The career of Geronymakis Kanakis is not limited to creation or knowledge. It is a continuous journey from personal self-sufficiency to public study, forming bridges between local identity and global culture. Through his actions, his distinctions and his speeches, he is an active citizen with a deep love for his place, Sfakia, and a dedicated view of culture, education and social consciousness.
Kanakis’ personal journey is guided by the principles of participation, self-sufficiency, and communal responsibility. Born and raised in Sfakia, he developed a mindset that combines the radicalism of tradition with the openness of progress.
The Voice of an Active Citizen
Kanakis Geronymakis was born in Vouvés, Sfakia, in 1926. Times were difficult and he was unable to attend secondary school. However, he loved studying, had an excellent memory, keen observation skills, and made the most of every stimulus he received from both the living and non-living environment around him. Right after completing primary school, he worked from childhood in the fields — plowing, tending olive trees and vineyards — and later as an unskilled laborer, mostly on demanding jobs for others, before eventually becoming a builder. At the age of 35, he was appointed secretary of the Community of Asfendou. Despite having only primary education, he was considered highly successful and, in recognition of his service to the community and its citizens, he was awarded a gold medal by the Sfakians Association of Heraklion. From his teenage years, although he lacked formal studies, he did not lack sensitivity or observation. He realized that certain traditions were disappearing or becoming altered. Carrying a pencil and a small notepad in his pocket, he would record proverbs, blessings and curses he heard, customs and traditions, and anything he observed in the behavior of animals and plants that he considered noteworthy — at a time when he never imagined he would one day have the courage to write books. He recorded them to preserve them, originally with the thought of offering them to other researchers. He has published 24 books. Alongside his service in the Community of Asfendou, he also served the Community of Agia Roumeli for 17 years. He was president of the Agricultural Cooperative of Asfendou for 17 years and played a leading role in every progressive project implemented in his community. He is a member of the Association of Literary Creators of Chania, a member of I.L.A.E. Crete, and a member of the Pan-Cretan Union of Authors. He has been honored by the Greek Army with a War Cross and has been recognized as a National Resistance Fighter. He has received both first and second commendations from the Academy of Athens. He has been awarded twenty honorary diplomas by private and public legal entities, along with distinctions for his participation in competitions. He participated as a delegate in the International Conference of Folk Medicine in Rethymno (8–10 December 2000). He has written hundreds of studies and articles for newspapers and magazines. His articles have been published in Agonas of Nicosia, the American magazine Crete, and newspapers in Australia. He has written hundreds of poems and thousands of mantinades (traditional Cretan couplets). He has often served as keynote speaker at various events. He has presented radio and television broadcasts. He has painted over one hundred and fifty artworks depicting themes of cultural heritage.
In this section, you will find the chapters of the book “Speeches”, which bring together the rich material related to the activity and work of Kanakis Geronymakis.
CRETE TV1 4-2-1998, THE CEREALS IN SFAKIA, KRITI 1 TV 9/10/1998, CHANGES IN SOCIETY’S BEHAVIOR IN RECENT DECADES
KRITI 1 TV 15/9/1999, SFAKIAN WISE SAYINGS
KRITI 1 TV 12/4/1994, IDIOMATIC WORDS OF CRETE THAT COME FROM ANCIENT GREEK
KRITI 1 TV 2/2004, ARCHITECTURAL STYLE IN SFAKIAN BUILDINGS
KRITI 1 TV 18/8/1998, MALIKIANAGAS OF EMROSNERO ALIDAKIS
KRITI TV 10/5/1999, TOU KATRE O LAGKOS
KRITI TV 28/11/1991, LAWS IN SELF-GOVERNED SFAKIA, WHEN CRETE WAS UNDER FOREIGN OCCUPATION
KRITI 1 TV AND “Haniotika Nea” 26/5/2005, TAXATION SYSTEMS DURING THE TURKISH OCCUPATION
SPEECHES IN VOUVAS AND AGIOS GEORGIOS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS 4/1968, COMMUNITY OF ASFENDOS
Haniotika Nea 5/1/1991, Obituary 1874, for Stratis Deligiannakis, from the newspaper “Radamanthis” published in Athens in 1874
ABOUT THE GORGES OF SFAKIA, TV BROADCASTS
MACEDONIAN STRUGGLE, GEORGIOS PERROS AND THE BOLIOTIDES, TV BROADCASTS
CIVIL WAR, TV BROADCASTS
30/10/2003, Memorial Speech for Georgios Xenoudakis, Imbros7/8/2016, Speech at the Event for Father Giorgis Chiotakis, Pervolakia Kissamou
23/5/1998, Speech in Thymiani, Lighting of the Flame of 1821 at Thymiani Panagia
9/10/2011, Speech on the anniversary of the Holocaust, The Holocaust of Kallikrates 1943.
5-11-1997 Distinctive Features of Sfakia and the Sfakians
20-2-2014 Bitter Memories from the Harsh Years
27-8-2016 Earlier Transportation Conditions
Published in Chaniotika Nea newspaper.
After the liberation, Georgios Geronymakis enlisted in the Gendarmerie for a three-year term in 1945. However, the civil war broke out in 1946, and he was killed by guerillas on December 22nd, 1946, in Stratoniki, Halkidiki, at the age of 22.
Place Names of the Community of Asfendou
The administrative boundaries of the Community, 1956.
To create it, Kanakis Geronymakis walked all the surrounding areas.
His work has been recognized both locally and nationally, with awards for his contributions to culture, society, and education.
