The Friends of Paros and Antiparos association was founded twenty-five years ago by eleven people from a variety of backgrounds. Some lived on Paros – in Naoussa, Parikia or Kostos – whilst others lived in Athens, Paris or Brussels. The names of the eleven founders appear in our BULLETIN and on our website.
They all shared a common desire to work together and cooperate. This approach responded to a twofold aspiration. On the one hand, the permanent residents of Paros welcomed the presence of occasional residents who were loyal to the island, whose exposure to other ways of life could be an enrichment and a source of opportunities. On the other hand, these non-residents had, in a sense, adopted Paros and wished to contribute to its development whilst preserving its Cycladic identity and uniqueness.
The association’s logo, designed by the artist Stelios Ghikas at the request of its first president, Vlassys Sfyroeras, perfectly illustrates this ambition. It depicts a ‘π’ (pi) raised to the power of n, a symbol of several Greek words beginning with this letter: Paros, environment, culture, citizen and city. This logo clearly expresses the association’s areas of action and focus.
Among its first landmark initiatives was the organisation of ceremonies honouring individuals and organisations committed to serving the community on a voluntary basis. The full list of these honours is available on our website.
We should, however, mention the very first ceremony, dedicated to Antonis Popolanos, who was honoured for his contribution – alongside Manolis Moraïtis – to securing the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for Paros wines. This recognition has fostered the development of local viticulture, helped preserve the island’s landscape through the maintenance of vineyards, and promoted a model of sustainable development.
This first ceremony took place at Yorgos Pittas’s Lefkes Village hotel, which for a time served as the association’s meeting place following its move from Kostos’s Yria workshop. The Friends’ interest in viticulture has never waned. Thus, in the summer of 2025, our association organised a dinner and discussion at the Swiss Home hotel in Naoussa, dedicated to all the wine producers of Paros and the importance of their work for the island (see Bulletin No. 30). Following this event, Yorgos Pittas published a bilingual book on the vineyards of Paros, as part of the ‘Friends of Paros and Antiparos’ series. The book was launched on 18 July at the theatre in Lefkes, in collaboration with the cultural association of this village, the island’s former capital.
It would be difficult to summarise here all the ideas and achievements of our association and to pay tribute to all those who have kept it going for the past twenty-five years. We should, however, mention the importance of its publishing activities, which are often trilingual. These centre on the e-newsletter and the website, managed by Nicolas Stephanou; the biannual printed BULLETIN, coordinated by Merina Matheopoulou; and the ‘Les Amis de Paros et Antiparos’ book series, which already comprises six volumes. This series is overseen by a committee comprising Yorgos Vlandas, Tassos Zacharas, Merina Matheopoulou and Sotiris Koutsiaftis. Through these publications, the association actively contributes to public debate and to the dissemination of its ideas and activities.
Since its inception, the association has also maintained excellent relations with local authorities, regardless of their political affiliations. This cooperation has developed in particular with Anna Kagani, the municipality’s cultural affairs officer and a member of our association. As a result, cultural events are organised jointly with the town hall, which has also participated in all the award ceremonies held since our foundation.
We would also like to highlight the financial support provided by our association, thanks to the generosity of its donors, to the archaeological excavations at Despotiko, the islet situated south of Antiparos, which have enabled the unearthing and restoration of the ancient sanctuary of Apollo.
Another defining feature of our work is the quality of our relationships with the many associations on Paros, as well as with the Citizens’ Movement. Together, we are working to promote sustainable tourism that respects the island’s natural and cultural heritage, and we are campaigning against the over-construction.
In this spirit of cooperation, six associations on the island – including the Friends of Paros and Antiparos, Archilochos, the Archaeological Institute of Paros, the Paros Hoteliers’ Association and the Marathi Association, have established a non-profit organisation aimed at promoting the restoration and opening to the public of the ancient marble quarries at Marathi, through the creation of a cultural and archaeological park.
In conclusion, we would like to extend our warmest thanks to our 170 members who are up to date with their membership fees, the 18 members of our board of directors, as well as our crowd-funders and patrons. Thanks to their commitment and generosity, our endeavour continues to grow and flourish. Their support has enabled us to carry out numerous initiatives, including archaeological excavations and the reconstruction of artefacts, art exhibitions, and the publication of several books.
We look forward to seeing you at our annual ceremony, which will take place on 1 August 2026 at 7.30 pm in Marpissa, at ‘Plateia tou Christou’, where we will celebrate our association’s twenty-five years together.
Yorgos Vlandas – President
Tassos Zacharas – General Secretary
Nicolas Stephanou – Vice President
Marousso Boura – Vice President
Leave a Reply