April 3rd in Spetses

Late on Lazarus Saturday, at the house of Georgios Panos, the elders of Spetses held yet another meeting, debating whether they should wait for the Hydriots.

This time, however, the younger men waited no longer and took matters into their own hands. After protesting loudly outside Panos' house, condemning the elders' delays, they descended at dawn on Palm Sunday to the building of the Chancery at the harbor.

They took down the Turkish emblems from the balconies and raised others bearing the sign of the cross. A large crowd gathered outside the Chancery shouting:

> "Long live the Nation!"

On Palm Sunday, April 3, 1821, Spetses entered the struggle for National Independence, the first of all the islands.

At dawn, before the liturgy at Saint Nicholas, the younger men tore down the Turkish emblems from the administrative building at Dapia — which later became the Town Hall and then the Port Authority.

This act of courage and determination marked the beginning of the island's participation in the great Revolution that would lead to the Nation's independence.

In remembrance of this historic moment, the Municipality of Spetses organizes the following tribute events every April 3:

- Doxology at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Nicholas
- Wreath-laying at the war memorial in the church's courtyard
- Joyous bell-ringing from all the churches of Spetses
- Maritime reenactment in front of the holy church, with Spetsiotic boats, of the beginning of the Revolution