THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside VEMA Greece NOVEMBER 2018 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: [email protected] IIN THIIS OURIISSU ARCHBISHOP’SE OF THE GRE VIEWEK AUSTRALIIAN VEMA THE NEURALGIC TRIANGLE OF THE CENTURY PART 2 HANDOUTPAGE 5/21 PROMISES The faithful gather to re-open St George Monastery On Sunday, November 4, 2018 the love peo- ple have for the Holy Monastery of St George Yellow Rock was once again made quite evi- rattling European Commission dent, as over 650 faithful and almost 100 vol- unteers converged on the Hall of St Ioannis Church Parramatta for a wonderful evening full of emotion and surprises. PAGE 7/23 Factbox: Greece’s territorial waters and Turkey Former Foreign minister, Nikos Kotzias said that Greece was ready to extend its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 nautical miles. The government’s promises of fresh handouts ahead the country before the financial crisis – namely handing Some of the most important questions related of next years’s general elections have reportedly an- out money without consultation. What is more annoying to a possible extension of Greek territorial wa- noyed officials in Brussels and are rattling investors, with to European officials is that Finance Minister Euclid ters, are answered. analysts warning they will serve as another obstacle to Tsakalotos was the first to stray down this path. PAGE 10/26 Greece’s bid to tap international markets. As for the government’s promise of new hirings in the Moreover, in its post-bailout report on Greece – which state sector, officials said they will make no comment will be published on November 21 and has been seen by until it is put into law. “We have learned to listen to a lot Kathimerini – the European Commission will stress that of noise but react only to things that are implemented.” none of the 16 reforms Athens needs to implement by Speaking to Kathimerini, Gianluca Ziglio, senior fixed the end of the year have been completed. income analyst at Continuum Economics, said that the Given the Italian crisis, the EC has remained low-key government’s “overly generous fiscal policies” could be with regard to Greece’s post-bailout course as it does a source of uncertainty for investors. not want to open a new front. “Nobody wants to worry “Greece is only at the beginning of a very long healing about Greece now that Italy is turning into a real prob- process which is certainly not in the country’s interest to lem,” one official said. derail with lousy fiscal policies at this stage as conditions The government this week said that it will announce allow to conjugate debt reduction with some degree of 10,000 new state sector jobs in 2019, while a bill was fiscal relief which should nevertheless be carefully bal- passed in Parliament on Thursday to return some 820 anced,” he said. ÏÏmillion 11 3euros3ïï fromòò ÅÅslashedððßß salariesóóçç ììandïï pensionsòò ×× toïïññMujtabaüüòò Rahman,DD ee bban uanalystuttaa atnn thett eriske consultancy 280,000 civil servants, including police officers, firefight- Eurasia Group, said warned that a policy of handouts Argithea ers and judges. Furthermore, the Finance Ministry’s re- “will be taken extremely negatively by Greece’s credi- ôôïïõõcent ÊÊ decisionïïëë toëë grantååãã raisesßßïï toõõ its employees ““ ÁÁãã hasßßù ùbeeníí a ÐÐtors.”ÜÜííôôùùíí””,, ÓÓ ýýääííååûû Unspoiled and sparsely populated, this lush source of dismay in Brussels, as, officials say, it sends the “It’s raising the question in Berlin and elsewhere as to central Greek district boasts rustic and breath- wrong message. “That’s clear backtracking,” a source whether the parameters of the post-bailout framework taking beauty. said, adding that these are practices which took place in can and will hold,” he said. PAGE 16/32 NOVEMBER 2018 2/18 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRA LIA S T ANDREW’S GREEK ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE NOW OFFERING THEOLOGICAL STUDIES IN MELBOURNE CLASSES BEGIN FEBRUARY 2019 ATAT TTHE HOLY MOONASTERY OOF ‘AXION ESTIN’ IN NORTHCOTE (02) 9549 3100 [email protected] ß www.sagotc.edu.au/melbourne-classes NOVEMBER 2018 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/19 Opinion The Greek diaspora By Alexis Papachelas - Kathimerini, Athens Every time I meet distinguished Greeks of the diaspo- ra I feel a certain sadness. They love Greece and they keep it in their thoughts much more than some cynical permanent residents of the country. They do not understand the modern Greek decline, whether it manifests itself in the tragic state of the country’s educational institutions or in the absolute prevalence of cronyism in many crucial sectors. Con- trary to the prevailing notion that things cannot change, they firmly believe that “everything is possible as long as there is willingness and professionalism.” It is moving and inspiring to see people whose grand- parents or even great-grandparents were the ones who made the decision to leave Greece have such a keen in- terest in the country’s well-being. To see them make sure that young Greek-American students visit so as not to lose their ties to the old country. However, the virus contaminating modern Greek life, whereby we mess things up with corruption, personal Greek-American community to restore some of its past communicate with the Peloponnesian leaders. At the antagonisms and a lack of planning, has unfortunately glory. But to do this we need initiatives and, most im- end of the day, however, the diaspora was the catalyst also affected the diaspora. Excellent initiatives an- portantly, everyone – in Athens, in the Phanar and else- that drove Greece forward. nounced with fanfare have degenerated into social where – needs to understand that time is running out. Today, we need it more than ever. We are a tired, ag- events with no substance. Instead of promoting en- In crucial times in its history, Greece grew thanks to ing country that has no compass, energy or inspiration. trepreneurship, as was the goal, they evolved into the political, economic and cultural power it derived The diaspora could make the difference, as long as it meaningless public relations. from its diaspora. From the birth of the Greek state un- can trust Greece to be a country of rules, ethos and vi- The Hellenism of America is going through an un- til the times of Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos and sion. precedented and structural crisis. The leadership void in onward, its role has been crucial. And, of course, we should never forget how impor- the Church, along with scandals of mismanagement, Of course, the gulf between the diaspora and Greek tant its role is when we have next to us an unpre- have alienated dynamic Greek Americans. There are leaders has always been wide, ever since Greek War of dictable, unstable neighbor. We should not remember many people who want to get involved and help the Independence hero Alexandros Ypsilantis struggled to it only when we need its help. ENQUIRIES AND APPLICATIONS WELCOME St Andrew’s was established in 1986 by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in order to provide tertiary level education and training of Christian Orthodox clergy, theologians, lay teachers and ministers in order to meet the catechetical and pastoral needs of the Orthodox Church in Australia. It is also intended to be a centre of ecumenical scholarship and learning. It is fully accredited through the Sydney College of Divinity, a federation of Christian theological education providers (www.scd.edu.au). All the degrees and awards are approved by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Australia's independent national regulator of the high- er education sector. St Andrew’s offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate units, through lectures on campus and via online distance education, which explore Systematic Theology, Patristic Studies, Biblical Studies, Church History, Liturgics, Pastoral Theology, and New Testament Greek language, towards the following courses: Bachelor of Theology (with Honours), Associate Degree in Christian Thought and Practice, Diploma of Christian Studies, Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies, Graduate Diploma of Theological Studies, Master of Theological Studies, and Clinical Pastoral Education in Aged Care. For more information please visit our website or contact the Registrar: St Andrew’s Creek Orthodox Theological College 242 Cleveland Street, Redfem NSW 2016 Tel: 02 9549 3100 / Fax: 02 9549 3151 Website: www.sagotc.edu.au / Email: [email protected] NOVEMBER 2018 4/20 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Letter from Maroubra A DOWRY FOR OUR YOUTH It is time we gave our children their dowry. When my parents were born, they came into this life with a dowry. Their dowry was their own parents, their ancestors, the natural world of their homeland Greece, its history and its religion. Every child of that age found all this prepared, wait- ing for him or her, waiting for hands to lift them, to guide them and to set them on their way until the day This is the light of Genesis «καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς But what is it that I see? You brought only such a they closed their eyes. γεννηθήτω φῶς καὶ ἐγένετο φῶς...» This is the eter- small bag? As a third-generation Greek-Australian, I was not nal light of the Resurrection «Δεῦτε λάβετε φῶς...» Do you know how much Greek Orthodoxy has to gi- fortunate to receive the light of a Greek day. But I can This is also the light that was revealed later in the ve you? value how much it is worth to wake from sleep and to «φῶς ἱλαρόν...», that bathes us with eternal bless- We can give you a St Kosma of Aitolos, a St Nectar- feel, to see what it might be like to be received by the ings.