Today concludes the national mourning of Greece in memory of Mikis Theodorakis. I think it might have been one of the longest tributes paid to any of its important people in modern history because it lasted seven days overall. The first three days were the national mourning and cancellation of all festivities, the next three days were the popular pilgrimage in the Diocese of Athens and the last day was the body’s journey with a ship to Crete island, the pilgrimage to the Diocese of Chania and eventually the funeral in Galatás village, hometown of his father, where Mikis Theodorakis wished to be buried next to his family. Had it not been for the pandemic and an uncharacteristic rain that hasn’t stopped all this week, I believe the tribute would be bigger still.
Below the cut are some very beautiful and moving photos from the last days with further explanation. Tw: death, funeral, grieving.
Photo credit: Tatiana Bolari
The body of Mikis Theodorakis lied in state in the Chapel of the Diocese of Athens for three days. Photo credit: Kostas Tsironis.
In the third day a funeral service was held in the Diocese by the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, in the presence of all the political leaders and all famous artists that had collaborated with Theodorakis. Photo credit: Yorgos Kontarinis / EUROKINISSI
The same evening, the composer’s body departed for Chania in Crete island, to be buried next to his parents and brother. Photo credit: EUROKINISSI
Today morning the body arrived and was welcomed by the people of Crete island, the Band of the island and 96 Cretans in their traditional attire - one for every year of his life. Photos credit: Nikos Halkiadakis.
The Vrakofori - the Cretans in their attire - sang a “rizítiko” song to bid farewell to the composer. Rizitika is the oldest kind of traditional Cretan songs, originating from the mountains of the island. The Vrakofori chose “Τον ανδρειωμένο μην τον κλαις” (”Do not weep for the brave man”) for the occasion. Photo credit: INTIME
The body was eventually led to Saint Nicholas Church in Galatas village for the funeral in the presence of his family and the political leaders once again.
Girl writes in the book of condolences. Photo credit: cretalive.
The crowd followed the composer to the graveyard of Galatás, a few kilometers away from the village, on foot. Photo credit: INTIME.
In the grave, the body was rained with flowers and olive oil. Interestingly, it is said that it will be covered by a tomb stone weighing 1,700 kg (3,748 pounds) and thus the tomb will be sealed forever and never open again. (In Greece it is common that after many years the bones are removed and kept in bone vaults and the tombs are replaced with new ones because of lack of space, since cremation in Greece is rare and the Orthodox Church opposes to it. But this will not happen to Mikis Theodorakis.)
The famous singers Dimitris Basis, Melina Aslanidou and Peggy Zina bid farewell by singing two of his songs above the grave. The musicians ended the tribute with the theme of “Zorbas the Greek”, and then the people left the family and close friends alone.
I think this day seals the Greek history of the 20th century. There are a few remaining composers and artists that are culture icons but none of Mikis’s impact and no other symbol of recent Modern Greek history.
For Mikis’s influence on Greece and the world, see this post. By the way, I am moved by the popularity of this post among foreign people as well. Thank you.
“The bad thing is not that Mikis died, he was 96 years old after all. The truly bad thing is that no new people like Mikis were born, and as it seems, neither will they be born any time soon.”
