200 years since the Greek Revolution: prominent milestone for the Greek nation and world history
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 24th March 2021, Nicosia
AKEL salutes the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution which represents a prominent milestone for the Greek nation and world history. The Greek Revolution was a product of its era. The desire of the Greek people for freedom met with the wind of history that overthrew the authoritarian empires.
The Greek Revolution showed the strength of an organized and determined people fighting for freedom and independence. It confronted the Ottoman Empire, on whose side stood a section of local feudalism and the church hierarchy, but also internationally, the notorious Holy Alliance. It inspired the astonishing mass popular heroism that marked the struggle, but also entire Greek history. It bequeathed to the popular consciousness legendary figures who are still symbols of genuine patriotism, self-sacrifice and struggle. It moved supporters of the Greek people’s struggle and revolutionaries from all over Europe to participate in it, both morally but also on the battlefield. The Greek Revolution, passing through trials of military confrontation, international balance of forces, but also civil conflicts between poles of power, managed to shake off the Ottoman yoke that would lead to the formation of the Greek state. It broke the shackles of feudalism and paved the way for a new historical era. In fact, inspired by the bourgeois Revolutions of that period, it enshrined in the revolutionary constitutions the democratic state structure and citizen’s rights.
The Greek Revolution –national but also social at the same time – confirms that revolutions are the locomotives of history and social development. Two centuries later, the 1821 Revolution remains a symbol of freedom for the Greek nation, but also a symbol of struggle against foreign yokes and tyrannies, against the modern unholy coalitions of the powerful of the world who are hostile to struggles, popular uprisings and people’s revolutions.
On the occasion of the anniversary, AKEL addresses a cordial greeting to the government and political leadership of Greece and at the same time expresses its gratitude to the fraternal people of Greece who were and remain an irreplaceable pillar of support in the struggle of the Cypriot people for freedom and justice.
