The Elefsina Air Base was today (22.7.2025) the repatriation ceremony of identified relics six fallen In the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, In 1974.
The Minister of National Defense was present at the ceremony, which was honored to the fallen and held a memorial service Nikos Dendias.
“Greece today fulfills a historical debt and does the obvious. It attributes due honor to the dead and justification to their families. It repatriated, after decades of anticipation, the bones of six gunmen from Greece who fell heroically during the Turkish invasion of Megalonissos In 1974. It restores its dead to the land, “he said.
“It is recommended to fulfill this debt to the centuries -long tradition of Hellenism. That is, the collection, the rendering of favorable prices and the respect of our dead. I would like to remind myself as a historical example of the death of the victorious Admirals of the Athenian Republic after the Battle of Arginous, because they failed to collect their dead because of the trick. The Ark of National Memory is present as a modern monument to the dead of modern Greece today at the Ministry of National Defense. The leading work of Kostas Varotsos, in which all the names of the dead of the wars of Greece have been engraved. For five decades now, the search and identification of those missing in Cyprus have not stopped. They have been and are the national priority. And today, the heart of all of us and our thinking turn to relatives of the fallen. We perceive and respect the sadness of long anticipation.
“There are no anonymous losses for Hellenism”
Mr Dendias stressed that the identification of the fallen in favor of the homeland is a honor of honor.
“There is no anonymous losses for Hellenism and the identification of the fallen in favor of the homeland is an act of honor. And the return to the homeland is a matter of all Greek society, of all the real Greeks. Let me at this point express my gratitude to the Republic of Cyprus, but also to those who worked with faith, patience and dedication for today’s return to the homeland. The coordinated effort confirms that it is possible to transcend obstacles and that every national effort is not completed in the face of difficulties. The research continues uninterruptedly for every Greek who is ignored and the state will insist until each family receives the justification they are due to. The nation and the Armed Forces stand with respect, “he said.
Greece today fulfills its historical debt. After decades of anticipation, the bones of six gunmen from Greece fell heroically during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
For five decades now, the search and identification of those missing in Cyprus… pic.twitter.com/DkDEDodJuU
– Nikos Dendias (@nikosdendias) July 22, 2025
‘The honored dead are all backed’
Mr. Dendias referred to the dead whose relics were repatriated, “the reserve non -reserve Themistocles Eleftheropoulos, the reserve, the reserve, the reserve, the reserve, the reserve Backup Multipurpose Theodoros Charalambides ».
“These dead are a timeless example. And I would like to observe that the honored dead are all backers, because the defense of our homeland, in addition to our worthy professional executives, is based in the citizens’ army over time. This is a stable national advantage, because the defensive power of the homeland is not only based on technological capacity and superiority. It is primarily based on the will, self -denial, patriotism and selfless contribution of its citizens. “
Referring to the surrender of the reserve, he noted that “it constitutes the priceless national legacy. It runs Greek history 2,500 years. The armed citizens fought from the Marathon and Salamis to the mountains of Epirus and Rupel. At every moment of crisis, Greek citizens go beyond themselves, the inherent defects of the race, and unite around the idea of defense of the homeland and individual, to self -sacrifice, responsibility of every citizen towards it. This is the characteristic that distinguishes us, the steadfast foundation of our national security. This is based on the great reform of the Armed Forces, known as the “2030 agenda”, which tends to create the strongest, best trained and best -equipped army in Europe and you will allow me to say, perhaps all over the planet. “
‘Truth is the denial of oblivion’
Finally, Mr. Dendias said: “Today, the bones of our dead are returning to the land that raised them and their names will certainly not be forgotten. Their sacrifice is recorded in the ark of national memory and in the collective and timeless memory of the nation, that is, in truth. Because in Greek the truth is the denial of oblivion, that is, of forgetfulness. It is the living memory conservation. Their memory is eternal. “
The ceremony was attended by Nina Kasimatis, as President of the Hellenic Parliament Speaker, MP Nina Kasimatis, Chief of General Staff General Dimitrios Houpis, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, Chief of General Staff Vice -Mayor Dimitrios Republic of Cyprus in Athens, Stavros Avgoustidis, the Chairman of the Panhellenic Committee of Parents and Congenital Priests and Missing Cypriot Tragedy Maria Kalbourtzis, families and relatives of the fallen.
The burial of the relics will take place in the places of origin of the fallen.