A Center for Hellenic Studies Harvard University delegation visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

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 Ambassador of Ireland Ms. Iseult Fitzgerald, visited the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

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 British Ambassador Ms. Kate Smith, visited the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

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.

 

The Ambassador of Montenegro visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Ambassador of Montenegro Ms. Ana Vukadinovic and executives of the embassy, visited the Philhellenism Museum, and were guided to its 4 floors. The staff of the Museum presented the collections, the history of the philhellenic movement and the philhellenic art, as well as the history of many emblematic philhellenes who supported the Greek Revolution.

Many of them were from Montenegro, like the fighter of the Greek Revolution Vaso Brajović Mavrovouniotis.

The Ambassador offered to the Museum a painting by Vojo Vlahović, depicting Boka Kotorska bay.

SHP warmly thanked the Ambassador for this gift.

Ms. Ana Vukadinovic stated the following:

“On behalf of the Parliament of Montenegro, it is my great honour to give Montenegrin flag and a painting as a token of our excellent relations and sharing of common values. Montenegrins stood by Greeks and will always support all efforts for liberty, democracy, human rights and rule of law.”.

The two parties agreed to take joint actions to promote relations between the two peoples.

 

 

Mrs. Martina Hermann, Minister Plenipotentiary from Austria, visited the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

Mrs. Martina Hermann, visited the Philhellenism Museum, she was guided in the Museum and experienced through its collections, the birth and evolution of the philhellenic movement from the Renaissance until today.

During the visit, SHP (Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism) presented to the Embassy the biographical notes of Philhellenes of Austrian origin, who participated in the Greek Revolution and fought on the side of the Greeks.

Mrs. Martina Hermann delivered to the Museum, on behalf of the Government of Austria, a flag as a symbol of friendship between the Austrian and Greek peoples, and stated the following:

“The Greek Revolution of 1821, which later led to the founding of the modern Greek state, draws its inspiration, among other things, from the universal values of Freedom and Democracy, which have their roots in ancient Greece. Especially with regard to parliamentary democracies worldwide, these values, originating from ancient Greece, are the cornerstones of nations’ self-awareness.

We still share these basic values and principles with Greece. In addition, the relations between our two countries are very friendly and are characterized by close cooperation in the EU.

I wish every success to the Museum of Philhellenism “.

The Ambassador of Georgia visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Ambassador of Georgia Mr. David Dondua and the staff members of the embassy of Georgia visited on April 20, 2021 the Philhellenism Museum, and was guided to its 4 floors. The staff of the Museum presented to him the collections, the history of the philhellenic movement and the philhellenic art, as well as the history of many emblematic philhellenes who supported the Greek Revolution.

Mr. Velentzas presented to the Museum of Philhellenism a document of great historical importance that proves the bonds of friendship between Greece and Georgia. This is a touching letter sent to Greece in 1897 by Georgian students from the University of St. Petersburg. With this letter they express their philhellenic feelings and their support to the struggle of the Greeks.

SHP warmly thanked the ambassador for this document.

Mr. David Dondua stated the following:

“Four thousand years of shared history and close cooperation between our countries and people, are a best attestation of philhellenic spirit of Georgian nation. On our planet there is no other nation closer to us than Greeks. I am so proud to represent my country in Greece”.

The ambassador also explained that the name used for Greek in Georgian is “ბერძენი” / brdzeni, which comes from the word “ბრძენი” / brdzeni and means “wise”, while Greece is called “საბერძნეთი” / Saberdzneti, meaning “the land of the wise”.

The two sides agreed to take joint actions to promote relations between the two peoples and to organize a joint exhibition.

April 19, 2021 – Philhellenism Day

 

 

The Greek state honors the Philhellenism Day and the contribution of the Philhellenes to the liberation of Greece.

SHP participated in the Doxology for the Philhellenism Day which took place in the Cathedral of Athens, in the presence of the President of the Republic Ms. K. Sakellaropoulou.

Opening of the Special Exhibition on the American Philhellenism of the Philhellenism Museum celebrates the Global impact of the Greek War of Independence

 

 

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism held a closed ceremony to mark the opening of the Special Exhibition on the “American Philhellenism” of the Philhellenism Museum on April 14, 2021.  The opening was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Diaspora Constantinos Vlassis, Deputy Minister of Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis, the Ambassador of the United States to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, Deputy Chief of Defense Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, Governor of Attika George Patoulis, Deputy Governor for Culture Maria Vidali and Deputy Mayor of Athens Skiadas.

The Museum of Philhellenism hosts an extensive and unique collection of paintings, personal items, firearms, books, and documents related to the Greek Revolution of 1821, with a special focus on Philhellenes from Europe and the United States.  This is the first time that many of those artefacts will be in public display.

The Museum host a special exhibition on “American Philhellenism” with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Athens, as part of its campaign “USA-Greece: Celebrating 200 Years of Friendship” commemorating Greece’s Bicentennial.  The “American Philhellenism” exhibition features impressive objects from American Philhellene, including Dr. Samuel Howe’s personal collection, lithographs of other prominent Philhellenes like the poet Fitz Halleck, books published by Everett and Ticknor, news articles from the 18th century, as well as various letters and other documents showcasing the role of the American Philhellenes in the Greek revolution.

Although the Museum is currently not open to the public due to the pandemic restrictions, it offers an online virtual tour for visitors from Greece and throughout the world:

www.phmus.org

https://phmus.org/the-museum/episkepsi-online/

During the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Vlasis congratulated the Philhellenism Museum and the U.S. Embassy on their initiative to promote American Philhellenism, and highlighted the strong bonds between the United States and Greece.

The U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey R. Pyatt said, “Our Embassy is very proud to support the museum’s exhibition on ‘American Philhellenism’ as part of our year-long campaign to commemorate the Greek bicentennial and the two hundred years of friendship between our great democracies. American society has been enriched from its earliest days by our relationship with Greece and the Greek people.  And I’m extremely confident that even two hundred years from now, the United States will continue to stand by Greece as our trusted ally and partner.”

The Governor of Attica Mr. Patoulis, the Deputy Governor of Attica Mrs. Vidalis, and the Deputy Mayor Mr. Skiadas, stressed the importance of the Museum, and the important role of American philhellenism in building the strong bonds between the Greek and American people.

For more information about the Museum of Philhellenism contact: www.phmus.org,

www.eefshp.org
email: info@phmus.org
email: info@phmus.org
Tel: 210.8094750

 

The Ambassador of Switzerland visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr. Olaf Kjelsen, visited the Museum of Philhellenism on Monday April 12, 2021.

During the tour of the Museum, he had the opportunity to learn about the exhibits, the history of the philhellenic movement, and the important role of thousands of the Swiss Philhellenes, who fought valiantly on the side of the Greeks as volunteers or supported the actions of the philhellenic committees in Switzerland.

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) referred to the important role played by the Swiss banker and politician Jean Gabriel Eynard, close friend of Capodistrias and great benefactor of Greece.

SHP presented to the Swiss Ambassador an anniversary medal it issued on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, in the honor of the great Philhellene Jean Gabriel Eynard.

On the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the beginning of the Greek Revolution, the Swiss Ambassador Mr. Olaf Kjelsen presented to the Museum of Philhellenism on behalf of the Swiss Parliament a Swiss flag as a symbol of the ties of friendship between the Swiss and the Greek people, based on principles and values of classical Greece.

SHP thanked the Swiss Ambassador Mr. Olaf Kjelsen and Mr. Andreas Aebi, President of the National Council of Switzerland, and assured that it will continue to promote with its work our common cultural values and the continuous philhellenism as a virtue for the progress of our societies.

 

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Ernst Reichel, and his wife, Ms. Anne Decrue Reichel, visited the Museum of Philhellenism on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

During their tour of the Museum, they had the opportunity to learn about the exhibits, the history of the philhellenic movement, and the role of thousands of German Philhellenes, who fought valiantly on the side of the Greeks as volunteers or supported the philhellenic committees in Germany.

SHP presented to the German Ambassador two anniversary medals it issued on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution, which honor two important German Philhellenes. Ludwig I, King of Bavaria, great benefactor of Greece who financed the struggle of the Greeks and General Norman, who led the Greek army in the battle of Peta and sacrificed himself for Greece.

The German Ambassador Mr. Ernst Reichel, handed over to the Philhellenism Museum, on behalf of Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, President of the German Parliament (Bundestag), a German flag sent by the German Parliament on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary, and said during the flag handover ceremony the following:

“I am pleased to hand this flag of the Federal Republic of Germany over to you on behalf of Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, President of the German Bundestag. This flag was used in the German Bundestag, which is why it shows some minor traces of usage. Allow me to thank you for your dedication in making the roles Philhellenes played in the Greek Revolution of 1821 and its aftermath known to the general public. The largest part of these Philhellenes were Germans, who gave their hearts, fortunes, and sometimes even their lives in support of the Greek cause. They were inspired by the ideals of the Greek war of independence, which set into motion a process of historical and state-building importance for large parts of Europe. These processes, eventually, helped shape the parliamentary democracies our countries are today. It is therefore of great symbolic value that this flag, originating from the German Parliament, the heart of German democracy, will from now on be displayed in the Philhellenism Museum. May it serve as a symbol of the strong bonds between Germany and Greece in a united Europe. I wish you personally and the Philhellenism Museum, once it is allowed to open to the public, all the very best and much success.”

SHP thanked the German Ambassador Mr. Ernst Reichel and the President of the Bundestag, and assured that it will continue to promote with its work the common cultural values of the German and Greek people and the continuous philhellenism as a virtue for the progress of our societies and European integration.

The Philhellenism Museum exhibits, among others, important works of art by German painters and artists on the subject of the Greek Revolution, as well as objects and documents, on the history of German Philhellenes who fought on the side of the Greeks or supported the German Philhellenic Committees.