhellenic solidarity movement in favor of Greece, evolved into a solidarity movement in favor of the Polish nation, thus laying the foundations for European integration.
The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Philhellenism Museum, hosted by the Embassy of Poland.
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