100th Anniversary of Thessaloniki’s Liberation

Written by Chris L.

Painting of the Greek painter Polykleitos Reggos

  
  One hundred years ago, on the 26^th of October 1912, our beloved city, Thessaloniki, was finally freed after more than 400 years of Ottoman occupation.

  Back then, the Greek army, under the leadership of King-General Constantinos, conquered the city, after tough battles against the Ottoman Powers during the then ongoing  Balkan Wars I. On that day, Thessaloniki recaptured its Greek identity, returning to its role as one of the country’s cultural and economic centers.

Painting of the Turkish painter Kenan Messare

  A folklore legacy, however, has also been created around this date, as it is also the feast day of Thessaloniki’s patron-Saint, Saint Demetrius, with many of its inhabitants considering the liberation a miracle performed by the Saint.

The 26^th of October remains a symbolic day for the modern History of Greece as well, as it marked the return of the so called northern co-capital back where it belongs.

  The Liberation of Thessaloniki is celebrated annually as a double-celebration, along with Saint-Demetrius feast, and is a panegyric moment for its people. 2012 was the 100^th Anniversary of what is considered one of the most special and determining  moments in Greek History, and that’s why it is so important to us, and is celebrated with such honor. 

  A lot of festivities took place to celebrate this event.

  In the following video you can watch a few moments of the redo of the festal Greek Army’s entrance in the city and the ceremonial flag raising on the White Tower.

Segments of events for the 100^th Anniversary of Thessaloniki’s Liberation

  Our school visited an exhibition of paintings related to Thessaloniki’s Liberation, which was held to honor the event.