Greek President now an honorary citizen of Corfu
21 May
21 May 2021
/ 16:56
CORFU. The celebrations for the 21 May anniversary were conducted in strict observance of the Covid safety measures with the Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in attendance.
Members of the local media were only allowed to cover the outdoor events.
After laying a wreath at the Ionian Islands Unification Monument the President said: "Today we are celebrating the unification of the Ionian Islands with the Greek mainland - the nation's first extension following its independence in 1832.
"We honour the morning of 21 May, 1864, when the British guards were replaced by Greek soldiers, the blue and white flag was raised at Corfu Fortress and Thrasivoulos Zaimis, the authorised delegate of King George I, officially accepted the Ionian Islands from the British Commissioner Sir Henry Storks.
It was a moment when the Ionian Islands were embraced by the nation and gave them the long-awaited unification with Greece and also gave our country a group of islands with a long history, a great culture and a burning democratic ethos."
Honorary citizen
The President then went to the Palace of St. Michael and St. George for an official ceremony to present her with honorary citizenship of Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands Municipality.
The Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou was made an honorary citizen of Corfu in a special ceremony at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George.
Ms. Sakellaropoulou completed her visit to the island with a visit to the Municipal Art Gallery, where she viewed the original handwritten music sheets for the Greek National Anthem "Hymn to Freedom" written by the Corfu composer Nikolaos Mantzaros.
The President was accompanied by the Minister of the Interior Makis Voridis and the three Corfu MPs Stefanos Gikas, Alexandros Avlonitis and Dimitris Biangis.
After laying a wreath at the Ionian Islands Unification Monument the President said: "Today we are celebrating the unification of the Ionian Islands with the Greek mainland - the nation's first extension following its independence in 1832.
"We honour the morning of 21 May, 1864, when the British guards were replaced by Greek soldiers, the blue and white flag was raised at Corfu Fortress and Thrasivoulos Zaimis, the authorised delegate of King George I, officially accepted the Ionian Islands from the British Commissioner Sir Henry Storks.
It was a moment when the Ionian Islands were embraced by the nation and gave them the long-awaited unification with Greece and also gave our country a group of islands with a long history, a great culture and a burning democratic ethos."
Honorary citizen
The President then went to the Palace of St. Michael and St. George for an official ceremony to present her with honorary citizenship of Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands Municipality.
The Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou was made an honorary citizen of Corfu in a special ceremony at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George.
Ms. Sakellaropoulou completed her visit to the island with a visit to the Municipal Art Gallery, where she viewed the original handwritten music sheets for the Greek National Anthem "Hymn to Freedom" written by the Corfu composer Nikolaos Mantzaros.
The President was accompanied by the Minister of the Interior Makis Voridis and the three Corfu MPs Stefanos Gikas, Alexandros Avlonitis and Dimitris Biangis.
