Nikaia gathered to bid a final farewell to Giorgos Mazonakis, as thousands of people converged on the neighbourhood where he was born and raised.
The streets surrounding the Church of the Holy Trinity were filled with his music, while some mourners danced zeibekiko and others broke down in tears. The farewell became a spontaneous public expression of affection for an artist whose 33-year career brought together different generations.
Crowds gather at the church
Shortly before 1pm, the church was filled with relatives, friends, colleagues, artists and thousands of fans.
People had continued arriving almost without interruption since Mazonakis’ body was brought to the church on Sunday afternoon for a public vigil. Mourners of all ages left flowers, stood silently beside his coffin and sang songs that had accompanied different periods of their lives.
Among those attending were singers Paola, Amaryllis, Ilias Vrettos, Thanos Petrelis, Dimos Anastasiadis, Stathis Angelopoulos and Konstantinos Pantelidis.
Funeral service open to the public
The funeral service was scheduled to begin at 1pm and was open to the public.
Mazonakis’ body will then be taken to Athens’ Third Cemetery, where the burial will be held in a private family ceremony.
His family has asked for donations to Humanity Greece instead of funeral wreaths.
Before his final journey, Giorgos Mazonakis returned one last time to Nikaia, among the people and familiar images of the neighbourhood where he grew up before his voice became known across Greece.
