NATIONAL DAY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 6

NATIONAL DAY

Why Greeks Chose Feast

Of Annunciation Today is the national day of the Gfeek people. On Alarch 25, 1821, they rose against the Turks, who had held them m subjection for 400 years. After seven years of struggle, including much of the guerrilla warfare they are again waging for freedom now, they won their independence. Today is also Lady Day, or the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. The Greeks chose this day for their 1821 revolt with . good reason. It was because the flocking ot the people to their churches would not arouse the suspicion of their conquerors as would an unusual activity on a normal day. So, with weapons concealed in their clothing, they went forth. In the chiirch of the Alonastery of St. Lavra, in Peloponisos, Southern Greece, the Archbishop of Patras, Germanos, told them to “go forth and strike” for their native land. This was the signal for nation-wide revolt. They won out in 1827. The Deputy-Consul, Air, S. Garland, Wellington, iu the absence of the ConsulGeneral for Greece, Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, has received from the Consul-General in Australia, Al. Vrisakis, this message from the Prime Minister of the Greek Government in London, Al. Tosouderos: — “This auspicious day finds every Greek united in the same hope > and faith. Speaking to my fellow-conntrymen in New Zealand, I wish to express my conviction that before long the Greek people will- be celebrating once again their redemption from a barbarous and inhuman tyranny. Then following the restitution of their historic rights they will inaugurate in complete unity a new era of peaceful reconstruction. In this gruesome struggle that Greece is carrying out by the side of the United Nations the contribution of the Greeks abroad is of the highest importance. It .is my earnest wish and hope that with our next anniversary of independence my fellow-countrymen in New Zealand will celebrate victory together with the New Zealand people, whose sons so gallantly fought by our side for Greece in the cause of freedom.”

DOMINION’S SYMPATHY

The following telegram has been sent by the Prime Alinister, Air. Fraser, to the Prime Alinister of Greece, Cairo: —; “On the occasion of Greek National Dav the Government and people of New Zealand, who have watched with sorrow the sufferings of the Greek, people and with deepest admiration their refusal to submit, take this opportunity to repeat their pledge to do their utmost to help the Greek nation to win back their freedom and to remove the imprint of the ■Nazi invaders. Now that a new day of independence is at hand, we assure the Greek people throughout the world that we shall not fail when in the near future it at last becomes possible to give practical expression to our sympathy.”