Third medal: The Polish Philhellene Franciszek Mierzejewski

 

 

After the first quadrilingual and luxurious anniversary edition related to the Philhellenism, we present an impressive collection of medals depicting 10 emblematic Philhellenes and 20 Greeks who contributed to the liberation of Greece.

Side A (recto) of the medal presents the emblem of the Friendly Society (Filiki Etairia), which organized the Greek Revolution, based on the values ​​of Hellenism and Philhellenism. Side B (verso) presents the figure of an important Philhellene or Greek actor of the Greek Revolution. The design and implementation of the medals is a product of the work of the Greek creator Mr. Thanassis Dovas, in collaboration with SHP and the Museum of Philhellenism.

The medals have a diameter of 40 mm and a thickness of 3.5 mm. They are offered in bronze, brass and silver, and are available individually (in a package of one medal) or in a case of ten.

Medal price (bronze or brass): 49 Euro.
Medal price (silver 925): 99 Euro.

For orders:
Tel: 6974750361
email: info@eefshp.org

 

 

The Nike untying her sandal is the symbol of the Museum of Philhellenism. The great sculptor George Vroutos (1843-1908), completed the ancient sculpture of the 5th century BC, from the parapet of the temple of Apteros Nike on the Acropolis, and rendered its original beauty. This modest Nike, which is placed at the entrance of the Philhellenism Museum, leans slightly her body to untie her sandal entering the sanctuary, as a sign of respect for the contribution and sacrifices of the Philhellenes to Greece, the memory of which is honored by the Museum.

The Greek designer Mr. Thanassis Dovas, designed and implemented, in collaboration with SHP and the Philhellenism Museum, a collectible jewel for the opening of the Museum and the anniversary of 1821-2021.

The frame of the jewelry is made of silver (925) and hosts the sandal wearing Nike. Each piece of jewelry is numbered.

Price: 55 Euro

For orders:
Tel: 6974750361
email: info@eefshp.org

 

 

Dear friends,

2020 was a difficult year for all of humanity, with unprecedented challenges and restructuring caused by the pandemic. However, it was also a year that confirmed the importance of the values ​​that Hellenism stands for, on which our societies are based.

In 2021 we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, of which Philhellenism was a central pillar. This Revolution led to the establishment of the Greek state, which is today the guardian of the values ​​of the western world.

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism participates in the festive events with many important actions which will be announced soon.

The first of these actions concerns the establishment of the Museum of Philhellenism, which will be inaugurated in January 2021.

We also released our first edition. The book – diary on Philhellenism (information – orders: info@eefshp.org / +30 6974 750361 ).

 

 

Many other editions will follow.

Our aim remains to promote the principles of Hellenism and Philhellenism internationally, and to encourage the societies inspired by them, to find a position and an equal role on the side of the Greeks, who continue to be the guardians of the humanistic values. We will aim to launch a new philhellenic movement for the 21st century.

We thank you all for your interest in contributing to our work. In this regard, we are preparing a framework for the involvement of our friends and volunteers, which will be soon presented to you (in line with the progress of COVID19).

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy and Creative Anniversary Year 2021.

Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism

info@eefshp.org

 

 

 

Armenia and the people of Armenia, are once more under attack by the forces of Azerbaijan, assisted by the Neo-Ottoman regime of Erdogan, which uses violence and terror to impose itself in the broader region, constituting a major threat for peace and for the values of our western civilization (Armenia being one of its pillars).

This article will reveal an unknown period of the life of Lord Byron, during his stay in Venice in 1816.

During his visit in Venice in 1816, Lord Byron studied the Armenian language at the Armenian Monastery in the island of San Lazzaro, he assisted in the preparation of the first Armenian – English dictionary and financed its first publication.

On 5 December 1816, Byron wrote in a letter to his friend Thomas Moore:

“By way of divertisement, I am studying daily, at an Armenian monastery, the Armenian language. I found that my mind wanted something craggy to break upon; and this — as the most difficult thing I could discover here for an amusement — I have chosen, to torture me into attention. It is a rich language, however, and would amply repay any one the trouble of learning it. I try, and shall go on;—but I answer for nothing, least of all for my intentions or my success.”

The island of San Lazzaro was the world’s centre for Armenian culture since 1717, the year in which it was donated to the Armenian abbot Mekhitar, the founder of the Mekhitarist order, a congregation of Benedictine monks of the Armenian Catholic Church. This is probably the most important repository of Armenian culture outside Armenia, with a museum and a library containing manuscripts and rare editions, like “Byron’s grammar”. The monastery was considered by Napoleon a cultural institution, which let it survive the Emperor’s decision to abolish all religious institutions in the city of Venice.

In the same letter of 5 December 1816, Byron went on:

“There are some very curious MSS. in the monastery, as well as books; translations also from Greek originals, now lost, and from Persian and Syriac, &c.; besides works of their own people.”

 

Byron was conveyed every day by gondola to San Lazzaro, where he often remained in the convent from morning until evening working in a room and in the library, where he studied Armenian.

 

In spite of Byron’s efforts, the language proved to be very difficult to master.

“To Hobhouse, 19 December 1816

My Armenian lectures still continue. I have about mastered thirty of the thirty-eight cursed scratches of Mesrob, the maker of alphabets, and some words of one syllable. My lessons are in the Psalms and Father Pasqual is a very attentive preceptor.”

The monks devoted their time in teaching Byron their language, who, in turn, to repay them for the tuition he received, financed the publication of the Librarian’s Armenian-English grammar:

“By way of requital for his instructions (as I could not offer sordid money to these friars), I have taken upon me the expenses of his Armenian and English grammar, which is now printing. It costs but a thousand francs to print five hundred copies, and being the first published in these joint languages, I think ”I do the state some service,” almost as much as Mr. Valpy of Tooke’s Court, who is Polidori’s printer.”

In another letter of 24 December 1816, to Mr. Moore, he wrote:

“My ‘way of life’ is fallen into great regularity. In the mornings I go over in my gondola to hobble Armenian with the friars of the convent of St. Lazarus, and to help one of them in correcting the English of an English and Armenian grammar which he is publishing.”

In the letter of 27 December 1816 he gives once again details of this daily routine, as well as of Father Pasquale:

“I am going on with my Armenian studies in a morning, and assisting and stimulating in the English portion of an English and Armenian grammar, now publishing at the convent of St. Lazarus. The superior of the friars is a bishop, and a fine old fellow, with the beard of a meteor. Father Paschal is also a learned and pious soul. He was two years in England.”

Finally, in another letter, Byron mentions a preface he had written and that was unfortunately omitted from the Grammar. The reason was probably because Father Pasquale objected to the reference to the Turks, as the Armenian people lived under Turkish rule. Byron took this refusal very badly and the fact that Father Pasquale agreed to add Byron’s name to the grammar constitutes a sign of reparation.

The following quote from the fragment from one of his letters, seems to have been intended as a Preface to the Grammar, which was unfortunately omitted when it finally appeared:

To Mr Murray, Venice Jan 2, 1817

“The English reader will probably be surprised to find my name associated with a work of the present description, and inclined to give me more credit for my attainments as a linguist than they deserve.

“As I would not willingly be guilty of a deception, I will state, as shortly as I can, my own share in the compilation, with the motives which led to it. On my arrival at Venice in the year 1816, I found my mind in a state which required study, and study of a nature which should leave little scope for the imagination, and furnish some difficulty in the pursuit.

“At this period I was much struck—in common, I believe, with every other traveler — with the society of the Convent of St. Lazarus, which appears to unite all the advantages of the monastic institution, without any of its vices.

“The neatness, the comfort, the gentleness, the unaffected devotion, the accomplishments, and the virtues of the brethren of the order, are well fitted to strike the man of the world with the conviction that ‘there is another and a better’ even in this life. (…)

 

SOURCES – BIBLIOGRAPHY

Massimo Vangelista, article in Byronico.com