The anthem never gained much popularity, since the Cretans viewed the Cretan State as a temporary measure; the Greek national anthem was the de facto unofficial anthem, and after Crete unilaterally declared its union with the Kingdom of Greece in 1908 (not formally recognized until 1913, after the Balkan Wars), the Greek national anthem was used officially as well.
Lyrics[]
Greek script
Latin script
Arabic script
Cyrillic script
Μεσ΄ το αίμα βουτημένη,
με πληγαίς νωπαίς ακόμα,
απ΄ της Κρήτης τ΄ άγιο χώμα,
επεταχθ΄ η Λευθεριά•
κι΄ αγκαλιάζοντας τη
Δόξα τη δαφνοστεφανωμένη
παίρνει δρόμους κι ανασταίνει
πολιτείαις και χωριά.
Χαιρετούν τον ερχομό της
βροντερόφωνα ντουφέκια,
κι΄ αστραπαίς κι΄ αστροπελέκια
χύνουν λάμψι περισσή•
και φωνή παλληκαρίσια
απ΄ την Ίδη κατεβαίνει
Χαίρε, Κρήτη ανδρειωμένη,
Χαιρ΄ ελεύθερο νησί.
Mes’ to aíma voutiméni,
me pligaís nopaís acóma,
ap’ tis Crítis t’ ágio chóma,
epetachth’ hi Leutheriá•
ci’ angaliázontas ti
Dóxa ti daphnostephanoméni
paírnei drómous ci anastaínei
politeíais cai choriá.
Drenched in blood
with wounds still fresh
from Crete's holy soil
Liberty sprang forth
and embracing Glory
crowned with laurels
she seizes the streets
and raises up cities and villages.
Welcoming her arrival
rifles thunder,
and bolts and flashes of lightning
pour forth their shining abundance
and a young voice
calls down from Ida
Hail, mighty Crete
Hail, free island.
