The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki honored the National Uprising with a play about the struggles of the fighters (vid)
With a theatrical event dedicated to the apology of Judge Georgios Tertsetis in 1834, the AUTh celebrated the Anniversary of 1821 this year
In a special way he chose it Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to honor this year the anniversary of the National Uprisingon March 25th.
With a theatrical event concerning the apology of Judge Georgios Tertsetis in 1834, he dedicated this year’s ceremony to the great trials of the fighters of 1821 and their judges.
A few words about the project
On September 24, 1834, in Nafplio, a trial began that was to go down in history. Judges were to judge judges. The accused were Anastasios Polyzoidis and Georgios Tertsetis, who were on trial because they refused to sign the death sentence of Kolokotronis and Plapoutas.
“Our homeland is the human race…”
“I am not from Sparta, I am not an Athenian, my homeland is all of Greece. This is how the brave Plutarch expresses himself, he is almost two thousand years old, in one of his books “
This is how Tertsetis began his apology, addressing mainly Commissioner Mason and those behind him. In the same tone, he continued answering and subverting one of the accusations, which was recited by four university students in a row. Finally, the court solemnly acquitted Tertsetis and Polyzoidis.
The solemnity of the day was delivered by the professor of Law of Criminal Procedure of the Law School of AUTh, Bright Margaritis. Mr. Margaritis referred to the first post-revolutionary legislation, referring to the general climate of the time. In this context, he examined the trial of the judges who refused to co-sign the conviction of the heroes of the Revolution, Kolokotronis and Plapoutas, in relation to this very trial that preceded it. He then analyzed Tertsetis’ Apology by making references to the principles of modern criminal law and will point out the lessons that these trials have inherited to the new generations.
The professor referred to various points of Tertsetis’ apology, which he even characterized as a timeless example to be imitated in Criminal Procedure. Thus, trying to highlight the values set by Tertsetis, such as the value of innocence and non-conviction without trial but also his opposition to the death penalty, he quoted these points of apology.
“Apart from these reasons that prove that it is more legal, fairer and more useful not to sign, than to offset with the three, there was another reason equivalent to or even higher than the legal reason, which completely excluded us from taking part in the conviction. . decision, and this reason is: Our Nationalism. “Our Nation, Commissioner, is based on the blood of eight hundred thousand Greeks killed in the struggle and it was not God’s wish on May 26 to reach such anesthesia as to eradicate the cult of Nation from our bowels.”
For his part, the rector of AUTh, professor Nikolaos G. Papaioannou, in his presentation pointed out that Thursday’s event differs from those of previous years and not only in relation to what is happening around us. “What we wanted to emphasize is the difference, but also the dynamics that each historical moment has from its subsequent interpretations. It is also an honorable mention in the concept of individuality. “An individual who, however, does not come into conflict with the collective, but on the contrary works protectively”, he stated characteristically.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr90HVoSLek
In the meantime, he added that we can not remain indifferent in the face of history. “The children of Ukraine that we have adopted are also our own children who could join in 2022 and get lost in the trenches of totalitarianism. In the face of the pain of our fellow human beings, we, as Aristotle University, try to put a small, minimal stone. “Wherever we can, we become responsible: not for everything, but at least for something, and so step by step we create the conditions that will allow the children of other parents to hope for a better tomorrow.”
Then followed the song “Mana mou Hellas”, by Stavros Xarchakos from the choir “Trisevgeni Kalokyri” of the Department of Music Studies AUTh.
The students of the Rhetorical Club of the AUTh Law School, Nikos Salpistis, Kostis Mylonas, Stathis Sidiropoulos, Christos Kalaitzidis, recited. Piano accompaniment: Anna Michael, Student of the Law School of AUTh (SSAS). Soloist: Konstantinos Skyftas, EIB Department of Social Theology and Christian Culture, AUTh. Accordion accompaniment: Elias Rogakos, Student of the Department of Music Studies, AUTh.
Directed by: Dimitris Naziris, Emeritus Professor, Department of Theater, AUTh
Text editing: Maria Athanasopoulou, Associate Professor, Department of Theater, AUTh
Text teaching: Panagiotis Glavinis, Dean of the Law School of AUTh
With the participation of the Choir “Trisevgeni Kalokyri” of the Department of Music Studies AUTh.
Teaching: Erifili Damianou.