The Ambassador of Georgia visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Ambassador of Georgia Mr. David Dondua and the staff members of the embassy of Georgia visited on April 20, 2021 the Philhellenism Museum, and was guided to its 4 floors. The staff of the Museum presented to him the collections, the history of the philhellenic movement and the philhellenic art, as well as the history of many emblematic philhellenes who supported the Greek Revolution.

Mr. Velentzas presented to the Museum of Philhellenism a document of great historical importance that proves the bonds of friendship between Greece and Georgia. This is a touching letter sent to Greece in 1897 by Georgian students from the University of St. Petersburg. With this letter they express their philhellenic feelings and their support to the struggle of the Greeks.

SHP warmly thanked the ambassador for this document.

Mr. David Dondua stated the following:

“Four thousand years of shared history and close cooperation between our countries and people, are a best attestation of philhellenic spirit of Georgian nation. On our planet there is no other nation closer to us than Greeks. I am so proud to represent my country in Greece”.

The ambassador also explained that the name used for Greek in Georgian is “ბერძენი” / brdzeni, which comes from the word “ბრძენი” / brdzeni and means “wise”, while Greece is called “საბერძნეთი” / Saberdzneti, meaning “the land of the wise”.

The two sides agreed to take joint actions to promote relations between the two peoples and to organize a joint exhibition.

Opening of the Special Exhibition on the American Philhellenism of the Philhellenism Museum celebrates the Global impact of the Greek War of Independence

 

 

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism held a closed ceremony to mark the opening of the Special Exhibition on the “American Philhellenism” of the Philhellenism Museum on April 14, 2021.  The opening was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Diaspora Constantinos Vlassis, Deputy Minister of Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis, the Ambassador of the United States to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, Deputy Chief of Defense Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, Governor of Attika George Patoulis, Deputy Governor for Culture Maria Vidali and Deputy Mayor of Athens Skiadas.

The Museum of Philhellenism hosts an extensive and unique collection of paintings, personal items, firearms, books, and documents related to the Greek Revolution of 1821, with a special focus on Philhellenes from Europe and the United States.  This is the first time that many of those artefacts will be in public display.

The Museum host a special exhibition on “American Philhellenism” with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Athens, as part of its campaign “USA-Greece: Celebrating 200 Years of Friendship” commemorating Greece’s Bicentennial.  The “American Philhellenism” exhibition features impressive objects from American Philhellene, including Dr. Samuel Howe’s personal collection, lithographs of other prominent Philhellenes like the poet Fitz Halleck, books published by Everett and Ticknor, news articles from the 18th century, as well as various letters and other documents showcasing the role of the American Philhellenes in the Greek revolution.

Although the Museum is currently not open to the public due to the pandemic restrictions, it offers an online virtual tour for visitors from Greece and throughout the world:

www.phmus.org

https://phmus.org/the-museum/episkepsi-online/

During the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Vlasis congratulated the Philhellenism Museum and the U.S. Embassy on their initiative to promote American Philhellenism, and highlighted the strong bonds between the United States and Greece.

The U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey R. Pyatt said, “Our Embassy is very proud to support the museum’s exhibition on ‘American Philhellenism’ as part of our year-long campaign to commemorate the Greek bicentennial and the two hundred years of friendship between our great democracies. American society has been enriched from its earliest days by our relationship with Greece and the Greek people.  And I’m extremely confident that even two hundred years from now, the United States will continue to stand by Greece as our trusted ally and partner.”

The Governor of Attica Mr. Patoulis, the Deputy Governor of Attica Mrs. Vidalis, and the Deputy Mayor Mr. Skiadas, stressed the importance of the Museum, and the important role of American philhellenism in building the strong bonds between the Greek and American people.

For more information about the Museum of Philhellenism contact: www.phmus.org,

www.eefshp.org
email: info@phmus.org
email: info@phmus.org
Τel: 210.8094750

 

The Ambassador of Switzerland visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr. Olaf Kjelsen, visited the Museum of Philhellenism on Monday April 12, 2021.

During the tour of the Museum, he had the opportunity to learn about the exhibits, the history of the philhellenic movement, and the important role of thousands of the Swiss Philhellenes, who fought valiantly on the side of the Greeks as volunteers or supported the actions of the philhellenic committees in Switzerland.

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) referred to the important role played by the Swiss banker and politician Jean Gabriel Eynard, close friend of Capodistrias and great benefactor of Greece.

SHP presented to the Swiss Ambassador an anniversary medal it issued on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, in the honor of the great Philhellene Jean Gabriel Eynard.

On the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the beginning of the Greek Revolution, the Swiss Ambassador Mr. Olaf Kjelsen presented to the Museum of Philhellenism on behalf of the Swiss Parliament a Swiss flag as a symbol of the ties of friendship between the Swiss and the Greek people, based on principles and values of classical Greece.

SHP thanked the Swiss Ambassador Mr. Olaf Kjelsen and Mr. Andreas Aebi, President of the National Council of Switzerland, and assured that it will continue to promote with its work our common cultural values and the continuous philhellenism as a virtue for the progress of our societies.

 

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany visits the Philhellenism Museum

 

 

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Ernst Reichel, and his wife, Ms. Anne Decrue Reichel, visited the Museum of Philhellenism on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

During their tour of the Museum, they had the opportunity to learn about the exhibits, the history of the philhellenic movement, and the role of thousands of German Philhellenes, who fought valiantly on the side of the Greeks as volunteers or supported the philhellenic committees in Germany.

SHP presented to the German Ambassador two anniversary medals it issued on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution, which honor two important German Philhellenes. Ludwig I, King of Bavaria, great benefactor of Greece who financed the struggle of the Greeks and General Norman, who led the Greek army in the battle of Peta and sacrificed himself for Greece.

The German Ambassador Mr. Ernst Reichel, handed over to the Philhellenism Museum, on behalf of Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, President of the German Parliament (Bundestag), a German flag sent by the German Parliament on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary, and said during the flag handover ceremony the following:

“I am pleased to hand this flag of the Federal Republic of Germany over to you on behalf of Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, President of the German Bundestag. This flag was used in the German Bundestag, which is why it shows some minor traces of usage. Allow me to thank you for your dedication in making the roles Philhellenes played in the Greek Revolution of 1821 and its aftermath known to the general public. The largest part of these Philhellenes were Germans, who gave their hearts, fortunes, and sometimes even their lives in support of the Greek cause. They were inspired by the ideals of the Greek war of independence, which set into motion a process of historical and state-building importance for large parts of Europe. These processes, eventually, helped shape the parliamentary democracies our countries are today. It is therefore of great symbolic value that this flag, originating from the German Parliament, the heart of German democracy, will from now on be displayed in the Philhellenism Museum. May it serve as a symbol of the strong bonds between Germany and Greece in a united Europe. I wish you personally and the Philhellenism Museum, once it is allowed to open to the public, all the very best and much success.”

SHP thanked the German Ambassador Mr. Ernst Reichel and the President of the Bundestag, and assured that it will continue to promote with its work the common cultural values of the German and Greek people and the continuous philhellenism as a virtue for the progress of our societies and European integration.

The Philhellenism Museum exhibits, among others, important works of art by German painters and artists on the subject of the Greek Revolution, as well as objects and documents, on the history of German Philhellenes who fought on the side of the Greeks or supported the German Philhellenic Committees.

 

The Ambassador of Belgium, Ms. Françoise Gustin, presented a flag offered by the Belgian Parliament to the Philhellenism Museum

 

The photo shows the Ambassador of Belgium in front of an important painting by a Flemish painter of 1650 depicting a scene from the Iliad (the abduction of Helen).

 

The Ambassador of Belgium, Ms. Françoise Gustin, hands over to the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP), a flag offered by the Belgian Parliament, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary from the Greek Revolution and the opening of the Philhellenism Museum.

SHP warmly thanks the Speaker of the Belgian House of Representatives, Ms. Eliane Tillieux, and assures that it will forever honor this flag which will symbolize the long-standing bonds of friendship between the people of Belgium and Greece.

 

Τhe Speaker of the Belgian House of Representatives, Ms. Eliane Tillieux

 

The Philhellenism Museum honors, among others, Belgium, which has contributed in many since the Renaissance the promotion of the Hellenic culture, as a cornerstone of Western civilization and the European integration.

The Philhellenism Museum exhibits works of art by Belgian painters on the theme of the Greek Revolution, as well as the history of Belgian Philhellenes who fought in Greece on the side of the Greeks. It also presents the actions of the Philhellenic Committees operating in Belgium.

One of them is Augustin De Lannoy (December 28, 1798, July 6, 1826), who died in Andros.

 

 

SHP thanks the Belgian diplomat and Philhellene Mr. Theo Dirix, who assisted with his research the actions of SHP to study the biographies of the Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourgish Philhellenes who supported the struggle of the Greeks for national independence.

The Ambassador of Austria Ms. Hermine Poppeller visited the Museum of Philhellenism

 

 

The Ambassador of Austria Mrs. Poppeller was given a tour of the Museum of Philhellenism. The representatives of the Museum had the pleasure and the honor to present to her the evolution of the history of Philhellenism, the exhibits of the Museum, as well as paintings by artists from Austria of the 18th and 19th centuries.

During the visit, SHP (Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism) presented to the Embassy the biographical notes of Philhellenes of Austrian origin, who participated in the Greek Revolution and fought on the side of the Greeks.

The photo shows Ambassador Poppeller next to a painting with a Greek mythology subject by the great neoclassical painter Angelika Kauffmann (1741-1807).

Reference was also made to the Zografeio School of Ioannina, Greece, which honors in the context of the celebration of 200 years, the Austrian Philhellenes. The Zografeio School is named after an emblematic family of National Benefactors of Greece, the Zografou family, who connect the Greek people with Vienna and the friendly people of Austria.

The American Ambassador G. Pyatt at the Museum of Philhellenism

 

US Ambassador Geoffry Pyatt visited the Museum of Philhellenism and the periodic exhibition on American Philhellenism, part of the 1821-2021 program: USA & Greece 200 years of friendship. The exhibition will be officially inaugurated in April 2021 and will highlight the long-standing bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite the two countries on the basis of the principles and values ​​of classical Greece.

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