Lord Byron Academic Year 2023-2024 at New York College

New York College (NYC) commemorates the BICENTENNIAL of the 12-year Greek Struggle of Independence (1821-1833). To this end, NYC proudly dedicates the academic year 2023-2024 to the legacy of Lord Byron's influential and leading role in Greece (1823-1824).

Initiating the celebration of Lord Byron's bicentennial in Greece (1823-1824), NYC students inaugurated the events by laying a wreath at the Lord Byron monument, in front of the NYC Athens Campus, on Christmas Eve 2023. This gesture, accompanied by the placement of an honorary plaque, marked exactly 200 years since Lord Byron's courageous sailing to Messolonghi (December 24, 1823, Julian Calendar), where he stood on the forefront of the Greek War of Independence.

One month later, on January 25, 2024 (Gregorian Calendar), commemorating exactly two centuries since Lord Byron was declared "civil and military Chief" of the Greek forces in Western Greece, in the region of Messolonghi and Nafpaktos (January 25, 1824), NYC inaugurated the Lord Byron Room on its  Athens Campus. The ceremony was marked by the active participation of the Greek State: Major General Dimitrios Oikonomidis cut the inauguration ribbon, officially  representing General Dimitrios Houpis, Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of Greece. Among the distinguished attendees were four-time Olympian Pyrros Dimas and Archimandrite Aristarchos Grekas, assistant professor at the School of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

During the opening ceremony, Elias S. Foutsis, Hon PhD, President and Founder of New York College, emphasized the significance of these events in his speech, stating, "NYC's anniversary events and actions not only reflect our historical PAST but are also pivotal for our FUTURE. For whoever does not remember their history is doomed to relive it."

In line with its commitment to historical remembrance and forward-thinking education, NYC has spearheaded a series of events and activities as part of the Bicentennial celebrations, including:

• A landmark conference at the Concert Hall (MEGARON) in Athens, titled "Dredes: At the forefront of the Struggle for the Regeneration of Greece," featuring prominent political and military figures.

• An online conference on "The contribution of Ioannis Kapodistrias to Ethics and Education," with participation of Ms. Natalia Kapodistrias (the last descendant of the Kapodistrias family) and renowned scholars.

• Donation of 1,000 copies of a historiographical book, titled "The Legacy of Ioannis Kapodistrias on Education," to 500 public high schools.

• Recitation of "The Speech of Kolokotronis to the young people in Pnyka" (1838), after 183 years, in 2021, by General Fragos Fragoulis, Honorary Chief of the Greek Army.

• A conference on "The Greek Revolution of 1821 on the World Chessboard."

• Production and dissemination of an anniversary video clip, titled "The Bicentennial Great Walk of Athens," in collaboration with the late Vangelis Papathanasiou (VANGELIS), the world-renowned composer.

It is noteworthy that New York College remains the sole Greek college that has organized significant anniversary events for the Bicentennial of the Greek Revolution, as exemplified by the aforementioned events in 2021. Moreover NYC continues its commitment by organizing anniversary events for the Struggle of Independence until 2033. It stands as the only educational institution globally to commemorate the twelve-year Greek Struggle of Independence (1821-1833) chronologically, honoring each significant event exactly 200 years after its occurrence.