THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside VEMA Greece APRIL 2018 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: [email protected]
IIN THIIS IISSOURUE OARCHBISHOP’SF THE GREEK AUSTRALIIAN VEMA Easter Message 2018 PAGE 5/21
St Andrew’s Theological College Opening of the academic year Tuesday 20th March marked the official opening of the academic year at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney. A Doxology Service was celebrated in the Col- lege Chapel of St John the Evangelist and Theo- logian by the Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, among faculty mem- bers, staff, alumni, students and guests.
PAGE 2/18
Greece remembers the emblematic Melina Mercouri It has been 24 years since Melina Mercouri died in 1994 but her picture in front of the Parthenon that adorns the Acropolis Metro Station is engraved in the minds of millions of Greeks. PAGE 12/28
ÏÏ 1 1 33ïïòò Å Å ððßßóóççììïïòò × × ïïññüüòò D D eebbuuttaannttee Patmos It seems paradoxical that St John experien- ôôïïõõ Ê Ê ïïëëëëååããßßïïõõ “ “ ÁÁããßßùùíí Ð Ð ÜÜííôôùùíí””,, Ó Ó ýýääííååûû ced his vision of the Apocalypse on this beauti- CChhrriisstt iiss RRiisseenn!! ful and enchanting Dodecanese island. PAGE 16/32 APRIL 2018 2/18 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA
ST ANDREW’S THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE OPENING OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR
Tuesday 20th March marked the official opening of the academic year at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox The- ological College in Sydney. A Doxology Service was cele- brated in the College Chapel of St John the Evangelist and Theologian by the Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, among faculty members, staff, alumni, students and guests. After welcoming everyone His Eminence reflected briefly on the task of theology within the Church and the College, mentioning also the following: “We are blessed to be able to gather and offer thanks to God for the beginning of the thirty-third year of our College’s mission here in Australia. We have almost six- ty students with us this year, from various parts of Aus- tralia and a few from overseas, most of whom are stu- dying part time and online. Some of them are here with us today for our residential program and I thank them for making the effort to be present. We have a small group of full time students too, who live within the campus residence, and this is a very encouraging sign for the daily life of our College. Theology today, unfortunately, as we all know, seems to be somehow neglected or overlooked. It is not esti- mated as it should be. And yet, the need for theology was never so great, so deep, and so profound. Because the more critical the times become, the more theologi- cally interesting they become. Danger is always a factor which can bring those who would like to serve the goals of the Church to come closer and to learn to speak a more convincing language about our Christian faith, because only out of need does the human being become sincere and properly pi- ous. gether with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and students: Dionysios Bozikis (Syd), Terry Gerovasilis I do not need to stress the importance of the mission not in any way to be terrified by our opponents. (Syd), Nicholas Haridemos (Canberra), Timothy Klint- which our small College has in this country. I repeat this I thank all those who are working hard to make our saris (Syd), Stavros Kosmatos (Bris), Nickolas Krikelis every time when we commence a new academic year. presence here not merely visible, but also fruitful. But (Melb), Melhem Makdessi (Syd), Adam Neou (Syd), And yet, we know that we are not capable enough to this is not up to us alone. It is up to the grace of God Aristotle Papailiadis (Melb), and John Varipatis (Syd). respond to so many needs which are to be found in our along with the dedication of each one of us personally, The customary group photograph in the courtyard of parishes and in society, but we persevere nonetheless, and all of us together collectively.” the College was followed by a lunch generously pre- and we keep in mind the words of the Apostle Paul who His Eminence then presented a copy of the critical pared by ladies from the Central Philoptohos Commit- instructed us to stand fast in one spirit, and to strive to- edition of the Greek New Testament to new seminarian tee of the Archdiocese in Sydney. APRIL 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/19
PATRIARCHAL ENCYCLICAL FOR HOLY PASCHA
Prot. No. 312 ads of innocent children. It announces from the depths that, in the face of God, human life has absolute value. + B A R T H O L O M E W It proclaims that sufferings and trials, both Cross and By God’s Mercy Golgotha, do not have the final word. It is impossible for Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome crucifiers to triumph over their tragic victims. In the Or- and Ecumenical Patriarch thodox Church, the Cross lies at the center of piety; To the Plenitude of the Church: May the Grace, however, it is not the ultimate reality that determines Peace and Mercy the final point of orientation in church life. The essential of Christ Risen in Glory be with you All meaning of the Cross is that it constitutes a way to the Resurrection, to the fullness of our faith. On this foun- dation, the Orthodox proclaim: “For behold, through Dear venerable Hierarchs and beloved brothers and the Cross joy has come into all the world”. It is charac- sisters in Christ, teristic that in the Orthodox Church, the Service of the Passion is not depressing; instead, it is a mingling of the The experience of Christ’s Resurrection, the all- Cross and Resurrection, since the Passion is always ap- saving victory of Life over Death, is the nucleus of faith, proached and experienced through the Resurrection, divine worship, ethos and culture of the Christ-loving which is our “ransom from sorrow”. For the Orthodox orthodox people of God. The life of the Orthodox faith- mindset, the enduring connection of the Cross and the ful, in all its manifestations and dimensions, is nurtured Resurrection is incompatible with every form of esoter- and nourished by faith in the Resurrection, and consti- ic flight to any false mysticism or self-sufficient pietism, tutes a daily Pascha. This paschal experience is not sim- which usually tend to be indifferent to the misfortunes ply a remembrance of the Lord’s Resurrection but also a and misadventures of humanity in history. participation in our own renewal, and an unshakeable In our age, the message of the Cross and the conviction about the eschatological perfection of all. Resurrection challenges the human being’s self-cen- Primarily in the Eucharistic Liturgy, which is in- should consider all those in need as your neighbor and teredness and arrogant self-glorification in a secular extricably linked with the “chosen and holy day” of Sun- feel that you are called to come to their aid” (Isidore of and rationalistic world—a human being who is convin- day, the Orthodox Church celebrates this existential Pelusium)—constitutes an extension and expression of ced of the dominating power of science and is attached participation in Christ’s Resurrection and experiential the Church’s Eucharistic ethos, a revelation that love is to earthly and temporary things, without any desire for foretaste of the blessings of God’s Kingdom. The resur- the quintessential experience of life in Christ, both in eternity. It also combats any attempted repulsion of the rectional and delightful character of the Divine Eu- the present life and in the Kingdom of heaven. Incarnation of the Word and the “scandal” of the Cross charist is impressive, always occurring in an atmo- It is in this context that we should also under- in the name of the absolute transcendence of God and sphere of joy and gladness and depicting the ultimate stand that liturgical life in the Orthodox Church is shak- the unbridgeable distance between heaven and earth. renewal of all beings, the fulfillment of joy, the fullness en by the experience of “common salvation”, the gift of In all these things, dear venerable hierarchs of life and the future outpouring of love and knowl- “common freedom” and a “common kingdom”, as well and beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, we Orthodox edge. as by the expectation of “common resurrection”. What faithful—filled with the experience of the luminous Res- It is about the redemptive vision of the present prevails is the “we”, the community of life, co-participa- urrection, receive light from the unwaning light and under the light of the end and the dynamic journey to- tion and co-existence, as well as the sanctifying identifi- give thanks for all things, keeping our mind on heaven ward the kingdom. It is about the indissoluble relation cation of freedom in Christ through sacrificial and doxo- and already possessing from here the pledge and assur- and interweaving of the presence and eschatological logical love. Such is the awe-inspiring message of the ra- ance of the eschatological fulfillment of Divine Econo- nature of our salvation and the world’s transfiguration diant icon of the Resurrection in the Descent of Christ my, while also publicly proclaiming: “Christ is Risen!” in Christ, which gives ecclesiastical life a unique dy- into Hades. The Lord of glory descended into the depths Therefore, we pray that our Lord who suffered, was namism and serves for the faithful as a stimulus of good of the earth and shattered the gates of Hades, emerg- buried and arose, may illumine our minds, hearts and witness in the world. The Orthodox believer has special ing victorious and luminous from the tomb, not alone whole life, guiding our steps toward every good deed reason and strong incentive to struggle against social and bearing a banner of victory, but along with Adam and strengthening His people to witness the Gospel of wrongdoing because we are intensely conscious of the and Eve, raising them up with himself, holding them Love “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) for the glory of contrast between the end times and every historical tightly and supporting them. And in their persons, all of His name that is “above all names”. event. From an Orthodox perspective, philanthropic the human race and creation is also raised, held and service, helping our brothers and sisters in need—ac- supported. cording to the Lord’s words that “inasmuch as you did it The gospel of the Resurrection, this “common At the Phanar, Holy Pascha 2018 to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to feast of all”, the abolishment of the power of death by me” (Matt. 25:40) and the tangible love of the Good almighty love, resounds today in a society replete with Samaritan that was shown in deed (see Lk. 10:30-37), as social injustice and reduction of the human person, in a + Bartholomew of Constantinople well as in accordance with the Patristic saying that “you world that resembles a Golgotha of refugees with myri- Your fervent supplicant to the risen Christ Greek town ritually burns effigy of Judas as Orthodox celebrate Easter
As Orthodox Christians around the world set ablaze. More than 1,000 locals and vis- celebrated Easter, a town on Greece’s itors watched from shore and also listened People on a boat hold flares Peloponnese peninsula observed the holy to music and saw a laser show. as they sail behind the effigy of Judas during the revival day by burning an effigy of Judas at sea. In older times, the Judas effigy was made of the old Easter tradition The ritual burning of Judas is a custom al- of straw. Sometimes, topical variations on of the ‘burning of the Judas,’ so observed by Roman Catholics in parts of the theme are introduced. In at least two in the port town Latin America as a symbolic punishment villages in Crete this year, the Judas figure of Ermioni, in the for Judas’ betrayal of Christ for a monetary was made to resemble Turkish President Peloponnese peninsula, reward. Recep Tayyip Erdogan. southwest of Athens, The tradition dates back centuries in A darker side of the custom is an implied Easter Sunday. some places. In the Greek town of Ermioni, hostility in some cases toward Jews as the it has been observed the past 25 years. “killers of Christ.” About 20 small boats circled around a The tradition even led to an internation- raft bearing a wire model of Judas that al incident in mid-19th century Greece. floated off Ermioni and then the figure was [AP] APRIL 2018 4/20 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA
I said that such a headline and the use of such a More than three years ago, the former federal Attor- Letter phrase in the article was demeaning. Some of us ac- ney-General, Senator Brandis gave a lecture on reli- knowledge Christ as God and would not dare to refer gious freedom at the Notre Dame University. He to him in such colloquial terms. mentioned the Fairfax Media, publishers of the Syd‐ ney Morning Herald and said: from Imagine if the term “bloke” was used in reference to a holy figure in other religions. Indeed, so deaf have we become to attacks up- on religious liberty, so accepting have we been Maroubra If such style of language was used in regard to other of the open scorn with which their tenets, their minorities based on age, sex, race or ethnicity there liturgy, their customs, their clergy and their would be an uproar. congregations have been derided, that the great Dyson Heydon, delivering the Acton Lec- I am not insisting that others believe in my faith, but I ture in April of this year, was moved to de- am asking that we are tolerant to each other. More- scribe anti-Catholicism in modern Australia as over, we ought to respect our differences and watch ‘the racism of the intellectuals’. our language when discussing matters of faith. Is it too much to ask that people are polite in public? The Sydney Morning Herald is now bound to an im- plicit bias. It is thought easy to score points against a The Herald, however, considers Christianity as a fair soft target. But this is not the case. target. And it is not the first time. I shall not dwell on the many articles in the Herald but instead I will refer On 3 August 2014, the Sydney Morning Herald pub- to some visual images that show poor taste. lished an apology after the Australian Press Council indicated a breach of the Standards of Practice. The For instance, you may have missed it, but the Herald editor wrote: has used images from an Orthodox ethos in a way that was offensive. Here are two examples: The cartoon showed an elderly man, with a large nose, sitting alone, with a remote control device in his hand, overseeing explosions in The Limits of Taste Gaza. The armchair in which he was sitting was emblazoned with the Star of David, and the I have no objection to University of Technology, Syd- man was wearing a kippah, a religious skullcap. ney, mathematician Dr Woodcock looking for mathe- A strong view was expressed that the cartoon, matical patterns in the date of Easter. Nor am I over- by Glen Le Lievre, closely resembled illustra- ly concerned if he said in private: “If they’d just writ- tions that had circulated in Nazi Germany. ten down what day they crucified the bloke on, it all These are menacing cartoons that continue to would have been easier wouldn’t it?” haunt and traumatise generations of Jewish people. I do have an objection when the Sydney Morning Her‐ ald used these words for a digital headline. So, I The Macquarie Dictionary defines blasphemy as ‘’ir- It is possible to register our similar displeasure at wrote a short online comment to the paper and kept reverent behaviour towards anything held sacred’’. every single breach of Christian decency. We can let it respectful. It was not published. Sadly, some Herald cartoons are also in that spirit. those in charge know about it. We can go further: my subscription to the Herald was due on April 2nd; after Instead they published some of the following com- There is a cartoon by Cathy Wilcox with reference to many, many, many years it has not been renewed. ments: the Resurrection and the caption: “…an on the third day, Humpty Dumpty was all back together again”. These days the Herald proclaims proudly that it has Geez, imagine if Easter signified something im- There is the Leunig image of a Catholic kneeling be- been “Independent Always”. It may be independent portant, and not just a public holiday – Axis fore the altar and a crucifix and uttering: “Dear Je- in their view but in my mind it exceeds the limits of sus… protect us from the weird Muslim death cult”. good taste. I observed Good Friday by whipper snipping Or Wilcox again, with the question from a young boy, half my lot, because my mower is broken. Was “Why do priests wear flowing robes?” and an answer this better or worse than doing it on Easter filled with innuendo that I am too embarrassed to re- Sunday? – Steve H port. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox College or If they’d just written down what day they cru- This is part of a tsunami of disrespect. It is not as the VEMA. cified the bloke on, it all would have been eas- though the cartoonists are criticising something triv- ier wouldn’t it? They didn’t because there is no ial in the lives of people. It is not the way to encour- historical Jesus - Biffo Liptuu age a civil society. [email protected]
to A Ωmega Renovations HOUSE RENOVATIONS
Roofs Gardening Driveways Tiles Brickwork Pruning Painting Cleaning Asbestos Cleaning
Nikolaos Tsiotsias Office: 0202 9594 87100837 5379
0404 67 63 66 Mobile: 0414 381 996 APRIL 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 5/21 Our Primate’s View
EASTER MESSAGE 2018
+ S T Y L I A N O S Who will give back to us the pure feelings nec- essary for us to taste Pascha once again, as by the grace of God described by the Hymnographer; holy, all- Archbishop of Australia venerable, great, mystical? to the Reverend Clergy and the devout Faithful Pascha means passage and crossing: From of our Holy Archdiocese death to life. From grief to joy. From despair to hope. From darkness to light. From the *********** ephemeral to the eternal. From the vain and false to the holy and unwavering. Pascha Brother Concelebrants and Beloved children means that life swallows death every minute, in the Lord, and indeed, through death. By ARCHBISHOP STYLIANOS C h r i s t i s R i s e n! Pascha cannot be understood without the OF AUSTRALIA Paschal Lamb who gave to life a different “Today a sacred Pascha has been revealed taste. And this Lamb is Christ Himself. to us; a Pascha new and holy, a Pascha mystical, Another “blameless” Pascha does not exist a Pascha all-venerable, Pascha, the Redeemer without Him and beyond Him. Christ himself; a Pascha that is blameless, a Pascha that That is why our Church chants: “Pascha, the is great, Redeemer Christ Himself”. a Pascha of believers”. To Him be the glory and the dominion unto With these triumphal cries, our Church greets the ages of ages. Amen! the Passions and the Resurrection of the God- Man each year. With fervent blessings in the Risen Christ
As we heard and read, infinite are the adjec- tives used by the Hymnographer of the Church to express in some way the Mystery of God which is inaccessible to the human mind.
Yet, how many of these adjectives continue to resonate truly within our hearts today, follow- ing the radical reassessment that all the values of life have undergone around us? EASTER 2018 Reasonable concern
By Angelos Stangos ‐ Kathimerini, Athens
It’s a known fact by now that Turkey is displaying an aggressive stance in many different directions, it wants to be seen as a regional power in the Middle East and Southeast Mediterranean, it is standing up against big powers (like the United States), it is drifting away from the West and moving closer to Russia; it deems that it holds the key to Europe’s refugee issue, it claims a hegemonic role among the countries of the Islamic world (particularly Sunni Muslims), it is determined to undo the Lausanne Treaty, and it does not hesitate to take opportunistic actions in order to show that it has a “long arm” and to intimidate other states (as in the case of Kosovo and Greece). Turkish President Greece, like Cyprus, has the geographical misfortune Recep Tayyip Erdogan of sharing a border with Turkey. A big part of its modern (as well as post-Byzantine) history derives from bilater- al relations with its Aegean neighbor. This misfortune is that Western countries can no longer stomach the loss- to Turkey’s presidential elections. In other words, it in- even more burdensome in the current conjecture, as es that come from wars waged for reasons of principle. terprets Erdogan’s moves through its own narrow filter. the equilibrium is changing and the region is dominated If all that is the case, he should no longer be counted as As a result, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos has by volatility, while at the same time the world’s hege- an unpredictable leader; but as a very dangerous and, added fuel to the flames with his incomprehensible re- monic powers seem reluctant to mediate and restore in fact, predictable one. marks. Of late, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is following international order. Greece’s misfortune is even greater considering the suit – either because he fears that he will seen as sub- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as fact that it is ruled by a government that is clueless with missive compared to his outspoken defense minister or the rest of Turkey’s political class, has exploited this fact regard to domestic issues. The only thing the leftist-led because he thinks the tension (or even a crisis) could as he aspires to terminate international treaties, disre- administration cares about is its own political survival. It galvanize electoral support. garding international law and declaring his determina- interprets Erdogan’s statements and actions as being Every reasonable citizen has good reason to be con- tion to take or sacrifice lives. After all, Erdogan believes exclusively aimed at a domestic audience in the runup cerned. APRIL 2018 6/22 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian joins estimated Issue 14 “To sin and not repent is blasphemy 8000 worshipers against the Lord”, at Easter Anon y mous Midnight Mass Portion 14.1 The Fifth Commandment. Portion 14.3 Reference points for the Fifth Commandment. at St Stylianos The Fifth of the Ten Commandments, Greek Orthodox combining the Old and New Testaments, can According to Saint Nicodemus: “Perhaps my be stated in summary as follows: child you reviled or struck your father or Church, Gymea mother? Or perhaps you do not obey their will, Fifth Commandment: Honor your father and or when they are ill or have need of help you your mother. do not assist and help them? Perhaps you do not honor your teachers and spiritual fathers, Portion 14.2 Transgressions of the Fifth priests and bishops? Perhaps you do not honor Commandment. your employers, the judges and rulers, or perhaps you are unthankful to your According to Saint Nicodemus: “In this Fifth benefactors? Perhaps you are negligent and Commandment transgressors are those do not send your children to learn letters or a children who do not honor their parents with good trade? Or perhaps you do not advise them to have the fear of God and good the following four: honor, love, obedience, and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian joined thanksgiving. In return they must receive from Christian ethics? Perhaps you revile your a huge throng in celebrating Easter at their parents the following six: nurture, good spouse, and sadden them, and strike them, Midnight Mass at St Stylianos Greek Or- advice by words, a good example by works, and do not love them as yourself, and do not thodox Church, Gymea. protection from bad company, training in letters care for their soul? Perhaps as a leader you Organisers estimated 8000 parishioners or a trade from good teachers and technicians, neglect to care for and correct those who attended the candlelight Holy Easter Res- and physical discipline for the sake of depend on you?” urrection service and sang Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen!) at midnight on April 7. correction. Also, transgressors are those who Other dignitaries in attendance includ- do not honor their spiritual fathers: bishops, Portion 14.4 Further points for the Fifth ed Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, priests, teachers, and the elders they acquire Commandment. state MPs Eleni Petinos and Mark Speak- through the Angelic Habit of monasticism. Also, man and Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo the servants who do not honor their masters, According to Monk Agapius: “By this Pesce. those subject to kings and rulers who do not commandment not only children have duty to In a statement, Ms Berejiklian expres- honor them, and simply all those who do not parents, but also parents to children, servants sed her gratitude for the invitation to at- tend the service, and thanked the parish honor their benefactors.” to masters, leaders to followers, men to community for the warm welcome she women, sons-in-law to fathers-in-law, and received. every other relation and kinship.” “It is a deep honour to share with you Written by Metaphrastis the most significant time in the Christian calendar,” she said. ”Today is not just a day of religious sig- nificance and observance, but also a day
for us to celebrate what Easter means for
us; new beginning, new life, new hope.” Ms Berejiklian expressed her “best wi- shes for peace, love and good health to the wider Greek Orthodox community for the next 12 months”, and thanked mem- bers of the Greek community for their on- going outstanding contribution to NSW. Ms Petinos said, “It was wonderful to have the Premier join our local Greek community at midnight for this important Christian celebration”. APRIL 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 7/23
THE SERVICE OF DEDICATION FOR GRADUATES OF ST ANDREW’S THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
Niarchos Foundation president awarded for contribution to Greece
The president of the Stavros Niar- chos Foundation (SNF), Andreas Dra- copoulos, was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor, Greece’s highest civilian honor, by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos earli- er this month, in a ceremony held at the Presidential Mansion in Athens. This evening, Friday 13th April 2018, St Andrew’s Theological ane Speed, Dean and CEO of the Sydney College of Divinity. Speaking at the event, Pavlopoulos is rejoicing the Dedication of 14 graduate and postgraduate Our Primate spoke to the hearts of the graduates and ex- said the medal was conferred as an students of Theology. pressed the hope that each of them, men and women, would expression of gratitude on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, as Founder and Dean of apply the phenomena gained through St Andrew’s for the glo- the Greek state and nation for the the College which is the first Orthodox Theological College es- ry of God and to the benefit of the Orthodox Church across contribution Dracopoulos and the tablished in the Southern Hemisphere (1986), presided over Australia and the world. SNF have made to the country: From the Doxology Service at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in The Kostoula Tsabalas Memorial Prize for Exemplary the huge “gift” of the Stavros Niar- Sydney. Achievement was awarded to Nicholas Feros and Michel Na- chos Foundation Cultural Centre Besides the Sub-Dean of the College, His Grace Bishop has. Supper was enjoyed by everyone in the Great Hall of the (SNFCC) to Athens to the recent an- Seraphim of Apollonia, present also were the Hon. Christos College where personal congratulations were offered by all. nouncement for a large donation to Karras Consul General for Greece in Sydney and Professor Di- F.S.S. improve healthcare around the coun- try, it is charity work of a magnitude unseen since the birth of the modern Greek state. “With this truly massive contribu- tion, the Stavros Niarchos Founda- tion, under your leadership, contin- ues the tradition of national benefac- tors,” he said. “Not only is it continuing it, but be- cause of the size of the donations it surpasses this tradition, opens new Amphipolis horizons and constitutes an example to follow for many others.” Pavlo- archaeological study poulos said national benefactors as- sociated their donations with crucial misses out on funding moments during the course of the modern Greek state. “This is also a Three-and-a-half years after archaeol- crucial moment. That’s why your de- ogists brought to light a tomb dating to coration is absolutely justified, ” he the era of Alexander the Great near Am- added. phipolis in Macedonia, northern Greece, Responding to the president’s work related to the mysterious burial speech, Dracopoulos started by cit- site appears to have come to a standstill. ing the words of John F. Kennedy: In 2015 the conservative government “Ask not what your country can do earmarked 236,000 euros for a two-year for you – ask what you can do for anthropological study, but the contract your country.” He spoke of his uncle, expired last summer before any action the shipping magnate Stavros Niar- was taken, Kathimerini reports. chos, “who built everything that al- The study was to have involved an lows us today to offer positive, long- analysis of some 1,000 bone fragments term changes to society” through the found in the broader Amphipolis area. foundation that bears his name, not- Scientists were then to try to match ing that its “guide and compass” has them to the five skeletons discovered in- been to strengthen Hellenism and side the 4th century BC tomb. Experts the values it professes “in their have so far only conducted a macroscop- purest form.” ic survey of the skeletal material found Dracopoulos said these are the ele- inside the grave. ments the foundation wants to re- The suspension of the archaeological ward through its donations and to study has raised questions about the promote through the SNF’s work and leftist-led government’s policy toward the work of its “associates,” as he de- the monument.It is not known when or scribed donees. even if the analysis will ever take place. APRIL 2018 8/24 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA APRIL 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 9/25 ST SPYR IDON CO LLEGE
Developingv thet whole person mind, bbody andn soul
ǾȈȤȠȜȚțȒ ȝĮȢ țȠȚȞȩIJȘIJĮ İȪȤİIJĮȚ ıIJȘȞ ȅȝȠȖȑȞİȚĮȋȡȩȞȚĮ ȆȠȜȜȐ ȝİ ȣȖİȓĮ ȖȚĮ IJȘȞ ĬȡȚĮȝȕİȣIJȚțȒǹȞǹȞȐıIJĮıȘ IJȠȣ ȋȡȚıIJȠȪ ȋȡȚıIJȩȢǹȞǹȞȑıIJȘ ǹȜȘșȫȢǹǹȞȞȑıIJȘ &KULVW,V 5LVHQ 7UXO\+H ,V 5LVHQ APRIL 2018 10/26 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA
PASCHAL LUNCH WITH THE ARCHBISHOP
Every year, for the past 42 years, on the Thursday of Bright Week after Easter, and support at all times. our Spiritual Father His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, invites all the Clergy of He also thanked Fr Nicholas Bozikis for arranging the meat and other baked Sydney together with Presviteres and children to the traditional Paschal Lunch. foods, as well as the Philoptochos Ladies for serving everyone. This is a day cherished by His Eminence because he gets to see his priests and Finally, His Eminence thanked and farewelled Fr Damaskinos from Mt Athos who their families all together as one. And the sense of belonging is reciprocally appre- has been in Australia for two months visiting the various States for Holy Confession ciated by the priests and their wives and children also. and who was returning to his monastery the following day. The morning commenced with Small Matins held in the Cathedral Church of the It was truly a pleasure to be with our Archbishop and our Brothers in Christ shar- Annunciation at Redfern in Sydney, followed by Lunch in the Cathedral Hall. ing in the joy of the Resurrection. His Eminence thanked His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonia for his devotion F.S.S. Adrift in dangerous storms
COMMENT by Nikos Konstantaras ‐ mismanagement at the very top of gov- quences of dangerous policies and, then, Kathimerini, Athens ernment. by the ease with which naivety (or self- The first issue may depend chiefly on deception) is presented as an excuse. The rapid worsening of Greek-Turkish the behavior of Turkey whereas the sec- What may be even worse, though, is a relations and a general sense of insecuri- ond one is purely domestic, but both are mentality that practicing politics is noth- ty gripping citizens in their daily lives affected by the bad choice of people for ing other than unbridled verbal violence, may not appear to be directly connected, important positions, a haughty disdain the persistent wish to crush rivals and to but both problems are exacerbated by for any warnings of possible conse- force one’s will upon reality. It was Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s choice (helped by the massive wave of wishful thinking that his SYRIZA party Christian Dior, Gucci, Ted Baker managed to ride) which brought Yanis Varoufakis and Panos Kammenos from ots” and “traitors,” when everything is Katerina + Kyriacos Mavrolefteros diametrically opposite ends of our politi- “us against them,” then it is a simple step cal and cultural woodwork to positions to speak the same language in executing of power that they would never have at- foreign policy. tained otherwise. Now that things are becoming more One came, did his damage and em- difficult, many government officials stick barked on an international career; the to believing what they want to believe other, lacking similar star power, will do rather than trying to manage reality. all that he can to stay in office, whatever On domestic issues, instead of pursu- damage this may cause. ing broad social consensus and reinforc- In Kammenos’s case, the prime minis- ing the authorities necessary for the se- Ray Ban Ray ter may boast that he chose well, as his curing of law and order, they mock those only criterion was that he pick a govern- who are concerned by the rampant ille- ing partner whose sole ambition was to gality in our streets and universities. cling to power. On the Turkey front, instead of focus- The selection of Varoufakis, Kam- ing solely on a serious and calm policy, menos and a host of others best forgot- reinforcing the country’s alliances, mak- ten, as well as the weakening of institu- ing clear that Greece is in the right and tions such as the judiciary and police, isolating Turkey for its actions, Tsipras al- have their root cause in the govern- lows Kammenos to set the tone. 874 Anzac Parade, Maroubra Junction ment’s pretensions of a “moral advan- The defense minister seems to believe (at bus stop, on RTA block) tage” over the political forces that gov- that he can beat the Turks at their own
(at bus stop, on RTA block) Rodenstock, erned in the past. game of bullying. Instead of pulling him TTeell:: ((0022)) 99331144--00339933 This implies the rejection of any con- into line, the prime minister’s office has Serengeti, Maui Jim, Fendi cerns or arguments by anyone not allied even emulated him. [email protected] with the government and the prevalence Kammenos’s shows of bravado may of verbal violence in our politics. warm some “anti-systemic” government When careers are built upon calling for hearts. But in the end, the bill will have Nina Ricci, Oakley, La font hangings, on dividing citizens into “patri- to be paid. APRIL 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 11/27
! ! ! ! ! 6>c;>L>:U8Y>
.2 , #,2(%,2 2 2 22 2 ,., #,(%02 -/-!$- )& - (+*(+.2 2 '2 ## 2 .2.+,2 +(1('2+"2 APRIL 2018 12/28 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA
Greece remembers the emblematic Melina Mercouri
It has been 24 years since Melina Mercouri died in 1994 but her picture in front of the Parthenon that adorns the Acropolis Metro Station is engraved in the minds of millions of Greeks. In her life Melina Mercouri was several things: a strik- ing woman; a stage and movie actress; a patriot; an ac- tivist; a politician, but above all - and this is what she re- mains even after her death - she is a great Hellene. Melina Mercouri loved Greece so much that she epit- omized the Hellenic spirit to the point that she became its ambassador worldwide. To the heart of every Greek, she was the first politi- cian who fought for what is truly right: the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to their home, in the Parthenon, on the Acropolis. It was 1982 when Melina Mercouri, with her over- whelming passion and the shine of the star that marked her, started her campaign for the return of the so- called Elgin marbles. Her passion, her desire, her fight for the return of the priceless sculptures to their rightful home is summed up in the phrase: “I hope to see the marbles return to Athens before I die. But if they return later, I will be re- born to see them.” The Parthenon Marbles were a special case since they were part of a monument and not a self-contained work of art, such as the Venus of Milos, exhibited at the Louvre Museum. The campaign began at the UNESCO General Policy Conference in Mexico when Mercouri – then Minister of Culture and Science – put forward the Greek request for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures. Named Desire”. Her first cinema role was as the leading She was elected for PASOK in 1981 and became Min- According to political legend, Melina’s internationally actress in Michael Cacoyannis’ Stella (1955). However, ister of Culture and Sciences, an office she held until known name and her glamorous personality were the it was the role of Ilia in the Academy Awards Nominat- the end of the first eight years of the Andreas Papan- factors that contributed to the assignment by Prime ed “Never on Sunday” (1960), as well as the theater dreou administration. Minister Andreas Papandreou of the enormous weight rendition of the movie in New York, that won Melina As culture minister, her vision was the return of the of such a difficult diplomatic endeavor. Mercouri an international reputation. Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum. At the “You must understand what the Parthenon Marbles In 1965, she married American director Jules Dassin, same time she created the Municipal Regional Theaters mean to us. They are our pride. They are a tribute the who directed her in “Never Sunday” (1960), “Phaedra” to bring the theater art to the provinces. philosophy of democracy. They are our ambition and (1962), “Topkapi” (1964) and “A Dream of Passion” Along with her French counterpart Jacques Lang, they our name. They are the essence of our Greekness,” (1978). created the institution of the “European Capital of Cul- Mercouri had stated during her campaign for the return Melina Mercouri’s political activism was shown in her ture” in 1985. of the Parthenon Sculptures. protests against the military junta from abroad. After Melina’s star faded out on March 6, 1994, but Greeks The draft recommendation for the return of the the restoration democracy in Greece, she returned and still call her only by her first name, as if she is a beloved sculptural decoration of the Parthenon to Greece was became a politician. relative. submitted by the Greek delegation in 1982, with 56 votes in favor, 12 against and 24 abstentions. Two years later, in October 1984, Greece submitted a formal request for the return of the Parthenon Sculp- Meet the Greeks in Forbes’ tures, but in April of that year the British side rejected it. That year, Greece filed an official request for the re- turn of marbles to UNESCO, which had initiated the list of billionaires agenda of the Intergovernmental Committee for Pro- moting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropria- Four Greeks have been included in a list of the Niarchos and inherited much of his father’s art collec- tion. world’s billionaires in 2018 released by Forbes. tion. The collection was purchased in 1957 for $3 mil- Ten years later, the precious sculptures were still at The 2,208 men and women are from 72 countries lion from actor Edward G. Robinson and includes the British Museum when Melina Mercouri passed and territories, and, together, they are worth $9.1 some of the world’s most recognizable pieces. away. The British fought to keep them in their posses- trillion. The top 20 alone are worth $1.2 trillion, or Aristotelis Mistakidis with a net worth of $2.5 bil- sion and they won. If one day the Parthenon Marbles roughly Mexico’s yearly economic output. lion follows at number 965 in the Forbes list. return to Greece, the spirit of Melina Mercouri will like- Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, tops the list as the A citizen of both the United Kingdom and his native ly rejoice. first person with over $100 billion in assets, followed Greece, he is the director of Glencore’s copper busi- Her life by Bill Gates ($90 billion) and Warren Buffett ($84 bil- ness and owns a 3 percent stake in the commodities lion). and mining giant. Born Maria Amalia Mercouri on Oct. 18, 1920, she Spiro Latsis, ranked 727 in the world, is the richest Oil tycoon Vardis Vardinoyannis with a net worth was the favorite granddaughter of Athens Mayor Spy- Greek according to Forbes. With a net worth of $3.2 of $1.1 billion completes the Forbes list of Greek bil- ros Mercouris and daughter of United Democratic Left billion he has been managing the family fortune since lionaires at number 1999. party lawmaker and Minister Stamatis Mercouris. his father, Greek shipping tycoon John S. Latsis, pas- He is the co-founded of Motor Oil Hellas, a petro- Melina studied acting at the National School of Dra- sed away in 2003. leum company based in Greece. It went public on the matic Art (1943-46) and made her debut on stage in At number 859 on the Forbes list is art collector Athens stock exchange in August 2001. Saudi Arabia’s 1944. Philip Niarchos with a net worth of $2.8 billion. He is Aramco was a major investor before divesting in As a protagonist she was established in 1949 with the eldest son of the late shipping magnate Stavros 2005. Blanche’s role in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar APRIL 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 13/29
Special Assembly at St Andrew’s Grammar (WA) in preparation for Holy Week
A Special Assembly took place at St Andrew’s Grammar in Preparation for Holy Week. Five Senior School Students including Kristen Taylor, Eleni Boutsis, Eirini Maou- nis, Nicole Nastos and Rediat Yema read passages from the Scriptures ephasising on the Last Supper, Gethsemane, the mockery & conviction of Christ and the Crucifix- ion, Burial & Resurrection of our Lord. Following the Biblical readings students were shown a Power Point Presentation on the Holy Land and viewed slides depicting the River Jordan, the Dead Sea, Golgotha, the Tomb of Christ, Jacob’s Well, the Church of the Resurrection and the Praetorium. At the end of the assembly questions fol- lowed. Catholics in S. Australia offer Church to Orthodox Community after devastating fire A Catholic church, south of Adelaide, was made avail- Glendi Festival brings able to the Greek Orthodox community for the Easter period after its own church was destroyed in a fire. a taste of Greece The touching gesture by the Catholic Church follows the devastating fire at St Panteleimon Greek Orthodox Church at Glenelg North, which has been serving the to Perth community since 1981. Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church was offered for The Perth Glendi Festival promises to bring a the Greek Orthodox liturgies of Holy Thursday, Holy Fri- taste of Greece to western Australia for one more day and Holy Saturday. year on the weekend of April 21-22. Father Peter Fotakis of St Panteleimon Greek Ortho- Visitors will have the opportunity to savor tradi- dox Church at Glenelg North thanked the Catholic tional Greek dishes, great Greek singers, musicians Church for the kind gesture. and dance troupes, Greek fun with plate smashing Speaking to the Media he said: “It is a touching ges- and belly dancing, cooking demos by renowned ture that shows compassion and love. We found sup- chefs, rides for children, stalls with Greek goods, port that we did not expect.” the ‘World’s Largest LiveLighter Zorba Dance’ and “With the help of God we will rebuild our church but more. now I would like to thank the Catholic Church for its The gold-plated box containing relics, saved from In 2016, almost 2,000 people joined hands to kind contribution that will help us to perform the Holy a devastating church fire. dance the ‘World’s Largest LiveLighter Zorba Week services here,” he added. said: “Clearly there’s been some heavenly intervention Dance’. Organizers hope to break that record this there.” year. ‘Heavenly Intervention’ saved Relics The community is rallying round after the fire swept ‘Glendi’ is Greek for fun time and there will be through the church days before Orthodox Easter. plenty of it at the Perth Glendi Festival for young Father Peter Fotakis has said the recovery of undam- St Panteleimon’s caught fire earlier this month. De- and old, all this accompanied by tasty food. aged holy relics from the blaze is “an ongoing miracle”. spite the best efforts of fire crews, the building was ex- George Diakomichalis, the renowned Greek Aus- He told local reporters of his joy at finding the partial tensively damaged. The cause of the fire remains un- tralian pastry chef and head of the multi award- remains of the church’s namesake, safe and sound. known for now. winning business Kalymnos Pastries in Adelaide, For, despite being in the blaze which destroyed the Parishioners were left distraught, with the blaze com- will be showcasing his art one more time. entire inside of the building, the delicate gold-plated ing on Holy Week, meaning the church will be unable to The Perth Glendi Festival will take place at at box containing the saint’s bones behind only a thin open for traditional services. Elizabeth Quay on Saturday, sheet of glass was totally untouched by fire, smoke or However, as mentioned above, a Catholic church in April 21 from 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday from ash. Glenelg offered space to the Orthodox community to 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.! Admission is only $2 per person One parishioner speaking to local channel 7 News, use their premises for the Easter celebrations. and free for children under 12. APRIL 2018 14/30 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Arts, Food & Wine Editor: Imogen Coward Mint Condition Part I Écoutez! By Dr Taliesin Coward gernail over the edge of a 50c and 20c coin to feel the difference), or may even have words pressed into them. Arts Review There are small, commonplace artworks all around us. We carry and handle them almost everyday, and yet Whereas ancient coins were minted from precious they are so ubiquitous they often escape our notice: metals, today’s standard circulation coins are not. To- coins. In part one of this three-part series, we examine day most coins are minted from base metals such as the origins of coins, and how they are made. Part two copper, nickel, tin, zink and steel. (Ever wonder why gives an overview of different types of coins aimed at bank tellers sometime wear cotton gloves? It’s to pro- those who collect them as works of art, and part three tect them from the high nickel content of the coins.) In- wanders through some of the more well known (and terestingly, until fairly recently, everyday circulation not so well known) collectible coins of the present day. coinage was minted out of a mixture of base and pre- cious metals. Silver was only eliminated from UK circu- Whilst coins are commonplace today, and can be con- lating coinage in 1940, the 1966 Australian round 50c sidered a standard token of exchange, this was not al- coin was 80% silver (sadly never repeated), and the US ways the case. For example, Egypt during the age of the half dollar was still 40% silver until 1970. Pharaohs had no money, operating instead off a barter system, with items being valued using copper weights. Another distinguishing feature of modern coins is the The earliest known coinage known comes from the Io- complexity of the designs stamped into the coin. Whilst nian city of Ephesus and dates from c.600 B.C.. Indeed, a fancy design can stem from a desire to make it hard to it was the Greeks who were largely responsible for the forge coins, these also have artistic value (‘numismatic spread of coinage throughout the Mediterranean and coins’ are those valued for their scarcity and/or artistic beyond. merit, not merely their metal content). For example, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful coins is the Aus- These early coins were unevenly shaped blobs of Elec- tralian 1927 commemorative florin minted from ster- trum (a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, ling silver. Indeed, beautiful coins are prized the world which the Greeks called ‘white-gold’), with an impres- over by coin collectors, and mints today specifically sion punched onto one side and maybe a simple design strike coins designed not for circulation, but as works of scratched onto the other (distinguishing it as a unit of art (more on this in parts two and three of this series). currency with a specific value, rather than an ingot). These simple coins gradually evolved, with more re- The legacy of the ancient world was still well and tru- fined shapes, different metals (such as silver) and more ly evident in the pre-decimalisation English system of sophisticated designs. By the late 6th century B.C., one Pounds (£), Shillings (s) and Pence (d – no this is not a of the most recognisable coins of the ancient world was typo, read on), the same system used in Australia prior the ‘owl’ of Athens: a silver coin featuring a portrait of to adopting dollars and cents (Australian currency went Culture Heist Athena as the ‘heads’ and her ‘owl’ as the ‘tails’. decimal in 1966, and English in 1971). Under this sys- tem 12 pennies equalled 1 shilling, with 20 shillings by Judith White (Brandl and Shlesinger, 2017) Such coins were minted using a ‘die’, an engraved making 1 pound (meaning there were 240 pennies to RRP $29.99 piece of metal used to stamp the image onto the coin – the pound). This system, and the symbols used (a a technique which, whilst having become more sophis- stylised ‘L’ for pound, and a ‘s’ for shilling and ‘d’ for From her unique vantage point as former execu- ticated, remains largely unchanged today. The dies penny) actually date back to ancient Rome. The ‘L’ tive director of the Art Gallery Society of NSW, used have a limited life-span. They can only strike so stands for ‘librae’, the ‘s’ for ‘solidi’, and the ‘d’ for White gives a roller-coaster ride through the machi- many coins before the image becomes unclear, or the ‘denarii’. In Roman times, 12 silver denarii were rated nations and the intricate web of relationships be- die breaks under the strain (some of rarest and most to be the same value as one gold solidus, with 240 tween major players from the gallery, government, valuable Australian gold sovereigns – Type I Adelaide – denarii being cut from one pound of silver (libra in industry and beyond in a saga that has quietly en- were the result of a cracked die). The number of dies Latin, livre in French and peso in Spanish). Even dollars veloped the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) over more cut in any period are good indication of the amount of and cents may harken back to the ancient world. The than half a decade. It spans the period from the end coinage minted – something used by scholars today to word ‘dollar’ is actually derived from ‘thaler’, a 16th of Edmund Capon’s flamboyant and vibrant direc- track relative wealth of cities in the ancient world. century Bohemian coin, and the dollar symbol ($) is be- torship, to the present day. lieved (though there is some debate) to be a stylised Irrespective of whether you approve, disapprove Perhaps some of the most obvious differences be- representation of the two halves of the globe (the new or are uncommitted in your view of the changes tween modern and ancient coins are the shape, compo- world) and the pillars of Hercules (the old world). that have happened at the AGNSW over this period, sition, and the sophistication of the designs. Instead of Coins are much more than mere tokens of exchange. or indeed agree with White’s sentiments, the reve- uneven, oval or circular shaped blobs of metal, today’s They are crafted object, often a display of virtuosic skill lations on the inner workings of the gallery and its coins are stamped on mass produced and consistently and tooling (especially in fine and intricate designs), and relationship with the members’ organisation make sized pieces of metal known as blanks. The edges of a tangible link to millennia of civilization. an important contribution to the public discourse on these blanks may be smooth or ‘milled’ (run your fin- the forces currently shaping our public institutions. In an era beset with doublespeak and weasel words, it is refreshing that White nails her colours firmly to the mast, especially on the importance of the Arts to humanity and civilisation, and the role of public in- stitutions and benefactors in supporting these, as well as the issues facing them in Australia today. In particular she highlights a major shift away from the AGNSW’s historical purpose and a concurrent po- tential disparity with public interest and expecta- tions. As White and others have observed, rapidly shifting roles, funding and independence issues are also affecting many of our leading academic and sci- entific bodies. Although asides dealing with faintly ridiculous results of ‘corporate spin’ offer ironic lev- ity, one cannot help but observe the capacity of such language to obfuscate, stifle meaningful dis- cussion and impede understanding. From the open- ing forward by The Hon David Levine, to White’s ul- timate argument of a wholesale cultural ‘heist’ grip- ping Australia, that places economic values at the centre of our society and in doing so erodes hall- marks of civilisation, there is much food for thought and many pithy quotes. IC APRIL 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 15/31
Old Easter tradition on the Greek island of Corfu is a smash
Orthodox Easter celebrations on the Greek island of Corfu were a smash on Saturday – literally. Corfiots mark Holy Saturday with a strange old cus- tom referred to as the “botides” – where large clay jugs filled with water are thrown from the balconies of homes in the center of town, smashing into pieces on- to the streets below as thousands gather around to watch. Visitors come from across the country and abroad to view the popular event. The sound of the pots crashing is thunderous, and fearless spectators stand quite close to the crash sites, struck by the spray of water and shards of clay, although local organizers said no one has ever been seriously injured during the custom. “I am very happy, because people come from far away, and that is why we do this, they like it very much, they have become hooked on the custom,” said Corfu resident Nikos Voskopoulos, who has been an enthusiastic pot-thrower for 20 years. Islanders said they believe the custom helps ward off bad spirits, and spectators take pieces of the smashed pots home as good luck charms. The exact origin of the custom is unclear. According to the municipality, one popular belief is that it origi- nated with the Venetians who ruled Corfu between the 14th and 18th centuries. To mark the new year, the Venetians would throw out their old belongings to make way for new ones in order to make a fresh start to the new year. The Greeks adopted the custom, introduced clay pots, and moved it to Easter, one of the most impor- pottery, symbolizing the divine striking down ene- cient Greece. In April the ancient Greeks would throw tant holidays in the Greek religious calendar. There mies. out their old clay planting pots and plant seeds in new are also Biblical references to the smashing of clay Another belief is that the custom has roots in an- ones to mark the coming of spring. [Reuters] Forbes praises pioneering Greek-Australian conservationist A young Greek-Australian is making her presence felt with her inclusion on an international list of social entrepre- neurs making a positive difference. Forbes’ recent ’30 Under 30 Asia 2018ʹ list includes Melbourne-born Natalie Kyr- iacou who is the founding director of My Green World, a company which descri- bes itself as an “Australian-based wildlife and environmental education and con- servation organisation”. Set up in 2013, My Green World works with 18 international partners to “devel- op innovative and educational platforms and resources that enhance the efforts of global wildlife and environmental con- servation and engage and inspire young global citizens to participate in unique charitable initiatives and educational programs”. Among the organizations My Green World works with is Arcturos, a Greek conservation group which seeks to pro- tect the country’s brown bear popula- tion. Forbes also focused on Kyriacou’s ini- tiative of creating a cellphone app which is bringing more and more young people into the world of conservation. The magazine also said Kyriacou was among the “inspiring millennials … tack- change in the region”. Committee and is also responsible for troduce a ban on tourists riding upon ling big issues and finding innovative and Kyriacou is a former member of the persuading one of Australia’s biggest maltreated elephants. sustainable solutions to make a positive University of Melbourne’s Animal Ethics travel operators, Tempo Holidays, to in- APRIL 2018 16/32 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Travel
ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010 TRAVEL
Patmos Patmos Simply a revelation It seems paradoxical that St John experienced his vision of the Apocalypse on this beautiful and enchanting Dodecanese island
BY KYRIAKI VASSALOU
“What it this? A well?” “Yes, a well. Just submerge your head in the water and don’t be afraid. It will erase all your bad thoughts immediately.” Andreas’s humor may be not be the most sophisticated but he is a guy you don’t easily forget. It’s the way he speaks, moves, what he wears and what he says and does. You may only spend a few minutes with such a person but you remember them for ever. Andreas runs an art gallery in Hora – the main hilltop village on the Dode- canese island of Patmos. There you will find everything from works by ac- complished modern European painters to drawings by the youngsters he in- structs in the mornings. The place is al- so filled with good music as well as a good deal of creative “madness.” In Hora, which is dominated by the imposing fortified Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, founded in 1088, it’s a joy to wander the whitewashed alleyways of the various neighbor- hoods and take a closer look at the el- egant shops here and there. Views from the hill are seductive: On the one side is Skala, the port village 3 kilometers down the road; on the oth- er is Profitis Ilias, the highest summit southern bit, stop at the three recent- at 269 meters, and the beaches of Snapshots ly inaugurated restored windmills, Grikos and Petra. Walking uphill under the arches funded by Charles Pictet, a Swiss bene- Walking uphill toward the and arcades in the maze of factor of the island. monastery, under the arches and ar- narrow medieval streets, peek Continue to the beaches of touristy cades in the maze of narrow medieval through the windows of the Grikos and the quieter Petra. Further streets, peek through the windows of on is Diakoftis, with its boat repair fa- the mansions to catch a glimpse of their mansions to catch a glimpse of cilities. Park your vehicle and either stop antique furnishings. their antique furnishings for coffee or a meal, or continue on foot One also wonders what the island’s (about 20 minutes) toward Patmos’s hermetically sealed chapels – about 400 best beach, Psili Ammos, which, true in total – look like inside. to its name – shared by many other The monastery is a veritable fort, beaches around the country – has fine built on the site of an ancient temple white sand, crystal-clear waters and a to Artemis, goddess of the hunt. few trees for shade. On the way back, It houses an excellent ecclesiastical drive up to Profitis Ilias for panoram- museum with unique Byzantine treas- ic views. ures as well as one of the country’s most Some 6 kilometers north of Skala, important libraries, where researchers you’ll reach Kampos, a farming village can access rare manuscripts, historical with whitewashed houses near a sandy archives and books. beach. George’s Place here is said to be Downhill from Hora toward Skala, a Where to stay Where to eat What to see & do one of the most “in” beach bars in the stop at the Holy Grotto of the Revela- Area telephone code: 22470. Deluxe: Lambi and Leonidas in Lambi for good Patmos will host its annual Religious Aegean – guests must reserve their tion – the cave where St John is sup- Porto Scoutari (Meloi, tel 33123, seafood and more; Mrs Ourania’s Psili Music Festival from August 29 to sunbeds in August. posed to have written the Book of Reve- www.portoscoutari.com), cited as one Ammos, on the beach of the same September 8 in the courtyard of the The rest of Patmos’s northern part lation around AD 95 – with its three of the 100 most romantic hotels in the name, has superb pastitsio and goat in Holy Grotto of the Revelation; see the is calmer, in keeping with typical island chapels, is a must. world on www.romanticplaces.com tomato sauce; Flisvos and Ktima Petra in mansion-museums of Nikolaidis and style. Hora, the monastery and the cave are (Porto Scoutari and Doriza Bay in Skala Grikos have good home cooking; Simantiris and the nearby Monastery Northeast of Kampos is Lambi – a on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage are now offering discounts of up to 50 Benetos, in Sapsila, is said to be one of of Zoodochos Pigi in Hora; next to the beach also true to its name, as the peb- Sites. percent); Patmos Paradise (Kampos, the best restaurants in the Dodecanese, St John Monastery is the Church of bles truly do shine. However, do resist Skala, one of the most attractive port tel 32624, www.patmosparadise.com), so you may need to book in advance Panaghia Diasozousa – at all such the temptation to take some of them settings in the Aegean, is Patmos’s on a hill, with a pool, tennis and squash (tel 33089); the same goes for Veggera religious locations, visitors should home because the shine dims over the busiest spot. Located on the narrow courts. Lower-range: Skala (tel 31343, in Skala (tel 32998); Vaggelis, on the dress appropriately. Other beaches years. isthmus that separates the island’s www.skalahotel.gr), one of the oldest square in Hora, has excellent Greek worth visiting are Agriolivadi, near North of Lambi is Livadi Geranou – northern and southern parts, it is an and tastefully restored; Sunset (Skala, dishes, while Aloni has good food with Skala, and Lefkes, west of Kampos, with pine trees shading the sand and ideal base for exploration. tel 31411), in a lovely garden, good live music at times; try breakfast at where you will see a mansion built by a a much quieter ambience than else- Bypassing Hora on the way to the service; camping (Meloi, tel 31821). Aigaio in Skala and coffee in Loza, Hora. wealthy Greek family from Egypt. where on the island.