Official Holocaust Remembrance Event at the French Embassy in Greece Hosted by Ambassador Laurence Auer - January 29 2026
In an atmosphere of profound emotion, deep historical responsibility, and a shared global commitment to truth, a landmark commemorative event for the international Holocaust Remembrance Day was held today at the French Embassy in Athens.
The solemn gathering placed the younger generation at the very center of the historical narrative, highlighting the critical role of youth education in the active preservation of memory and the fight against modern distortion, denial, and rising prejudice.
The event was officially prefaced by Georgios Kalantzis, the long-serving Secretary General for Religious Affairs of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports. In his powerful opening remarks, Mr. Kalantzis emphasized the strategic importance of institutional readiness, state cooperation, and continuous educational vigilance in combating historical oblivion, xenophobia, and the dangerous resurgence of modern intolerance across Europe.
Following his introduction, the Ambassador of France to Greece, Laurence Auer, who graciously hosted the event at the historic ambassadorial residence, welcomed the high-level delegation of international diplomats, institutional leaders, scholars, and prominent members of the Jewish community. In a move of high symbolism and deep respect, the high school students who actively participated in the educational initiative were designated as the primary official guests of honor of the day. Representing the 6th General Lyceum of Volos and the historic Greek- French School “Saint-Paul”; of Piraeus, this vibrant student community stood at the heart of the ceremony.
They were accompanied by their dedicated supervising teachers, who guided them through months of intense archival research, documentation, and historical analysis.
Among the distinguished attendees who honored the students academic efforts was the Ambassador of Israel to Greece, Noam Katz, who was present to express his profound solidarity, alongside the coordinator on behalf of the General Secretariat for Religious Affairs of the Greek Ministry of Education, Mrs Vasiliki Keramida, Head of the General Secretariat Cabinet.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs was strongly represented by Ambassador Chrysoula Aliferi, the Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Protecting Holocaust Remembrance, as well as the Head of the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives (YDFIA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Expert Minister-Counselor, Mr. George Polydorakis. The Jewish community was officially represented by the Rabbi of Athens, Gabriel Negrin, who attended alongside senior board members of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) and the Jewish Community of Athens, bridging the gap between historical survivors and the new generation. During the event, the students from both schools took the floor to showcase the comprehensive presentation they had meticulously prepared for the upcoming meeting of the five participating countries in Paris. In the French capital, under the flawless supervision and coordination of the Mémorial de la Shoah, the students visited prominent Holocaust remembrance sites. Their exceptional work and insightful analysis deeply moved the audience at the embassy, earning them enthusiastic applause and warmest congratulations from all the distinguished attendees. The teenage guests of honor presented the analytical results of their research projects on the darkest pages of World War II and the local tragedy of Nazi atrocities in Greece.
A particularly moving moment that deeply touched the audience was the students specific biographical reference to Anna Frezi. Her individual story was meticulously reconstructed and brought to light through the careful study of rare archival sources, forgotten historical documents, personal items, and emotional survivors testimonies. These presentations were carried out within the framework of the pilot educational program “Neshama” which is closely coordinated by the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris with the structural and financial support of the European Commission. This innovative European project aims to build a sustainable transnational network of conscious citizens across the continent. The attendees universally praised the students; academic depth and emotional efforts, noting that through experiential engagement with historical evidence, these young people successfully assume the dual role of future guardians and ambassadors of human rights, equality, and democratic values.
