The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, attended today, Wednesday 25 March 2026, the military parade in Athens commemorating the National Anniversary of the 25th of March 1821, in the presence of His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, and the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The parade was also attended by the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, the Chief of the Opposition, President of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, the President of SYRIZA, Sokratis Famellos, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas, the Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and Bishop of Christoupolis, Mr. Varnavas, as Representative of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, the Deputy Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Vasilis Viliardos, MPs, the Head of Region of Attica Nikos Chardalias, the Mayor of Athens, Charis Doukas, and representatives of political parties.
On behalf of the military leadership the parade was attended by the Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief of the National Guard General Staff of the Republic of Cyprus, Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou, the Chief/HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief/HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras, and the Chief/HAFGS, Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis.
The parade was also attended by the Chief of the Hellenic Police, Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios, the Chief of the Hellenic Fire Corps, Lieutenant General Theodoros Vagias, the Chief of the Coast Guard, Vice Admiral (CG) Christos Kontorouchas, senior members of the judiciary, heads of foreign delegations in Greece, Deputy Heads of Regions, regional and municipal councillors, representatives of public entities and foreign religious denominations, etc.
Earlier, the Minister of National Defence attended the Doxology at Athens Cathedral, officiated by the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr. Ieronymos B, and subsequently attended the wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas.
In joint statements with the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Palmas, following the end of the parade, Mr. Dendias stated:
“Today, to begin with, we have the great joy to host, here in Athens, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas.
I would like, on today’s occasion, to wish everyone “Many happy returns”.
Today is a great day for Christendom. Yet, it is also a great day for Hellenism, the Anniversary of our National Rebirth.
I hope that through the parade you attended it was demonstrated how our Armed Forces are reforming and evolving. How, with the new systems, acquired through the Greek people’s hard earned money, and also with the new mentality, with the use of drones, with our new missile systems, our new perception, our new Formations, we are capable of providing the supreme good of security to Greek society.
However, not to Greek society alone, but as our presence has demonstrated, in the Republic of Cyprus among others, to protect Hellenism everywhere.
Many happy returns! All the best!”.
