Greece, Athens Changing of The Guard Full Ceremony, UNCUT

Full length video of changing of the guard ceremony which is held on every Sunday at 11:00 am in Athens in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier at Hellenic Parliament at Syntagma Square.
Please watch till you see the two soldiers that guard the tomb of the unknown soldier performing the world renowned most unique changing of the guards sequence.
This is one of the free activities you should not miss when in Athens.
- 400 pleats in their white skirts represent 400 years of Ottoman occupation in Greece.
- Shoes have spikes on the soles and you can here the shoes tap on the floor

[bacca]

Very, very impressive. The high kicks and foot placement of some of those required acrobat skills. Very fast 19 minute video -- enjoyed every minute.

[minxycries]

I would love to see this in person one day

[Theodoros.K.Mouchtaris]

Just copying from sources in the internet:
During a demonstration in front of the Parliament in 2001, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at one of the guardhouses. The wooden construction was engulfed in flames. The Evzone on guard next to it remained in place until an officer gave him the order to move. With a scorched and partly smoking uniform on one side, the Evzone did so.

In January 2010, a makeshift bomb was placed 20 meters from where the Evzones guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at Syntagma Square. Although the police informed the Evzones of the imminent threat, the Guards refused to leave their posts and remained on guard while the bomb exploded.

All Evzones are volunteers drawn from the Hellenic Army's Infantry Corps. Prospective Evzones are initially identified at the Infantry Recruit Training Centres during Basic Training.

There is a minimum height requirement of 1.87 metres (6 feet 2 inches) to join.
You also have to be male, Greek Orthodox Christian, caucasian and with no visible tatoos. It used to be with no tatoos at all.

[stonehendge]

Ζήτω η Ελλάδα, ζήτω η ελληνική δημοκρατία.

[phk]

Η Ελληνικη Σημαια 🇬🇷 Το καμαρι μας ❤❤❤ 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷

[Vickib]

I think I read somewhere about the number of studs in their shoes. Both the number (can’t remember why) but it has to do with a ruler missing the sounds of horse hooves in the street.

And I believe the uniform is relatively young compared to Scots & Irish guards.

It is one of the most unusual ceremonies.

[alfonsosurace]

Vedere questa cerimonia mi commuove sempre! Un abbraccio dall'Italia.

[pasxmyl]

ΕΝΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΜΠΡΑΒΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΦΡΟΥΡΑ

[georgiamakaritis]

❤❤❤HEARTFELT HONOR GREECE GREETINGS THANKS HELLENIC ARMED FORCES ❤❤❤❤

[ahwell]

I was there this morning (15 Sep 2024) to watch, 1.5 hrs early. After no direction from the authorities, the police came and had the whole polite crowd of hundreds move backward across the four-lane boulevard. Consequently, most could see nothing or only the caps of the military personnel.
The initial ceremony seemed to be brief, only 10 minutes or so, and when the soldiers dispersed, so did the crowd.Then a military band came from a side street with soldiers and sailors. But the dispersing audience made watching impossible.
So, not the best organized event. I'm hoping the Greeks can fight better than they can organize a crowd attending a changing of the guard.

[yoliferreyra]

Muy buenos los vídeos gracias me cabeza vuela a otras culturas y aprendo mucho de ellas

[sineu]

Hello, how can I contact you please? I'd like to ask to use a couple of seconds of your video.

[Jim-ntxy]

This is a serious question. What is with the pom poms on the shoes?

[tonywoodham]

what is the significance of the relieved guards touching toes before descending the stairs?

[graziellabosco]

Bellissima uniforme così come il cambio della guardia.

[phsegovia]

I'm not sure why the soldiers dress this way, but I think it would be very cool if they dressed in some form of modernized greek hoplite armor. I would visit Greece in a minute.

[AshleyMarks-]

They are absolutely beautiful young men. The uniform is stunning and maybe even a bit deceptively sensual. These boys mean business.

[emery]

What are the requirements of a young Greek Soldier in becoming a member of The Presidential Guard ?

[christopherarmstrong-steve]

The comments about these soldiers wearing "skirts" seem to forget that Scottish and Irish regiments in the UK also wear a form of skirt - called a kilt as "dress" uniforms, as well as more practical "fatigues" for work. But I AM puzzled about the marching steps - it appears they are derived from ballet-steps - do they have a choreographer instead of a drill instructor?. Perhaps we should also remember the "goose-steps" of the Nazis and Italian soldiers from the World War II era.

[Richard]

Where does that form of "marching" originate and why?