154th Anniversary of the union of the Ionian Islands with Greece: celebration programme
Ionian Islands
18 May 2018
/ 09:04
CORFU. The programme for the 21st May celebration is as follows:
Sunday 20th May
08:00: The celebration begins with festive bell-ringing and flags flown on public buildings, banks, shops and houses until sunset on 21st May.
18:30: Pontifical Memorial at Holy Trinity Church in Garitsa for the rest of the souls of the dearly departed - Union pioneer, Archbishop Athanasios, and the Young People of Corfu that worked for the establishment of the Union. The Archbishop of Corfu, Paxos and Diapontia Islands, Nectarios will lay a wreath at the tomb of the prelate. A memorial service at Platytera Church, at the tomb of the first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Capodistrias, and the Corfu Mayor and Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands will lay wreaths.
19:30: Representatives from twinned towns will visit the Old Town Hall.
20:30: Church of St. George, Old Fortress: Performance by the Corfu Male of the 3rd version of the Hymn to Freedom (National Anthem) by Nikolaos Mantzaros with lyrics by the Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos.
21:15: Lighting of streets, squares, public and municipal buildings, public services, banks, archaeological sites and historical monuments.
Monday 21st May
08:00: Hymns and marches performed by the Philharmonic Bands in the streets of Corfu Town. Raising of the flag at the Old Fortress accompanied by a Philharmonic Band and military unit at the gate.
10:30: Doxology at Agios Spyridon Church, conducted by the Archbishop of Corfu, Paxos and Diapontia Islands Nectarios.
11:00: Speech at the Ionian Parliament building from Dionysis Tzakis, Lecturer at the Ionian University Department of History: “The Greek National Movement in the Ionian Islands”.
11:45: Memorial prayer and wreath laying at the Monument for the Ionian Islands Union with Greece. One minute’s silence in memory of the pioneers and fighters for the Ionian Islands Union with Greece.
12:15: Parade of traditional groups with traditional costumes, primary and secondary school pupils, Ionian University students, Corfu branch of the Hellenic Red Cross, Guides, Scouts, Armed Forces and Security Forces accompanied by the following Philharmonic Bands (brass bands): Corfu Philharmonic, ‘Mantzaros’ Philharmonic, Ano Korakiana ‘Spyros Samaras’ Philharmonic Band, ‘Capodistrias’ Philharmonic Union. The parade will set off from Agoniston Polytechniou St. and end at the Palace of St Michael and George.
17:30: Corfu Municipal Art Gallery: opening of the exhibition ‘Capodistrias, the Corfiot first Governor of Greece’ in the Permanent Exhibition section. The exhibition is co-organized by the Hellenic Parliament Library, the Municipality of Corfu and Corfu Municipal Art Gallery.
20:00: Lowering of the flag at the Old Fortress accompanied by a Philharmonic Band and military unit at the gate.
21:15: Lighting of streets, squares, public and municipal buildings, public services, banks, archaeological sites and historical monuments.
08:00: The celebration begins with festive bell-ringing and flags flown on public buildings, banks, shops and houses until sunset on 21st May.
18:30: Pontifical Memorial at Holy Trinity Church in Garitsa for the rest of the souls of the dearly departed - Union pioneer, Archbishop Athanasios, and the Young People of Corfu that worked for the establishment of the Union. The Archbishop of Corfu, Paxos and Diapontia Islands, Nectarios will lay a wreath at the tomb of the prelate. A memorial service at Platytera Church, at the tomb of the first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Capodistrias, and the Corfu Mayor and Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands will lay wreaths.
19:30: Representatives from twinned towns will visit the Old Town Hall.
20:30: Church of St. George, Old Fortress: Performance by the Corfu Male of the 3rd version of the Hymn to Freedom (National Anthem) by Nikolaos Mantzaros with lyrics by the Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos.
21:15: Lighting of streets, squares, public and municipal buildings, public services, banks, archaeological sites and historical monuments.
Monday 21st May
08:00: Hymns and marches performed by the Philharmonic Bands in the streets of Corfu Town. Raising of the flag at the Old Fortress accompanied by a Philharmonic Band and military unit at the gate.
10:30: Doxology at Agios Spyridon Church, conducted by the Archbishop of Corfu, Paxos and Diapontia Islands Nectarios.
11:00: Speech at the Ionian Parliament building from Dionysis Tzakis, Lecturer at the Ionian University Department of History: “The Greek National Movement in the Ionian Islands”.
11:45: Memorial prayer and wreath laying at the Monument for the Ionian Islands Union with Greece. One minute’s silence in memory of the pioneers and fighters for the Ionian Islands Union with Greece.
12:15: Parade of traditional groups with traditional costumes, primary and secondary school pupils, Ionian University students, Corfu branch of the Hellenic Red Cross, Guides, Scouts, Armed Forces and Security Forces accompanied by the following Philharmonic Bands (brass bands): Corfu Philharmonic, ‘Mantzaros’ Philharmonic, Ano Korakiana ‘Spyros Samaras’ Philharmonic Band, ‘Capodistrias’ Philharmonic Union. The parade will set off from Agoniston Polytechniou St. and end at the Palace of St Michael and George.
17:30: Corfu Municipal Art Gallery: opening of the exhibition ‘Capodistrias, the Corfiot first Governor of Greece’ in the Permanent Exhibition section. The exhibition is co-organized by the Hellenic Parliament Library, the Municipality of Corfu and Corfu Municipal Art Gallery.
20:00: Lowering of the flag at the Old Fortress accompanied by a Philharmonic Band and military unit at the gate.
21:15: Lighting of streets, squares, public and municipal buildings, public services, banks, archaeological sites and historical monuments.
