Event for GIANNIAS – GIANNIA Square (Marouda Square) Patras, GIANNIADES, 26-03-2023

Commemoration

"In the footsteps of 1821 – "Unsung Heroes" – Giannias"

The Cultural & Environmental Association of Drosia Tritaia "Gianniades" in co-organization with the "Eagles of Moria" of the Cultural Center
The Association of Mills of Patras, held an anniversary event entitled "In the footsteps of 1821 – "Unsung Heroes" – Giannias" on Sunday, March 26, 2023, as part of the events for the 202 years since the Greek Revolution of 1821, with the help – supporters of the Parishes of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul Myloi of Patras, Agia Paraskevi – Agios Athanasios, the 20th
High School of Patras and the Shooting Club of Traditional Weapons of Patras.

Initially, a memorial service was held in front of the statue of the fighter Giannias, in the homonymous square, by His All-Holiness Fr.
Paisios, representative of His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostom of Patras and priests Fr. Elias Kostopoulos, Fr. Georgios Smeraidos (I.N.
Agia Paraskevi – Agios Athanasios) and Fr. Sotirios Galanis (Church of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul). The event was addressed by the MPs of Achaia, Angelos Tsigris and Iason Fotilas, the Deputy Regional Governor of Coordination of Administration and e-Government, Panagiotis Papadopoulos, the Mayor of Erymanthos, Theodoros Baris, the President of the Cultural and Environmental Association of Drosia Tritaia "The Gianniades", Vasilios Dimitropoulos, the President of the Cultural Association of Patras Mills, Nikolaos Kostis and the dance teacher of the dance group "The Eagles of Moria", Konstantina Zagla.

The keynote speaker of the event was Mrs. Georgia Nikolopoulou, teacher at the 20th High School of Patras and member of the Cultural and Environmental Association of Drosia Tritaia "The
Gianniades" in a speech full of content and substance for Captain Chieftain Giannias. Mrs. Nikolopoulou spoke vividly about the life of the fighter Giannias in the village where he was born (Drosia Tritaias), about his action throughout the Peloponnese and about the popularity of the hero among the people as shown in our expressive folk songs.

This was followed by traditional Leventian dances for the Captain and the Fighters of '21 (led by dance teachers Konstantina Zaglas & Thanos Nikolakopoulos).

The event could not of course miss the honorary member of the dance group "The Eagles of Moria", Vasilios Kyriazis, lawyer,
former president of the Tritaites Association of Patras, who contributed significantly to the emergence of the Prostovitsanos Captain and stood
supporter of the dance group "The Eagles of Moria" for this purpose. This was followed by the laying of wreaths at the monument of the Fighter by:

1) the MP of Achaia, Angelos Tsigris
2) the Deputy Regional Governor for the Coordination of Administration and e-Government of the Region of Western Greece, Panagiotis Papadopoulos
3) the mayor of Erymanthos, Theodoros Baris
4) the president of the Shooting Club of Traditional Weapons of Patras, Konstantinos Vangelakos
5) the secretary of the Cultural & Environmental Association of Drosia Tritaia "The Gianniades", Dimitrios Dimitropoulos

6) The president of the Cultural Association of Myloi of Patras, Nikolaos Kostis. Then the dance teachers of the dance group "The Eagles of Moria",

Thanos Nikolakopoulos and Konstantina Zagla paid tribute to Captain Giannias. Afterwards, a minute's silence was observed in memory of the deceased fighters of 1821 and the event ended with the playing of the National Anthem.

Crowds of people flooded the square to attend the event, which was attended by the regional councilors of Achaia, Spyros Skiadaresis and Antonis Harokopos, Antid. of the Municipality of Erymanthos Elias Verras, the president of the Community of Drosia Tritaia, Dimitrios Zorlas, the Lieutenant General of the Hellenic Police and candidate for MP, Mrs. Efstathia Giannia, the head of the municipal faction "Spiral" and candidate for mayor, Petros Psomas, the president of KTEL Achaia, Andreas Manolopoulos, the teacher – writer Kyriakos Skiathas, the teacher – writer George Petropoulos, the director of the 20th High School
Patras, Christos Christakoudis, the president of the Winter Swimmers Association, Ioanna Oktara, members of the Ecological Movement of Patras,
representative of the historical revival group "Panagiotis Karatzas", Andreas Giannopoulos, representatives of the Dance and Folklore Association of Messatida "Fileris", the Cultural Association Moira "Thana", the Association for the Protection of Health and Environment of the area of K. Y. Chalandritsa, the Cultural Association of Makrigianni, the Cultural Association Cultural Gate "En Patrais", local bodies, clubs etc.

In this commemoration event to the Achaean – Prostovitsanos Captain Giannias, his son George – Deligiorgas – Giannias and all the unsung heroes, before and during the Revolution of 1821, the diverse national-patriotic, religious and anniversary symbolism was attributed by the large group "The Eagles of Moria", causing shivers of emotion to the attendees and paying tribute and debt to the unsung fighters, in the unknown, but also glorious moments of our National Rebirth, with the promise, next year, to stand humbly again under the statue of the Captain, paying the honors befitting the stature of his manliness.

The Cultural Associations would like to thank:
a) The Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Patras,
b) The parishes of the Holy Churches of Ag. Paraskevis – Ag. Athanasiou,
c) local media,
For their symbolic, cooperation for the success of our event.
Yours sincerely.
The Cultural Associations
Drosias Tritaias "Gianniades" & Mylon Patras
Here are more photos of the event:

PRESS RELEASE IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF 1821 – UNSUNG HEROES – GIANNIAS 26.03.2023