Apokoronas marks 160 years since the Cretan Revolution with a ceremony in Vafe

Summary

On Sunday, October 11, 2026, the village of Vafe in Apokoronas will host a commemorative ceremony at 11:00 a.m. to mark the 160th anniversary of the Cretan Revolution of 1866–1869 and the Battle of Vafe. Organised by a broad coalition including the Municipality of Apokoronas, the Region of Crete and several cultural organisations, the event will feature wreath-laying, a minute's silence, a keynote address by historian Dr. Nektarios Nikolakakis, poetry recitations, rizitiko folk singing and traditional Cretan refreshments. All residents and visitors are warmly welcome.

Apokoronas honours the fighters of 1866 at a landmark ceremony in Vafe

The village of Vafe in Apokoronas will be the setting for a deeply felt act of collective memory on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Starting at 11:00 a.m. at the village square war memorial, local residents, dignitaries and descendants of the original combatants will gather to mark 160 years since the Cretan Revolution of 1866–1869 and the Battle of Vafe, which took place on October 12, 1866.

What to expect on the day

The programme blends solemn ceremony with cultural celebration, bringing history to life in a format that is open to everyone. The schedule includes:

Memorial prayer for the fallen
Wreath-laying at the war memorial on the village square
Minute's silence in memory of the Greek volunteers and Cretan fighters who gave their lives
National anthem
Keynote address by historian, Turkologist and Doctor of Theology Dr. Nektarios Nikolakakis, focusing on the events of the Revolution of 1866–1869 and the Battle of Vafe
Poetry recitations related to the Revolution, delivered by philologists Nektaria Athanasaki and Maria Kotzabasaki
Speeches and greetings from the organisers, official guests and descendants of the volunteers and Cretan fighters
Rizitiko folk songs performed by the Apokoronas rizitiko group
Traditional Cretan hospitality to follow

Who is organising the event?

The event is jointly organised by the Region of Crete (Regional Unit of Chania), the Municipality of Apokoronas, the Vafe Cultural Association, the non-profit foundation "Agia Sofia", the National Research and Study Foundation "Eleftherios K. Venizelos", the Federation of Apokoronas Associations in Attica, and the Vafe Village Community.

Why it matters

The Battle of Vafe was one of the pivotal engagements of the Cretan Revolution, a period of fierce resistance against Ottoman rule that drew volunteers from across Greece. One hundred and sixty years on, this ceremony is a chance for the whole community — residents and visitors alike — to stand in solidarity with that history and pay respect to those who fought for freedom.

Date: October 11, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: War Memorial, Vafe Village Square, Apokoronas

Official source

PRESS RELEASE – Ceremony of Honour and Remembrance for the 160th Anniversary of the Revolution of 1866–1869 and the Battle of Vafe

October 7, 2026, 7:30 a.m.

On Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., a Ceremony of Honour and Remembrance for the 160th Anniversary of the Revolution of 1866–1869 and the historic Battle of Vafe (12.10.1866) will take place at the War Memorial on the square of Vafe, Apokoronas.

The event is co-organised by the Region of Crete – Regional Unit of Chania, the Municipality of Apokoronas, the Vafe Cultural Association, the non-profit foundation "Agia Sofia", the National Research and Study Foundation "Eleftherios K. Venizelos", the Federation of Apokoronas Associations in Attica, and the Vafe Village Community.

The programme of the event includes: a memorial prayer, wreath-laying, a minute's silence in memory of the fallen Greek volunteers and Cretan fighters, the national anthem, a keynote address on the events of the Revolution of 1866–1869 and the Battle of Vafe by Historian-Turkologist and Doctor of Theology Mr. Nektarios Nikolakakis, recitations related to the Revolution by Philologists Ms. Nektaria Athanasaki and Ms. Maria Kotzabasaki, greetings from the organisers, official guests and descendants of the volunteers and Cretan fighters, rizitiko songs by the Apokoronas rizitiko group, to be followed by traditional Cretan hospitality.

The event will constitute a moving and deeply honourable moment, paying tribute to our immortal revolutionary ancestors and the Greek volunteers who fought and sacrificed themselves for freedom.

Your presence would honour us greatly and would enhance the significance of this anniversary event.