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activities within the framework of the Cyprus Presi-
dency of the Council of the European Union, which
sought to promote Akaki and its cultural heritage,
“so the youth of Cyprus can learn and its elders can
remember.”
Opening speech by the Headmistress of Akaki
Gymnasium, Eleni Markidou Sophocleous
In the battle of everyday life, as well as through na-
tional tribulations and social efforts, man feels his
conscience is empowered by living in the tradition
of his predecessors.
Tradition is not a fossil of the past; it is the river by
which today is irrigated. Tradition creates the right
conditions to irrigate the new. Its roots get “freshwa-
ter through the centuries.”
This svelte balance between tradition and creation
was what the Gymnasium of Akaki attempted to
find through a series of activities. One such activity
is the
Wedding Dresses and Photos Exhibition
from
the era 1915-1980, which we are launching today.
We believe that to prepare active and democratic
citizens, and in extension create civilisation, our pu-
pilsmust have a solid grip on tradition, on their roots.
Woe to us if we deny our cultural heritage and accept
that science is capable of starting a new civilisation
from scratch.
An added reason to protect our tradition is our ac-
cession to the ecumenical civilisation of Europe.
With this exhibition, we believe we are inspiring our
youth to become accustomed to our tradition, while
at the same time enabling our elders to retrieve sweet
memories. We do so within the framework of pro-
jecting and preservingAkaki’s local culture heritage,
by honouring its ethos and customs.
Headmistress Eleni Markidou Sophocleous (right) shows
Education Minister George Demosthenous (left) around