The local programmes for the celebrations of the national anniversary of the 28th October have been announced by the office of the Deputy Regional Governor of Chania and the municipality of Platanias.

The programme for Friday includes:
11:00 – Act of reverence by representatives of Student and Apprentice Youth, Scouts and Guides, at the Memorial for Fallen Students in the forecourt of the 1st Experimental Gymnasium of Chania, where they will assemble led by teaching staff and officers. The ceremony will be attended by representatives of the Authorities.

To start with a requiescat will be sung, followed by the laying of wreaths by representatives of Primary and Secondary pupils and of students of Schools of Further and Higher Education, Scouts and Guides, as well as local Folk and Traditional Associations, at the Memorial for Fallen Students. The Music School of Chania will give a rendering of the National Anthem.

Transfers to the War Memorial, the procession of the different groups, etc, will be managed by Physical Education teachers and School Heads, who will be coordinated by Physical Education Teams from the directorates of Primary and Secondary Education. There will also be celebratory events in Primary and Secondary Schools and in schools of Further and Higher Education.

The programme for Monday is as follows:
8:30 – Ceremonial Raising of the Flag at the Firka Fortress.

10:45 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Metropolitan Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary (Chania Cathedral), officiated by Damaskinos, Metropolitan of Kydonias and Apokoronas. The eulogy will be delivered by Ms Anastasia Kastrinaki, Head of the 7th Experimental Primary School of Chania.

11:40 – Memorial service at the city War Memorial (the Clock Tower).
Laying of wreaths by the Government Representative, local MPs, the Deputy Regional Governor for Chania, the Mayor of Chania, the Representative of the Armed Forces, the General Director of Police for the Region of Crete, the Union of the Disabled and Victims of War, representatives of branches of recognised Resistance Organisations, of the Technical University of Crete, of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (Electrical Engineering Department, School of Engineering), of the Fire Service Directorate of Chania, of the Central Port Authority of Chania, of Retired and Reserve Officers, Scientific Associations and Foundations, Chambers of Chania, of Political Parties represented in the National and European Parliaments.
Observation of a minute’s silence in memory of those Fallen for the Homeland.
Playing of the National Anthem.

12:00 – Parade of schools of Primary and Secondary Education, schools of Further and Higher Education, traditional and other associations/organisations with local costumes and the Armed Forces.

17:50 – Lowering of the Flag at the Firka Fortress.

Coordinator for the civilian sections of the Parade is the Director of Secondary Education for Chania, Manolis Christodoulakis, assisted by those responsible for the teams of Physical Education and School Sporting Activities, Anastasios Maragoudakis for the Directorate of Secondary Education and Emmanouil Angelakis for the Regional Directorate of Education of Chania. Master of ceremonies for the civilian sections of the Parade is Stefanos Lyrantonakis, Teacher of Physical Education, assisted by volunteer teachers.

Coordinator of the above events is the Special Associate for Press and Public Relations of the Regional Unit of Chania Sifis Markakis and the Press and PR Officer for the Regional Unit of Chania Ms Roula Oikonomaki, as well as a Master of Ceremonies who will have been appointed by the Municipality of Chania. The commentary of the Parade will be carried out by Ms Zacharenia Simandiraki, Special Associate of the General Archives of State.

Modelling exhibition
On Saturday at 19:00 in the Mikis Theodorakis Theatre, there will be the inauguration of a modelling exhibition by the Modelling Association of Chania. Opening hours: 10:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 22:00. The exhibition will be open until Wednesday 30th October.

Events in Platanias

The programme of events in the municipality of Platanias for the 28th October is as follows:

Voukolies
10:00 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour.
Memorial service at the war memorial (Voukolies square) and laying of wreaths, parade of pupils.

Tavronitis
10:15 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Panagia Myrtidiotissa (the Madonna of the Myrtle).
Memorial service at the war memorial on Tavronitis beach and laying of wreaths.
Parade of pupils with participation of the Tavronitis Primary-Nursery School and the Evening Vocational School (EPAL).

Alikianos
10:15 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Holy Cross.
Memorial service at the war memorial and laying of wreaths.
Parade of pupils with participation of the Alikianos Primary-Nursery School, Skines-Fournes Primary School, Vatolakkos Primary-Nursery School and Alikianos Gymnasio-Lykeio.

Vatolakkos
9:15 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
Memorial service at the war memorial and laying of wreaths.

Skines-Fournes
10:00 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour at Skines.
Memorial service at the war memorial in Skines and laying of wreaths.

Kolymbari
10:30 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of Agia Marina in Kolymbari.
11:00 – Memorial service at the war memorial and laying of wreaths.
Parade of representatives of pupils from the Kolymbari Primary-Nursery School and Kolymbari Gymnasio-Lykeio.

Spilia
10:30 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Panagia Myrtidiotissa (the Madonna of the Myrtle) in Spilia.
Memorial service at the village war memorial and laying of wreaths.

Platanias
9:30 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of St Dimitrios in Upper Platanias.
Memorial service in the Wartime Refuge of Platanias underneath the church and laying of wreaths.

Gerani
9:00 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of St Eleftherios in Gerani.
Memorial service in the square and at the war memorial in Lower Gerani and laying of wreaths.

Maleme
10:00 – Service of Thanksgiving at the Church of St Antonios in Maleme.
Memorial service at the war memorial and laying of wreaths.

Prime minister to attend
The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be in Chania for OXI day and will take part, with other government representatives, in the service at Chania Cathedral and the laying of wreaths, and will attend the subsequent parade.
(Haniotika Nea 23/10/024)

Amendment
In a change of plan, the Prime Minister will no longer be attending the OXI day celebrations in Chania, instead he will be in the Athens suburb of Peristeri. The government will be represented in Chania by the deputy Defence minister Giannis Kefalogiannis.
(Haniotika Nea, 27/10/24)