ABOUT GREEK FLAG WITH RESPECT I SALUTE YOU. "Αυτό είναι το ιερό πανί το γαλανό και τ΄άσπρο, κομμάτι από ανοιξιάτικο και ξάστερο ουρανό. Το πήρε κάποια μάγισσα και το΄κανε χλαμύδα, να ζει σ΄αυτό να πάλλεται ολόκληρη η πατρίδα" OCTOBER 28,1940. The Day Greece said "NO" To Mussolini, The day Greece said "NO" to Hitler: "NO ONE SHALL ENTER OUR LAND TO SLAUGHTER ANY OTHER" How many Nations purposely stood up to Nazi Germany with absolutely nothing to gain but just their integrity and so much to lose? I know of none, except of Greece. I know of a few Nations that were conquered by one telephone call by Hitler himself... TO ALL MY DEAD ANCESTORS AND FIGHTERS OF FREEDOM, ONCE MORE, I SALUTE YOU.-

" Μη λησμονάς πως ΄Ελληνα σε έχει γεννήσει η μοίρα
κι εντός σου λάμπει αθάνατη του γένους η ψηχή"

The number of the lines is based on the number of the syllables in the Greek phrase:
Eleutheria H Thanatos (Freedom or Death). Ε-λευ-θε-ρί-α _ ή _ Θά-να-τος

Freedom or Death was the motto during the years of the Hellenic Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in the 19nth century [There are claims that the number of lines reflects the number of letters in the greek word for Freedom which equals 9].

This word stirred theheart of the oppressed Greeks, it created intense emotions and inspired them to fight and gain their freedom after 400 years of slavery.

The line pattern was chosen because of their similarity with the wavy sea that surounds the shores of Greece.The interchange of blue and white colors makes the Hellenic Flag on a windy day to look like the Aegean Pelagos.

Only the quaint islands are missing! The Greek Square Cross that rests on the upper left-side ofthe flag and occupies one fourth of the total area demonstrates the respect and the devotion the Greek people have for the Greek Orthodox Church and signifies the important role of Christianity in the formation of the modern Hellenic Nation.

During the dark years of the Ottoman rule, the Greek Orthodox Church helped the enslaved Greeks to retain their cultural characteristics: the Greek language, the Byzantine religion and generally the Greek ethnic identity, by the institution of the Crypha Scholia (hidden schools). The Crypha Scholia were a web of schools that operated secretly throughout Greece and were committed in transmitting to the Greeks the wonders of theirancestors and the rest oftheir cultural heritage.

Today, Christianity is still the dominant religion among Greeks. Therefore the existence of the Cross is justified.

Blue and White! These two colors symbolize the blue of the Greek Sea and the Whiteness of the restless Greeks waves! According to the mythic legends, the Goddess of Beauty, Aphrodite emerged from these waves.

In addition, it reflects the blue of the Greek Sky and the White of the few clouds that travel in it. There are some who suggest that the blue and white was symbolizes the similar color of the clothing (vrakes) of the Greek sailors during the Greek War of Independence.

Did you know? The largest flag in the world is located in the city of Didimoticho ( Norhteastern Greece in Thraki near the border line of Turkey). The flag is 17.46 meters tall and 27.52 meters wide. 480.40 square meters. In feet it is approximately 1500 square feet.

The NATIONAL ANTHEM - The HYMN TO FREEDOM

The Hymn to Freedom was written by Dionysios Solomos in 1823, and consists of 158 stanzas.
The music was composed by Mantzaros in 1828 and in 1865 it officially became the national anthem of Greece.

Original Greek Words (repeat previous two lines three times (repeat previous two lines three times) We knew thee of old, Oh, divinely restored, By the lights of thine eyes And the light of thy Sword From the graves of our slain Shall thy valour prevail As we greet thee again- Hail, Liberty! Hail! (repeat previous two lines three times) Lyrics: --Dionysios Solomos, 1824 Music: Nikolaos Mantzaros, 1828 Adopted: 1864