The historic Battle of Ayia Napa on March 17, 1826, the only Battle of the Greek Revolution in Cyprus, was honored with due splendor by the Municipality of Ayia Napa and the "Aroma" Association of Ayia Napa - Friends of the Sculpture Park, on the evening of Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Ayia Napa Harbor, in the place where this glorious story was written by the Greek revolutionaries against the Turkish Guards.
The event was honored with their presence by the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Dr. Athena Michaelidou, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, who placed the event under his auspices, His Holiness Metropolitan of Constantia/Famagusta Mr. Vasileios, the respected Clergy of the Holy Metropolis and the Holy Church of Panagia Agia Napa, the President of the Famagusta Regional Sports Council Mr. Yiannis Karousos, the Mayors of Pogoni and Sfakion Mr. Konstantinos Kapsalis and Ioannis Zervos together with their entourage, the Mayor of Paralimni-Deryneia Mr. George Nikolettos, the new Commander of the 7th Infantry Brigade, Colonel of Artillery Marios Houvartas, the Commander of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Colonel Asterios Despoudis, the Former Ambassador Mr. George Georgi, representatives of political parties, the Police, the Fire Department, Local Bodies, the Deputy Mayors Mr. Antonis Christou, Antonis Koumis, Markos Koumis, Panagis Michaelas, Nikos Vasilas and the Members of the Ayia Napa Municipal Council, other officials and a large crowd.
The festive event began with the parade of Schools / Associations / Clubs / Dance Ensembles / Cultural Clubs, which marched together with their Banners and the Flags of Struggle, led by the Cyprus Police Philharmonic and followed by the majestic icon of the Virgin Mary of Agia Napa.
Then the Flame was lit with the Holy Light from the Virgin Mary of Ayia Napa, which was carried to the event site by the runners of the "Pericles Demetriou" Association and lit at the Monument, which was erected by the Municipality in memory of the Battle, by the Members of the Association of Reserve Frogmen, the hoisting of the 1821 Struggle Flags, as well as the arrival by sea of the flag of the Revolutionary Struggle of 1821 by the team of swimmers of the Association of Reserve Frogmen, which was delivered during a modest ceremony to the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Dr. Athena Michaelidou. The ceremony was followed by greetings from the President of the Association of "Aroma" of Ayia Napa, Friends of the Sculpture Park, etc. Christakis Pittas, the Mayors of Pogoni, Sfakia and the Municipality of Ayia Napa, Mr. Konstantinos Kapsalis, Mr. Ioannis Zervos and Mr. Christos Zannettos and the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr. Athina Michaelidou.
In her greeting, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, after congratulating the Municipality of Ayia Napa and the “Aroma” Association – Friends of the Sculpture Park who are honoring the National Rebirth with all its splendor, stated that the Battle of Ayia Napa, confirming the indestructible historical ties of Greece with Cyprus, animated the Cypriot people, inspiring them for the subsequent struggles they had to give to this extreme limit of Hellenism, hence the claim of their own freedom in 1955, she noted, had its roots in the Revolution of 1821 and in the messages, principles and values on which it was based.
In his greeting, the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Mr. Christos Zannetou, stated that the Battle of Ayia Napa is an event that is not just a page in history, but a timeless symbolism of the Greek struggle for Freedom and Dignity, reminding us that our national identity was forged through sacrifices and relentless resistance.
The only Battle of the Greek Revolution in Cyprus, the Battle of Ayia Napa, he noted, is not a forgotten page of history, nor a simple anniversary commemorated with formal events, but is a symbol, a message, an obligation and a duty, it is the living proof that Hellenism never expected freedom to be granted to it — it claimed it with its blood, soul and indomitable spirit, from 1821 to 1955, from 1974 to the present day, this struggle has never been static, nor has it stopped determining the destiny of our nation.
"In the historic Battle of Ayia Napa, the figure of Hatzimichalis Dalianis dominates as a symbol of bravery, self-sacrifice and national duty. Dalianis, a Greek chieftain of the Greek Revolution, left his mark not only in Macedonia and Central Greece, but also in Crete, where his name was forever engraved in the history of Sfakia. The sacrifice of Dalianis and his men is not just a historical memory. It is the driving force that must guide us."
He also added that the importance of this event goes beyond the limits of an anniversary, it is an act of historical memory and national responsibility, a reminder that our past is not just something we honor, but something that guides us, the struggle of our ancestors was not in vain. Their sacrifices will not just become a page in history because as long as there is even one who remembers, who honors and who continues, the flame of freedom will never go out, concluded Mr. Zannettou.
Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Pogoni, Mr. Konstantinos Kapsalis, stated that this year's celebration takes on a special symbolism, as it takes place one year after the twinning of the Municipalities of Pogoni and Ayia Napa, a union, as he said, that "seals our common heritage, our common debt to the memory of the heroes and our common path towards the future." "We honor," he said, all those who raised the banner of freedom and fought selflessly to shake off the Ottoman yoke, among whom stands out the figure of Hatzimichalis Dalianis, the heroic chieftain from Delvinaki, Pogoni, who did not hesitate to travel to Crete and Cyprus to fight his own battle for freedom."
The Mayor of Sfakion, Mr. Ioannis Zervos, stated in his greeting that the Hellenism of Cyprus and Crete share common historical roots, common struggles and an indissoluble spiritual and cultural bond, from Frangokastello in Sfakion, where Dalianis fought his last battle a few months later, to Ayia Napa, where the flame of revolution was lit in Cyprus, the message is the same: Hellenism has never bowed down in the face of tyranny. "Our presence here," he added, is not only an act of remembrance, but also a promise: to keep our history alive, to learn from the example of our heroes and to pass on to future generations the values for which they fought.
The President of the "Aroma" Association of Ayia Napa - Friends of the Sculpture Park, Mr. Christakis Pittas stated "that a chain of historical events, spanning more than three thousand years, such as the colonization of the entire island of Cyprus by the Achaeans in 1300-1200 BC, the founding of the ancient city of Salamis, the precursor city of our capital Famagusta by Teucros, son of the king of Salamis Telamon, the campaign for the liberation of Cyprus from the Persians by the Athenian General Cimon, also known as "Dead Enika", the numerous participation of Greeks of Cyprus who fought alongside their Greek brothers in the struggles of the nation, in the revolution of 1821, the battle of Ayia Napa in 1826, the Cypriot volunteers in the Balkan wars and in the two World Wars, the presence of Greek soldiers in Cyprus During the years of the Turkish rebellion, 1963-64 and 1967, the participation of Greek soldiers and officers alongside the Greek Cypriots who heroically faced the atrocities of Attila's invasion, most emphatically refutes the narrative that "Cyprus lies far away" a theorem that is refuted by history itself and those who have adopted it or are adopting it.
He also noted the relationship that binds the three cities of Pogoni, Ayia Napa and Sfakia, which is none other than the Commander-in-Chief Hatzimichalis.
The event concluded with the excellent anniversary performance which moved and captivated those present and which included a narration by the poet of the time who was embodied by the well-known actor and director Mr. Andreas Tsouris, who curated and directed the performance, dance drama and reenactment of the Battle between the Greek and Turkish Guards of Ayia Napa-Famagusta and was attended by the Musical Group of Michalis Hatzimichael, the Folklore Group of Achna Forest, the Dance Group "Para ti Limni" and the Dance Groups "I Paradosi" of Liopetri, "THOI" of Avgorou and ELDYK.
At the end, the traditional dance groups all danced traditional dances together and the evening closed with the National Anthem.
