Mikis Theodorakis surrenders today in the arms of the Greeks.
From 15:00, this afternoon, until Wednesday, the body of the unsurpassed composer will be exhibited in a popular pilgrimage, in the Diocese of Athens.
All the previous days many people honored him by leaving a flower or a note on the door of his house in Philopappos.
The same in Chania, his place of origin.
A "debt" of honor, which is strongly felt by all Greeks, who wish to say goodbye to their own Mikis.
How will the popular pilgrimage take place
Specifically, according to an announcement by the KKE and in consultation with the Diocese of Athens, the popular pilgrimage will begin tomorrow, Monday, September 6, at 3.00 pm and will end at 7.00 pm.
It will continue on Tuesday, September 7 from 10.00 in the morning until 7.00 in the afternoon and on Wednesday, September 8 from 10.00 in the morning until 2.00 in the afternoon.
The farewell ceremony will follow at 3.00 noon.
His wish is respected - His burial in Chania
Then, his body will be transported to the village of origin of his father, Galatas Chania, where on Thursday, September 9, at a time to be determined, the funeral procession will be sung in the village church and will be buried in the cemetery of Galatas , according to his last wish.
The Greek - emblem of the whole country and its struggles will be buried - as he had repeatedly requested in every way - in his homeland, next to his parents and brother.
A wish that was discussed for days, as the daughter of the great composer, Margarita, had asked her father to bury her in Vrachati, Corinth, where his summer house is located.
However, after the announcement of the mayor of Chania, it became known that Mikis Theodorakis had taken a series of actions to ensure that he would be buried in Galatas, Chania, even if some, within his family, disagree with this wish.
Mikis's letter from 2013
Specifically, on Friday afternoon, the mayor of Chania, Panagiotis Simandirakis, announced the letter which was sent in 2013 by Mikis Theodorakis to the then mayor, Manolis Skoulakis, with the unique content of his contribution, in order to realize his wish to be buried in the cemetery of Galatas, that is, where his parents and brother rest.
Mr. Simandirakis underlined that his decision to publish the letter stems from the institutional obligation of the Municipality to comply with what Mikis Theodorakis requested.
In the letter, which was received with a confidential protocol, Mikis Theodorakis refers to the fact that his family is against his choice, but that it is his right to determine the place of his last residence. 
Indicative of the will of the great Greek composer to be buried in his place of origin, is the fact that he had provided to ask, in case Manolis Skoulakis would not be mayor when Mikis would die, his wish to be realized by the present mayor, something that happened.
In his statements, Mr. Simandirakis underlined that he publishes the letter as he should and with all due respect to the family of Mikis Theodorakis.
The matter reached the courts
Following this development, the executors of Mikis Theodorakis's last wish to be buried in Galatas, Chania, filed an application for precautionary measures in the Single-Member Court of First Instance of Athens, due to the opposition of the great composer, who until recently asked to be buried in Kothra.
The court issued a temporary order, in fact, which prohibits any action for the burial of Mikis Theodorakis until Monday the 6th of the month, when the discussion of the precautionary measures was set.
And despite the fact that, finally, there is now a unanimous decision of his family to be buried in Galatas, Chania, on Monday the precautionary measures will be normally discussed in the Court of First Instance, regarding the funeral of the great composer.
By law he "secured" that he would be buried in Crete
In the meantime, it was announced that the great creator had really done everything to ensure that his last wish to be buried in Galatas, Chania, next to his parents and his beloved brother, Giannis Theodorakis, would be realized.
Specifically, it became known that Mikis's wish was known to the former Speaker of Parliament, Nikos Voutsis. In.gr spoke with Mr. Voutsis, through whose words, it was proved once again, not only the ardent desire of the great composer to be buried in Chania, but mainly the efforts he made in order to ensure that, in the desire he, his family will not be able to put "obstacles" either.
What Nikos Voutsis said to in.gr:
"A few years ago, on behalf of Mikis, his secretary, Irini Parmenidou, had visited me, together with a lawyer. They asked me to help, to ensure that the wish of Mikis Theodorakis, to be buried where he will be appointed, will be respected.
Thus, with article 15 of law 4368 (s.s. law for the parallel program) of February 2016, we helped, so that by submitting the will of the interested party to a notary, his will automatically becomes required and is implemented, in order to he is buried where he wants, regardless of the will of the relatives ".
In fact, as the former Speaker of Parliament and SYRIZA MP added, after the article in question in a law of 2016, "there was a relevant article in the law on incineration in 2018, which does not even provide for the use of a notary. That is ", Nikos Voutsis explained," the wish of the interested party is enough. You do not need a notary for the cremation, let alone for the common burial ".
For the family
There was a lot of talk about the family of Mikis Theodorakis, regarding the issue of the burial place of the great creator.
"Thriller" and "civilian" were the two most characteristic words, in fact, with which most media these days described the whole situation that was created regarding Mikis' desire to be buried in Galatas Chania and that of his daughter, Margarita , to be buried in Vrachati, Corinth and, after three years, to be transferred to Chania.
In response to all this sad "babble", it is worth quoting two posts by Angelos Theodorakis - Papagelidis, son of Margarita Theodorakis and grandson of Mikis, with the most recent first:
"Is it becoming civil somewhere?", Mikis's grandson wonders, reacting - and in fact, without anger, but with humor - to the family "civil war".
Mikis's name will be given to a main street of Athens - Competition for his bust
The award for the great composer continues, not only in his homeland, but all over the world.
In Athens, the Municipal Council of the city unanimously decided to announce an artistic competition for the bust of Mikis Theodorakis, as well as to give his name to a main street of the capital.
The Municipal Council of Athens, in the resolution approved on Sunday, states that the body of Mikis Theodorakis will be hosted free of charge at the First Cemetery of Athens, until his burial is made according to his wishes and the funeral will be attended by the mayor and the members of the Municipal Council.
Source: In.gr