The visit by the Greek Minister of Culture, Mrs. Lina Mendoni, during which the new Archaeological Museum of Museum was officially opened and a ceremony was held to mark the reopening of the fully restored Church of Panagia Choriáni, in the island’s castle.
These two landmark projects, with a total budget of over one million euros, were carried out by the Dodecanese Ephorate of Antiquities, with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Fund and national resources from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, restoring to Chalki two invaluable pillars of historical memory, culture and education.
The events were attended by His Eminence Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Symi, Tilos, Chalki and Kastellorizo; Mr. George Hatzimarkos, Regional Governor of the South Aegean; the Head of the Dodecanese Ephorate of Antiquities, Mrs. Olympia Vikatou, the Director of the Dodecanese Service of Modern Monuments and Technical Works, Mrs. Eleni Farmakidou, the Head of the Dodecanese Service of Modern Monuments and Technical Works, Mrs. Paraskevi Moraitou, representatives of the local authorities and a large number of residents and visitors.
At the same time, finding definitive solutions to the housing problem faced by public servants working on the island, such as teachers and law enforcement officers, through the implementation of targeted measures and infrastructure projects, emerged as a top priority.
The Mayor of Chalki, Mr. Evangelos Fragkakis, stated:
“Yesterday marked a historic moment for Chalki. The new Archaeological Museum, the construction of which was initiated by the previous municipal council on a plot of land donated by the late Savvas Theodoridis, and the restoration of Panagia Choriαni, strengthen the cultural identity of our region and open up new prospects for education, social cohesion and sustainable development. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to the Greek Minister of Culture, Mrs. Lina Mendoni. for her ongoing support for the smaller islands, as well as the Regional Governor of the South Aegean, Mr George Hatzimarkos, for his steadfast cooperation and contribution to the promotion of important projects for Chalki. The protection and promotion of our cultural heritage constitute an investment in the future and a legacy for future generations”.
The Municipality of Chalki remains committed to safeguarding and promoting its cultural heritage, making the most of every opportunity for cooperation with the State and the South Aegean Region, with the aim of enhancing the quality of life of its residents and ensuring the balanced development of our remote island.