CAPTAIN VASSILIS AND CARMEN CONSTANTAKOPOULOS FOUNDATION NEWS

On Monday 17 May the MORIAS ’21 initiative was presented via the internet, with the participation of more than 70 foundations, organizations and companies. The initiative, developed by the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation and TEMES S.A., extended an open invitation to Greeks the world over to come together in the Peloponnese, the land where the Greek War of Independence really took off!

The initiative is under the auspices of the “Greece 2021” Committee, and is carried out with the strategic participation of the Peloponnese Region and the Municipalities of Eastern Mani, Western Mani, Kalamata, Corinth, Monemvasia, Nafplio, Pylos-Nestor, Tripoli, Messini, Oechalia and Trifillia, in collaboration with the “1821-2021 Initiative.”

Representatives of the bodies that contributed to the design and implementation of the initiative – all of them distinguished personalities in local government as well as business and academia – honored the event with their presence.

In her greeting, nondiplomatic ambassador of the Hellenic Republic and chairman of the "Greece 2021" Committee Ms. Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki said: “The ‘Greece 2021’ Committee embraced from the very first moment this innovative initiative, offering its support. Not only because it falls within the framework of the axes delimiting the anniversary program coordinated by the Committee, but also becausethe very philosophy behind the initiative – the effort to connect the past with the present, the participation and mobilization of all creative forces in the region, the concern for the promotion of the local community and for the creation of a legacy for the future – is the key element of the way the Committee itself approached the anniversary celebration.”

Regional governor of the Peloponnese Mr. Panagiotis Nikas said: “The heart of the 1821 Greek Revolution beat in the Peloponnese! For the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution, as a Region we are implementing actions centering on quality and with a view to the future and the next generations; that is why we are cooperating with the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation and TEMES S.A., which are very active in cultural affairs and have contributed a great deal to Messinia and the whole Peloponnese.”

Advisor to the National Bank of Greece and coordinator of the "1821-2021 Initiative" Mr. Ioannis Manos referred to the profile of the initiative and the important role played by the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, stressing that "The emblematic MORIAS ’21 initiative is connecting history with the future, and in particular with development, nature, the environment, quality of life and culture."

At the same time, in a special video that was projected, the mayors of the areas where the actions of the initiative are taking place invited Greeks to get to know the land where the flame of the Revolution was first lit.

The event was coordinated by Ms. Alexandra Tiligada, co-founder of Discover Greek Culture, the company that has taken up the implementation and coordination of the initiative.

Chairman of the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation and TEMES S.A. Mr. Achilleas V. Constantakopoulos shared the vision of the initiative: “I am very happy that over 70 organizations, institutions and companies have embraced our effort and together we have created the Call to Morias. We believe this is the great message of the celebration. Together we can achieve more. This is what our ancestors achieved, learning both from their successes, when they were united, and their failures, when they weren’t. The 1821 Revolution showed us that only when all the forces of the nation were united did we achieve the impossible.”

MORIAS ’21 is a comprehensive cultural tourism initiative that, through 21 thematic routes, connects emblematic cities of the Peloponnese, highlighting the history of the land and the role of each city in the War of Independence. The routes last three, five, or seven days, and emphasize the famous and the unknown monuments of each city; moreover, they are complemented by four areas of activity, centering on History, Art, Gastronomy and Nature. The University of the Peloponnese is responsible for the scientific documentation of the initiative. Professor Nikolaos Zacharias is coordinator; emeritus professor Thanos Veremis and professor Thanasis Christou are the supervisors on matters of documentation. The initiative’s activities will gradually unfold in the coming period. For more information on the initiative, please visit: https://www.morias21.com/

The dean of the University of the Peloponnese and professor of the Department of Educational & Social Policy Mr. Athanasios Katsis highlighted the relationship between the Peloponnese and the War of Independence, and said that "The University of the Peloponnese is very proud to have its headquarters located in the most historical region of the country."

Here are the initiative’s four areas of activity in more detail:

• History: Using high technology and modern audiovisual media, paintings by Greek and foreign artists donated by the Benaki Museum, the National History Museum and the Folklore Museum of Kalamata will come to life digitally, complemented by the narration of the events by their protagonists in Pylos (Tsiklitiras residence), Kalamata (Cultural Center), Tripoli (Petropoulos Legacy), Eastern Mani (Old Town Hall of Areopoli), and Nafplio (Vouleftikon). The initiative is supported by the following companies: “AEGEAS” urban non-profit cultural and public benefit company, public benefit Social and Cultural Affairs Welfare Foundation, KOUROS Maritime Enterprises and Mytilineos. Moreover, in collaboration with the George and Victoria Karelia Foundation and the Kalamata Lyceum Club of Greek Women, the modular exhibition “The Morias of Freedom” will take place, presenting traditional costumes of the Peloponnese and the Saronic Gulf.

• Art: Young artists intervene in the urban landscape of selected cities of the Peloponnese, creating 10 contemporary murals depicting warrior heroes that form part of a comprehensive Peloponnesian narrative! The program is an initiative of the 13th Studio of Painting of the School of Fine Arts; the president of the Department of Fine Arts Dr. Erato Hadjisavva is responsible for the historical documentation and artistic supervision of this project.

• Gastronomy: The eating habits of the warriors of 1821 provide the opportunity for a unique culinary journey in history, in collaboration with the five Chambers of the Peloponnese as well as other professional associations. Ingredients, flavors and secrets of a long-ago era brought to light by the research carried out by the University of the Peloponnese and Gastronomos magazine; they all come together in a unique menu created by popular chef Lefteris Lazarou titled “A ‘Revolutionary’ Menu”! Master of Wine Constantinos Lazarakis has curated the local varieties wine list. Through 12 cooking videos, the initiative aims to train restaurants in the Peloponnese in the preparation of the recipes, also addressing a call to all the emblematic restaurants of the country to include in their menu dishes inspired by the Revolution, adding their own unique creative touch!

• Nature: Centenarian trees of the Peloponnese narrate important moments of the War of Independence and acquire special signage. In this way, they become living witnesses of the events of that time. In collaboration with the University of the Peloponnese, and with the support of the Olayan Association, the program is mapping the centenarian trees of the Morias and highlighting 27 tree-witnesses of the Revolution’s events.

• With the kind permission of the Benaki Museum, paintings on themes inspired by the Revolution are brought to life in an innovative way by Tableaux Vivants in open spaces and shop windows, in collaboration with attica, The Department Store and LamdaDevelopment in Athens and Thessaloniki.

• Together with My Greek Games company, the program has created the family board game “A Journey Towards Freedom,” which will be available at PUBLIC and at other stores all over Greece. The game shows how different forces, chieftains, intellectuals, politicians, elites and philhellenes worked together towards freedom.

Moreover, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hellenic Initiative and South East European Studies at Oxford (SEESOX) of the University of Oxford, the program is inviting the Greeks of the diaspora to visit Greece this year and relive history by saying “This year I, too, am in Morias!”

For more information regarding the initiative, please visit: https://www.morias21.com/

For more information:

Sophia Antoniadou, CEO/co-founder at Discover Greek Culture, email: [email protected], tel.: +30 697 4146461

Chrysostomos Agapitos, account manager at V+O Communication, email: [email protected], tel.: +30 693 2580089