The Municipality of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra and the Museum of the Victims of Nazism in Distomo are organising the two-day conference “Distomo, 82 Years after the Massacre: History, Memory, Vindication”, as part of the commemorative events marking 82 years since the Distomo Massacre, committed by the German occupation forces on 10 June 1944.
The conference will take place on 6 and 7 June 2026 at the Museum of the Victims of Nazism in Distomo, bringing together historians, researchers, academics, legal experts and representatives of memory institutions.
The programme includes papers, discussions and commemorative activities on Nazi violence, martyr towns and villages, public memory, archival sources, monumentality, photography, embodied memory in space, and the ongoing claim for German reparations.
The project Actions for History, Memory and Culture participates in the conference through the presentation of Nikos Kosmidis, PhD Candidate in Architectural Engineering at the Democritus University of Thrace and coordinator of the project, entitled:
“Sites of Martyrdom as Active Fields of Memory: Political Uses and Public Responsibility towards the Traumatic Past.”
In the wider framework of the commemorative events, the Municipality of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra and the Museum of the Victims of Nazism in Distomo, in collaboration with Actions for History, Memory and Culture, will also present the student project:
“From Mountainous Xanthi to Distomo: Bridges of Culture and Memory.”
The presentation will refer to the recent visit by students from the Barleios General Lyceum of Distomo to Thrace and Ano Karyofyto, highlighting the role of memory as a field of encounter among different places, experiences, and communities.
Two-Day Conference Programme
“Distomo, 82 Years after the Massacre: History, Memory, Vindication”
6–7 June 2026
Museum of the Victims of Nazism in Distomo
Saturday, 6 June
10:00–10:30
Arrival
10:30–10:40
Welcome address:
Ioannis Stathas, Mayor of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra
1st Session | 10:40–11:40
Chair: Amalia Papaioannou, MA in Public History, Curator of the Museum of the Victims of Nazism in Distomo
10:40–11:10
Lambros Flitouris, Associate Professor of European History, University of Ioannina
“Distomo 1944: Violence and the Nazi Worldview”
Keynote lecture
11:10–11:30
Georgios Panagiaris, Professor, Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, University of West Attica
and Aikaterini Malea, Assistant Professor, Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, University of West Attica
“The Silent Witnesses of the Distomo Massacre: Protection, Promotion and Interpretation of the Osseous Remains of the Victims of Nazism”
11:30–11:40
Discussion
2nd Session | 11:40–12:50
Chair: Lambros Flitouris, Associate Professor of European History, University of Ioannina
11:40–12:00
Maria Tsartsianidou, PhD Candidate in Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
“Mesovouno: The Three Crucifixions of a Refugee Settlement”
12:00–12:20
Vasiliki Kokkota, Philologist, MA in Public History
“18 October 1944 in Lamia: From Liberation to the Sacralization of Memory”
12:20–12:40
Sofia Vakirtzideli, Head of the General State Archives of Fthiotida
“Archival Documents from the Occupation Period at the General State Archives of Fthiotida”
12:40–12:50
Discussion
3rd Session | 12:50–13:40
Chair: Aimilia Salvanou, Historian, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Thessaly
12:50–13:10
Stathis Koutrouvidis, Historian, Library of the Hellenic Parliament, Department of Parliamentary Archives
“Memory and Monumentality, or How the Past Converses with the Future”
13:10–13:30
Nikos Kosmidis, PhD Candidate in Architectural Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Coordinator of the project Actions for History, Memory and Culture
“Sites of Martyrdom as Active Fields of Memory: Political Uses and Public Responsibility towards the Traumatic Past”
13:30–13:40
Discussion
4th Session | 13:40–14:40
Chair: Amalia Papaioannou, MA in Public History, Curator of the Museum of the Victims of Nazism in Distomo
13:40–14:00
Aimilia Salvanou, Historian, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Thessaly
“The Silence of Images: Photography and Ethical Memory after Nazi Violence”
14:00–14:20
Konstantinos Kalantzis, Social Anthropologist, Assistant Professor, University of Thessaly
“Ethnography with Photographs in Distomo”
14:20–14:40
Discussion
Sunday, 7 June
11:00–13:00
“Traces and Testimonies in Space”
Historical walk in Distomo, starting from the Museum of the Victims of Nazism.
17:00–19:00
“The Claim for German Reparations”
Chair: Miltiadis Sfountouris
Speakers:
Ioannis Stathas, Mayor of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra, Vice-President of the Network of Martyred Towns and Villages of the 1940–1945 Period
Fanis Spanos, Regional Governor of Central Greece
Angeliki Biniou, Lawyer, President of the Livadeia Bar Association
Dr Vasileios Karkoulias, former President of the Federation of Victims’ Associations, founding member of the National Council for the Claiming of Germany’s Debts to Greece
Miltiadis Sfountouris, Lawyer, President of the Association of Relatives of the Victims of the Massacre of 10 June 1944
From the Wider Programme of Commemorative Events
Sunday, 7 June
21:30 | Courtyard of the Museums, Distomo
“Voices and Music of Memory”
The lived experience of the Occupation and the Resistance through rebetiko song.
A musical tribute by the newly formed ensemble “Tsourmo epi chordōn.”
Monday, 8 June
16:30 | Museum of the Victims of Nazism, Distomo
“From Mountainous Xanthi to Distomo: Bridges of Culture and Memory”
Presentation of the student project of the Barleios General Lyceum of Distomo, in collaboration with Actions for History, Memory and Culture.
19:00 | Main Hall of the Parnassos Literary Society, Athens
“The Relevance of the Struggle for the Claiming of German Debts and the Long-standing Contribution of Manolis Glezos”
Greetings will be addressed by:
Nikitas Kaklamanis, President of the Hellenic Parliament
Nikos Voutsis, former President of the Hellenic Parliament
Dimitris Alevromageiros, Lieutenant General ret., Co-Secretary of the National Council for the Claiming of Germany’s Debts to Greece
Ioannis Stathas, Mayor of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra, Vice-President of the Network of Martyred Towns and Villages of the 1940–1945 Period, “Greek Holocausts”
Tuesday, 9 June
17:30 | Museum of the Victims of Nazism, Distomo
Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Network of Martyred Towns and Villages of the 1940–1945 Period, “Greek Holocausts.”
19:00 | Distomo Mausoleum
Memorial service for the victims of the massacre.
20:00 | Museum of the Victims of Nazism, Distomo
“Living Voices of Memory: Lived Testimonies and Historical Responsibility”
Meeting of survivors from martyred towns and villages of the period of the triple occupation.
21:30 | Courtyard of the Museums, Distomo
Songs of Struggle by Mikis Theodorakis
Orchestra “Mikis Theodorakis”
Performed by: Kostas Makedonas, Sofia Papazoglou, Angelos Theodorakis
Wednesday, 10 June
07:15 | Church of Saint Nicholas, Distomo
Divine Liturgy, officiated by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Thebes, Livadeia and Aulis, Georgios.
10:50 | Town Hall of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra
Arrival of guests.
11:00 | Church of Saint Nicholas, Distomo
Public archieratical memorial service for the victims of the massacre, in the presence of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos A. Tasoulas.
11:20
Procession to the Mausoleum.
11:55 | Distomo Mausoleum
Arrival at the Mausoleum.
12:00
Memorial service for the victims of the massacre.
12:10
Address by the Mayor of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra, Ioannis Stathas.
12:20
Roll call of the dead.
12:40
Wreath laying by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos A. Tasoulas.
12:44
One minute of silence.
12:45
National Anthem.
13:15 | Museum of the Victims of Nazism, Distomo
Proclamation of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic as Honorary Citizen of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra.
A small reception will follow at the Town Hall of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra.
Cover photo: Orphaned children at the “Aetofolia” soup kitchen. Distomo, 1945. Voula Papaioannou © Benaki Museum / Photographic Archives.
Last modified: 4 June 2026
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