The descendants of the Italian Philhellene Michele Roccavilla at the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

he Philhellenism Museum had the pleasure and honor to host at its premises the descendants of the great Italian Philhellene Michele Roccavilla who fought on the side of the Greeks during the War of Independence, and sacrificed himself for Greece.

The staff guided Alberto and Anna Roccavilla to the Museum and its collections. They then discussed the biography of their great ancestor and hero of the Greek Revolution and the contribution of the Italian Philhellenes to Greece and exchanged information on their sources and bibliography.

Mr. Alberto Roccavilla donated to the Museum the very important book he has written, presenting the life and work of his ancestor.

Alberto and Anna Roccavilla offered to help SHP and the Philhellenism Museum to seek information about other Italian Philhellenes, especially from the Piedmont area and to identify their descendants.

SHP thanked Alberto and Anna Roccavilla and announced its decision to honor them with the Lord Byron Medal at the relevant ceremony that will take place in 2022.

The following is a brief biography of their important ancestor.

Roccavilla, Michele (-1827). Italian Philhellene from Revello. Officer of the Sardinian Army. He was exiled from his country, due to the failure of the Italian patriotic revolution in March 1821, in which he had participated. At the end of 1825 he joined the Regular Army as a major under the orders of the French Philhellene Charles Fabvier. He distinguished himself in the battle of Chaidari on August 6, 1826, where he saved the Regular Army from an eventual destruction, due to the Turkish armament superiority. He was also distinguished in the siege of the Acropolis of Athens from the end of August 1826 until the defeat of the Greeks in the battle of Analatos, on April 24, 1827. Then he fell ill and was transferred to Methana, where he died on October 24, 1827.

 

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The environment, Sophocles and Philhellenism – Boris Johnson spoke ancient Greek at the UN General Assembly

 

 

Boris Johnson spoke ancient Greek at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2021.

The British Prime Minister asked the citizens to mobilize for the environment, with references to Sophocles: “Sophocles had said “πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει“. The human species is wonderful. It is scary, but also admirable.

Boris Johnson used Antigone, “there are many terrible things, but there is nothing more terrible than man”, to emphasize that people are capable of evil, but also good, and asked humanity to mature.

He then called on all countries to participate in the 26th United Nations Conference on the Environment to be held in Glasgow in October 2021.

Boris Johnson, proved that philhellenism remains a corner stone of western civilization and a cultural package which contains solutions for all the challenges that humanity faces over time.

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SHP and the Philhellenism Museum support the International Symposium «Das befreite Griechenland und die klassische Antike» for the period 1821-2021 at the University of Graz

 

 

SHP and the Philhellenism Museum supported the International Symposium «Das befreite Griechenland und die klassische Antike» («The liberated Greece and the Classical Antiquity (1821-2021)») and the accompanying periodical exhibition, held at the University of Graz in Austria, during September 16-18, 2021. The initiative was taken by the Lecturer of Classical Archeology at the University of Graz, Elli Papazoi and was placed under the auspices of the Embassy of Greece in Austria.

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225 years since the birth of the Philhellene Daniel Elster: Event in Germany

 

 

In 2021, apart from the great anniversary of the 200 years since the beginning of the national liberation struggle of the Greeks, 225 years have passed since the birth of the important philhellene and composer Johan Daniel Elster. This Philhellene survived the catastrophic battle of Peta and is the only eyewitness on what happened there. He described these historical events in detail in his well-known book “The Battalion of the Philhellenes”.

An honorary event will take place on this occasion on September 12, 2021 in the birthplace of Elster in Benshausen, Germany, in which the keynote speaker will be Professor Kostas Papailiou, member of the Advisory Committee of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism. In his speech, Mr. Papailiou will refer to the great role of Philhellenism in the National Uprising.

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Exhibition of the Philhellenism Museum in Andros

 

 

The Philhellenism Museum organizes in August – September 2021 an exhibition entitled “1821: Philhellenism and the struggle of the Greeks at sea”, at the Kairios library in Chora, Andros. The exhibition honors the struggle of the Greeks at sea and the memory of the Belgian Philhellene Auguste Delannoy, who after fighting heroically in many battles in Greece, left his last breath in Andros.

 

Andros

 

 

 

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Monument in favor of the fallen Hungarian Philhellenes in Peta

 

 

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) participated in the ceremony organized on June 20, 2021 by the Municipality of Peta (municipality of Nikolaos Skoufa) in favor of the fallen Hungarian Philhellenes in Peta.

During the event, the mayor of Peta, Ms. Rozina Vavetsi, and the Greek-Hungarian Ambassador to Greece, Erik Haupt, inaugurated a monument in memory of the Hungarian Philhellenes fighters who died in Greece during the Greek struggle for liberation.

Two members of SHP’s advisory committee presented the relations between Greece and Hungary, the contribution of the Hungarian Philhellenes to the struggle of the Greeks and the participation of the Hungarians in the battle of Peta.

Then the Municipality of Peta (Nikolaos Skoufa), declared the ambassador Mr. Erik Haupt, honorary citizen.

The Battle of Peta is a milestone in the history of Europe, because for the first time European citizens from many different countries, who had been hostile to each other until then, came together to fight under the same flag for the same common values ​​that make up the European civilisation.

The mayor Ms. Rozina Vavetsi implements a series of pioneering actions of high quality and aesthetics, which promote internationally the history and culture of the region and Greece, placing Peta at the center of international interest. SHP supports the work of the municipality of Nikolaos Skoufa Peta, with an emphasis on a series of events planned for during 2021, and for July 2022, the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Peta.

 

 

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The Municipality of Hydra honors two important American Philhellenes

 

 

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) participated in the ceremony and event organized on June 25, 2021 by the Municipality of Hydra in favor of two American Philhellenes, who had a strong presence in Hydra, and offered their lives in the struggle of the Greeks. William Washington and Georges Jarvis.

During the ceremony, the mayor Dr. G. Koukoudakis, the President of the Municipal Council Mrs. A. Mavromatis and the American Ambassador to Greece Mr. G. Pyatt, inaugurated a road sign of the island, which will now be named after the two American Philhellenes fighters who died in Greece during the liberation struggle of 1821.

During the event, two members of SHP’s Advisory Committee and the Director of the Gennadios Library, presented the story of William Washington and Georges Jarvis, the story of other important American Philhellenes from Boston, the Exhibition on the American Philhellenism at the Philhellenism Museum and the exhibition the Free and the Brave by Gennadios.

The event was honored by the presence of the Attica Regional Governor Mr. G. Patoulis and the Deputy Regional Governor for Culture Mrs. Vidalis.

The mayor Dr. G. Koukoudakis, implements a series of innovative actions of high quality and aesthetics, which promote internationally Philhellenism and the history and culture of Hydra and Greece, placing the historic island in the center of international interest.

 

 

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A delegation of the Academy of Athens visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

 

A delegation of the Academy of Athens visits the Philhellenism Museum.

The members of the Academy were given a tour of the Museum, were informed about the collections and the archives of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism and examined prospects for future cooperation.

The photo shows the Members of the Academ Mr. Michalis Tiverios, Ms. Chryssa Maltezou, Mr. Paschalis Kitromilidis, the Ad H Ambassador Mr. Dimitrios Tsikouris, Mr. Constantinos Velentzas and the executive of the Academy of Athens Ms. Louiza Karapidaki.

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The President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Sassoli, donated the flag of the European Union to the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

 

The President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Sassoli, donated a flag of the European Union to the Philhellenism Museum. The flag was handed over to the Museum by Mr. Philippe Kamaris, from the Liaison Office of the European Parliament (EP) in Athens.

Mr. Kamaris was given a tour of the Museum, he saw the exhibits, and was informed about the history of the philhellenic movement, and the important role played by European Philhellenes who fought bravely on the side of the Greeks as volunteers, and by European politicians, artists and intellectuals who supported the philhellenic movement during the Greek war for independence.

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) recalled that the Philhellenic movement helped Europeans understand their common values ​​and roots. It inspired thousands of young people to support the struggle of the Greeks, and many of them, even former enemies, to fight under the same flag for the same ideals.

These actions and the expression of solidarity with Greece, led to the first common European policy that emerged after the Treaty of London of 1827, and culminated with the Battle of Navarino and the establishment of the Greek state.

SHP also presented to the European Parliament the model of the Philhellenes monument that will be placed in the centre of Athens, on Vasilissis Sofias Street.

During the handover of the flag, Mr. Kamaris shared on behalf of the European Parliament the warm greetings of EP’s President Mr. Sassoli. In the words of the President, 2021 coincides not only with the bicentennial of the Greek revolution, but also with the 40th anniversary of Greece in the EU, fully re-joining the European family – a proof of the in temporal nature of the values of philhellenism.

SHP assured the President of the European Parliament that it will continue, together with the Museum of Philhellenism, to promote with its work the common cultural values ​​of Europe, and the continuous Philhellenism, as a virtue serving the continuous progress of our societies.

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The Ambassador of Poland Mr. Artur LOMPART, visited the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The staff guided the Ambassador to the premises of the Museum and presented to him the exhibits, the history of the philhellenic movement, and the important role played by the many Polish philhellenes who fought bravely on the side of the Greeks as volunteers, as well as journalists, artists and intellectuals who supported the philhellenic movement of their time.

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) referred to the Philhellene, national poet of Poland, Adam Mickiewicz, to the officer Franciszek Mierzejewski and to the unit of Polish volunteers, who fought bravely in Peta, and sacrificed their lives to support the Greek struggle.

In parallel, SHP presented a commemorative medal depicting the Polish hero of the Greek Revolution Franciszek Mierzejewski.

 

 

Moreover, SHP presented to the Ambassador the model of the Philhellenes monument that will be placed in the centre of Athens.

Ambassador Artur LOMPART delivered to the Museum, on behalf of the Senate, the upper house of the Polish parliament, a flag as a symbol of friendship between the Polish and Greek peoples, and stated the following: “The Greek Revolution and the heroism of its fighters, inspired many enslaved nations, including Poles who lived under foreign rule at that time. We are connected by similar historical experiences and a belief in the ideals of freedom, for which we often had to pay the highest price. This closeness of our peoples is visible also today”.

 

 

 

SHP assured the Ambassador that it will continue together with the Museum of Philhellenism, to promote with their work, the common cultural values ​​of Greece and Poland, and the continuous philhellenism as a virtue, to serve the constant progress of our societies.

 

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