The Turkish occupied city of Kerenia Cyprus’ (the ancient Kerenia) eventful history was at the centre of a gala, that took place yesterday evening at Vienna’s Municipal Hall. The event was organized by Cypriot Cultural Center of Vienna and included a lecture, documentary, photo expo and music programs.
In his greeting speech, the ambassador of Cypriot Republic in Austria Costas Papadimas, underlined the fact that today, Kerenia, with its great history throughout the centuries, is under Turkish occupation; with its native people living far from their homeland, but with the hope of returning alive.
Kerenia, is a living symbol and source of inspiration continuing the battle towards freedom, justice and the island’s reunification with a more decisive way, in order to find a fair solution that respects human rights on both sides. It asserts the right of returning for all the displaced locals, underlined the Cypriot ambassador.
Famous Cypriot historian, archeologist and writer, Anna Maragou, presented Kerenia’s history in her lecture. She also projected slides with castles, churches as well as city monuments.
During her lecture, classical music was played, as well as famous songs of great composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Xatzidakis, and Solon Michailidis. These songs were performed by well-known lyrical artists, Baritone Cyrus Patsalidis; mezzo-soprano Elsa Giannoulidou, and sopranos Catherine Kouri and Zoe Nikolaidou. The singers were accompanied by Croatian Lana Yianyianin piano soloist.
Afterward, a film-documentary projection, was followed by a photo exhibition. The film’s title was “Returning in Kerenia,” directed by famous Cypriot film director Michalis Georgiadis, who was also in charge of the photo expo with the main theme “The destruction of our cultural heritage.”
The gala, attended by many people was sponsored mostly by Austrian friends of Cyprus, and was also subsidized by many public figures of The Cypriot Ministry of Education and Culture and Vienna’s municipal Cultural Sector.
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