21 Gun Salutes at Lycabettus Hill: Military Parade Celebrates Greece’s National Day

The celebrations for Greece’s National Day began in Athens with the traditional 21 gun salutes from Lycabettus Hill. As is customary every year on March 25th, the first cannon fire echoed at 6:21 AM, followed by another 20 salutes according to established protocol. Concurrently, dawn performances by military and security bands took place on central Athens streets. These salutes are part of a series of events marking the national anniversary of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. At 8:00 AM, the official flag-raising ceremony will occur at the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis. A doxology will commence at 10:00 AM at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Evangelismos in Athens led by Archbishop Ieronymos II. Another round of 21 celebratory gunshots will be fired at 10:01 AM from Lycabettus Hill. At 10:55 AM, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will be conducted by the President of the Hellenic Republic. The military parade featuring units of the Armed Forces and Security Bodies will begin at 11:00 AM before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in the presence of the President. An official flag-lowering ceremony will take place at 6:41 PM atop the Acropolis, accompanied by another 21 celebratory shots from Lycabettus Hill. Across the country, there will also be military parades, general flag hoisting at military stations and warships, as well as evening illuminations.