Federation organises the celebration of the national anniversaries of 25th March 1821 and 1st April 1955

The celebration of the national anniversaries of March 25, 1821, and April 1, 1955, was organized with great success on Sunday, 29^th March, by the National Federation of Cypriots, with a Doxology service held at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Wood Green. The Doxology service was presided over by Bishop Maximos of Melitine on behalf of Archbishop Nikitas, in the presence of the Ambassador of Greece, Ioannis Tsaousis, and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyriakos Kouros, along with diplomats from the Greek Embassy and the Cypriot High Commission. Also in attendance were the President and officials of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, presidents of associations and organizations, and a large crowd gathered to honour together the heroes and martyrs of the 1821 Revolution and the anti-colonial struggle of EOKA from 1955 to 1959.

Following the Doxology, students from the Greek School of the Community of Apostle Barnabas presented patriotic poems and songs.

Speaking, Bishop Maximos of Melitine emphasized that Greeks everywhere celebrate the national anniversaries of 25  March and April 1 to honour the struggles and sacrifices of their ancestors, who gave them the most precious gift of all: freedom. We remember, with gratitude and admiration, the efforts, sacrifices, struggles, and contributions of those generations who sacrificed their very lives so that we might live in freedom. The Bishop praised the spirit and sacrifices of the great heroes of the two anniversaries of Hellenism. He called on all of Hellenism to join forces, for only through unity and solidarity can we preserve the Greek identity of the diaspora and contribute to the peace, freedom, progress, and prosperity of Hellenism wherever it may be found.

The keynote speaker at the celebration was His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece, Ioannis Tsaousis, who emphasized that 25 March, 1821, is a significant milestone in the history of Hellenism and symbolizes the Greeks’ struggle for liberation after 400 years of slavery and captivity. Despite the divisions and disputes that arose along the way, the message of unity and determination reached every corner of the free world.

Mr. Tsaousis also spoke about the heroic struggle of EOKA, which erupted on April 1, 1955, and how EOKA fighters sacrificed their lives for freedom. He emphasized that as we commemorate April 1, 1955, we are reminded of the Oath of the EOKA fighters under the leadership of Commander Digenis and Archbishop Makarios.

The Ambassador referred to the strong and historic ties between Greece and Cyprus, noting that the Greek Armed Forces were the first to respond to the Republic of Cyprus’s call for assistance in strengthening its defense.

Concluding his speech, he said that the memories of all the heroes of the Greek Revolution and the EOKA struggle remain in our minds and hearts.

In his opening remarks, Federation President Christos Karaolis began by saying: “Today we have gathered to celebrate our national anniversaries and to honour the brave heroes who fought for the freedom of Greece and Cyprus.”

Christos Karaolis spoke about the freedom of Cypriots, noting that the Republic of Cyprus had enjoyed only fourteen years of freedom before Turkey’s invasion and the ongoing occupation divided the island. The tragedy of 1974 cost the lives of thousands of Cypriots and displaced more than 200,000 people from their homes, villages, and cities.

The Federation, he said, continues to work tirelessly to keep our national issue high on the UK’s political agenda. He emphasized that when the UK Secretary of State for Trade visited the illegally occupied part of Cyprus, the Federation was at the forefront of the pressure that ultimately led to his resignation.

Mr. Karaolis, referring also to the Federation’s work on broader issues, said that earlier this month we met with the UK Minister for European Affairs, Stephen Doughty, to express our community’s concerns following the recent drone attack on RAF Akrotiri.

Following the event, the National Federation of Cypriots hosted a reception where members of our community met and exchanged views with the Greek Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the diplomatic missions of Cyprus and Greece, Bishop Maximos of Melitine, members of the ecclesiastical committee, presidents of community associations and organizations, as well as officers of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK.