Oopah!*

* alternate spelling = o`pa

Today, 25 March, is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Mother of God). This is when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to St. Mary and told her she was to be the Mother of Jesus. This is a major feast day in the Greek Orthodox Church and also marks the day that the uprising against the Ottoman Turks occupying Greece was launched that led to the creation of the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1821. This feast day began the insurrection when Bishop Germanos reared the flag of revolt over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese with the cry: “Freedom or Death!” which was adopted as the motto of the revolt.

The government of the newly liberated Haiti was the very first country to recognize Greece. This happened in 1821, barely 6 months after the struggle commenced. Thank you, Haitians, for your confidence!

The Ottoman Turks were supported during the Greek rebellion by the North African Turkish dependent states of Algeria, Egypt, Tripolitania and Tunis. These auxiliary troops were frequently defeated by the Greek locals who were often armed with inferior firearms and the majority only had farming tools in their defense.

The Treaty of Adrianople in 1829 guaranteed the independence of the Kingdom of Greece by the United Kingdom, France and Imperial Russia. This marked the end of almost 400 consecutive years of Turkish Ottoman occupation and oppression. In 1830, the independent sovereign Kingdom of Greece was recognized by the London Protocol. In 1832, The Treaty of Constantinople was signed by the Turkish sultan defining the borders of the Greek kingdom and established Prince Otto of Bavaria as the first King of Greece. He was later replaced by a prince of Denmark who established the Greek Royal Family.

Footnote #1: Despite the existence of numerous images showing otherwise, there is very little proof that the ancient Greeks fought bare/naked. Multiple contemporary depictions indicate that they did, very little historical evidence exists to support this as fact. The ancient Greeks were very casual and relaxed with public nakedness but while at war is difficult to presume. There are the dual concerns of personal safety and the production of offspring. Greeks were very supportive of clothes freedom but the ideal has some limitations once conflict is introduced.

The fact that helmets and shields were utilized as protection tools confirms the reality that conflict was understood and that steps were needed in order to safeguard the future.

The current territory of Greece. The Dodecanese Islands are the most recent addition to the Greek nation. They were ceded by Italy to Greece in 1947 following Italy’s surrender during World War II. They are the eastern islands coloured green.

During the rebellion of freedom against the Ottoman Turks, there was not one banner, flag or standard that represented all of the struggle. Many local militias each had their own banner for their municipality or military unit. The adaptation of the insignia for the state occurred after the Ottomans acknowledged the independence of Greece. The modern flag is offered above.

St. George is the guardian saint of Greece and the emblem of his cross is the upper left of the flag. The Cross of St. George also, by law, adorns the top of every pole that supports the nation’s banner (flag). The traditional colours of Greece, blue and white, are the same as the flag and represent the affiliation of the seas and Greek life.

Happy Feast of the Annunciation! Happy Greece!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Old Faithful!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, March 27, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Time: Go Commando!”

Our Bad!

Jogging on my journey to celebrate the rebirth of Greece!