Greece Marks Independence Day with Grand Military Parade in Athens

Greece commemorated on Friday the 201st anniversary of the 1821 War of Independence against 400 years of Ottoman rule with the annual military parade in the center of the capital.

Thousands of Greeks flocked to the city center to watch the best the Greek Armed forces have to offer.

The military parade commenced at 11:00am and made its way from Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, past Hellenic Parliament, with official dignitaries in attendance including the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

The parade then made it way down Panepistimiou Street where the crowds line each side of the street in front of the Attica department store and other iconic neo-classical buildings including the Academy of Athens, the National Bank of Greece and the National Library, all the way to Omonia Square.

French Rafale jets join the military parade in Greece

Four French Rafale fighter jets from the French aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” also joined Greek planes and helicopters in the sky above Athens.

Also among the planes that flew was the refurbished WWII Supermarine Spitfire MJ755, which was escorted by an F-16 Hellenic Air Force plane.

Earlier, Greek President Sakellaropoulou attended a liturgy at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral and laid a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.