In the mountainous village of Naxos, a sunny village perched between mountainsides, a child was born on September 9, 1922, who was to become a symbol of resistance and freedom for the whole of Greece. His name: Manolis Glezos. From a young age he seemed to be no ordinary young man, carrying within him a passion for justice, democracy and his country.

Manolis Glezos grew up in a turbulent time. The Greek people were trying to stand up after the Occupation and the war, while the shadow of the junta loomed large. Yet this boy from Naxos would never accept oppression. It was the flame of freedom that led him to his great act, an act that will forever etch him in history.

On the evening of 30 May 1941, just 18 years old, Glazos and his friend Apostolos Sanda made a decision that no one else dared to take. The German flag flew proudly on the Acropolis, a symbol of occupation and oppression. This image could not be accepted by the young Glazos. So they decided to climb the Acropolis, take down the flag and replace it with the Greek one. It was a symbol of hope, the first act of resistance against the conquerors, showing the people that Greece had not succumbed.

This act did not go unnoticed. Manolis Glezos became a wanted man and was accused of many acts of resistance. He was arrested several times, tortured and imprisoned. But he never broke down. Every time he was locked up in a cell, his soul became even stronger. The years of the Occupation found him at the forefront of resistance organizations, as Manolis did not just want to fight a battle. He wanted to win the war.

Glezos’ personality was not limited to the sphere of resistance. After the liberation of Greece, he continued to fight for freedom and democracy. He worked as a journalist, but his political activity did not take long to take the form we all know today. Manolis was elected several times as a Member of Parliament and MEP, always with the aim of defending the weak and promoting the ideals he served throughout his life.

Despite the fame and positions of power he achieved, he always remained simple. The people of Naxos remember Manolis as a man who never forgot his roots, humble and close to the people, ready to listen to any problem and help in any way he could. In their eyes, he was a hero, but he never sought that title.

Glazos did not stop fighting even when the years weighed heavily on his shoulders. Until the last moment of his life, he remained active, participated in marches, fought for workers’ rights, and continued to be living proof that resistance and hope never die. In every step he took, whether as a politician or an activist, he showed that courage and determination can change the world.

The end came on 30 March 2020, when Manolis passed away at the age of 97. The loss was immense for the Greek people, who lost one of the last great heroes of their modern history. But his memory remains alive, as does his example. His act on the Acropolis was not just a momentary gesture. It was the beginning of a lifetime of battles and struggles for freedom and justice.

Manolis Glezos was and will always remain a symbol. His name will be written in gold in the history of Greece, not only for his legendary act of resistance on the Acropolis, but above all for his consistency, courage and dedication to the ideals he served throughout his life. And as the sun sets over the Acropolis, that flag he lowered, we will always remember that freedom is not just a word. It is a ceaseless battle, which Manolis Glezos fought to his last breath.