GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY IN CHICAGO

Greek Independence Day, national holiday celebrated annually in Greece on March 25, commemorating the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821.

Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since 1453. The Greek revolt was precipitated on March 25, 1821, when Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese. The cry “Freedom or death” became the motto of the revolution.

The Greek struggle had elicited strong sympathy in Europe, and many leading intellectuals had promoted the Greek cause, including the English poet Lord Byron. At the naval Battle of Navarino, the combined British, French, and Russian forces destroyed an Ottoman-Egyptian fleet. The revolution ended in 1829 when the Treaty of Edirne established an independent Greek state.

In celebration of Greek Independence Day, The Federation of Hellenic American Organizations of Illinois (aka. Enosis Federation of Illinois or "Enosis Illinois") will hold a flag raising ceremony at the Richard J. Daley Center, in Chicago at 12pm-1pm. The ceremony includes the raising of the Greek flag, the United States and Greek national anthems, laying of the wreaths around the Eternal Flame, followed by our line-up of speakers which will be held indoors.

The honor guards will be a selection of men and women from dance groups and Greek organizations, each in costumes that represent different regions of Greece.

We hope to see all Greeks represented on this special day.