poetry - literature - painting

The very essence of Paxoi denotes its tendency for arts and letters. The natural charm, the impressive magic, the light of purity as well as the very need for discovery are the elements that motivate these senses and brain centres to develop literature, poetry, painting and arts in general. Yiannis Doikas, in his book "Distinguished Personalities of Paxoi", refers to many such persons. The most significant ones are:

• Mourikis, Haralambos (1806-1881). Born in Foundana, he was the grandson of Conte Makris, from his mother's side. He wrote many poems, fought for the Unification and in 1862 he was elected representative of Paxoi at the Ionian Parliament. He died in 1881 and was buried in Agios Iakovos.
  
• Mourikis, Michail. Brother of the poet Haralambos and the bishop Dionysios. Painter, whose works can be seen in the churches of Pantokratoras and of Agios Iakovos.
  
• Zenebissis, Ilias. He was born in Zenebissiatika of Gaios, in a building of marvellous Venetian architecture, with relief patterns, next to the church of Agia Paraskevi of Zenebissides. In 1881 he publishes in Athens "Strofai eis tin Chion" (Verses for Chios), in 1885 "Horis Manna" (Without a Mother) in Portuguese, in 1888 he publishes 14 poems in Greek and in Portuguese entitled "Kairos Hamenos" (Time Lost). In 1890-95 he comes back to Paxoi. He lived for long periods of his life in Switzerland, Marseilles and Lisbon. He died around 1910.
  
• Vellianitis, Theodoros (Santikles) (1863-1934). He was born in Piraeus and studied in Russia. Journalist and author, in 1895 he was elected MP of Paxoi. In 1924 he was appointed General Director of Post and Telegraph. He was later elected MP of Corfu and in 1924 he became Minister of Education and Religious Matters. He translated Russian literature and in 1896 he served as Vice-speaker of the Greek Parliament.
  
• Aronis, Christodoulos (Papanyssis) (1884-1974). He had a degree from the School of Fine Arts, he was professor of arts and craft, a painter and a priest. He drew excellent landscapes but also marvellous icons. His works can be seen in Glasgow, the church of St. Sophia in London and in many churches of Paxoi.
  
• Lychnos, Gerassimos (1894­1976). He studied Political Science at the University of Athens. In 1913 he made his first attempts in journalism. In 1922-28 he was appointed Director of the newspaper "Elefthero Vima". He became Minister of the Press and the Presidency. He wrote many books, the most characteristic of which is "To Mikro Nissi" (The Little Island), which he signs under the pseudonym Gaios Lakkos.
  
• Zerbas, Dionyssis (1899­I990). Navy Captain and graduate of the Athens Law School. He has published, following extensive research of the Paxoi Historical Archive, the following books: "Paxoi Under the Imperial French", "Paxoi Historical Notes", "Notes on the Occupation of Paxoi", "Which are the Syvota Islands referred to by Strabo, Thucydides and Prokopius" etc.
  
• Doikas, Yiannis. He was born in Corfu in 1932. He has served as Director of the Paxoi and Corfu Historical Archive. A restless researcher of the Archives, which he has thoroughly explored to unfold many aspects of the history of Paxoi. He has tens of studies, papers, speeches and lectures as well as numerous books that he has published at one time or another: "Paxoi Archive A & B", "Libro D'Oro of Paxoi", "The Bishop Ioakeim Mastoras", "Ionian Islands Population Census", "Documents and Letters Referring to the Slaves of Paxoi and Corfu", "The Church of Paxoi", "Distinguished Personalities of Paxoi", "Paxos", "Historical Essays on Paxoi" etc.

Paxoi festival

The Festival institution started in 1985. It is one of a kind in Greece. Its aim is to promote the island, to cultivate a music perception, to please the audience & to attract high quality tourism. It is a Festival of Classical Music with many famous performers (Leonidas Kavakos, Maria Althea Papoulia, Christoforos Staboglis, Vicky Giannoula etc.) and younger ones, with scholarships, who become well known through the festival. The funding is through the Paxos Festival Trust and the Ministry of Culture. The Paxoi Cultural Association, member of the Trust Board, plays an active role in the organising of the festival, which takes place in September all over the island, with the Elementary School of Loggos as the base of operations.

library

It belongs to the Paxoi Non-profit Foundation and is housed in a 100m2-room in Gais. It was founded in 1956, and the titles exceed 4,000, including books, newspapers, magazines and maps. 90% of the books comes from donations and new ones are added every year. There is the entire collection of Paxoi bibliography and many rare books. It is open on Tuesdays and Thursday 18:00 to 20:00, except for July and August.

sports

In 1981, the Athletic Association of Paxoi was established. Its football team is in the 1st regional league. Paxoi have had two great athletes in the past: one of them was Giagkos Antiohos (1893-1981). He was into sports ever since he was a little boy and in 1912 he went to America. There he met Jim Londos, who persuaded him to get into wrestling. He was distinguished in Greco-Roman wrestling and he was called "The Greek Apollo". The American Press often dealt with his success and his nickname was "John Paxos", while in Paxoi he was known as "The American".

The second one was Dimitrios Vlahopoulos (1905-1989). Wrestler nicknamed "Jim Vlos". He wrestled in Europe and took part in the Olympic Games of Berlin in 1936.

radio station

In fall 1996, the Paxoi Cultural Association inaugurated the Radio Station, broadcasting from Magazia, Paxoi at 103,9 FM.

periodicals

The first printed material on Paxoi was the newspaper "The voice of Paxoi", published by LS. Kallonas in 6-9-1927 for a very short period of time.

The newspaper "Paxoi" was put in circulation from 1-4-1925 until November 1969 by Haralambos Mitsialis, also known as Mitsiel or Myrtiotis. Its publication was interrupted during the German Occupation in 1941-47. A total of 479 numbers was published, in which were saved many historical, folklore, social and other elements that would otherwise be lost.

From 1-4-1972 until today, the monthly newspaper "Echo of Paxoi" is published by the Association of the People of Paxoi in Athens, keeping all the people of Paxoi informed in the four corners of the globe.