The IMMA participates in the “Voio Festivities | Pelekon 2025”

The Foundation of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle and Modern History of Macedonia participated with great joy in the “Voio Festivities | Pelekon 2025,” a series of cultural events that took place from June 4–9 in the region of Western Macedonia. The “Voio Festivities” have now become an established institution in the area, featuring diverse cultural activities that engage with History, Culture, Arts, and Tradition, and take place in Siatista, Mikrokastro, Galatini, Pelekanos, and Damaskinia.

The centerpiece of this year’s events was the Conference on the Macedonian Struggle, held on June 7 at the Cultural Center of Pelekanos, in the presence of Metropolitan of Peristeri, Grigorios Papathomas, the Deputy Minister of the Interior responsible for Macedonia and Thrace, Konstantinos Gioulekas, and Philippos Dragoumis, descendant of the historic Dragoumis family. IMMA participated in the Conference with the presentation of its Director, Athina Pavlidou, titled “The Macedonian Struggle through the Collections, Archives, and Digital Applications of IMMA”, as well as with the presentation of Professor of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies at the University of Macedonia and Director of KEMIT-IMMA, Stavroula Mavrogeni, titled “The Artistic Depiction of the Macedonian Struggle”. At the end of this inspiring Conference, the organizers honored IMMA for its important contribution and multifaceted work.

On Friday, June 6, an Experiential Workshop was also held at the 3rd Primary School of Siatista under the theme “Painting My Macedonia”, curated by Professor Stavroula Mavrogeni and carried out together with the Director of IMMA. On Sunday, June 8, in Damaskinia, Anna Ververoudi, Afroditi Gazi, Areti Dafi, and Vasiliki Dafi-Tzimiri brought to life the theatrical museum performance that first premiered in IMMA’s exhibition halls in March 2025, as they portrayed four emblematic figures: Captainess Peristera, Thaleia Flora-Karavia, Anna Triantafyllidou, and Anna Papadopoulou, in texts and direction by Professor Stavroula Mavrogeni.

At the same time, throughout the events, IMMA’s Exhibition was hosted at the Cultural Centers of Pelekanos and Damaskinia, featuring wall-mounted depictions of the life and journey of Pavlos Melas in Macedonia.

We warmly thank the organizers of the “Voio Festivities | Pelekon 2025” for the invitation, and especially Mrs. Theodora Leipsistinou for the excellent collaboration.