1821 Revolution
By 1821 the desire for some form of independence was common among Greeks of all classes, whose Hellenism, or sense of Greek nationality, had long been fostered by the Greek Orthodox Church and by the survival of the Greek language.
Aghia Lavra
Lavaro of Revolt
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From early March, numerous church dignitaries, notables from the surrounding area and fighting Klephts began to gather in Kalavryta. Among them were Bishop Germanos, Fotilas, Asimakis and Andreas Zaimis, Theocharpoulos, Lontos and others. Members of Filiki Etairea or ‘Friendly Bortherhood’ – the Greek revolutionary secret society founded by merchants in Odessa in 1814 to overthrow Ottoman rule establish an independent Greek state.
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The Brotherhood called on its followers to proclaim the start of the great revolution on March 25th, the Day of the Annunciation. Metropolitan Germanos had at first opposed the armed uprising, as he considered preparations inadequate, but he bowed to popular sentiment and assumed the role of leader. It was he who called upon all patriots to gather at Aghia Lavra and so gradually throughout March political and military leaders of the revolt assembled.
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On March 24th, over 3000 armed and enthusiastic warriors had surrounded the Monastery.
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At 9pm vespers started in the little chapel of the Assumption of the Theotokos. Bishop Germanos officiated, while around the church thousands of freedom fighters gathered in close ranks. Prayers continued through the night in a mood of great exaltation and steadfastness. Educated men and simple people were asking God, each in their own words, to arm them with the courage and spirit of self-sacrifice needed for the great endeavour about to be undertaken. It was an undertaking on which the nation’s future was to depend for generations.
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When the service was over, the abbot approached the Lord’s Table, on which lay a beautiful embroidered sacred cover, a 16th century present of rich Greeks from Smyrna in Asia Minor. This cover, which had lain for generations on the Lord’s Table, was handed by the Abbot to the Metropolitan, who held it aloft in his left hand, while the right held a cross. Germanos walked slowly out of the church and a wave of emotion swept over the assembled freedom fighters. Guns were fired in rapid succession, as happens on the day of Christ’s Resurrection, and hurrahs filled the air. Hardbitten Klephts could be seen in tears. The Metropolitan addressed them with fervour:
“Brothers, let it be liberty or death, and may the Almighty bless our sacred cause.”
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Then he proceeded to enunciate the oath which the Revolution’s initiators were to take. The entire crowd fell to their knees and repeated the oath, word for word. On rising, each approached the bishop, so as to touch the sacred banner of the fight for freedom, and to draw courage from this contact.
It is a replica of this banner, or Lavaro, which is carried proudly by the Society each year during the Greek Independence Day procession to the Sydney Opera House.