The inauguration ceremony of PHERMELI was held on October 3, 2019, at NJV Athens Plaza Hotel. Host of the impressive event to introduce PHERMELI, a newly-established civic Association created to forward Greek tradition, especially, the Evzones, was noted journalist Nikos Vatopoulos.
Among the prominent guest speakers were Olga Kefalogianni (MP for Athens and former Minister of Tourism), Dr. Aikaterini Polymerou-Kamilaki (former Director of Hellenic Folklore Research Centre, Academy of Athens), Iris Kritikou (Art Historian and Independent Curator) and Dr. Lazaros Rizopoulos (Adjunct Lecturer, University οf Peloponnese).
Each speaker shared valuable insight into the Evzones as a symbol of historical heroism and today’s ceremonial role as Presidential Guards of the Unknown Soldier.
President of PHERMELI, Lisa Pentheroudaki, a highly-regarded visual artist, presented ,in detail, the Association’s goals and activities. A priority among PHERMELI’s main goals is the provision of a scholarship granted by the Association and dedicated to the memory of 24 year old Ezvone, Spyros Thomas, who passed away on February 22, 2019, a few hours after his duty watch.
To honor Thomas’ memory, PHERMELI will financially grant a scholarship to a postgraduate student toward writing a master’s thesis on the history of the Evzones and the Greek origin of their uniform.
The event was attended by the representative of the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic, Sophia Hiniadou-Kampani, the deputy mayor of Athens, Eleftherios Skiadas, as well as the father of the deceased Evzone, Mr. Christos Thomas, and persons from the fields of Arts and Culture.
