Ramni Remembers: Ceremony to Honour Wartime Resistance Fighters and Hostage Victims
The village of Ramni in Apokoronas will host a public memorial ceremony on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., marking the anniversary of one of the most harrowing episodes of the wartime occupation in this part of Crete: the taking of local women and children as hostages and their mock execution.
The event also honours Colonel Dimitris Michelogiannis and the other villagers who took part in the National Resistance against the occupation.
Programme
The ceremony will take place at the National Resistance Monument in Ramni and is open to all. It will include:
- Memorial prayer for those who died or suffered
- Wreath-laying at the monument
- Greetings from the organising bodies
- Historical address on the events, delivered by former Chania MP and lawyer Sifis Michelogiannis
The History Behind the Ceremony
The mock execution of women and children from Ramni is a chapter of the occupation that left a lasting mark on this small community in Apokoronas. The annual commemoration keeps the memory of that ordeal alive, alongside recognition of the men and women — military and civilian — who resisted.
Practical Details
- Date: May 9, 2026
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: National Resistance Monument, Ramni, Apokoronas
The ceremony is free and open to the public. The event is organised jointly by the Region of Crete (Regional Unit of Chania), the Municipality of Apokoronas, the Ramni Village Community, and the Ramni Cultural Association.