Cultural foundation: Pella is an ancient city located in the current Pella regional unit of Central Macedonia in Greece. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedon. — Photos courtesy of the Greek Embassy

Greek war for independence is a wake-up call for people to fight for their rights and liberties, Ambassador Nicolaos D. Kanellos writes in a message to mark Greece's National Day (March 25).

The Greek Revolution and the war of indepen-dence which started in 1821 came out of a strong national feeling and contact with the radical ideas of the European Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

Hillside view: The historic village of Ambelakia has excellent examples of traditional architecture.

Thanks to Greece's huge classical heritage, tremendous world sympathy developed for its cause against the Ottomans. Once more, art, culture, civilisation and Greece became synonyms.

Today, visitors to the country are often surprised to find that Greek history weaves through the centuries with threads of intense colour and diversity. The ideas, the concepts of philosophy, education and art that ancient Greece left as world heritage formed the foundation for modern civilisation.

Up on high: An image of the Acropolis of Athens, an ancient citadel located on a high, rocky outcrop above the city of Athens.

Even history as a discipline was of Greek origin, especially the noble concepts of Herodotus, considered to be the father of history.

The Greek National Independence war is a wake up call for world leaders and people to fight for rights and liberties, for faith, for solidarity based on human and national pride and for world justice. — VNS