Streets in Athens and Thessaloniki to be Renamed After Late Mikis Theodorakis

Late Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Photo source: www.mikistheodorakis.gr

The City of Athens and four municipalities in Thessaloniki have put forward requests to rename streets in the two cities after late Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis.

Theodorakis passed away last week in Athens at the age of 96. Up until his death, he was viewed as Greece’s best-known living composer.

Some of his best-known works include his scores for films “Zorba the Greek” (1964) and “Serpico” (1973). His “Mauthausen Trilogy”, also known as “The Ballad of Mauthausen”, has been described as the “most beautiful musical work ever written about the Holocaust”.

Politically, he was associated with the left because of his long-standing ties to the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).*

Athens

Athens, Syntagma square. Photo: Visit Greece / Y. Skoulas

Earlier this week, the Athens Municipal Council approved Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis’ request to rename a street of the Greek capital after late Mikis Theodorakis.

“The Athens Municipal Council has decided to rename a street after Mikis Theodorakis in order to honor that great Greek,” Bakoyannis said, adding that the municipality will launch an art contest for the construction of a bust of Theodorakis that will be displayed in a central city location.

“This will mark his passing into eternity,” the mayor said.

In addition, the Municipality of Kifissia, a northern suburb of the Greek capital, has also put forth a proposal to rename its Ilisia Street after late Mikis Theodorakis.

Thessaloniki

Four mayors in Thessaloniki have also requested for the renaming of the city’s central Lagada Street to “Mikis Theodorakis Avenue”.

Lagada is a central road that passes through the municipalities of Thessaloniki, Ambelokipon-Menemenis, Pavlos Melas and Neapolis-Sykeon.

“We have proposed the renaming of a central street, worthy of his name and the power he offered to the country and our city during difficult times,” Thessaloniki Mayor Konstantinos Zervas said.

After concluding the procedures, the four municipalities will organize a concert with Theodorakis’ works and the participation of popular artists.

Theodorakis’ funeral service was conducted on Wednesday, by Archbishop Ieronymos in Athens. His body will be transfered to his village, in Galatas, Chania, on Thursday, September 9, to be buried in the village cemetery.

*With information from Wikipedia