ATHENS – Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos sent a message of unity and expressed his wishes for health and prosperity in the new year while listening to the traditional Christmas carols at the Presidential Mansion.

Pavlopoulos noted that “the great power of the Greeks is their unity” and added that “united we have achieved all the great and important things.”

As every year, the singing of the kalanta began with the Armed Forces Band playing festive music to greet President Pavlopoulos outside his office where well wishes were exchanged. The Presidential Guard, the Evzones, then sang the traditional Cretan kalanta as well as the Thracian kalanta.

The Association of Parents and Guardians of Children with Neoplasma Diseases “The Faith” then met with President Pavlopoulos followed by the group from Crete, which performed traditional Cretan carols in honor of the President of the Hellenic Republic and its members also danced traditional dances of Crete. They also performed mantinades with political messages mainly towards the neighboring Turkey.

The Presidential Palace was filled with children’s voices as the children of Kalogeropouleio Foundation sang Byzantine and Cycladic carols and sent their own message of humanity and sensitivity for Christmas.

Best wishes were also shared by Pres. Pavlopoulos and members of the Cypriot cultural association “Cyprus” with Cypriot carols, as well as by the Association of Trikerion Magnesias “Trikerios” which presented traditional local dishes.

Athenian folk Christmas carols and Byzantine carols were chanted by the choir of the 1st Arskeion Primary School of Psychiko and the ceremony concluded with the Cultural Association of Anogeia Crete, who honored for the second consecutive year the President of the Republic, noting that Mr. Pavlopoulos is an honorary citizen of Anogeia and expressed with a characteristic mantinada many wishes for health and well-being in the New Year.

Material from the ANA-MPA was used in this report.