Tag: Greece

Hellenic Revival!

Ancient Greek Warrior!

MARCH 25, 1821: GREECE ERUPTS INTO REBELLION AGAINST OTTOMAN TURKS!

Donning his helmet of rebellion!

A Brief Summary of the Establishment of the Kingdom of Greece:

March 25, 1821, was the date of the start of the uprising of the peoples of Greece against more than 400 years of the occupation and oppression by the Ottoman Turkey invaders. This marked the beginning of the end of the Ottoman Turkey Empire and the revival of the independence of the Kingdom of Greece!

March 25, also is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary, Mother of God) not only in the Greek Orthodox Church but in all churches of the Eastern Orthodox religion. The organizers of the rebellion selected this feast date to initiate the insurrection under the protection of the Theotokos as patron of the movement.

Early version of the Greek flag!

Early in the morning, Bishop Germanos raised the banner of the revolt over the Monastery of Agia (saint) Lavra in the Pelopannese with the cry: Freedom or Death! The flying of the banner was the planned symbol for the commencement of hostilities and the words of Bishop Germanos were popularly adopted as the official motto of the revolution.

The decision to begin the struggle against the Ottoman domination on the date was based on the belief that the action would be brief, over by the autumn season. It was thought that the elderly, women and children could best manage the planting of the agricultural crop and the men would return in time for the harvesting of the yield.

The conflict wasn’t as easy to determine as originally planned. The battles were frequent and draining on the Turkish forces. They often involved the importing of the military reserves of the Ottoman Turk dependencies in North Africa, especially Algeria, Egypt, Tripolitania (Libya) and Tunis (Tunisia). These auxiliary troops were frequently defeated by the untrained Greek locals who were often armed with dated and inferior firearms.

The fighting ended with the signing of the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829. France, Imperial Russia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland were the guarantors of the independence of the Kingdom of Greece. The Ottoman Turks agreed to withdraw completely from Greece. In 1830, the sovereign independence of the Kingdom was recognized by the London Protocol agreement and Ottoman Turkey acknowledged the protocol. In 1832, the Treaty of Constantinople defined the official borders between Greece and Turkey and established Prince Otto of Bavaria as the first King of Greece.

The London Protocol established the Greek Orthodox Church as supreme throughout the kingdom. This remains in effect still today.

The government of the newly liberated Haiti was the very first country in the world to diplomatically and officially recognize the the revolution – and therefore Greek independence. This happened in 1821, barely six months after the initiation of the struggle and long before the war was actually over. Haiti acknowledged Greece just before becoming the first nation in the world to outlaw the slavery of Africans.

The contemporary Flag of Greece!

After several revisions adopted over time, the above is the current official flag of Greece to be flown outside the actual country. The version used internally features identical with “lighter” (baby) blue colours. The upper corner is the Cross of St. George, the official patron saint of all of Greece.

Official flag designation!

Considerations:

There is proof that the ancient Greeks engaged in man-to-man penetrative sexual practices and of the widespread practice/traditions of public nudity/social nudity. These were viewed as “everyday” and “normal” by Greek society at that time. In all honesty, this Greek – yours truly – feels the same, today. In fact, I know for certain that I am not alone in these thoughts!

Pottery depicting Greek men physical intimacy!

The ancient Greeks culturally embraced and practiced social nudity, publicly and privately. There existed nude competitions and competitors in the original Olympic events for centuries. The military practiced/trained while naked and the entire population accepted and expected nakedness, both publicly and socially, from both genders. Admittedly, males were more prone to nudity than females but remember, in that era, they were the dominant gender.

Historically, Greek culture didn’t look upon the state of clothes freedom as synonymous with being evil, sinful, despicable nor judged as a disgraceful or as a perversion.

Same-sex physical intimacy, especially between men, was both acceptable and expected. It was not an official endorsement of same gender love. Rather, it was often seen as an educational action to instruct males on how to actually be “real men.” The instructional benefit was the belief that there was no better method to teach a man how to properly treat a woman than to show them him physically hot it feels to have a male penile erection physically inside him.

As a contemporary same gender loving Greek man, after limited research, my humble opinion is that ancient Greece had no preponderance of same gender love. The numbers look and probably reflect the same percentage of the general population as they do today.

A bare assault!

To my knowledge, there is no irrefutable evidence of any actual battle that occurred with opposing forces engaged while completely naked. Humanity – very early – recognized the futility of belligerence without any armour or protection for as much of the body as possible! No “rocket science” involved in that solution!

Naked hugs!

Happy Annunciation Day!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, March 27, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Naturally!”

Patriot Day

An ancient Greek warrior!

Thursday, March 25, 2021, is the anniversary of the beginning of the fight for the freedom of Greece from the oppression of the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey). The clergy of the Greek Orthodox Church encouraged the faithful to engage in the struggle to attain their freedom and restore self-determination of their homeland from the subservience of the Ottoman Turks. 

The Ottoman Empire, for over two centuries, had periodically focused on the eventual absorption and subjugation of the Byzantine (Greek) Empire. The fall of Constantinople (the imperial Greek capital) through a siege that lasted from April 6, 1453 until May 29, 1453, rewarded the Ottomans as the Middle and Near Eastern superior power, economically, militarily and naval.

The political dominance of the Turkish government provided a grave and serious threat to the Greek Orthodox Church. The religious and spiritual head of all Orthodox believers , the patriarch (pope) of Orthodoxy resided in Constantinople and his official title is: Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Archbishop of Constantinople. This situation fostered the unsubstantiated belief and rumors in the Western churches (Roman Catholic, Anglican and protestant) that the Eastern churches (Bulgarian, Greek, Roumanian, Russian, Serbian and Syrian) were under the manipulation of the Turkish occupiers.

Multiple Greek warriors!

On this date, March 25, in 1821, the Greeks rose up against the oppression of Ottoman Turkey in a protracted civil war that ultimately involved France, the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom joining with the Greeks in their quest for independence. March 25 is also the date of the feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Virgin Many, Mother of God) in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The organizers of the uprising selected this feast day to initiate the insurrection. Bishop Germanus hoisted the flag of revolt over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Pelopannese with the cry, “Freedom or Death” which was adopted as the motto of the for Greek liberation.

The government of the newly liberated Haiti was the very first country in the world to recognize the revolution – and therefore, Greek independence. This diplomatic recognition happened is 1821, barely 6 months after the struggle began and long before the war was actually over.

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 only their inferior personal weapons, primarily rifles.

Greek warrior artistic image.

After seven years of fighting, the Ottoman Turks grew weary of the Greek uprising. At an international conference held in London, a document called the London Protocol was signed by representatives from Greece, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the Ottoman Empire that recognized the independent sovereign Kingdom of Greece in 1830. The rebellion was over. In 1832, the Treaty of Constantinople was enforced between the Greeks and the Turks which defined the borders of Greece and established Prince Otto of Bavaria as the first King of Greece.

Above is the image of the original Greek flag that was recognized when independence was achieved. The double-headed eagle in the upper left corner was the emblem of the Byzantine Empire.

The .gif below is the current flag of Greece shown billowing in the breeze. The cross of St. George is in the upper left corner. The Greek Orthodox Church is the state religion of Greece.

The above explains the symbolism of the modern Greek flag.

The modern Greek flag was adopted during the 20th Century as the current state matured. Based on the current design, it is now universally accepted and recognized everywhere. During the last decade of the 20th Century, there were some grumblings that the two colors of the flag represented the “haves” and the “have nots” although there was never any agreement over what those two categories entailed.

Outline map of Greece (flag design).

Above is the image of a map of modern Greece, in the same design of the current Greek flag. Greece is located in south-eastern Europe at the bottom of the Balkan peninsula. The capital city is Athens.

Both of my parents and my oldest brother were born in Greece. They emigrated to this country just before the birth of my second oldest brother. Neither of my parents nor my oldest brother were ever naturalized here (became citizens). After our births, my father had all of our births enrolled at the Greek consulate, which made the remainder of my brothers and myself Greek subjects (we have dual citizenship).

Avoiding any implications of inaccuracy, before closing todays post, I want to remind everyone that the ancient Greeks most definitely did not engage in war while bare. Men were aware that any type of action involving swords and other forms of weapons could inflict major, if not debilitating, damage to themselves. Even the simplest girding of protection was valued above nudity in this case.

Wishing everyone the happiest of Patriot Day!

Bare hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/Renude Pride

Author’s Note: The next posting entry planned for here is for Wednesday, March 31, 2021, and the proposed topic is : “Bottoms-Up! March, 2021”

The unusually long delay is due to an educational conference.

A Flight Home!

Many people of Greek birth or descent return to visit the homeland during the month of August. This tradition has been in existence since before my parents immigrated here in the late 1940’s. I’m not certain of the origins of this custom, I’m simply aware of it from the practice as well as my own personal experience. Also, what right do I have to question anyone’s desire for a good time and a decent party?

Continue reading A Flight Home!

Holy Easter

The above image is the picture of a loaf of Easter Bread, one of the traditional foods of the Easter celebration within the Greek Orthodox Church. This weekend marks the end of the Great Lenten Fast that is observed prior to the Feast Day. All of the faiths of the Orthodox churches have Easter this weekend; the Russian, the Greek, the Ethiopian, the Bulgarian, the Serbian, the Albanian, the Egyptian Coptic and as well as some of the Eastern Rites of the Church of Rome.

Continue reading Holy Easter

Greek Independence Day!

March 25, annually, is Greek Independence Day. This celebration marks the date, in 1821, when the people who live in what is now Greece, rose up in revolt against Ottoman Turkey who occupied their homeland for hundreds of years. A protracted war ensued that culminated in the eventual establishment of the modern state of Greece. This post signifies both the religious feast day and the national holiday.

Continue reading Greek Independence Day!