The Rise of Buhurt in Greece: The Story of Protospatharii

In 2021, John Dandoulakis and Marinos Meimaris, both former HEMA practitioners, decided to take a bold step and create something entirely new — the first ever Byzantine historical reenactment society in Greece, which they named Protospatharii.

At first, their focus was on reenactment and traditional Eastern-style tap fights. But it didn’t take long before the spark of buhurt began to ignite. Marinos was the first to fully gear up and step into the lists, representing Greece in duels at the Veliko Tarnovo Festival in Bulgaria every summer since 2022 — paving the way for his teammates to follow.

By 2023, the group grew with new members and officially joined Association Koryvantes, becoming its medieval department. Then, as 2024 rolled in, buhurt began to take deeper roots. George Stavrianopoulos, who had already discovered the sport in Romania, joined forces with John and Marinos — sealing the deal: Protospatharii would become Greece’s first buhurt team.

Despite being an officially recognized society, training conditions remain tough. Without a permanent home, they often train outdoors or in private yards, depending on the weather. Yet, their passion only grows stronger.And this October 2025, they achieved a new milestone — their first public appearance at the Fantasy Festival in Athens.

The road has been slow and challenging, but their determination never wavered. With steady steps and unshakable spirit, Protospatharii are forging the path for buhurt in Greece — and we couldn’t be happier to welcome them to our ever-growing international community.

Kalos irthate, warriors. Welcome to the family.