Thousands of people have attended the funeral of popular singer Giorgos Mazonakis at Holy Trinity Church in his native Athens suburb of Nikaia.

The 54-year-old singer died last week after suffering cardiac arrest while undergoing plasmapheresis at a private medical clinic in Athens.

Gathered outside the church, fans, many of whom had travelled long distances to attend the funeral, bid farewell to their idol, some playing his songs from car speakers.

Mazonakis’ remains had arrived at the church Sunday evening, which was followed by an overnight vigil, attended by huge crowds, that continued into the early hours.

Leading the service, Metropolitan Bishop Alexios of Nikaia referred to the public’s love for the late singer and his songs and expressed the wish that Mazonakis was already in the arms of the Lord.

“He would enter the sanctuary and help the priests, and he would go up to the choir loft and sing together with everyone. His contribution to people in need was significant. His words were filled with love for everyone. The presence of thousands of people yesterday and today at the funeral service is evidence of the love he inspired,” the bishop said.

Among those attending were many of Mazonakis’ colleagues from the music world, including singers Paola, who had performed a duet with him, Nikos Economopoulos, Natasa Theodoridou, Nikos Vertis, Takis Zacharatos, Nikos Kourkoulis, Thanos Petrelis, Stathis Angelopoulos and Rallia Christidou.

Political figures attending the funeral included Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Course of Freedom leader Zoe Konstantopoulou.

Speaking to reporters, Georgiadis said he had expressed his condolences to the family and apologized to them “that the system was unable to protect [Mazonakis] from something very bad.”

“We certainly need to find the loopholes in the system” that were being exploited by “fraudsters,” the minister said, adding that, in cooperation with the country’s medical associations, he wanted to protect citizens from “misleading advertisements.”

Following the funeral service, Mazonakis was buried at Athens 3rd Cemetery in a private family ceremony.

Shouting chants such as “immortal” and “farewell, George,” fans applauded as the cortege made its way to the cemetery.

Mazonakis died shortly after suffering cardiac arrest last Wednesday while undergoing plasmapheresis, a procedure in which blood plasma is removed, filtered and returned to the body. The private clinic where he was being treated advertised longevity and anti-aging services but was not licensed to perform the procedure, which can only be carried out in fully equipped hospitals.

The two doctors charged in connection with his death appeared before an investigating magistrate on Monday to give statements about what happened at the private clinic in Athens’ upmarket Kolonaki district.

The charges against them have been upgraded to homicide with possible intent.

Source: Ekathimerini.com