Giorgos Mazonakis has been laid to rest in Athens following an emotional funeral in his native Nikaia, as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the popular singer’s death continues.
Prolonged applause, car horns, chants of “immortal” and “goodbye Giorgos”, and the deafening sound of his songs accompanied Mazonakis on his final journey after the funeral service at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Nikaia on Monday, 14 September.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside the church despite the heat, with some travelling from across Greece to pay tribute to the singer.
Metropolitan Alexios of Nikaia and Korydallos, who presided over the funeral service, remembered Mazonakis as a child of the Holy Trinity parish, where the singer himself had once chanted.
“He would enter the sanctuary and help the priests, and he would go up to the chanter’s stand and chant with everyone,” Metropolitan Alexios said.
He also recalled Mazonakis’ support for people in need and his deep connection to his old neighbourhood.
“His contribution to our brothers and sisters in need was great. His words were full of love for everyone,” he said, adding that the thousands who had gathered to farewell him were testament to the affection he had shown others during his life.
“He gave love and receives love, both while alive and as he departs this temporary life.”
‘The last laiko idol’
Nikaia-Agios Ioannis Rentis Mayor Kostas Maragkakis recalled Mazonakis’ beginnings at the Mousiko Retire venue and the career that would eventually take him to some of the world’s biggest stages.
“Through his songs he spoke about love, loneliness and pain. His songs became part of people’s lives,” Maragkakis said.
“Giorgos Mazonakis did not leave his mark only through his art, but as a person who helped and stood beside people in need.”
Renowned Greek composer Stavros Xarchakos also paid tribute to Mazonakis, describing him as “the last laiko idol”.
“We say goodbye – unfortunately prematurely – to the last laiko idol, an artist of universal appeal who knew how to make laiko song feel like a personal confession. Farewell, Giorgos,” Xarchakos wrote.
Fans had begun arriving outside the church from early in the morning, while some had remained there since the public vigil began at 7.30pm the previous evening.
Many carried flowers as they waited to pay their respects before the public viewing concluded at midday.
Outside, Mazonakis’ music played loudly from car speakers as fans chanted “Oso zo, Mazo” (“As long as I live, Mazo”).
Singers, public figures farewell Mazonakis
Some of the biggest names in Greek music attended the funeral, including Paola, Nikos Oikonomopoulos, Natasa Theodoridou, Nikos Vertis, Takis Zacharatos, Giorgos Kourkoulis and Thanos Petrelis.
Christos Mastoras, Helena Paparizou and Panos Mouzourakis, Mazonakis’ fellow judges on The Voice, were also present alongside the show’s presenter Giorgos Kapoutzidis.
Among the political figures attending were Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas and Course of Freedom leader Zoe Konstantopoulou.
Georgiadis offered an extraordinary apology to Mazonakis’ family over the circumstances surrounding his death.
“I am here to express, through my presence, my condolences to Giorgos Mazonakis’ family and my apology that the system was unable to protect him from something very bad,” he said.
“We certainly have to find the gaps in the system. Some fraudsters caught a person in their net here. We have to find out what went wrong.”
Nikos Vertis said Mazonakis’ death would leave an enormous void in Greek music.
“Everyone loved him. We all loved him,” he said.
“Giorgos was at home in every world. He was a laiko singer who connected the sophisticated with the rough, the mud with the red carpet. He will leave an enormous void.”
Nikos Oikonomopoulos remembered him as “an innocent, good person”, while Thanos Petrelis described his death as a major loss and said questions surrounding whether he had died unjustly were now a matter for investigators.
Following the service, many of those attending formed a guard of honour on the steps and grounds of the Holy Trinity church as Mazonakis’ coffin was carried towards the hearse.
His body was then taken to Athens’ Third Cemetery for burial in a private ceremony attended by close family.
His parents, Manolis and Kleio, and sisters Vaso and Maria accompanied him on his final journey.
The family had requested that, instead of funeral wreaths, donations be made to Humanity Greece.
Two doctors to face investigating magistrate
Meanwhile, the two doctors accused in connection with Mazonakis’ death are due to return to the investigating magistrate’s office on Tuesday after the charge against them was upgraded to homicide with possible intent.
The pair were given time to examine the evidence against them following the upgraded prosecution and are expected to provide written and oral explanations about what occurred at their private medical practice last Wednesday, when Mazonakis collapsed during a medical procedure.
The charge was upgraded following consultation between the 32nd Regular Investigating Magistrate handling the case and the relevant prosecutor after new evidence gathered by police was submitted to judicial authorities.
According to the report, the investigating magistrate has also taken witness statements, including from the medical practice’s secretary and one of the accused doctors’ clients.
