The following story was originally published by Neos Kosmos in 2018. It is a reflection of the important Hellenic links to Ukraine and its people through a strong connection with the Greek War of Independence – with Kyiv being the former home of Prince Constantine Ypsilantis. Kyiv is now on the frontline of the Russian invasion. Shells and rockets have hit the outskirts of this great historical city. Greek-Australian journalist Dimitris Konstantinidis has recently informed Neos Kosmos that the building where Ypsilantis lived is undamaged but still unrestored and efforts to have this important part of Hellenic heritage acquired for the location of the Greek Embassy in the Ukraine are continuing. Today we are all rightly shocked by the suffering of the Ukrainian people, including those of Hellenic heritage. We see the efforts made by the Hellenic Diaspora to aid the Greeks of the Ukraine in their hour of need. Let’s also hope that the war ends before this significant part of Hellenic and Ukrainian history is irreparably damaged or destroyed.

The historic city of Kyiv contains many secrets – and one of those is its connection to the creation of modern Greece.

Not far from the centre of town stand two memorials to the one of the dynamic figures who played a key role in the movement which would lead to the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and the establishment of the modern Greek state. That figure is Prince Constantine Ypsilantis.

The Ypsilanti family are an ancient one, with its origins in Pontus and the Byzantine Empire. Born in Constantinople in 1760, Constantine soon joined join the conspiracy to establish an independent Greece. Moving to Russia, Constantine and his sons Alexandros and Dimitris would distinguish themselves in the military service of Imperial Russia. Constantine played an important role in providing much needed funds for the military campaign for Greek independence in which his sons Alexandros and Dimitris would play leading roles.

For his services, Constantine was awarded a home in Kyiv by the Russian Tsar and it would be here that he would die in 1816 and be buried in Kyiv. He would not live to see his beloved Greece liberated from Ottoman rule.

Dimitiris Konstantinidis at the grave of Constantine Ypsilantis, Kiev. Photo: Dimitris Konstantinidis

Memorial plaque erected outside the home of Constantine Ypsilantis, Kiev. Photo: Dimitris Konstantinidis

Detail from the grave of Constantine Ypsilantis, Kiev. Photo: Dimitris Konstantinidis

Hellenes would repay this Russian support for the liberation of Greece by volunteering to serve on the Russian side in the Crimean War in 1854-56. A magnificent painting hangs in Athens’ Benaki Museum depicting the enlistment of these volunteers and their departure for war.

Constantine’s home and his burial memorial were recently discovered by Greek-Australian journalist Dimitris Konstantinidis. Following up on his own research and assisted by both the Ukrainian authorities and Greek Embassy in Kyiv, Dimitris was able to locate and visit both sites.

Constantine’s former home is an impressive two-storey building and bears an even more impressive memorial plaque honouring its famous Greek former resident. Recently used as the location for a small museum, the building is owned by the Ukrainian authorities. Not far from the home is a Russian Orthodox Church and Monastery complex in which is located a cemetery. Here stands an impressive memorial to Constantine Ypsilantis.

Dimitris was so impressed by his discovery that he has begun a campaign to relocate the Greek Embassy to Ukraine to this building and in the process restore an important part of Hellenic heritage to a new purpose.

“What better location for the embassy of the Hellenic Republic than the former home of one who did so much to make modern Greece a reality. The restored building could also house a Hellenic cultural centre, reminding visitors of its historic connection and the role of Kyiv in the liberation of Greece,” Dimitris said.

On his recent visit to Melbourne I was able to interview Dimitris on his find and his campaign. I took the opportunity to take him to the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial in Lemnos Square, Albert Park. We were joined by members and supporters of the Major George Devine Treloar Committee. Dimitris was impressed to see the memorial for himself and welcomed moves to erect a memorial to the Australian war veteran and refugee helper in Ballarat.

Dimitris Konstantinidis at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial at Lemnos Square, Albert Park. Photo: Vicki Kyritsis

“Physical memorials are an important part of our connection to our past. They challenge us all to learn more about these people and events that played such an important role in our history – in both Greece and Australia,” he said.

Dimitris campaign to restore significance to Ypsilantis’ home and grave in far off Kyiv is no different to those in Melbourne who wish to honour the birthplace of one who saved tens of thousands of Greek and other Christian refugees following the Asia Minor catastrophe.

“These projects honour the work and service to the Hellenic people of those who came to help from afar – Constantine Ypsilantis from the Ukraine (then part of Russia), George Treloar from Australia – but each assisted in their own way in the creation of modern Greece,” Dimitris added.

And how appropriate that many of the Hellenic refugees assisted by Ballarat’s George Treloar hailed from Pontus – the homeland of the Ypsilantis family. Acknowledging Dimitris’ own Pontian heritage, Litsa Athanasiadis of the Major George Treloar Memorial Committee welcomed his efforts to acknowledge Ypsilantis and his connection to Kyiv. Litsa remembers her father recounting the story of the Ypsilantis family and their Pontic roots.

“In our own way, we have sought to acknowledge the effort of one who assisted Greece. Inspired by the work of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, we added to Australia’s Hellenic historical trail with the erection of our own memorial to George Treloar in his birthplace of Ballarat in 2019,” she said.

I know that many will join me in hoping that Dimitris is successful in his campaign to restore Ypsilantis’ home as Greece’s new Embassy and as a Hellenic cultural centre.

*Jim Claven is a trained historian, freelance writer and published author. Secretary of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, Jim is also on the Major George Treloar Memorial Committee.