The Municipality of Ayia Napa extended warm hospitality to the 50-member group of ELDYK Officers and Soldiers during their visit to our tourist resort, on Sunday, September 17, which took place following an initiative of the Cyprus Center for Studies (CYKEM) in consultation with the Local Authority of the city .
The first stop of their visit was the "Thalassa" Municipal Museum, where they were welcomed on behalf of the Mayor Mr. Christos Zannettos and were guided around the site by the Municipal Secretary Mr. Fotos Kikilos, the Head of the Cultural Service Ms. Maria Tofini Tsantila and the Director of the Museum Ms. Cornelia Kyriakou.
Welcoming them, Mr. Kikilos expressed his special joy for their visit to Ayia Napa, while pointing out the long-term struggles and sacrifices of ELDYK in the defense of Cypriot Hellenism, something for which he stressed "we feel grateful". He also assured that the Municipality of Ayia Napa will always support initiatives aimed at maintaining and strengthening the ties between Cyprus and Greece.
Then the Director of the Museum Ms. Cornelia Kyriakou took them on a tour of the Temporary Art Gallery of Famagusta, the Marine Life Museum, the Paleontology department and the archeology department where they admired the Museum's impressive exhibit, Kyrenia II.
Then the Head of the Cultural Service of the Municipality Ms. Maria Tofini Tsantila took them on a tour of the Medieval Monastery, the Church of Our Lady of Agia Napa where they were welcomed and talked about the history of the Church and the icon of Our Lady of Agia Napa by the Protopresbyter of the Church Father Basilios and to the International Sculpture Park for which the Head of Cultural of the Municipality made an extensive reference both to the history of the implementation of the Park and to the sculptors and their works. He also informed that it is a very important cultural project and point of reference for Ayia Napa, the Free Province of Famagusta and for Cyprus in general and it is considered as pointed out by Ms. Tofini one of the best and largest Sculpture Parks or Open Museum worldwide.
This was followed by a meal at the "Anonymus" hotel, hosted by the owner of the hotel, Mr. Michalis Stergidis, who, despite the health problems he is facing, welcomed them with a banner and with great warmth.
The Vice-President of the Central Council of the Cyprus Center for Studies (CYKEM), Mr. Andreas Morfitis, after thanking the Mayor Mr. Christos Zannettos and the Members of the Municipal Council for the warm hospitality of the ELDYK mission in their city, emphasized the importance of such initiatives that maintain and strengthen the unbreakable ties of Cyprus and Greece.
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