During the events marking the 112th anniversary of Kastoria’s liberation from Ottoman rule, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, gave a brief speech, highlighting the importance of maintaining cultural and national identity.

He stressed that “homeland, religion, language, traditions, and collective memory are the identity elements of modern civilization and are the foundation in times of globalization. They are the bedrock supporting the achievements of the Nation.“ Dendias added that as Greeks, “we must keep every anniversary in the national memory, not only as historical remembrance but also as an educational process for future generations.”

He further noted that preserving national identity “in no way constitutes a conservative agenda,” explaining that the word conservation does not carry a negative connotation but is, in fact, “deeply positive.”

“Conservation and progress can and must coexist,” he emphasized, “Woe to us if Hellenism does not carefully preserve its identity elements, upon which the nation is founded, and allows them to succumb to decay.”

The Minister stressed that preserving elements of national identity is “a profoundly unifying action, both conservative and progressive at the same time. It transcends political parties, governments, and factions; it unites Greeks and, at the same time, aligns with the pursuit of our European progress.” He reminded the audience that Konstantinos Karamanlis brought Greece into the EU “to safeguard and preserve the national structure, not to distort it.”

“We aspire to be distinct, conservative, progressive, and, at the same time, the proud pillar of the European project, to which we have contributed fundamental principles and values,” Dendias said, underlining that “we do not aspire to become part of an aimless, confused, powerless, and stateless cultural melting pot.”

Earlier, the Minister of National Defense attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of Panagia Mouzevitis – Patron Saint Minas of Kastoria, led by the Metropolitan of Kastoria, Mr. Kallinikos. He later participated in a memorial service at the monument of Germanos Karavangelis, where he laid a wreath on behalf of the Greek government.

The celebrations for the liberation of Kastoria concluded with a student and military parade along Megalon Alexandrou Avenue.