December 27

Events

• 537: Hagia Sophia is rededicated in Constantinople by Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Such was the splendour of the new church that the emperor exclaimed: "I have bested you, Solomon!"

• 1944: PM Georgios Papandreou submits his resignation in the midst of the post-World War II December crisis ("Δεκεμβριανά"). Winston Churchill leaves Athens for London.

• 1947: A law is passed by the Centrist Sophoklis Venizelos government outlawing the Communist Party of Greece and the National Liberation Front (EAM). Furthermore, the law criminalises the teaching and spreading of Communism and forbids the publication of any communist newspaper or magazine.

Births

• 1947: Thanasis Polykandriotis, composer of Laika music¨
• 1950: Haris Alexiou, singer

Nameday

Greek Orthodox

• Saint Stephen, the first martyr.