With keynote speaker the Honourable President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, the events of honour and remembrance that took place in the framework of the Mikis Theodorakis 2024 Festival, dedicated to the work and personality of the globally acclaimed Greek composer, on the occasion of the three-year anniversary of his death, were completed.

During the event, the General Secretary of Contemporary Culture, Eleni Doundoulaki, representing the Prime Minister, The MP of the Government of Chania, Alexandros Markogiannakis, representing the President of the Parliament, the Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, the Mayor of Chania, Panagiotis Simandirakis and the President of the Pancretan Association of Friends of Mikis Theodorakis, George Agorastakis.

The Mayor of Chania, Panagiotis Simandirakis spoke of a historic day for Chania, mentioning in his greeting, the unbreakable ties of Crete with Cyprus and Mikis himself with the mainland: “Your presence here today adds a special honour and prestige to the initiative that we have undertaken together with the Region of Crete and the Pancretan Association of Friends of Mikis Theodorakis and we believe that it will be a reference point so that we can highlight and deliver to future generations of humanity the great legacy of Mikis Theodorakis and the messages it carries.

At the same time, it is a tribute of gratitude of the Cypriot people towards Mikis’ great creations and a recognition of what he offered through his spiritual struggle, in his need to express the desire, pain, anguish and joy of Hellenism everywhere.

So, from here, the place that bears the name of the great composer, I welcome you once again to Chania and I want you to know that both you and all Cypriot brothers are always welcome in our land, having the noble ambition to compete with the unsurpassed Cypriot hospitality.”

This was followed by the keynote speech of the H.E. President of the Republic of Cyprus, during which Mr Christodoulides referred to the close relationship between Crete and Cyprus. “I really feel that I would like to address you all as friends, because when I am in Crete I feel as if I am in Cyprus, in a very familiar place, and it is precisely for this reason that I have always, both previously as Foreign Minister and now as President of the Republic of Cyprus, it is with great pleasure that I accept invitations to be in Crete.

I am truly moved because I have the honourable privilege on behalf of the Cypriot people, the Republic of Cyprus, to deliver this speech tonight and to say a few words of love and appreciation for the man who literally kept Cyprus in his life, in his soul and in his heart. Mikis Theodorakis certainly needs no introduction, especially here in Crete. After all, much has been written and said about this special man and his work. So tonight I have chosen to talk about something different, to refer to Mikis Theodorakis’ indissoluble relationship with Cyprus. A solid and substantial relationship, a relationship of true love and timeless contribution. After all, Theodorakis identified himself not only as a Greek and a Cretan, but also as a Cypriot. He was genuinely concerned about the future of Cypriot Hellenism and was always present in all the struggles of our people. He was by our side, especially in the difficult times of the ordeal, exactly 50 years ago, when our parents and grandparents, our grandmothers were forced by the Turkish invader to leave their homes, their ancestral homes and to look for a glimmer of hope, in order to survive. They were with us when we were looking for a refuge to hold on and face the trials.”

The event concluded with a program dedicated to Cretan tradition with the piano soloist, Konstantina Vidalaki.