The scientific conference entitled "Mesolongi - Famagusta: From heroic passion to poetic creation" was held with great success on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in the event hall of the Ayia Napa Town Hall. The event was hosted by the Ayia Napa Municipality, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute and the Municipality of Famagusta.
The conference focused on highlighting the historical and spiritual parallels between the two cities, which are distinguished by their deep connection to collective memory, literature and artistic expression. Through speeches, greetings and artistic events, the common character of resistance, faith and creativity that unites Messolonghi and Famagusta throughout time was highlighted.
In his greeting, read by the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, Archimandrite George Christodoulou, Archbishop George of Cyprus emphasized that the Siege of Famagusta and the Exodus from Messolonghi are prime examples of faith, patriotism and heroism. These events inspired significant works of art and literature, transforming the historical ordeal into a timeless symbol of dignity and freedom.
The Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, through the greeting read by the General Inspector of Secondary Education, Dr. Polymnia Hatzineophytou, underlined the importance of the conference as an initiative that connects education with historical memory and culture. She stressed that Messolonghi and Famagusta remain symbols of struggle, sacrifice and freedom, while referring to the power of literature to transform historical experience into collective consciousness, making special mention of Dionysios Solomos' work "Free Besieged".
The Mayor of Ayia Napa, Christos Zannetou, in his greeting, emphasized that the conference is an act of historical memory and cultural responsibility. He emphasized that Messolonghi and Famagusta are places-symbols of resistance and dignity, while he particularly referred to the Battle of Ayia Napa in 1826, led by Hadjimichalis Dalianis, which historically connects the Cypriot land with the struggles of the Greek Revolution. At the same time, he pointed out that the Municipality of Ayia Napa systematically invests in education, culture and the preservation of historical memory, strengthening the intellectual dialogue and creative expression of the new generation.
The Mayor of Famagusta, Dr. Simos Ioannou, referred to the strong historical and spiritual ties that connect Famagusta with Messolonghi, two cities that experienced the ordeal of siege and the struggle for freedom. He stressed that memory and poetry are important means of preserving historical consciousness, while expressing the hope that Famagusta will once again become a symbol of freedom and peace for all Cypriots.
The Mayor of the Holy City of Messolonghi, Spyros Diamantopoulos, in his greeting, read by Ms. Alexia Georgiou, advisor for philological courses, referred to the deep historical bond that unites the two cities, emphasizing that Messolonghi and Famagusta are symbols of memory, struggle and endurance for Hellenism.
In the introduction to the conference, Doctor of Modern Greek Philology Andreas Antzioulis presented the approach to the historical experience of siege and resistance through the prism of history and literature, highlighting the timeless relationship between man, memory and historical reality.
The conference also included the artistic event "Free Besieged Cities: Messolonghi-Famagusta", with the participation of students from the Paralimni High School, as well as the dance "Famagusta", through which the relationship between history and poetry was highlighted, approaching the memory and meaning of historical events experientially.
The event concluded with scientific presentations by academics, philologists and researchers, which highlighted the connection between history and literature, illuminating aspects of the siege of Messolonghi and the historical course of Famagusta, as well as the way in which these events were reflected in poetic creation.
Finally, the conclusions of the conference were presented by the Head of the Literature Curriculum Group of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr. Andreas Sofoklis, who referred to the findings of the presentations and the importance of the conference for Hellenism in general.
