Page 14 - Beholding Liberty!

14 BEHOLDING LIBERTY!
started and where we have come. The «Hymn to Liberty» did exactly that, praised that which we accomplished in 1821. The European Union for several decades now has as its hymn the «Ode to Joy» from the 9th Symphony of Beethoven. And the «Ode to Joy» is just music, it has no words. Exactly because music without words can also inspire possibly equally strong feelings.
At the threshold, then, of the new era, knowing our History, proud of our History, we can seek and achieve the protection of our precious freedom, but also seek and achieve prosperity, progress, the ode to joy, which every Greek woman and man deserves.
Many happy returns for tomorrow and be all of you assured that despite the circumstance, despite the difficulties, despite this unbelievable, strange adventure we go through, the upcoming anniver- sary is not obscured, not reduced, not diminished, not marginalized. Every Greek woman and man holds it in their heart as an amulet to help them in the following steps, which will be, it is possible to be and should be, steps for securing all this we have achieved, but also steps towards more accomplishments, steps from freedom to joy.
Many happy returns!»
Appreciating...
The exhibition Beholding Liberty! At the Hellenic Parliament, two centuries later, with which the Hellenic Parliament celebrates and honours the historical anniversary of the 200 years since the declaration of the Greek Revolution, was chosen to be inaugurated on 19 April 2021, on the instituted by the Greek Parliament as Day of Philhellenism (in honour of lord Byron, who died on 19 April 1824 at Missolonghi). And this, because the Greek Regeneration is not only a national event of utmost importance, but also, at the same time, a European and international event of high symbolism. The anniversary exhibition of the Parliament, as it ought to be, is the biggest one of its kind that the Parliament has ever organized, with 367 portable exhibits conversing with the unique mural ensemble, the Frieze of the Revolution and the Medals of the Heroes, that adorn the Hall of the Trophies and the Adjutants.
For the thorough organization and presentation of the exhibition have worked intensively and for long as much the staff of the Parliament, as several external collaborators, whom from this posi- tion I wish to thank and congratulate.
Warm thanks to all the members of the Scientific Committee of the Exhibition, the academician Paschalis Kitromilides, emeritus professor at the Department of Political Science and Public Ad- ministration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mrs Maria Efthymiou, pro- fessor at the Department of History-Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Mr Antonis Klapsis, assistant professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the University of the Peloponnese, for the scientific supervision of the exhibition.
Similarly, many thanks are due to the Organizational Committee, with its President Mrs Dolly Petroula, Head of the Hellenic Parliament Secretary General Office and its members Dr G. Angelopoulos, Head of the Electronic Administration, Library and Publications General Directorate, Mrs Elli Droulia, Head of the Library Directorate, and Dr Angelos Kontogiannis-Mandros, scientific advisor to the Hellenic Parliament Secretary General, for the perfect coordination of the preparation works.