Thousands of people gathered on Sunday night at the Holy Church of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) in Nikaia, near Athens, for the public wake of Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis, who died and will be buried on Monday in the neighborhood where he was born and grew up.
From early evening, the streets around the church filled with residents of Nikaia, friends, collaborators and fans who had traveled from other parts of Attica and elsewhere in Greece to pay their respects. Some carried white flowers, others held cardboard signs with handwritten messages, while many arrived with nothing, waiting only for the chance to stand for a few seconds before his coffin.
Crowd chants "immortal" as coffin arrives
Shortly after 7:30 p.m., the arrival of Mazonakis's coffin set off a wave of emotion among those gathered outside the church. As the vehicle carrying his body moved through the crowd, hundreds raised their phones to record the moment, others applauded, and many broke into tears.
The word "Athanatos", meaning "immortal", could be heard repeatedly through the crowd. Some called out the singer's name, while others began singing songs from across his long career in Greek popular music.
It was described as his final return to the old neighborhood he never distanced himself from, even as his career took him to the biggest stages in the country and made him one of Greece's most recognizable singers.
Mother collapses in tears before the coffin
The most difficult moments of the night came when the coffin reached the entrance of the church and Mazonakis's family stood before his body for the first time. His mother could not contain her grief, crying out "my child" as she saw the coffin, in one of the most emotional moments of the farewell.
Beside her stood the singer's father and his two sisters, Maria and Vasso Mazonaki. Both women, dressed in black, appeared devastated. Maria Mazonaki broke down as the coffin entered the church and needed support from relatives and friends, while family members tried to get close enough to touch it. For a few moments, the noise of the crowd gave way to silence, and several people near the entrance began to cry.
A neighborhood sings for him
As the night went on, Agia Triada and the surrounding streets remained packed. Mazonakis's music played again across Nikaia, this time in an entirely different tone, as thousands sang along to songs tied to different periods of his career, including "Thelo Na Yiriso Sta Palia" and "Fevgo Gia Mena". The song "Palia Mou Geitonia" ("My Old Neighborhood") produced particularly strong emotion.
For many present, the farewell felt deeply personal. Some had grown up listening to his songs, seen him perform at concerts and nightclubs, or associated specific moments of their lives with his voice. People who knew him personally described him as "the best guy" and "a wonderful person," while fans waited for hours to enter the church. According to reports from Nikaia, some traveled from the Greek provinces by bus solely to attend the farewell.
White roses and a note of thanks
White flowers dominated the scene inside and outside the church, as fans left roses in his memory alongside handwritten notes. One read simply, "Thank you."
The turnout was so large that queues formed around the church. Several people fainted during the night due to overcrowding and heat, and an ambulance was stationed nearby to handle emergencies. After a memorial prayer, the public viewing began, with a steady flow of mourners passing the coffin for hours.
Why the family chose Nikaia
The choice of Agia Triada for the farewell carries particular symbolism. Nikaia was not only Mazonakis's birthplace but a constant point of reference throughout his life and public image. He never hid his origins or tried to distance himself from them as his fame grew, and the working-class neighborhood where he grew up remained part of his identity. According to accounts published around the wake, Mazonakis had ties to the Agia Triada church itself dating back to his youth, meaning his return there for a final goodbye closed a circle that began in the same place.
Wake to continue through the night
The public wake at Agia Triada was set to continue through the night and into the early hours of Monday morning, giving as many people as possible the chance to say goodbye. The crowd spanned generations, from younger fans to older admirers who had followed different chapters of his decades-long career, from his early years to his dominance of Athens's nightclub scene to his enduring recognition among a younger generation.
Funeral set for Monday afternoon
The funeral of Giorgos Mazonakis will take place on Monday, September 14, with the service held at 1 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church in Nikaia, attended by family, relatives, friends, collaborators and members of the public. Following the service, his body will be transferred to the Third Cemetery of Athens, where he will be buried in a private ceremony attended only by close family. The family has asked that, instead of flowers, those wishing to honor his memory make donations to the charity Humanity Greece.
