CHANIA – [Photos by Π.Σ.Κ]
In an atmosphere of unity, emotion, and historical remembrance, the Annual General Assembly of the World Council of Cretans (WCC) was held on Monday, July 27, at the historic Arkadi Monastery in Rethymno. The assembly was attended by representatives of the WCC member organizations from around the world, as well as representatives of the State, Local Government, and the Church.
The proceedings of the Assembly began with the blessing of the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Arkadi, Very Reverend Archimandrite Theologos Papalevizakis. In the presence of the members of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Cretans, Vice President Fotis Fiotodimitrakis, Secretary Maria Vamvaki, and Treasurer Nikoleta Pigounaki, the report of the President of the WCC, Nikos Kastrinakis, followed. The President presented the organization’s activities and initiatives during the past year and referred to the highly successful organization of the 7th World Convention of Cretans, which was held in Chania.
Following this, reports of activities were presented by the presidents and representatives of the WCC member organizations, including the President of the Pancretan Association of America, Diamanta Kounalaki; the President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, Manolis Mountakis; the President of the Pancretan Federation of Europe, Eftychia Saviolaki; the President of the Brotherhood of Cretans of Piraeus “Omonoia,” Theodoros Tsontos; and the President of the Pancretan Brotherhood of Macedonia, Petros Petrakakis. The representatives highlighted the initiatives and activities of their organizations and reaffirmed their continued commitment to strengthening the bonds between the Cretan Diaspora and their homeland.
In the afternoon, an official commemorative event was held marking the 160th anniversary of the Arkadi Holocaust, one of the most significant events in modern Greek history and a timeless symbol of freedom, self-sacrifice, and resistance.
The event was attended by and featured greetings from His Eminence Metropolitan of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos, Prodromos; the Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis; the President of the Regional Council of Crete, Sofia Malandraki; the Deputy Regional Governor of Rethymno, Maria Lioni; and the Mayor of Rethymno, Georgios Marinakis. They emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory and highlighted the contribution of the Cretan Diaspora in promoting Crete internationally.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Franco-Hellenic Association of Chania and its President, Stella Koutsoupaki, highlighting the historic ties between Crete and France, as well as the enduring support of Philhellenic movements for the struggles of the Greek people.
Earlier, in Chania, the President of the WCC, Nikos Kastrinakis, and the President of the Franco-Hellenic Association of Chania, Stella Koutsoupaki, paid tribute to Ioannis Zymvrakakis, an outstanding figure in Cretan history. Kastrinakis referred to the important role played by Zymvrakakis in Crete’s struggles for freedom, as well as his contribution to informing Victor Hugo and raising awareness among Philhellenic circles abroad following the Arkadi Holocaust. At the same time, Koutsoupaki presented the contribution of the great French Philhellene Victor Hugo in highlighting the Cretan question and mobilizing European public opinion in support of the Cretan struggle.
The events concluded with a guided tour of the Holy Monastery of Arkadi and a memorial service at the Gunpowder Magazine, paying tribute to the heroes of Arkadi and conveying a timeless message of unity, freedom, and historical continuity to future generations of Cretans throughout the world.
The World Council of Cretans publicly expressed its warmest gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos, Prodromos; the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Arkadi, Very Reverend Archimandrite Theologos Papalevizakis; and the Brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of Arkadi for the exceptional hospitality they provided during the visit and the proceedings of the WCC Annual General Assembly at the historic monastery.
«The warm welcome, excellent organization, and brotherly hospitality extended to all participants contributed significantly to the success of the event, reaffirming once again the unique spiritual, historical, and national role that the Holy Monastery of Arkadi plays in preserving historical memory and the timeless values of Hellenism», WCC President, Nikos Kastrinakis noted.
