The visit concluded with a stop at the cemetery of Galatas, Chania, at the grave of the great Greek musician, politician, resistance fighter, and social activist Mikis Theodorakis (1925–2021). His life and legacy continue to inspire and remind us that the duty of memory extends far beyond the celebration of anniversaries—it is a daily act of vigilance, responsibility, and inspiration.
As Europe prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, our recent gathering at the Orthodox Academy of Crete (OAC)—focusing on memory, oblivion, and the issue of German Reparations—together with our visits to martyred villages and memorial sites of the German Occupation and Nazi atrocities, underscored the vital importance of strengthening historical consciousness.
Confronting historical revisionism and collective amnesia requires the coordination of efforts and trust in the knowledge and depth offered by those who study and propose meaningful approaches to memory and history.
A significant milestone was the meeting, during the OAC conference, with Mr Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former President of the Hellenic Republic; Mr Thanasis Papadopoulos, Mayor of Kalavryta and President of the Network of Martyred Cities and Villages; and Dr Konstantinos Zorbas, Director of the Orthodox Academy of Crete. The discussions marked a step toward broader and more substantial collaborations.
Of particular importance was the encounter with Dr Alexandros Papaderos, aged 92, a distinguished member of the first post-war generation of Greek theologians and co-founder of the OAC, together with the late visionary and social reformer Metropolitan Irineos Galanakis of Kissamos and Selino (1911–2013). Dr Papaderos, who had been imprisoned during the Occupation in the Agia Prison, proposed the establishment of the Museum of the Battle of Crete, the Occupation, and the Resistance, thereby playing a key role in preserving the memory of the Cretan people’s sacrifice and resistance.
The visit also included a trip to the martyred village of Kandanos and a meeting with Deputy Mayor Antonis Kastrinakis, as well as an in-depth discussion with residents on the legacy of the Destruction of Kandanos (3 June 1941) and reflections on the recent visit of the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The firm and dignified response of the Cretan people to the visitor’s claim that there was “no issue of reparations for Nazi crimes” prompted the Church of Crete to adopt specific decisions for the promotion of remembrance of the German Occupation and the highlighting of the reparations issue—initiatives that include the aforementioned conference.
Last modified: 14 October 2025
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