Mourners Pay Final Respects To Greek Music Icon Mikis Theodorakis

A long line of mourners formed at a small church in Athens to say goodbye to renowned Greek composer, stage lyricist, and left-wing political activist Mikis Theodorakis.

Photo Insert: Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis and Greek prime minister George Papandreou in Athens.

Theodorakis, who died last week at the age of 96, was one of Greece's best-known musicians. He gained international recognition for his scores in films such as "Zorba the Greek" and "Serpico."

In addition to his music, he is remembered for his outspoken resistance to the military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. The junta responded by jailing him and banning his songs. Earlier, Theodorakis had fought against the Nazi occupation of Greece in World War II.

Such was the impact of Theodorakis on Greek culture and political life that after his death last Friday the government ordered three days of national mourning and flags were lowered to half-staff.

Greeks started queuing early Monday at the Agios Eleftherios chapel in central Athens to pay their respects to Theodorakis, many of them singing the beloved songs he penned.

Theodorakis was buried Thursday near Chania, on Crete, where his father hailed from and where the family's graves are located, according to local media.

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