“Sacred Way, 21 km” The Agricultural University of Athens in Nicoletta Paraschi’s documentary on the modern Sacred Way, presented through a journey from Kerameikos to Eleusis.

In Nicoletta Paraschi’s documentary titled “Sacred Way, 21 km”, unfolding in a road movie style, the director presents her personal perspective on the contemporary Sacred Way, as we follow her on a journey from Kerameikos to Eleusis.
               Along this route, she encounters the Agricultural University of Athens, a historic institution with an uninterrupted presence spanning over a century. With the contribution of Mr. Dimitris Panagiotopoulos, historian and lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics & Development, an approach is developed to explore the unique connection between the Agricultural University, the myth of Demeter, and the Sacred Way.

               Screenings of the documentary begin in Athens and Thessaloniki, accompanied by a program of parallel events including guided tours in the wider area of the Sacred Way, as well as talks and discussions at the Greek Film Archive in Athens and Olympion Cinema in Thessaloniki.

For the ancient initiates, this route was a ritual journey of initiation culminating in the revelatory experience of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Today, it is an indifferent highway that we all pass by but rarely truly “see.” Does anything “sacred” still remain beyond its name?

Thessaloniki Screenings: Olympion, “Pavlos Zannas” Hall | May 14–20
Daily at 19:00 | With English subtitles
Ticket info: more.com

As part of the documentary’s theatrical release, a series of events and discussions are organized aiming to introduce audiences to the multifaceted past of the world’s oldest Sacred Way.
At the same time, we have created a digital map of the Sacred Way featuring its most important landmarks, information, photographs, and visiting hours, which we hope will serve as a guide for your own journey along the Sacred Way.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sunday, May 10 | Aigaleo
15:00 – Guided tour of the archaeological exhibition at Aigaleo Metro Station
At Estavromenos Square lies today the largest visible section of the Ancient Sacred Way. Dozens of findings from funerary monuments along the ancient road are displayed in special cases inside the metro station, offering insight into the customs of ancient Athenians.
The tour will be led by Irini Svaná, archaeologist of the Ministry of Culture / Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, responsible for the antiquities of the Municipality of Aigaleo.
Meeting point: Entrance of the Metro Station from Papanastasiou Street.
The activity is free for the public but with limited participation – reserve your spot by sending your name and phone number to contact@chasethecut.gr

17:15 – Screening of “Sacred Way, 21 km” at Rena Vlahopoulou Cinema Theater, with a greeting by the Deputy Mayor of Culture and Education of Aigaleo, Giannis Koutoulis, and an introduction by the director Nicoletta Paraschi and collaborators Konstantinos Foteinakis and Giannis Inglesis.
Tickets: €6 at the cinema box office

Thursday, May 14 | 19:00 | Olympion, “Pavlos Zannas” Hall
At the Thessaloniki premiere, director Nicoletta Paraschi and producer Maria Karagiannaki will introduce the film, followed by a Q&A.
Screenings are organized in collaboration with KEMES.

Saturday, May 16 | 17:15 | Greek Film Archive (Hall 1)
At the afternoon screening, Nicoletta Paraschi discusses with director Filippos Koutsafthis (“Mourning Rock”) the challenges and methodology of approaching places with historical memory.
How does a creator draw inspiration from the past to reinterpret the present?

Sunday, May 17 | Chaidari
15:00 – Guided tour at the Sanctuary of Aphrodite
The documentary’s creative team and the Friends of Nature association invite us to explore the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Eros at Skaramagas—one of the most important stops for initiates, where offerings were dedicated to the goddess.
Archaeologists from the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica will guide us through the site.
Meeting point: Entrance of the archaeological site, Agiou Antoniou Street, Afaia settlement, Chaidari.
Free for the public.

17:15 – Screening at the Greek Film Archive and discussion with Kalliopi Papangelí on the role and significance of the Sacred Way in the Eleusinian Mysteries.
What was this famous mystical experience offered to initiates?

Monday, May 18 | 19:30 | Greek Film Archive (Hall 2)
Screening with guest Dimitris Panagiotopoulos, historian, lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Development and head of the Documentation Center for the History of Greek Agriculture at the Agricultural University of Athens, discussing the unique connection between the University and the Sacred Way.
From the myth of Demeter to science, from farmland to urbanization—the journey continues.

Digital Map Presentation of the Sacred Way
Explore and create your own route along the Sacred Way: www.sacredway21km.gr

Special thanks to the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica for permission to use texts and the 360° virtual tour, as well as to collectors and researchers Giannis Inglesis and Konstantinos Foteinakis for photographic material.

The film’s theatrical screenings are supported by the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece (EKKOMED).