Dodecanese MP Manos Konsolas has proposed making August 29 an official local holiday on Kalymnos to commemorate the Battle of Gerontas, through a parliamentary intervention addressed to the Minister of the Interior. He is also seeking recognition of June 7 as a local holiday on Kasos, in remembrance of the island’s destruction in 1824.
According to a press release dated October 6, 2026, the proposal links formal recognition of the two anniversaries with preserving historical memory and supporting Greece’s border islands.
For Kalymnos, Konsolas highlights the island’s historical connection with the Battle of Gerontas, which his statement dates to August 29, 1824, in the gulf of the same name opposite Kalymnos. He proposes officially recognising the anniversary as a local holiday to honour a significant event of the Greek War of Independence.
For Kasos, the proposed holiday is June 7, commemorating the destruction of the island and the loss of its inhabitants in 1824.
The MP says that local authorities and community organisations have already submitted related requests. He urges the Ministry of the Interior to designate both anniversaries as official local holidays.
Konsolas argues that recognising the dates would honour the two historical events while strengthening historical memory and awareness of national identity on both islands.
He also presents support for border islands and the preservation of their historical identity as matters of national and geopolitical significance.
The parliamentary intervention is a proposal submitted to the Ministry of the Interior, seeking formal recognition of the two commemorative dates.
