Nikos Kazantzakis was welcomed and honored at the United Nations and at the General Consulate of Greece in Manhattan

New York, USA.- The culmination of the week-long events honoring the great thinker, philosopher, writer, world traveler and peace activist Nikos KAZANTZAKIS was the Exhibition of the photographs, original manuscripts and other documentary items from his life and work, at the General Consulate of Greece in Manhattan.

This truly historic event has more significance considering the fact that Kazantzakis relationship with the United States, the country that graciously host his spirit and his personal items today, unfolded quite differently during his time, as insurmountable obstacles prevented him from ever setting foot on American soil!

Dozens of people and VIP’s flocked to the Consulate from early afternoon to be witness to the opening of the Exhibit, and welcome the great Helene in the New World! The elegant event was opened by General Consul Mrs. Ifigenia Kanara, who welcomed the guests, while stressing the importance and universality of KAZANTZAKIS’s thought and its continued applicability to today’s world. Other VIP’s offered remarks and subsequently Mrs Niki Stavrou, of the NK Estate, offered a guided tour through exhibit and answered questions from the guests.

Some of Nikos KAZANTZAKIS’s personal items, photos and manuscripts which were exhibited at the General Consulate of Greece yesterday. The Exhibit was organized by the NY Chapter of Friends of NK, in cooperation with ΔΕΦΝΚ and the Estate of Nikis Kazantzakis. It should be noted that such an exhibition was first in American soil.

The evening continued with selected readings from Nikos Kazantzakis’s works, accompanied by a Cretan music ensemble and a cocktail reception, graciously sponsored by yours truly, the Velivasakis family.

Emmanuel Velivasakis

It behooves to mention that the week-long celebrations honoring our great thinker could not have happened without the work of many devoted “Kazantzakian apostles” both from here and abroad, and the serious financial support of the Region of Crete and the Foundation “Cultural Crete-USA” of the Velivasakis family.

Honored at the United Nations

The everlasting Spirit of Nikos KAZANTZAKIS was welcomed and honored at the United Nations with all pomp and circumstance the great author, philosopher, humanist and peace activist so rightfully deserves! Shortly after Noon, a 12-member delegation from the International Society of NK Friends, the NK Museum and the Region of Crete, along with an invited group of academics and other prominent Greek Americans, arrived at the Main Gate of the United Nations, where they were met by the Greek Mission/ Delagation to the UN, and were expeditiously escorted inside the main UN building!

Shortly thereafter, we all gathered at an executive UN suite, where we were formally welcomed by the Head of the Greek Mission, Ambassador Sekeris and his colleagues. Many other UN missions had regathered in the meeting room, eagerly waiting to receive and honor with their presence the great thinker, world traveler and Peace-Activist Nikos KAZANTZAKIS.

After welcoming remarks by the Greek Ambassador Sekeris, the floor was then turned over to the he most esteemed Greek American and Washington insider Mr. Andy Manatos, who had bee invited to deliver the Keynote Address for the occasion! With his skillful oratory, and his deep knowledge of our GreekAmerican Omogenia and Kazantzakian thought, Andy was able to knit a hymn not only regarding the great thinker, but just as importantly his influence on the life and thought on himself and on some of our most famous Greek-American politicians, including the late John Sarbanes, John Bradimas and Nick Galifianakis, etc.

Followed were academic presentations on KAZANTZAKIS’s life, travels and works by esteemed members of our delegation including professors Peter Bien, Elena Avramidou and Nikos Alexiou. The event was moderated by yours truly Emmanuel Velivasakis in my capacity as president of the NY chapter of ΔΕΦΝΚ.

The speakers demonstrated KAZANTZAKIS’s profound fascination of cultures, including those of Centra Asia and the Far East, to which he travelled extensively in order to study their ancient cultures and civilizations, as he was convinced that a new civilization would be born from the East, and his work “Traveling: Japan-China” stands as one of the most compelling of his travel writings. We also learned from professor Bien, that what distinguishes KAZANTZAKIS’s travel accounts is singular Kazantzakian lens, which consistently centers on the history and culture of the locale, always in relation to the natural landscape!

Those fascinating presentations were especially welcomed by the delegates from the various Far East nations, who attended the event, and who further appreciated Greece’s role in the World, especially now that Greece is a member of the UN Security Council.

Profound thanks and Congratulations to all those involved in organizing and executing this most prestigious UN event, including the Greek Mission at the UN, the KAZANTZAKIS Delegation from Greece, our invited speakers and the local chapter of the Friends of NK.

Last but not least special thanks to all the attendees who with their presence honored the great author, humanist, philosopher, world traveler and peace/activist, who lived many years ahead of his time and his thoughts and beliyare just as relevant today as they were then.