• Meeting of the Archbishop of Crete Irenaeus with the President of the Committee "Greece 2021" Gianna Aggelopoulou-Daskalaki
• Gianna Aggelopoulou-Daskalaki: "Crete has always carried the flame of the Revolution and the love for freedom"
• Proposals made by the Region of Crete and the Municipality of Heraklion for the 200th anniversary of 1821, open a window into the futureThe delegation of the Committee "Greece 2021" began its visit to Heraklion, Crete, at the Archdiocese of Crete. The delegation consisted of Committee President Gianna Aggelopoulou-Daskalaki and Assembly members, Professors Nikos Kanellopoulos, and Alexis Politis.
"We look forward to highlighting the numerous messages of the bicentennial of our National Rebirth (Paliggenesia), and we are confident that the Committee "Greece 2021" will make a substantial contribution toward this common goal," said Archbishop of Crete Irenaeus, when welcoming the President of the Committee. "Crete," Mrs. Aggelopoulou said in her response, "has always carried the flame of the Revolution and the love for freedom, for the struggle against any conqueror. It is our obligation to highlight the importance of every sacrifice, of every battle, of every sacred landmark. All this, as you said, Your Eminence, must be carried to the younger generations. It's an honor to meet you. Not just because I am from Heraklion, and I know how selflessly you have helped your congregation. But also, because the bond between the Aggelopoulos family and the Ecumenical Patriarchate is strong and affectionate. And I am sincerely moved to be at the Church of Crete, which has this connection with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. With Phanari, which is so important in religious history and has bestowed upon us such a great legacy," she emphasized.
At the meeting, discussions were held on events planned by the Church of Crete for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of 1821, including the preparation of a conference to uphold the messages of the anniversary and the Church's contribution to the Revolution. Assembly Member Nikos Kanellopoulos placed great emphasis on the importance of digitizing the valuable archives of the Church of Crete to preserve them and make them accessible to future generations.
"To do something emblematic for the 200th anniversary of 1821"
"Listening to all of you here, listening to your passion for your work, and how your creative mind has surpassed Crete's boundaries, makes me feel proud. This is the bet. To find how to merge all the vibrant forces of each area and make something emblematic for the 200th anniversary of the Revolution. We want more than festivities. We want innovative actions and projects that will bring growth, jobs, progress. Neither you nor we, should spend a single euro for something ephemeral" said the President of the Committee in a meeting she had with the Mayor of the city Vasilis Lambrinos, officials from the Municipality, scientists and researchers from the Institute of Technological Research (ITE) and the Society of Cretan Historical Studies (EKIM), representatives of the business sectors, as well as Ross Daly, who announced the establishment of the Museum of Musical Instruments of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Especially impressive was the love and passion with which the representatives of the local society spoke about their city when presenting their vision for Heraklion in the future. The orientation toward the future, the concern for the future generations and the passion for the prosperity of the city greatly triggered the interest of the President and the Members of the Committee "Greece 2021" since, on the occasion of the anniversary, the Committee's main objective is to implement the projects and events that will leave a significant legacy for the future.
During the discussion, the Mayor of Heraklion Vasilis Lambrinos presented both proposals submitted to the Committee by the Municipality. They focus on creating a digital data center and an initiative for the collaboration of local enterprises. "The Municipality of Heraklion will partake in the events for the 200th anniversary of the Revolution of 1821, gazing toward the future. We continue on the path of extroversion. We highlight those historic and heroic places that constitute our city's identity. We try to outline its modern appearance, which is connected to its lengthy past and all the cultures that left a strong mark on our land," said Mr. Lambrinos.
Proposals that unite the past with the future
The Committee delegation also met with the Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis, with whom they discussed the projects prepared by the Region on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution. Among them, the organizing of a non-permanent exhibition of historical heirlooms related to the Revolution of 1821 in Crete, the creation of a digital representation of known and unknown historical events of 1821 in Crete, the holding of a conference on the Revolution of 1821 in Crete, etc. "We are sure that we will succeed in our objective, which is to highlight the importance of 2021, the 200th anniversary of the Revolution. Crete will contribute with all its might to the emergence of history and culture, with self-confidence and looking toward the future, to Crete in 2030," said Mr. Arnaoutakis, and announced that he intends to submit these proposals to the Committee's platform and compiled calendar.
From left to right: Nikos Kanellopoulos (a member of the Assembly of the Committee "Greece 2021" and Professor of Computer Systems & Informatics Applications), Stavros Arnaoutakis (Regional Governor of Crete), Gianna Aggelopoulou – Daskalaki (President of the Committee "Greece 2021"), Konstantinos Fasoulakis (Deputy Regional Governor of Culture and the Greek Diaspora), Alexis Politis (Member of the Assembly of the Committee "Greece 2021" and Emeritus Professor of the University of Crete.)