TAMPA – Students at Plato Collegiate Academy of Tampa transported audiences to a pivotal moment in Greek history during their commemoration of OXI Day, recreating the 1940 encounter between Italian Ambassador Emanuele Grazzi and Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas.
The ceremony centered on a theatrical performance delivered entirely in Greek, depicting the early morning hours of October 28, 1940, when Grazzi presented Mussolini’s ultimatum demanding Greece’s surrender. Students portrayed the tense diplomatic exchange that culminated in Metaxas’ historic refusal, a single word that would define Greece’s stance throughout World War II and become a national rallying cry.
The theatrical presentation required students to master dialogue in Greek, capturing both the gravity of the diplomatic crisis and the resolve that characterized Greece’s response. A performance that demonstrated linguistic proficiency and an understanding of the historical context surrounding one of modern Greece’s defining moments.
Musical performances complemented the dramatic presentation, with students performing Greek songs from the 1940s era. These wartime melodies, many of which sustained Greek morale during the subsequent Italian invasion and occupation, added to the atmosphere of the commemoration. The songs served as a soundtrack to Greece’s response to the invasion, connecting the audience to the emotions and experiences of those who lived through the conflict.
Greek language teachers Pineloppi Karagiannis, Stamatia Boulias, and Marios Natsis guided students through rehearsals, ensuring authentic delivery of complex historical material.
OXI Day, celebrated annually on October 28, commemorates Greece’s refusal to capitulate to Axis demands despite facing overwhelming military odds. The subsequent Greek counter offensive in the mountains beyond the northern borders of Greece, delayed Nazi Germany’s invasion timeline, a factor that many historians credit with affecting the broader course of World War II.
