As part of the joint Year of the History of Greece and Russia in 2021, under the auspices of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a unique exhibition “Russia and Greece: Pages of Joint History” is opening at the Greek Foreign Ministry.
For almost a thousand years Russia and Greece have been linked by warm and friendly relations, the basis of which is the common Orthodox faith for the two countries. The peoples of Russia and Greece have always treated each other with sympathy. For Russia, supporting the Greeks in their struggle for independence from the Turkish yoke was a historic mission.
The exposition of the exhibition project includes electronic copies of documents, engravings, maps and plans dedicated to the two greatest naval battles of the Russian Imperial Navy, which played an important role in the liberation of Greece from Turkish dependence: the Battle of Chesme (1770) and the Battle of Navarino (1827).
Since the second half of the 19th century, warm family ties have been established between the two Orthodox reigning dynasties – the Romanovs’ house and the Greek royal house. In 1867, Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna, daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich and granddaughter of Emperor Nicholas I, became the wife of King George I of Greece, son of Danish King Christian IX and brother of Danish Princess Dagmara, future Empress Maria Feodorovna. Since that time, the two ruling dynasties have been closely linked.
Of the seven children of the Greek royal family, three tied the knot with representatives of the Romanov family: Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna, Princess of Greece and Denmark, married Grand Duke George Mikhailovich; Nicholas, Prince of Greece and Denmark, married Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna; Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna, Princess of Greece and Denmark, became the wife of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich.
The relationship between the Greek royal house and the Romanov family was special. Representatives of the Greek royal dynasty regularly traveled to Russia not only on official visits, but also to various family celebrations and even just to stay and visit their numerous relatives. The exhibition project presents photographs reflecting the strong family ties of the two ruling dynasties, as well as those associated with travels to Greece by representatives of the Romanovs.
The ships of the Russian navy often entered Greek ports. The base of the Russian fleet appeared in Piraeus, where the queen of the Hellenes Olga Konstantinovna opened a naval hospital. The exposition of the exhibition presents photographs of Russian warships at the base in Piraeus and in other ports of Greece, as well as photographs of Russian sailors that they took in this country.
The exhibition “Russia and Greece: Pages of Joint History” dedicated to the Year of Greece in Russia displays photographs and documents that most fully reflect Russian-Greek relations in the 18th and early 20th centuries.
At the opening of the historical exhibition, welcoming remarks will be made by Alexander Voronko, Director of the Department of Museums and External Relations of the Ministry of Culture of Russia; Ilias Klis, Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Greece, Deputy Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Year of History of Russia – Greece. Then the Greek Foreign Ministry will host a round table in the format of a dialogue between cultural figures and historians “Russia and Greece’s struggle for independence.”
As part of the joint Year of the History of Greece and Russia in 2021, the Days of Russia in Greece festival will also be held – with many events, concerts, round tables. On Monday, December 13 – one of the most significant events: a concert in the capital’s “Megaro Muzikis” in the “Alexandra Trianti” hall of the famous group “Free Cossacks of the Kuban”. Artistic director – People’s Artist of Russia Nikolai Kubar. The concert program will include choral works, songs and dances of the peoples of Russia, glorifying the beauty of their native places. The beginning is at 20.00. Detailed information.
At the Epigraphic Museum of Athens, an exhibition will open under the working title “Phanagoria – the archaeological pearl of Russia” and a discussion panel on the topic “The role of historical museums in Russia and Greece in the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.”
On Tuesday, an exhibition will open at the Russian House and a round table will be held dedicated to the 200th anniversary of F.M. Dostoevsky. The Serafio Municipal Complex in Athens will host the opening of an exhibition of the most picturesque places in Russia “The Most Beautiful Country” of the Russian Geographical Society and an exhibition dedicated to the unique heritage of the State Historical, Ethnographic and Architectural Museum-Reserve “Kizhi”. There will also be a concert of young performers of the St. Petersburg House of Music, laureates of international competitions.
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