With a view to showcasing the pipe organ housed in St. George’s Cathedral in Ano Syros and, at the same time, revive the Ano Syros medieval settlement, the Roman Catholic Bishopry of Syros has been organizing the “ANO” International Organ Festival since 2017. The Festival’s program of events includes concerts, lectures, viewings of the pipe organ, and tours of the Ano Syros medieval settlement.
The pipe organ
The pipe organ at St. George’s Cathedral in Ano Syros was crafted in Italy in 1888 by the Zeno Fedeli organ builders in Italy. It was given as a gift by Pope Leo XIII to the Catholic Cathedral of Agios Dionysius in Athens, where it remained until 1951 before being moved to Syros. Built in the Romantic period, it retains the authentic sound of pipe organs from that era, while its carved wooden face renders it a true work of art. In 2016, His Excellency Petros Stefanou, Catholic Bishop of Syros, initiated its partial repair and return to use. Its restoration was completed in 2019 with a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. It is the oldest church organ currently in use in Greece.
Organizers
Catholic Bishopry of Syros
Hon. f. Peter Stefanou, Catholic Bishop of Syros
Syros Greek Catholic Association
Peter Roussos, President
Organizing Committee
- Stefanos Tsialis, Artistic Director
- Haris Vekris, Executive Director
- Nikos Kanellopoulos, Artistic Program Consultant
- Aristea Yiannou, Media Officer
- Anna Printezi, Project Manager & Secretariat
- Dimitris Roussos, Financial Manager
- Nireas Vekris, Deputy Executive Director
- Despina Roussou, Secretariat
- Aggeliki Paleologou, Anna Sigala, Operations Management Support
- Deacon f. Konstantinos Kapellos, Organ’s Conservation Supervisor
- George Sigalas, Hospitality Supervisor
- Nikos Meramveliotakis, Kostas Valsamakis, Website Design, Development and Management
- Yiannis Manousos, TV Spot Director
- Stefanos Mammidis, Nikos Desipris, Photographer
- Freiderikos Roussos, Optical Identity of the Festival
- Vaggelis Aragiannis, Text Checking
- George Roussos, Screen Display Coordinator
- Marios Roussos, Markos Trakas, Dimitris Kodizas, Video Recording Support
- Louisa Varthalitou, Michalis Voutsinos, Maria Roussou, Myriam Maragou, Front of House Services
