On Sunday, 25 February, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, represented the Government in the celebrations held for the anniversary of the Kolindros uprising (22/2/1878).
Mr. Dendias attended the Doxology at the Church of St. Paraskevi, which was officiated by his Eminence, the Metropolitan of Kitros, Katerini, and Platamonas, Mr Georgios, followed by a memorial service, wreath laying at the bust of the Bishop of Kitros, Nikolaos Lousis, and a student parade.
The celebrations were also attended by the representative of the Hellenic Parliament, Spyros Koulkoudinas, the Deputy Minister of Development, Anna – Mani Papadimitriou, MPs Kostas Ghioulekas, who was main speaker at the Doxology, and Fontas Baraliakos, the Deputy Head of Region for Pieria, Sophia Mavridou, and the Mayor of Pydna – Kolindros, Christos Kobatsiaris.
Also in attendance were the Commanding General of C Army Corps/NRDC-GR, Lieutenant General Athanasios Garinis, as representative of the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, representatives of the Security Forces, local authorities, and the regional and local government.
After the wreath laying, the Minister of National Defence stated:
“Dear Representative of the Hellenic Parliament, General, Representative of the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Dear Representative of the Head of Region, Dear Mayor, Your Eminence, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a special honour and great joy for me to be here today, in Kolindros, at the 146 th anniversary of the Olympus uprising, the rebellion of the Macedonians against the Ottoman yoke.
The Bishop of Kitros, Nikolaos, and Kosmas Doubiotis raised the Banner of rebellion here, and the Macedonian uprising of 1878 spread beyond the geographical limits of Pieria. It fuelled the spirit of national integration. It also became another timeless symbol of the relationship between the Orthodox Clergy and the Greek Nation.
Ladies and gentlemen, national heritage does not exist solely as a relic. Especially in our day and age. An age of unprecedented challenges and an environment where new risks swiftly appear.
In this environment, our national duty is greater than ever.
We should therefore cement our national unity, not as a virtue, but as an existential need we should maintain our faith in collectivism, the collective effort that transcends individualism.
Our country’s Armed Forces emphasise this collectivism, this collectivist mindset and collective effort.
Besides, the Armed Forces constitute the expression of the community of Greek citizens in uniform.
It is, of course, our patriotic duty to honour the memory of our ancestors, especially those who fought. Yet, it is not solely a matter of restoring justice. It is a matter of creating role models and standards, since, ladies and gentlemen, peoples’ freedom is not something to be taken for granted, as the 21 st century has unfortunately shown. We must protect it. And we are obliged to continue the efforts of our ancestors. For you have to be able to defend yourself if you wish to exist. It has been proven, anyway, by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is already drawing to its second anniversary.
We must then, on our part, as Ministry of National Defence, swiftly reform our country’s Armed Forces.
We have to formulate a national strategy based on the “Agenda 2030” for reforming of our Armed Forces. In a word, respond to any future or current challenges, since this reform is not just a political necessity, but also an essential condition of national survival.
I wish you all well”.
