Greece: Mourners pay respects to late composer Theodorakis in Athens

Subscribe to our channel! Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to the late Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis in Athens on Monday, as his coffin was displayed at the Church of Virgin Mary ahead of his burial. Pallbearers could first be seen carrying his casket past crowds and into the church, which sits beside the Cathedral Church of Athens, where they set Theodorakis’ body down to lay in state for three days. Mourners were heard singing his songs outside the church, with several entering the chapel to kiss his coffin. Theodorakis is possibly most known outside of Greece for his song ’Zorba the Greek’ as well as his political activities during Greece’s military dictatorship. An avid Marxist, the composer was imprisoned during the US-backed military junta from 1967 to 1974 for his outspoken voice. Theodorakis was a member of Greek Parliament from 1981 to 1993 with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and later New Democracy party (198