From by clicking here of I.K. Athens
Our Community Community Center and B'nai B'rith “PHILON” co-organized a pilgrimage trip from 29 to 31 May 2024. A group of 80 people went to the beautiful town of Zakynthos to honor the prominent Zakynthians, Blessed Metropolitan Chrysostomos Dimitrios and the Late Mayor Loukas Carrer, who risked their lives to save the Jewish inhabitants of the island from annihilation during the Nazi atrocities.
Initially, a group consisting of Rabbi Isaac Mizan and Messrs. Beni Albala, Leonta Gavrielidis and Viktora Bati visited the offices of the Holy Diocese of Zakynthos, the Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, Father Panagiotis Kapodistrias, to express their thanks and gratitude to the citizens of Zakynthos, and offered a donation of €1,000 for the charitable purposes of the Holy Metropolis. The Most Reverend Metropolitan of Zakynthos was absent in Athens for serious reasons.
Afterwards, the whole group accompanied by Father P. Kapodistrias and the Deputy Mayor of Culture Mr. Panagiotis Vryonis went to the site of the former Synagogue of Zakynthos where everyone sang the hymn of brotherhood (Hineh Mah Tov), a prayer for peace was recited and wreaths were laid on its busts Metropolitan Chrysostomos and Mayor Carrer. This was followed by a visit to the Jewish cemetery of Zakynthos where a memorial service was held and kaddish was recited for the souls of the deceased members of the Israeli Community of Zakynthos.
In the afternoon of the same day, the screening of Tony Lykouresis' film "The Song of Life" which refers to the salvation of the Jews of Zakynthos took place at the Cinema "Sine Foskolos" in the central square of the city. This was followed by an award of honorable mention to the Cezana families for their long-standing and valuable contribution to the Jewish Community of Zakynthos.
The same evening the whole group enjoyed local delicacies accompanied by Zakynthian music. On the way back, a visit was made to the Jewish cemetery of Patras where a memorial service was held and kaddish was recited for the souls of the deceased members of the Israeli Community of Patras. Warm thanks to the Israelite Community of Athens for sponsoring the rental of the two coaches, to Rabbi Isaac L. Mizan for sponsoring the commemorative brochure of the event, to Mr. Isaac Isaia for producing it as well as to Mr. Sakis Negrin for videotaping the entire event excursion.
Source: From by clicking here of I.K. Athens
