Photo: rumedia24.com
The park named after the first cosmonaut of the planet appeared on the largest Greek island, RIA Novosti reports. First trees were planted by Russian cosmonauts in Heraklion. Fedor Yurchikhin, Anton Shkaplerov, Oleg Artemyev and Mikhail Potapov attended the solemn ceremony.
Information boards were installed next to each olive tree they planted. Officials, representatives of local administration and public organizations joined the space explorers. Crete Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, Mayor of Heraklion Vasilis Lambrinos and Archbishop of Crete Irineos were among them.
Hundreds of people decided to visit the new park. Many of them wanted to take photos with the astronauts.
Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, who has Greek roots, addressed those present in Greek, which caused applause.
Greek Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura promised that astronauts from the United States will plant olives in the park. According to her, there is strong friendship between Russian and Greek peoples over the years. She is sure that guests from Russia can feel like home in Greece.
The Archbishop of Crete Irineos also reminded that Greece and Russia are Orthodox countries. The priest added that he was very happy to greet the “brothers from Russia” in Greece.
Russkiy Mir
