Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Greeks, Cypriots, Armenians Revive Heritage in Egypt (Photos, Videos)


Tue 19 Feb 2019 | 11:48 PM
maydaa nadar

By Maydaa Abo El-Nadar

CAIRO, Feb.19 (SEE) - Last year, Egypt launched an initiative titled “The Roots Revival” that was inaugurated by the Egyptian, Cypriot, and Greek Presidents Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Nicos Anastasiades, and Prokopis Pavlopoulos, respectively.

The initiative aims at honoring the foreign communities that have been living on the Egyptian soil.

Worth noting is that the strongest communities in Egypt are the Greek and the Armenian ones. Both have their own schools, churches, they are practicing their traditions, and are preserving their rich heritage on the Egyptian soil.

On the other hand, since their arrival, Greeks and Armenians smoothly had merged with the Egyptian society, till they became part of it and have been enriching it.

In this regard, the Egyptian Minister of Immigration and Expatriates’ Affairs Nabila Makram expressed, “The Roots Revival initiative will continue and will include many activities in the future.”

Egyptian Minister of Immigration and Expatriates’ Affairs Nabila Makram

The Minister kept her promise and today the Ministry organized a festivity, in cooperation with the Armenian, Greek, and Cypriot communities in Egypt, at the Cairo Opera House’s Hanager Theatre.

Parallel to the 3rd

Awladna International Forum for Inpiduals with Special Capabilities, the festivity

was also organized in cooperation with Awladna Foundation.

The event was attended by members of the Greek, Cypriot and Armenian communities in Egypt, the Minister, the Founder of Awladna Foundation Soheir Abdel Kader.

Also, the Greek, Cypriot, and Armenian Ambassadors to Egypt, Michael-Christos Diamessis, Kharis Moritzis, and Karin Krikorian were present.

Five members of Awladna Foundation opened the show by singing “Kelma Helwa Wi Kelmitin” for the famous Italian-Egyptian singer Dalida, and “Fiha Haga Helwa” for Riham Abdel Hakim.

Afterward, the Greek School in Cairo presented a dance that depicts the friendship between Cyprus and Greece.

https://youtu.be/rmdeDjWlUdo

The School also presented a dance about the Greek Revolution (1821-1832) against the Ottoman Empire.

https://youtu.be/jV1CZSzuHY4

Surrounded by the Greek and Cypriot crowd’s cheers, the Greek show concluded with another two dances.

https://youtu.be/zMncTNYu_LM

Armenians Rupen Aslanian and 15-year-old Hovhannes Jan Hovhannisyan revived marvelous songs from the Armenian heritage.

https://youtu.be/YaatUsPa-FU

In addition, spectators enjoyed two Armenian traditional dances.

https://youtu.be/a5x-pARaIgE

The show was concluded by Mariam

Mohsen (who is blind) amazingly performing famous musical tracks on the piano.

Before the festivity, attendees were invited to an exposition that included drawings, photos, and handmade crafts for persons with special capabilities.

The following countries took part at the exposition: Egypt (represented by Awladna Foundation), the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Yemen, Sudan, China, and Singapore.