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- Ελληνικά
"Geroskipou from ancient times has linked its name with the history and culture of both Cyprus and Greece. Its name comes from the words "sacred garden" since this is where the gardens of the Goddess Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty and Eros, were traditionally located. But also throughout history, Geroskipou holds a special place, in Byzantine times, in the Middle Ages and even today. Based on this culture and tradition are the Ierkipia - cultural events organized by the Municipality of Geroskipou in the month of September and are considered a great cultural offer. The Municipality of Geroskipou, adopting the view that culture should always have a special place in the life of the modern man and especially the European citizen, has set up a programme of varied and qualitatively upgraded activities. 28 years later, you continue to demonstrate your commitment to the special place that culture should occupy in our lives, and for that we owe you both congratulations and gratitude.
It is with great pleasure and honour that I have accepted your invitation to be here with you tonight, in the Municipality of Geroskipou, on the occasion of the opening of the "Ierokipia 2023" events.
First of all, I would like to convey to you the warm greetings of the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, whom I represent today. I would also like to express my warmest congratulations to the Municipality of Geroskipou, which for the 28th year continues with the same zeal to organize "Ierokipia", a series of events that has now become an institution and has established itself in the consciousness of its public.
Such a cultural event contributes to the qualitative upgrading of the cultural life of the Municipality of Geroskipou, the wider region and the whole country. The younger generations have the opportunity to get in touch with their roots, learning about the customs of our people, enjoying the music, songs and dances of our tradition, local products and traditional dishes and much more. Moreover, such events add to the tourist product of the Municipality, offering tourists the experience of enjoying samples of Cypriot culture and tradition.
The name "Ierokipia" given to this series of events comes from the name of Geroskipou itself. Geroskipou has a long and rich history dating back to antiquity and is associated with the worship of the goddess Aphrodite.
According to the ancient Greek geographer Strabo, in Cyprus there was an ancient city, Ierokipia, which was located geographically between Palaipafos and Paphos and immediately before Paphos, where Geroskipou is located today. In his famous book "Geographica", Strabo, describing the southwestern coast of Cyprus in the direction from Limassol to Paphos, specifically mentions the ancient city "small from the thalattis and Ierokipia."
Etymologically, the name Ierokipia comes from the words "sacred" and "garden". According to ancient sources, as well as the testimonies of foreign travelers and historians, there were in ancient times in the southern area of Geroskipou the "Sacred Gardens", which were dedicated to the goddess of beauty, love and fertility, Aphrodite. It was from these gardens that the procession of the faithful passed through, ending at the Sanctuary of Aphrodite in Palaipafos, during the celebration of the "Aphrodisia", the annual festival in honour of the Goddess.
Apart from the rich past, we must also emphasize the lively present of Geroskipou. A city, a modern municipality, that preserves and promotes those cultural and historical special characteristics unquenched and unchanged. It is the highest mission of all of us, state, local government, organised groups and society to inculcate historical and cultural awareness.
Throughout the centuries, our small island, a crossroads of continents and cultures, has carved and built special and unique elements that today constitute a strong cultural background.
The culture of our island is a living reality that is produced and cultivated throughout the centuries and reproduced by the daily cultural creation of the people of art, science and letters, but also through the daily work of the ordinary man of toil and industry. Support and respect for our culture are fundamental elements for the survival of our people and a prerequisite for a better future. A journey, not a port", a component of wills. The prevalence of right over wrong, of dialogue over monologue, of spirit over matter. I read somewhere that "culture is not inherited, it is conquered". I strongly believe this, a society cannot simply inherit or bequeath culture but rather cultivate and evolve it, inculcate it and respect it. And it is events such as the one we are at tonight that forge and shape awareness of the value and values of our cultural origins.
This year, the "Ierokipia 2023" events are held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. This is a great example of the Government's practical support and encouragement for the organization of such events, as this way our culture, customs and traditions are kept alive.
At this point, I would like to thank the Municipality of Geroskipou for its systematic effort and for the commendable work it produces for the benefit of its citizens, investing in the culture, art and tradition of our land. Thanks to you, tonight and for the coming weeks, Geroskipou Square is transformed into a cultural reference point for the whole of Cyprus.
I would, of course, like to congratulate and thank all those who contributed in any way and devoted personal time and effort to the realization of this year's events. By right, therefore, you should all feel proud that you manage to keep your municipality on the map of cultural events in Cyprus and raise the bar of cultural events in our country.
I am sure that this year's "Ieropipia" events will be a success as always.
(PM/EP)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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