THE BREAD OF PEACE
A special and special event – with hundreds of visitors – dedicated to the “Bread of Peace” was held on Sunday, April 5, by the Bread Museum of the Barnabas Folklore Society and the Association of Greek-Palestinian Friendship in Greece. In this celebration of the Bread of Peace, the four hundred and twenty exhibits (420) of embroidered bread of the Barnabas Bread Museum were presented, as well as the breads of the Palestinians and other Arabic-speaking countries.
As is well known, this particular collection is the largest, not only in Greece but in all of Europe. The event started with the tour of the foreign guests in the areas of the Varnava Historical and Folklore Museum by the president of the folklore society Mrs. Milea Pappa and volunteers of the women’s section of the museum. A guided tour continued to the bread museum by the head of the museum Ms. Anastasia Mexi-Mantzou. Then women and children from Palestine and the Arabic speaking school in Athens along with women from Varnava and children from Varnava primary school “embroidered” their own breads and their own tradition throughout the event. The Arabic-speaking primary school with their poems and songs in both Arabic and Greek gave a special and pleasant touch to the event, while the dances of a Georgian band were a surprise.
The event, which was held with the support of the Prefecture of Eastern Attica and private sponsors, was attended and greeted by, among others, the president of the Varnava Folklore Society Mrs. Milea Pappa, the president of the Greek-Palestinian Friendship Association Mr. Nander Abadla, the director of the Barnabas Historical Folklore Museum and prefectural councillor of eastern Attica Mr. Petros Katsikis, the head of the Bread Museum Mrs. Anastasia Mexi-Mantzou, the Secretary General of Palestine Europe Mr. Adel Abdullah, the former President of the Palestinian Authority of the Palestinian Authority Mr. Mr. Aismat Sabri, the president of the pan-European committee for the lifting of the Gaza embargo, Mr. Georgios Anastopoulos, the founding member of the Greek-Palestinian friendship and historical writer Mr. Nikos Kleitsikas, the deputy mayor of the prefecture of eastern Attica Mr. Nikos Peppas, the vice-mayor of the prefecture of eastern Attica Mr. Nikos Pepkas, the president of the European committee for the lifting of the embargo on Gaza Mr. Nikos Pepkas, the president of the European committee for the lifting of the embargo on Gaza Mr. Nikos Pepkas, the vice-mayor of the prefecture of eastern Attica Mr. Nikos Pepkas, the president of the European Union. The prefect of eastern Attica Mr. Leonidas Kouris, the mayor of Acharnon Mr. Panagiotis Fotiadis, the PASOK deputies Mr. Mr. Dinos Vrettos and Sofia Sakorafa, the doctor Mr. Thanasis Nisiotis who was in the bombing in Gaza, the prefectural councillor Mr. Dimitris Konstantinidis, the president of the high school of Greek women of Rafina Ms. Eleni Kachrimani, the secretary of the PASOK youth, Mr. Kostas Pantazis, head of a youth delegation, the headmistress of the Arabic-speaking school of Athens, Ms. Hala Akari, the politicians Mr. Konstantinos Katsikis from South Greece, Mr. D and Panagiotis Xanthopoulos from PASOK. Also present were the PASOK MP Mr. Vasilis Economou, the head of the major opposition of the prefectural government of eastern Attica Mr. Athanasios Balis, the secretary of the association of Greek-Palestinian friendship Mrs. Amalia Pateraki, the prefectural councillor Mr. Christos Douros, the community councillor of Varnavas community Mr. Christos Milios, the deputy mayor of the municipality of Marathon Mrs. Kalemi, the community councillor of Malakasa Mr. Kyriakos Hadjimichalaros, the women’s association of Kryoneri, representatives of the cultural association of Asia Minor of Nea Ionia Attica “Cappadocia”, the women’s association of Markopoulo Oropou “Karyatides”, the educational cultural landscaping association of Kalamos Attica, the women’s association of Varnava, the painter Mrs. Eleni Fengou, the representative of the initiative of the Friends of Galatsi for the Environment Mrs. Zerva Elena, the president of the Varnava Literature and Arts Centre Mr. Christopoulos, representatives of the KAPI of the municipality of Marathon, representatives of the choir and the KAPI of the community of Kapandriti, the director of the Kapandriti high school Mr. Dimitrios Mylonas, the teachers of the primary school of Varnavas, Mrs. Aikaterini Merivaki and Mrs. Panagiota Plisi, the teacher Mr. Parris Ananiadis, the teacher of the East Attica KEEs, Mrs. Eleni Karagianni, the president of the parents’ and guardians’ association of the primary school and kindergarten of Varnavas, Mrs Elena Kotsi, the honorary members of the Greek-Palestinian friendship, Mr Charalambos Anastopoulos and Mrs Stella Kolliou, the sports club of the Varnavas community, the secretary of the prefectural committee of PASOK of North Attica Mr. Aris Sakorafas and its members Mr. Dimitris Economou and Mrs. Anna Papadopoulou the priest of the Anglican Church Christina Newton Sakali. Letters were sent by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Mr Athanasios Bouras, and the Members of Parliament, Mr Theodoros Pangalos, Mrs Evi Christofilopoulou, Mr Apostolos Kaklamanis and Mrs Mariliza Xenogiannakoulou. Telephone greetings for the success of the event were made by the MP Mr. Nikos Kanderes, the politician Mr. Nikos Anastasiou and the member of the Board of OIELE Mr. Giorgos Christopoulos.
Finally, both the Board of the Folklore Company of Varnavas and the managers of the Bread Museum thank the ELAS and specifically the traffic police of Malakasa and the TA. Kapandriti for their help in the better conduct of the event. As well as the TV of ET and the radio station FLASI 9,61 for the promotion of this important cultural event.
