On Wednesday 26 March 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended the unveiling ceremony of the Ark of National Remembrance, which was held on the grounds of the Ministry of National Defence.
The Ark of National Remembrance is a work by the Professor of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Kostas Varotsos. The names of all people who have fallen for our Country have been engraved on it and it is part of the overall “Ministry of National Defence Grounds Redevelopment” project.
Apart from the Ark of National Remembrance, the “Ministry of National Defence Grounds Redevelopment” includes the planting of two small olive groves beside the Monument, the building of a new, bioclimatic façade for the Ministry, the renovation of the VIP reception area, the construction of an Electronic Warfare building and an underground parking lot, which will be modelled after the Hellenic Parliament parking lot. It is pointed out that the greatest part of the expenses will be covered by private donations.
The ceremony was attended by the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, the former President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former Prime Ministers Kostas Karamanlis, Antonis Samaras, and Panagiotis Pikrammenos, the President of the “SPARTIATES” political party Vasilis Stigas, the Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Giannis Kefalogiannis, the Deputy Minister of Health Irini Agapidaki, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tasos Hatzivasiliou, the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Giannis Lambropoulos, the Deputy Minister of Justice Giannis Bougas, the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food Dionysis Stamenitis, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Giorgos Mylonakis, MP Michalis Katrinis as representative of the President of PASOK – Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, the Deputy Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Athanasios Bouras, MP Symeon Kedikoglou, as representative of the President of SYRIZA, Sokratis Famellos, MPs, former Minsters of National Defence Nikos Panagiotopoulos and Evangelos Apostolakis, Members of the European Parliament, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence Antonios Ikonomou, as well as the President of the Hellenic Supreme Court Ioanna Klapa, the President of the Council of State Michalis Pikramenos, the President of the Hellenic Court of Audit Sotiria Douni, the General Coordinator of the Hellenic Court of Audit Stamatis Poulis, the President of the Association of Judges and Prosecutors Christoforos Sevastidis, the President of the Military Justice Officials Association, Major (Military Judge) Evangelia Gaki.
Additionally, the ceremony was attended by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Chief of Hellenic Police, Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios, Honorary Chiefs, General and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces, and Cadets of the Armed Forces Academies, representatives of regional and local government, the Bishop of Thespies Mr. Pavlos, as representative of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, the Metropolitan of Kifisia, Amarousion, Oropos, and Marathon Mr. Kyrillos, the Metropolitan of Peristeri Mr. Grigorios, the Metropolitan of Ilion, Acharnae, and Petroupolis Mr. Athinagoras, the Metropolitan of Kesariani, Vyron and Ymittos Mr. Daniil, the Metropolitan of Nea Ionia, Nea Philadelphia, Neon Heraklion, and Nea Chalkidon Mr. Gavriil, the Metropolitan of Hydra, Spetsai and Aegina Mr. Efraim, the Catholic Archbishop of Athens Mr. Theodoros, representatives of foreign diplomatic authorities in Greece, Defence Attachés, the Professor of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Kostas Varotsos, benefactors of the Armed Forces, representatives of institutions, and other guests.
During the unveiling ceremony a performance was given by Sophia Spyratou. The ceremony was narrated by Alexis Kostalas.
In his address, the Minister of National Defence pointed out the following:
“There is no greater hardship than the effort to praise those who have fallen for the Country with words or actions. This hardship comes from the inability of words and actions of the living to express the undying praise deserved by the fallen.
25 centuries ago, in his Epitaph, Pericles justified the sacrifice of the fallen of the Democracy of Athens with the greatness of the City, which they created and defended. We have not reached greatness yet.
However, Greece deserves the sacrifice of those who created it. The former Ottoman territory, which was liberated through their struggles. Their struggles, which rendered it a modern, European, democratic Country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we are unveiling the praise to the 121,692 people, who fell during the wars of Greece.
A Monument of gratitude of the Armed Forces towards their fallen.
It is surrounded by two small olive groves, containing 25 and 28 olive trees each, symbolising the 25th of March and the 28th of October, respectively. Another 400 trees were planted in the grove of the Ministry. Those symbolise the 400 years of Ottoman rule.
I believe that in front of us lies a great work of modern Greek art.
A transparent praise. It was created by the distinguished sculptor Kostas Varotsos, with whom, to our good fortune, the Ministry of National Defence came into contact, thanks to the Secretary General Antonis Ikonomou.
This Monument has an additional unique characteristic. It brings together the Armed Forces with modern Greek art for the first time.
Thus, the Armed Forces embrace a modern idea of expression of memory for the first time. They incorporate Modern Art and its capabilities of expressing ideas into their long-standing tradition.
This creates a strong and transparent splice between tradition and progress. Namely between yesterday and tomorrow. A combination that responds to what we are trying to achieve here, with the “2030 Agenda”. An opening towards something new and innovative.
I have repeatedly stated that progress and traditionalism are not contrary principles. They are the two sides of the coin of Hellenism.
It is imperative that Tradition and Modernity co-exist.
So, a new, innovative notion of tradition is created. A modern Ark of National Memory, with transparency, modesty, uplift, light, and no needless magniloquence.
It will constitute a central reference point point in an overall redevelopment of the Ministry of National Defence complex. A small part of this approach can be seen in the central section of the building.
Thus, the “2030” reform finds its architectural expression in this monument, thanks to the generosity of Evangelos Mytilineos. The intervention will be completed by the 28th of October 2025.
Let me come back to the unveiling of the Ark, however. As a work of modern Greek art, the Ark suggests that sacrifice leads souls from the soil of Greece to our Country’s sky. It aspires to become a timeless roll call with them always being present and alive in national memory.
Because everyone who refreshed the tree of Hellenic freedom with their blood is forever present and alive.
The Ark of National Remembrance constitutes a transparent element of the uplifting of souls and the truth of Hellenism. Because truth in the Greek language is the rejection of oblivion. Namely, for preserving our memory.
Preserving the memory of the dead in the souls of the living is the only possible path to eternity for mankind.
And with the Ark, we aim at keeping the memory of our fallen alive forever. Not simply as a monument. But also as a living and motivating force for the future of our country.
And we aim at incorporating the example of self-sacrifice into our national narrative through modern art. To mainly incorporate it into the narrative of the future generations of Greeks.
Human life, the existence of man, transcends the biological end and acquires a meaning as long as it becomes an element of a timeless, collective identity.
And the collective identity has powerful elements, which render it visible. Otherwise, dedication cannot be generated; sacrifice even less so.
The constituent elements of the identity of modern Greece are known: Country – Language – Traditions – Religion – Family. That is all. This is who we are. It is for these values that our sacrifice is made for. And it is these values through which immortality will come.
Modern Greece was reborn through struggles and the existence of modern Hellenism was honed with the blood of the Greeks we honour today. And their memory lives forever in the hearts of true Greeks, the guardians of national traditions.
Being fully aware of my personal insufficiency on the matter, I would like to close my speech with the words of General Constantinos Nider in the Order of the Day of A Army Corps from the 20th of May 1919:
“Closing, I mentally uncover myself and humbly bend the knee in the presence of the tombs of our gloriously fallen (in Southern Russia), whose blood generously refreshed the tree of Hellenic Freedom and provided stable foundations for the edifice of Major Greece.
Eternal gratitude to the fallen!”.
Thank you”.
