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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The winner of the Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award 2021 is Roderick Beaton for Greece: Biography of a Modern Nation (London: Allen Lane 2019). In winning the Runciman Award for a fourth time, Prof. Beaton has set a new record of achievement.
Announcing the result of this year’s competition, Prof. Peter Frankopan, the chair of judges, said:
‘We were lucky enough to read some breath-takingly good books this year – including many that are both brave and ambitious, including re-tellings of stories that are well-known and investigations of real originality about topics rarely, if ever, looked at. Roddy Beaton’s book is a combination of all these qualities. It is not easy to write broad history for wide readership, and to do so well takes real skill. Covering recent centuries of Greece’s history requires courage too, as many have strong opinions about what should be written about – and how. What makes Beaton’s book stand out above all, however, is that just as Sir Steven Runciman’s books opened doors through which new generations of readers and scholars have since walked, so too will Greece: Biography of a Modern Nation. As a jury, we felt that this wonderful book captured the spirit of the Runciman Award perfectly.’
John Kittmer, chair of the Council of The Anglo-Hellenic League, said:
‘On behalf of the League I warmly congratulate Roddy Beaton for winning this year’s Runciman Award. In its 35-year history Roddy is the only person to have won the award four times: a tremendous achievement. In relaunching the award under new sponsors in this year of the bicentenary of the Greek revolution, we are delighted that the judges have chosen to acknowledge the timely relevance of this great book.’
The announcement of the winner of the Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award 2021 was made on Thursday 17 June, 7pm at an event held (because of Covid-19 restrictions) by Zoom webinar. Prof. Stathis Kalyvas (University of Oxford) gave the keynote address on ‘Why the Greek Revolution still matters today’. Peter Frankopan surveyed the field of longlisted and shortlisted books on behalf of the panel of judges. The event closed with an acceptance speech by the winner.
The Runciman Award
Ms. Maria-Zoe Lafi, Executive Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C., Harvard University, along with Mr. Christos Giannopoulos, Managing Director, and Mr. Evangelos Katsarelis, Programs & Events Manager, of the Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece visited the Philhellenism Museum.
They were given a tour of the Museum, were informed about the archives of the Society’s for Hellenism and Philhellenism, and discussed prospects for future cooperation and joint actions in Greece and the USA.
The staff guided the Ambassador to the premises of the Museum and presented to her the exhibits, the history of the philhellenic movement, and the important role played by the many Irish philhellenes who fought bravely on the side of the Greeks as volunteers or supported the action of the philhellenic committees of the time.
The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) referred to the national poet of Ireland Thomas Moore, close friend of Lord Byron and one of the founding and particularly active members of the emblematic Philhellenic Committee of London.
In parallel, SHP presented paintings and personal objects of many important Irish Philhellenes, like Edward Blaquiere, Richard Church, Sir James Emerson Tennent, etc.
SHP presented to the Ambassador the model of the Philhellenes monument that will be placed in the center of Athens.
Ambassador Iseult Fitzgerald expressed her gratitude for the tour of the museum, and welcomed the recognition given to the contribution of Irishmen as Thomas Moore and Richard Church to the cause of Greek independence. She appreciated the opportunity to learn more about this period of history.
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 Ireland, and the continuous philhellenism as a virtue, to serve the constant progress of our societies.
The staff guided the Ambassador to the premises of the Museum and presented to her the exhibits, the history of the philhellenic movement, and the important role played by the British philhellenes who fought bravely on the side of the Greeks as volunteers or supported the action of the philhellenic committees in London and in other cities in the United Kingdom.
The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) referred to Lord Byron, but also to the crucial role played by the British politician, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister George Canning, for the liberation of Greece.
In parallel, SHP presented the world’s largest collection of personal belongings of Lord Byron and Byron’s art, the pistols of the great Philhellene and founder of the Greek Navy, Frank Abney Hastings, the diary of a British warship that took part in the naval battle of Navarino, one of the two known bonds, of the loans that Greece received from the United Kingdom in 1824, etc.
SHP presented to the Ambassador the model of the Philhellenes monument that will be placed in the center of Athens, and two anniversary medals issued on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, in honor of Lord Byron and Frank Abney Hastings.
Ambassador Kate Smith stated
“I am proud of the contribution of Britain and my compatriots to the final successful outcome of the Greek Revolution. Many different personalities believed in the Greek cause and actively supported the Greek Struggle. Initiatives such as those of SHP are extremely important because they remind people of the shared history and highlight shared values and principle that underpin our bilateral relations to this day.”
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 the United Kingdom, and the continuous philhellenism as a virtue, to serve the constant progress of our societies.
