The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis represented today, Sunday 23 November 2025, the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the celebration of National Resistance in Sparta.
The celebration was attended by the MP of ND party Neoklis Kritikos, representing the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, the Deputy Regional Governor of Lakonia Region Theodoros Veroutis, representing the Regional Governor of the Peloponnese, the Mayor of Sparta Mihail Vakalopoulos, the Supreme Commander of the Lakonia Guard Brigadier General Georgios Zorbas, representatives of the Security Forces, the Retired Officers and the Reservists’ Unions of Lakonia.
The Deputy Minister attended the Archieratical Doxology that took place at the Holy Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation of Virgin Mary for the anniversary of National Resistance, as well as the Memorial Service for the 118 executed men, officiated by the Reverend Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta Efstathios. Afterwards he went to Monodendri, Lakonia, where he attended the memorial service at the Tomb of the 118 executed men, and laid a wreath.
Upon conclusion of the events, Mr. Davakis stated:
“Today, here in Monodendri we paid tribute to the National Resistance, to that big, unifying and heroic attempt, the collective stature of our people against the Nazi and fascist Occupation during 1941-1944.
It has been eighty-two years since the bloody anniversary of the 26th of November 1943 in Monodendri, when the German occupational forces executed 118 Spartans as retaliation for the guerrilla attack of the Hellenic People’s Liberation Army (ELAS) against a German convoy on the same spot.
The sacrifice of the 118 in Monodendri is a constant reminder that freedom is not taken for granted, but it is earned and guarded with courage, unity and faith to the timeless values of our Nation”.
