200 years since the Proclamation of Greek Independence - Iasi, Three Hierarchs Monastery
"Here at the Monastery of the Three Hierarchs, on February 27, 1821 in the presence of etherists, Greek and Romanian sympathizers, Veniamin Costache, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Suceava, consecrated the flag of Eteria and blessed its leader, Prince Alexandru Ipsilanti, giving it to for the holy cause of Greek Freedom in the liberation movements of the peoples of the Balkans ”. This is an inscription that we find in the Gothic Hall of the Three Hierarchs Monastery and attests to the fact that, from here, with the blessing of Metropolitan Veniamin Costache, Alexandru Ipsilanti gave the signal for the liberation of Greece.
Philiki Hetairia - The Society of Friends was a secret organization created in Odessa in 1814 and aimed to liberate the peoples of the Balkans (Greece, in particular) from Ottoman rule and to establish free Christian states. Because the founders of the Ether were Greek, surely their main goal was to fight for the liberation of their homeland. Eteria had branches where there were Greek communities, and one of the most important was in Romania.
Alexandru Ipsilanti, general epitrope of Eteria, was the son of Constantin Ipsilant, former ruler in Iasi between 1799 and 1801 and in Bucharest (1802 - 1806), later retired to Russia.
On the night of February 22, 1821, Alexandru Ipsilanti, accompanied by two brothers, crossed the Prut at the Sculeni customs and arrived in Iasi with 200 Arnauts. The arrival in Iași was impetuous, arousing on the one hand enthusiastic manifestations of support, but also slightly reserved reactions, especially from the ruler of that time, Mihail Şuţu Vodă, who had been confirmed by the High Gate for a short time.
On February 24, Ypsilanti made public three proclamations: "To the Greeks everywhere (In arms, friends! The homeland is calling you!)"; "To the brothers from Eterie" and "To the Greeks from Moldova and Wallachia". The January 24 proclamation proclaimed: "Behold, after so many centuries of suffering, the Phenicia of Greece spreads its wings proudly and calls under its shadow the true and obedient sons." Those who did not take up arms for the liberation of Greece were to be seen as bastards. unworthy of the Greek name ”.
The beginning of the Revolution was declared on February 27, 1821, in front of the church of the Three Hierarchs when the ethereal army and the population listened to the words of the general announcing the struggle for the liberation of Greece, and the Metropolitan of Moldavia Veniamin Costache after the consecration of flags. Through his gesture, the Metropolitan of Moldova linked the history of Greece to Iasi forever. Some say that some of the Moldavian boyars were intrigued by the fact that guests from abroad "had invaded a country without any defense" (AD Xenopol). However, the crowd witnessed the enthusiastic marches and energetic demonstrations taking place in the city.
It is said that the Greek flags were dark blue with a gold cross on one side and a flame on the other that rises from the ashes and from which the Phoenix flies with the inscription - "I rise from the ashes!" "After the consecration of these flags were divided to the troops, young Greeks full of enthusiasm ready to sacrifice themselves on the altar of the Fatherland "(Xenopol V)", and they marched on the Great Street, in front of the Monastery, offering the first image of the troops of the Aether Revolution consisting of mavrophores ”. The uniform was black, with the skull on its head and arm, a sign that they had twinned with death for the liberation of their homeland and had only one thought: "victory or death."
Today, the Three Hierarchs Monastery, founded by Vasile Lupu, is one of the most visited places by Greek tourists arriving in the city, because it is a testimony of the strong connection and a special significance between Iasi and Greece, which has now been established 200 years.
