KALYMNOS, Greece – With great participation from Kalymnian expatriates and a large crowd, the annual ‘Festival of the Diaspora’ took place on Wednesday, August 6, organized by the Municipality of Kalymnos in Christos Square in Pothia.
Representatives from associations and clubs from the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Belgium, and elsewhere were present.
The Mayor of Kalymnos, Ioannis Mastrokoukos, in his welcome speech, greeted the expatriates and later generations and thanked the Lyceum Club of Greek Women for the traditional dance performance, as well as the musical group of Cleanthis Alachiotis, Yiannis Chatziantoniou, and Manolis Tsounias.
The Mayor said, among other things:
“You expatriates are the living ambassadors of our homeland in every corner of the world.
With your presence, contributions, and values, you honor Greece and spread the light of our Greek culture, history, and traditions everywhere.
“Your love for this land, your constant support, and the unbroken communication you maintain with your homeland are a valuable asset to us all. You are the hope and strength for us to continue united in building a Greece worthy of its history.”
The Mayor of Kalymnos, Ioannis Mastrokoukos (center), with the Vice President of the Pan-Kalymnian Federation of America and head of cultural events, Nick Kalouris (right), and the President of the Kalymnian Association of Sydney, Michael Melas. (Photo: TNH/Michael Kakias)
The Regional Governor Manolis Mousselis stated that the event is dedicated to Kalymnians abroad, to those who, despite the distance, never stopped loving and supporting their homeland.
“It is an evening full of memories, dance, music, and deep emotion – a chance to reconnect with the homeland and its people, strengthening the bonds between expatriate compatriots and their beloved Kalymnos.”
Metropolitan Paisios of Leros, Kalymnos, and Astypalaia congratulated the Municipality for organizing the event and encouraged all expatriates, wherever they may be, to always keep Hellenism and Orthodoxy in their hearts.
The Vice President of the Pan-Kalymnian Federation of America and head of cultural events, Nick Kalouris, expressed through The National Herald the joy of the expatriates to be back on their beloved island once again. He spoke about the series of events that took place and invited everyone to the annual dinner-dance on August 8, at the restaurant Salt of the Aegean, which will mark the climax of the summer celebrations, bringing together expatriates and locals for a night of festivity and farewell to summer.
The President of the Kalymnian Association of Sydney, Michael Melas, shared with the newspaper the deep love of the expatriates for the island.
“There isn’t a day we don’t think about Kalymnos. The moment we leave, we’re already planning when and how we’ll return. We live far away, but our hearts and minds are always here.”
The former mayor of Tarpon Springs and current vice president of the Kalymnos Municipal Council, Chris Alahouzos, sent heartfelt greetings to the Diamataris family, the entire staff of The National Herald, and the Greek diaspora, stressing the need to establish an Office of the Diaspora to ensure organized and consistent communication with Kalymnians abroad.
Greeting speeches were also delivered by Michalis Papachatzis and Afroditi Gerakiou-Haritou from the Kalymnian associations in France.
The coordinator of the event was the Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Kalliopi Koutouzi.
