Athens, 17 September 2024

 

A musical tribute dedicated to the universal Greek Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, whose life and invaluable humanitarian work touched the lives of thousands, generously offering Love, Hope and Light, was presented to a full house at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on Tuesday 17 September 2024, in the presence of Her Excellency, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou as well as numerous international figures and people connected to her work and her life. The event was organized by the Vardis J. Vardinoyannis family in collaboration with the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation and the ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with cancer.

Magnificent but also so simple, just like Marianna herself, this original, emotional tribute, directed by the talented Yorgos Nanouris and with the participation of 12 established Greek artists, illuminated the highlights of Marianna’s life and work, putting her center stage in the ancient Roman Odeon.

The date chosen for this event was symbolic: the feast-day of saints Sofia, Pisti, Agapi and Elpida (Wisdom, Faith, Love and Hope).

In the uniquely lit Odeon, designed by lighting designer Eleftheria Deko, Marianna’s voice rang out, speaking in her own words about her beliefs and visions that guided her life and provided the impetus for the creation of an enormous chain of love and giving in Greece over the last few decades. Shivers of emotion ran through the audience, while the full moon hovering over the Odeon completed the magical scene.

The highlight of the evening, children cured through ELPIDA (Panagiotis Kokkinos, Christina Fytili, Efi Vlami and Eirini Samioti) and the compatible bone marrow donor from the ORAMA ELPIDAS – VISION OF HOPE Association Vasilis Stefanou shared their personal stories and urged the audience to light a candle in honor of Marianna. It was a spectacular, devout moment of respect and remembrance for a woman who dedicated her life to her fellow humans.

Participating in this unique performance were beloved artists, longtime supporters of Marianna’s work, who sang her beloved songs. In particular, the following Artists for ELPIDA took part in the tribute (in alphabetical order): Maria Farantouri, Michalis Hatzigiannis, Marinella, Alkistis Protopsalti, Antonis Remos, Sakis Rouvas, and Natasa Theodoridou, along with the leading Greek composers (in alphabetical order) Giorgos Hatzinasios, Stefanos Korkolis, and Evanthia Reboutsika, who performed their well-known hits. Actors Grigoris Valtinos and Katerina Lechou presented the life and work of a great, bright soul who always made humanity her priority, changing thousands of lives for the better in Greece and abroad and giving them a second chance at life. The Spyros Lamprou Children’s Choir also took part in the performance.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, addressed the audience and spoke from the heart about the Marianna she knew, her “Greek goddess”, who taught the world to love and made her life a magnificent journey:

“Tonight I would like to speak to you from a different point of view, as a foreigner, a Frenchwoman who has the privilege to lead UNESCO. And for us, without any doubt, Marianna was our Greek goddess. For 25 years, as a Goodwill Ambassador, she committed herself, wholeheartedly and with unwavering passion, to the mandate of our Organization, for education, for culture, for the sciences… Dear Yannis, dear George, dear Christianna, dear Vardianna, dear Nikos, your mother often said that no love was greater than hers for you and for your children. But also for her husband, your father. You will all carry her memory in you. Allow me to conclude here with the words of the poet Constantine Cavafy. In his magnificent poem Ithaca, he gives Ulysses this advice:

But don’t hurry the journey at all.

Better if it lasts for years,

so you’re old by the time you reach the island,

wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way.

Marianna also made her life a miraculous journey. I am proud that we were brought together on her journey. Thank you, Marianna Vardinoyannis.”

Among those present were the Vardinoyannis family, the children and grandchildren of beloved Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, and important figures from Greece and abroad: Queen Maxima of Holland, Princess Amalia of Holland, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, President of the Hellenic Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas, Mareva Mitsotaki, the former presidents of Serbia Boris Tadic, of Bosnia Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic, of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades and his wife Andri Anastasiades, of Greece Prokopis Pavolopoulos with his wife Sissy Pavlopoulou, the president of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation Kerry Kennedy, Louis, son of Valery Giscard d’Estaing and his wife Claire, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors Kim Phuc and Hedva Ser, the leading heart surgeon Magdi Yacoub, former Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis and his wife Natassa Pazaiti, the president of PASOK Nikos Androulakis, the president of Plefsis Eleftherias Zoi Konstantopoulou, ministers, ambassadors, representatives of the church and of the military, Queen Anna-Maria, Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie-Chantal, Prince Nikolaos, Prince Philippos, Prince Alexandros and Princess Aikaterini of Serbia, businesspeople, journalists, intellectuals, people from the Arts, Culture and Sports, presidents of the country’s largest foundations, cured children, doctors and nurses from the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Children’s Oncology Unit. All present paid tribute to the great Greek woman who forged new paths in the field of humanitarianism, giving and solidarity, leaving a legacy for Greece like none other.