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“Faraway Words” about the Hellenism of Madagascar | 04 Nov. 2024
Faraway Words Natasa Vissarionos
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“Faraway Words” about the Hellenism of Madagascar | 04 Nov. 2024

On the show, George Galanopoulos, an educator from the Greek Language Department in Madagascar, discussed the Greek community there, its activities, the classes held at the Greek Language Department (TEG), and the dreams of its students.

He noted that Greeks had a significant presence on the island between 1910 and 1939. According to community records, one of the first Greeks mentioned was Nikolos Kritikos, who collaborated with the Queen of Madagascar in trade (sugar and rum). The community archives also reference the Meli brothers (1880-1890), who established the historic Melis hotel, which still stands in the center of the capital.

The first Greek Community on the island was established around 1923, alongside the building of the first Greek Orthodox church, St. Nicholas, in the city of Manjakandriana. Mr. Galanopoulos mentioned that the Greeks arrived on the island by fishing boats. The second Greek Orthodox church in Madagascar, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (1948-49), remains the primary Greek Orthodox church in the capital, Antananarivo. Notably, there are now 50 Greek Orthodox churches across the island nation.

The Greek Language Department was founded in 2020, with the community covering the costs of transporting necessary books from Greece. The students, both children and adults, include individuals of Greek descent and Philhellenes. Mr. Galanopoulos also highlighted the department’s activities, which, apart from classes, include events celebrating national anniversaries and important holidays. Students of TEG also spoke on the show, expressing their dream to visit Greece and see the homeland of their grandparents.

Today, about 400 people of Greek descent live in Madagascar, striving to maintain their Greek identity. “The role of the teacher and the priest is crucial abroad,” Mr. Galanopoulos emphasized. “They are the main agents of national consciousness, acting as the bridge to the homeland. Without them, the Greek identity would have been lost.”

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