Voice of Greece celebrates Assumption Day with a specially curated 24-hour program, dedicated to Greeks around the world.
Each Panagia has its place, its story, and its songs, and Voice of Greece opens its program on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 06:00am (Athens time) with songs by Greek creators of art and folk music, inspired by the Virgin Mary, and songs for all the Marias celebrating their name day.
At 08:00am, Voice of Greece will connect with the Church of Panagia Evangelistria in Tinos to broadcast live the celebrations for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, starting with the Hierarchical Liturgy at the church of Megalochari and the honors for the fallen of the torpedoed Elli.
Journalist Prokopis Agelopoulos, from the studio, will set sail at 12:30 pm Greek time for the holy pilgrimages to Panagias in Greece and around the world, which will be celebrating early in the morning as part of the show “Take Your Time.“
Next, journalist Thanasis Choupis and the show “Hellenes Everywhere” will take us to the church of Panagia Faneromeni in Nicosia, an emblematic church where the oath of the fighters (1955-1959) for self-determination and union with Greece was taken (2:00pm -3:00pm Athens time).
Following at 3:00 pm, authentic performances of traditional festive tunes will be aired from the archives of the Hellenic Radio, in the show “The Elves of Tradition” with Maria Koutsimpiri.
Dimitris Kontogiannis, in the show “Our Global Voice,” talks with Greeks from around the world and conveys the atmosphere of the celebration of this great Orthodox holiday from various corners of the planet (4:00pm – 5:00pm Athens time).
“The Virgin Mary in Poetry and Song” is the title of a tribute by Giannis Papoutsakis, which will be broadcast at 5:00pm Athens time, as part of the show “Journeys Basking in Greek Light.”
The English-language music show “Greek Music Express” with Heracles Oikonomou will be dedicated to the multiple musical references to the Virgin Mary—references of supplication, praise of love, and dreams. “My Virgin, I am still a crazy child / My dreams, muddy water from the earth” (7:00pm – 8:00pm Athens time).
The show “Fair Winds and Following Seas” with Antonis Karagiannakis will present a special tribute to Greek sailors traveling the seas of the world, celebrating the festivals of our homeland (8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Athens time).
At 9:00 pm Athens, a two-hour concert titled “Traveling Through Time… 1954 – 2024” will be broadcast in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the historic ERT Contemporary Music Orchestra, presented at the Lycabettus Theater on Sunday, July 21, 2024, with the participation of many distinguished performers.
At 11:00 pm Athens time, the concert “Hommage à Mikis Theodorakis” by the Greek choir Odyssée, based in Grenoble, France, will be broadcast. The choir director, Isidore–Nicolas Cosmides, is accompanied by thirty-seven singers and musicians, passionately performing the songs of Mikis Theodorakis.
The 24-hour Assumption Day tribute will conclude with the two-hour show “Our Town” where Themis Rodamitis will talk with the notable composer, musicologist, performer, and soloist Christos Tsiamoulis. Songs from his extensive discography will be played, performed by himself and other significant artists.
