Glorious celebration in Kythera for the 25th of March

The National Anniversary of March 25 was celebrated in Kythira with great pomp and in spring-like weather.

A large crowd gathered in the island’s capital to honor this day, which is of great importance to the Greek people.

In the morning in Potamos, wreaths were laid at the bust of General Panos Koronaios in the square, and then in Chora, Kythira.

The festive thanksgiving service was held with great splendor at the Metropolitan Church of the Crucifixion in Chora, Kythira, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim, to mark the 202nd anniversary of the start of the 1821 Revolution and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

The thanksgiving service was held in the presence of the Mayor of Kythira —Mr. Efstratios Charchalakis, Mayor of Antikythira, and Deputy Mayors Mr. Georgios Kominos and Mr. Ioannis Katsanevakis,the President of the Local Property Authority of Kythira and Antikythira, Mr. Evangelos Venardos; the Director of the Kythira Hospital, Mr. Georgios Megalokonomos;representatives of the municipal political parties, and other dignitaries.

In attendance were the local military authorities, the Military Commander of Kythira, Commander of the Kythira Naval Observation Post, Commander Emmanouil Amblianitis, Hellenic Navy, the Head of the Kythira TACAN, Master Sergeant Nikolaos Serfas, the Commander of the Kythira Coast Guard Station, First Sergeant Antonios Pelikos Triantafyllos,the Commander of the Kythira Coast Guard Station, Lieutenant Commander Niki Giannakopoulou, the Chief of the Kythira Fire Department, Firefighter Mr. Spyridonas Fountoulakis; and representatives from the municipal political parties.

A memorial service was then held at Stai Square, followed by the laying of wreaths at the War Memorial in the square.

Wreaths were laid by Mayor Efstratios Charchalakis,the President of the Kythira-Antikythira Local Property Association, Mr. Evangelos Venardos, the Commander of the Naval Observation Post,Commander Emmanouil Amblianitis, Hellenic Navy; the Head of the Kythira TACAN, Chief Petty Officer Nikolaos Serifas;the Commander of the Kythira Coast Guard Station, Sergeant First Class Mr. Pilikos Triantafyllos Antonios; the Commander of the Kythira Port Authority, Lieutenant Commander Ms. Giannakopoulou Niki (Coast Guard);the Chief of the Kythira Fire Station, Firefighter Mr. Spyridon Fountoulakis, and the student representative, Eugenia Sofiu.

A one-minute silence followed, and then the Potamos Philharmonic Band played the National Anthem; the band had been arranged to provide music for the events by its director, Mr. Panagiotis Lefteris.

The delivery of the celebratory speech by Ms. Fotini Mitsiou, a literature teacher at the Kythira High School.

This was followed by a variety of dance performances by the students and, finally, a parade of male and female students.

Report – photos: Adelin FM