“Alexandroupolis and Evros are the geopolitical chest of Greece. And they are today the gateway connecting Greece with the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe. Alexandroupolis honors its freedom both as a shield of the nation and as a pillar of development and extroversion of Thrace and Greece,” said the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, who is attending the celebrations for the 106th anniversary of the liberation of Alexandroupolis.
“Today we celebrate and commemorate the Liberation of Alexandroupolis and its incorporation into the national body 106 years ago. On the same day Komotini is liberated. The liberation of Alexandroupolis by the Greek Army, by the Xanthi Division, which sailed into its port on May 14, 1920, was followed by the liberation of the city. By May 20, all of Western Thrace had been liberated. The international legitimacy of the Greek military and political presence in Western Thrace became final with the Treaty of Lausanne. In 1920 the Greek Army liberated a small coastal settlement, which shortly afterwards was named Alexandroupoli. Today a prefecture capital is celebrating this anniversary,” he said, immediately after laying a wreath at the Domna Visvikis Memorial.
Domna Visvikis, Lady of the Thracian Navy, was a heroine of 1821 from Thrace, who actively participated in the Struggle after the death of her husband, contributing with courage and contribution to the freedom of Greece and her homeland.
Earlier, the President of the Republic attended the official praise service for the “Liberties” of Alexandroupolis, which was held at the Metropolitan Church of St. Nicholas, presided over by Metropolitan Anthimos. The mayor of Alexandroupolis, Ioannis Zamboukis, delivered the panegyric of the day and a delegation of the twinned Ayia Napa, from Cyprus, led by the mayor Christos Zannetou, attended the service.
Outside the Metropolitan Church and at the Domna Visvikis Memorial, military processions paid tribute.
Mr. Tasoulas made the journey from the Metropolitan Cathedral to the Heroon on foot.
The scouts participated in the raising of the Greek flag in Alexandroupolis in 1920, when the city was incorporated into the Greek body.
The parade of military units, students and local institutions will follow before the President of the Republic.
The events were attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Thanasis Davakis, the Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Christos Dermendzopoulos, the Members of Parliament Stavros Keletsi and Tasos Dimochakis, the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Christodoulos Topsidis, the Mayor of Alexandroupolis, Ioannis Zamboukis, the Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis Anthimos, the commander of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace, Lieutenant General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos, the General Police Director of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Brigadier General Lambros Tsiaras, the Mufti of Didymoteicho Emin Serif and representatives of the local authorities.
