On Thursday, 07 September 2017, the Alternate Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Vitsas, visited Fourni Korseon. During his visit, he visited a military outpost, gunboat “NIKIFOROS”, and attended events of the 2nd Aegean Cultural Voyage, which is in progress. The Alternate Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Member of Parliament for Samos, Dimitris Sevastakis, the Commanding General of the 79th Higher National Guard Battalions Command, Brigadier General Antonios Kostakis, and the Deputy Mayor of Fourni, Antonis Voulgaris.

The Alternate Minister of National Defence made the following statement:

“The country’s best defence is education and culture and our goal is to bring culture to areas where it is hard to find. Tonight was an excellent, touching, and patriotic night.

This second attempt has already met its goal. Our goal is to make it a permanent event. It is within the framework of the Armed Forces’ social contribution, whose main mission is, of course, deterrence and security, but we also try – and succeed – to show that the Armed Forces are one with society, they are not something separate, and they do use every asset they have to its benefit, and in return receive love, trust, and courage from it. Courage for the difficult times we are faced with and the difficult times we wish to keep away.

This Cultural Voyage takes place with gunboat NIKOFOROS, whose cadres give their best for its success. We all continue contributing to society. Right now, 52 doctors who serve in the Armed Forces are also at the same time doing their rural service in the most difficult and unreachable areas of the country; the Armed Forces will continue to serve wherever they are most needed”.

It is reminded that the Ministry of National Defence, on the initiative of the Alternate Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Vitsas, and with the contribution of the Hellenic Navy, organises the 2nd Cultural Voyage by warship to islands of the Eastern Aegean, from Wednesday, 6 September, to Wednesday, 13 September 2017.

Gunboat NIKIFOROS has already travelled to the islands Samos and Fourni, soon to be followed by Ikaria, Lipsi, Kalymnos, Halki, and Karpathos.

On every island, a theatrical company puts on the play “Angela Papazoglou” by Giorgis Papazoglou, with the voluntary participation of actress Anna Vagena, in co-operation with the local municipalities.

The event also includes performances by a Hellenic Navy band and local traditional dance associations.

This year’s cultural voyage to the Aegean, through the play “Angela Papazoglou”, which is a narrative of the memories of a woman from Asia Minor, offers a historical glimpse of places connected to the refugees. At the same time, the words of “Angela Papazoglou” send an eternal message of love for the people and the country, as well as of pure patriotism.

The whole initiative is part of the Armed Forces’ social contribution and the further strengthening of their bonds with island locals.

THEATRICAL PLAY CONTRIBUTORS

“Angela Papazoglou”, from the book of Giorgis Papazoglou “Dreams of the unburnt and the burnt Smyrni. Our doings here”.

Angela: Anna Vagena. Reader: Katerina Theohari.

Text selection, Music supervision: Lambros Liavas.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Wednesday 6/9 SAMOS – Ancient Theatre of Pythagorio – 21:00
Thursday 7/9 FOURNI – High School of Fourni – 21:00
Friday 8/9 IKARIA – Municipal Summer Cinema of Ag. Kirykos – 21:00
Saturday 9/9 FOURNI – Cultural Park of Lipsi – 21:00
Monday 11/9 SAMOS – Ancient Theatre of Kalymnos Town – 21:00
Tuesday 12/9 HALKI – High School of Halki “Sokratis Fanourakis” – 21:00
Wednesday 13/9 KARPATHOS – “Posidonio” Amphitheatre – 20:00