The ceremony to award the Lord Byron Award of the SHP, in collaboration with the Academy of Athens, took place with great success. The Prize was bestowed to Ms. Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, at the Academy of Athens, on October 9, 2023, in the presence of representatives of the government, the political, academic and business community of the country. The ceremony was followed by a discussion – dinner at the Athens Club.

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) established the International Lord Byron Prize in 2021, in collaboration with the Academy of Athens, in honor of the great poet and Philhellene.

The International Lord Byron Prize is awarded annually to important personalities from the political, cultural, academic, or business international arena, whose careers are characterized by a long-term philhellenic attitude or who have contributed to society with actions aligned with Hellenism’s values.

These individuals carry out their duties from their significant positions of responsibility in a manner entirely consistent with the principles and values of Philhellenism. They courageously address significant international crises and the impact of climate change while contributing remarkable work to society as a whole.

Each of the honorees receives a silver medal, a diploma, and a grant of $10,000 USD, donated in their name to a foundation of their choice engaged in activities that serve and promote Hellenic and Philhellenic values.

Links related to the ceremony:

https://twitter.com/kajakallas/status/1711483583729172953
https://twitter.com/kajakallas/status/1711483603652170006
https://valitsus.ee/uudised/peaminister-kallas-palvis-lord-byroni-rahvusvahelise-auhinna?fbclid=IwAR0pn0ljKCyM8hCglux22X55M7-I3QqO9Y9b7N_HeUMAFTO8ZtSm7FriY8A
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=712756620671924&set=pcb.712756757338577

Contact information: info@eefshp.org.

The award ceremony of the International Philhellenism Lord Byron Prize for 2022 of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP), took place on September 20, 2022, during a solemn session of the Academy of Athens.

SHP has established this Prize, which is awarded annually from 2021, to three personalities from the fields of politics, academia and business. It comes with a silver medal, a diploma and a grant of $10,000 paid by SHP to a foundation or organization of the awardee’s choice.

The Lord Byron Prizes are awarded by H.E. the President of the Republic, Ms. Katerina Sakelaropoulou. The awardees for 2022 are the following:

• Jean Claude Juncker, former President of the European Commission (Luxembourg),
• Klaus P. Regling, Chief Executive Officer of the European Financial Stability Facility and Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism (Germany),
• Jack Lew, former Secretary of the Treasury (USA).

The ceremony was welcomed by the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ambassador Mr. Vassilis Papadopoulos, the President of the Academy of Athens, Mr. Antonios Regkakos and the Secretary General of the Academy of Athens, Mr. Christos Zerefos. The awardees for 2022 were presented by the President of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism, Mr. Konstantinos Velentzas.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is at the UN General Assembly in New York, was represented by the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Angelos Syrigos.

The awardees were addressed by the Minister of Development and Investments Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Finance Mr. Christos Staikouras and Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis.

The Lord Byron Prize has been designed with the aim of promoting internationally the values ​​of Greek civilization and philhellenism as a virtue with a beneficial effect on the societies of the entire civilized world, and has been placed under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece.

It is recalled that the laureates for 2021 were the following:

• former US Senator and Secretary of State John Kerry (descendant of Thomas Winthrop, President of the emblematic Philhellenic Committee of Boston),
• former French Minister of Culture and Education, Jack Lang,
• the Swiss banker Charles Pictet (descendant of the Pictet de Rochemont / Eynard family, friends and supporters of I. Kapodistrias).

You may watch the Ceremony using the following link:

http://www.academyofathens.gr/el/sessions/20220920

Photo Gallery

For information:
Email: info@eefshp.org
+30.210.8094750

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) and the Philhellenism Museum award to them an honorary diploma and the Lord Byron Medal

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) and the Philhellenism Museum organise an emblematic event – exhibition on the occasion of the anniversary of the Naval Battle of Navarino, on October 20, 2021, entitled ‘I saw the Great Victory, the Eternal Victory ’.

The inauguration will take place on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 7.30 pm at the Philhellenism Museum.

The inauguration will be attended by descendants of the British Admiral Codrington, commander of the Allied fleet during the historic battle, by descendants of the French Admiral de Rigny (commander of the French fleet) and by descendants of the Russian Admiral Pyotr Fedorovich Anjou, commander of the Russian ship Gangut, who will be honored with the diploma and the medal of Lord Byron.

The event will be attended by the Minister of Finance of Greece, Mr. Christos Staikouras, Members of the Parliament, representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and representatives of the Embassies of the United Kingdom, France and Russia. Mr. Staikouras will present the Lord Byron medal to the descendants of the three admirals.

The Museum will present an exhibition of paintings, objects of philhellenic art and documents related to the Battle of Navarino, in dialogue with sculptures by Minas Mavrikakis. The exhibition is curated by Ms. Iris Kritikou.

A concert of philhellenic music of the 19th century will follow, dedicated to the anniversary of the Naval Battle of Navarino, organized by SHP in collaboration with the Association ‘Friends of Music’.

Fanie Antonelou, soprano
Ioannis Kalyvas, tenor
Maria Papapetropoulou, pianist

You may follow the event on-line from the following links:

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/eefshp/live_videos/

Youtube
https://youtu.be/kGU3bXYdomk

Information: Ms. Anna Roza, email: info@phmus.org, tel: +30.210.8094750
Philhellenism Museum, 12 Zisimopoulou Street, 11524, Athens
Duration of the exhibition: October 21, 2021 – January 30, 2022
Visiting Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10.00-18.00
All protection measures against COVID-19 will be undertaken.

SHP and the Philhellenism Museum express their grief for the loss of the great composer and ecumenical Greek, Mikis Theodorakis (1925-2021), one of the most important personalities of modern Greece. He wrote over a thousand songs, symphonic works, cantatas, oratorios, operas, music for the cinema, set music to plays, tragedies and poetry of great Greek and international poets (the photo is by the painter Spyros Zacharopoulos).

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism (SHP) participated in the ceremony, organized on July 31, 2021 by the Municipality of Hydra in cooperation with the Embassy of Austria in Athens to honor Austrian Philhellenes who participated in the Greek Struggle for Independence in 1821.

As part of the anniversary events, a scientific conference on “Austrian Philhellenism in the Greek Revolution” took place, as well as a concert of classical music. The event was addressed by the Mayor of Hydra, Mr. George Koukoudakis and the Ambassador of Austria in Athens, Μs. Mag. Hermine Poppeller.

The conference was coordinated by Mr. George Koukoudakis. The speakers of the conference were the historian Dr. David Schriffl from the Austrian Foreign Affairs Ministry, with a speech on the “200 years Greece and Austria – thoughts on and beyond the War of Independence”, and the historian and member of the scientific committee of SHP, Angeliki Papagiannopoulou, who referred to the Austrian Philhellenes who supported the Greek struggle for Independence. Ms. Papagiannopoulou also presented the initiatives by SHP and the Philhellenism Museum for the erection of a Monument in Athens, to honor the Philhellenes, as well as the creation of an anniversary medal to honor the Austrian Philhellene, Anton von Prokesch, in collaboration with the Zografeio School in Epirus.

The conference was followed by a music concert by the Auner Quartett in Vienna, which was coordinated by the music conductor and composer Ms. Konstantia Gourzi. The following works were performed:

NIKOS SKALKOTTAS: 5 Greek Dances: I.Epirotikos, II. Kretikos, III. Tsamikos, III. Arkadikos, IV. Kleftikos

KONSTANTIA GOURZI: Anájikon, the Angel in the Blue Garden: I. The Blue Rose, II. The Blue Bird, III. The Blue Moon, a. the bright side, b. Turning, c. the dark side

FRANZ SCHUBERT: String Quartet “Rosamunde”, 1. Part

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: String Quartet οp. 18/4

Austrian Philhellenes participated in the Philhellenic movement of the time and in military operations in Greece in favor of the Greeks. This important initiative of the Municipality of Hydra gave the opportunity to highlight their essential contribution to the Greek Struggle for Independence. Austria and Greece cooperate today with mutual respect within the framework of a United Europe, which largely owes its existence to the great legacy left by the European Philhellenes.

The Mayor, Mr. George Koukoudakis implements a series of pioneering actions of high quality and aesthetics, which promote internationally the history and the culture of the region and Greece, placing Hydra at the center of an international interest. SHP supports the work of the Municipality of Hydra, participating in a series of events around Philhellenism.