O c v ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 10, ISSUE 478 December 9, 2006 $1.00 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Pope and Turkey Offers to Open 2 Patriarch Ports, Cyprus Okay with Sign Joint Proposed New Deadline Statement By Selcan Hacaoglu supporters of union with Greece. Associated Press But Ankara, which does not rec- ognize the internationally recog- Prelates Urge E.U. to ANKARA (AP) – Turkey has offered nized Republic of Cyprus, has re- to open two seaports temporarily, fused to allow Greek Cypriot goods Protect Minorities and yet unconditionally to E.U. member to enter its ports. Cyprus, but would open a Turkish The E.U. has been pressuring Freedom of Religion airport only in return for trade to Turkey to extend the customs the breakaway Turkish Cypriot agreement to Cyprus, or face a par- By Evan C. Lambrou state, according to a television re- tial suspension of entry talks. Special to The National Herald port this past Thursday. In Brussels, European Commis- The Turkish Government has al- sion President Jose Manuel Barroso NEW YORK – In a momentous ges- so has proposed opening one of its called Turkey's offer "an important ture of filial love and respect for airports to Greek Cypriots – if the step" toward breaking a deadlock their respective Churches, Pope Turkish Cypriot airport of Ercan entry talks, but the move immedi- Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Patri- near the divided capital of Nicosia ately tore open a rift among E.U. arch Bartholomew of Constantino- is opened to international traffic, member nations. ple, the first Bishop of the Ortho- CNN-Turk television reported from "If that move can be duly con- dox Church worldwide, signed a Brussels. firmed, I think it's certainly an im- significant Common Declaration in Earlier, private NTV television portant step toward" implementing Constantinople (present-day Istan- reported from Brussels that the a deal to extend an E.U.-Turkey bul) last week which “renews their Turkish proposal foresees the mu- customs union pact to include commitment to work towards the tual opening of one sea and one air- Cyprus, Barroso told reporters. "I restoration of full communion be- port within one year. Ankara also certainly welcome that initiative." tween the two Churches, which is said it anticipates finalizing the re- But Greece, Cyprus' closest ally, God’s will and command.” unification and a comprehensive warned that opening just some – Orthodox officials have said settlement of the division of Cyprus but not all – of Turkey's ports to they hope the Papal visit would TNH/COSTAS BEJ by the end of 2007. Cyprus was not enough, and E.U. help convince Ankara to enhance New Onassis Center exhibition wows the crowd The offer apparently is aimed at officials said privately that they the rights of Turkey’s tiny Christian averting a partial freeze of Turkey's looked to Turkey to "fully imple- community, a key demand of the "Athens-Sparta," a major exhibition of ancient Greek art now on display at the Onassis Cultural Center in European Union entry talks at a key ment" the customs union protocol, European Union. Manhattan, opened to the public this past Wednesday evening. Pictured above are (L-R) Greek Culture E.U. leaders' summit in Brussels meaning all ports should be opened In the eight-part declaration, the Minister George Voulgarakis, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, Exhibition Curator Dr. next week. Senior E.U. diplomats to Cyprus. Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch Nikos Kaltsas, director of the Greek National Archaeological Museum in Athens, and Onassis Foundation were discussing Ankara's proposal stressed the need for European President Antonis Papademetriou. Thursday. Continued on page 7 Union leaders to protect minorities Turkey's offer was not written and ensure freedom of religious but was relayed verbally this past practice, “which is proof and assur- Wednesday to Finland, the country ance of respect for all other free- holding the current rotating E.U. doms. In every initiative for union, presidency, NTV reported. Turkey minorities, with their cultural Avramopoulos Pushes Global Network expects the E.U. to take steps to end Parish Alleges rights and religious distinctiveness the isolation of Turkish Cypriot side should be protected.” By Demetris Tsakas ber 2. network, and is now in a position to in return, according to CNN-Turk. Former Priest The two Prelates gratefully re- Special to The National Herald Mr. Avramopoulos spoke about enter into this competitive new The Turkish Foreign Ministry called Pope Paul VI and Pope John Greece’s initiative, stating that “the world with the confidence that was declining comment at press Paul II and Ecumenical Patriarchs NEW YORK – Greek Health Minis- idea of creating a global communi- Greek doctors will stand at the fore- time, saying negotiations were still Took its Relics Athenagoras and Demetrios, who ter of Health Demetris Avramopou- cations network among Greek doc- front. underway. lead the path towards the reconcili- los affirmed the Greek Govern- tors has reached every corner of the The Greek Government is deter- "This is a goodwill gesture ation (abatement) of the two ment’s commitment to the develop- Earth. Next June, for the first time mined to make the Hellenic Repub- aimed at strengthening Turkey's By Theodore Kalmoukos churches through their meetings ment of joint initiatives to help ever, 10,000 doctors of Greek her- lic an international research center hand, and the hand of those E.U. Special to The National herald and mutual visits, as well as the lift- bring the Hellenic American med- itage from all over the world will for medicine and biotechnology, he members who are against a partial ing of the 11th Century anathemas ical community closer to Greece gather in Kos, the birthplace of the added. suspension of talks," columnist BOSTON – The Saint Demetrios between Rome and Constantino- and Greeks living abroad. father of medicine, Hippocrates.” Event speakers hailed Mr. Cengiz Aktar told NTV. parish of Jersey City, New Jersey ple. Mr. Avramopoulos had an op- Mr. Avramopoulos also said Avramopoulos for being the first Turkey had signed a customs last week accused its former priest Benedict and Bartholomew im- portunity to discuss this initiative Greek Americans should be proud health minister of Greece to partici- pact agreeing to open its harbors of 14 years, the Very Rev. Kyrillos plored the faithful of both Church- while attending the Hellenic Med- of Greek medical science and the pate in HMS’ recent symposium in and airports to the ten countries Markopoulos, of taking icons, relics es “to strengthen their prayers and ical Society of New York’s 70th An- motherland’s healthcare system. honor of the late George Papanico- which joined the E.U. in 2004, in- and other religious artifacts, and endeavors towards the unity of the nual Scholarship Gala at the He stressed that Greece has re- laou, renowned medical researcher cluding Cyprus, which has been di- stripping the church of its balcony Churches.” Jumeirah-Essex House in Manhat- sponded to the challenges of glob- vided since Turkey invaded in 1974 pews, while some $500,000 in do- They also cited their mutual tan last Saturday evening, Decem- alization by boning up this medical Continued on page 3 to exploit a failed coup staged by nations are reportedly unaccount- concern for “destruction of the nat- ed for. He was even accused of tak- ural environment, and the negative ing the balcony pews and putting consequences for humanity and all them up for sale on eBay. creation, caused by uncontrolled The archimandrite has denied economic and technological The “Tourist any wrongdoing, and said he has progress.” asked his attorneys to look into the The signing of the declaration allegations. by the two “peacemakers” and Resorts” of The local press in New Jersey “bridge builders” of Apostolic and tri-state television stations Christendom in the Throne Room picked up the story and reported of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was Cappadocia the issue. The National Herald’s the focal point of Pope Benedict Greek daily edition also reported it XVI’s three-day visit to the primary last week (as the English edition ecclesiastical center of the Greek By Steve Frangos was going to press when the story Orthodox Church. Special to The National Herald broke). The declaration was signed on In a telephone interview with the occasion of the feast day of On December 6, 1985 the Unit- the National Herald, Saint Saint Andrew the First-Called ed Organization of Education, Sci- Demetrios Parish Council President Apostle, who traveled across Asia ence & Culture, more commonly Chris Paschalides said, “Father Minor and is the founder of the known by its acronym, UNESCO, Markopoulos left with relics of the Christian Church in Byzantium, proclaimed Cappadocia a World church. The entire iconostasis from Heritage Site. Almost one year later 1928 has disappeared. He assumed Continued on page 10 – on November 24, 198 – the Turk- complete authority of the church; ish National Tourist organization all monies that came into the opened a national park in this very church went directly to Father same region, covering an area of Markopoulos.” 9,672 hectares (23,900 acres). When asked why the parish In Memoriam: In 2003, I discovered that the council allowed that to happen, Mr. Kapadokya Lodge Country Club, Paschalides said, “When we started the first of the new resorts which questioning him about the treasury Father Peter are now scattered across this re- report, he got up and he said, ‘I gion, describes itself as offering its write the reports, and I delete tourist visitors “a fairytale atmos- them.’ He became very antagonis- Kyriakos, 82 phere.” I couldn’t agree more. That tic, and eventually, all the board many people might see these new members just got up and left be- regional development projects as cause of his attitude. He completely By Theodore Kalmoukos nothing less than a Holocaust AP/THANASSIS STAVRAKIS disregarded the authority of the Special to The National Herald Theme Park seems to escape the Fragments of the 2,100-year-old Antikythera Mechanism, believed to be the earliest surviving mechanical parish council.” notice of those fun-loving Turks in- computing device, at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The bronze system of cogs and Asked whether the archiman- BOSTON – Rev. Peter Kyriakos, 81, volved with tourism. wheels was found in a Roman wreck off southern Greece in 1900. It was the focus of a two-day conference drite had embezzled half a million died peacefully on last Sunday Among the tranquil naturalistic in Athens late last week. dollars, as it was stated in press re- morning December 3, at Memorial treasures/pleasures offered one ports, Mr. Paschalides said, “When Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New learns of “trekking and mountain the say half a million dollars, they York after a two-year fight with ter- bicycle tours between Cappado- are referring to icons that are miss- minal illness. cia… valleys, mountains, ruins… ing, the various artifacts of the Father Kyriakos was one of the natural and historical places Unlocking Ancient Star-Gazing Secrets church. He removed everything most known and beloved priests of (where the eager tourist) will be from the balcony pews. These the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the host of many civilizations such By Nicholas Paphitis years later in Western Europe. Thursday, November 30. The things disappeared from the America, which he served for 54 as Hittites, Kymers, Phrygians, Ro- Associated Press "It was a pocket calculator of the team's findings were also published church, and they appeared on the years. He was one of the late Arch- mans and Byzantines.” time," said astronomer John in NATURE magazine. eBay. When we follow up on eBay, bishop Iakovos’ closest friends and In prose which reeks of English ATHENS (AP) – Imagine tossing a Seiradakis. SCIENTISTS BAFFLED and when we talked to the people collaborators. as a second language, we learn how top-notch laptop into the sea, leav- Seiradakis, a professor of As- Ever since its discovery a centu- that were selling them, they said Father Kyriakos was born on Jan- the adorable Turks see the Cap- ing scientists from a foreign culture tronomy at the University of Thes- ry ago, the complex mechanism has ‘we also have church doors.’ These uary 1925 in Almyros of Volos in padocian people of the past: “These to scratch their heads over its cor- saloniki, was among an interna- baffled scientists. Edmunds said doors were custom-made for our Greece. After receiving his primary people were able to produce with roded remains centuries later. tional team including British, the 82 surviving fragments, dated church.” education in his hometown, he emi- joy and devotion the work of art… A Roman shipmaster inadver- Greek and American scientists who to between 140-100 BC, contain But the parish council apparent- grated from Greece to the United which they wished to leave behind tently did something just like that used specially developed x-ray more than 30 gear wheels, "and are ly did not notify the Metropolis of States on December 24, 1946 where them, hopefully to survive the… 2,000 years ago off southern scanning and imaging technology covered with astronomical, mathe- New Jersey when questionable ac- he was admitted to Holy Cross time and conflict, seeking perma- Greece, experts said late last week. to analyze the corroded bronze, re- matical and mechanical inscrip- tivities were taking place at the Greek Orthodox School of Theology nence yet unaware of the place They claim to have identified a vealing hidden machinery and a tions." parish. they would occupy in history…” handful of puzzling metal scraps form of written user's manual. "It was a calendar of the moon “I was not a member of the Continued on page 6 Oh. I almost forgot. The head- found in the wreck as the earliest "We have used the latest tech- and sun; it predicted the possibility parish council at the time. If you line for all of this praising of the known mechanical computing de- nology available to understand this of eclipses; it showed the position tried to question Father Markopou- Cappadocian past is, “Discover the vice, which pinpointed astronomi- mechanism, yet the technological of the sun and moon in the zodiac, los on anything, he became antago- To subscribe call: 718.784.5255 World Heritage with the footsteps cal events. quality in this mechanism puts us the phase of the moon; and we be- nistic, and everybody just said, ‘I e-mail: of the First Christians,” chief Known as the Antikythera to shame," said project leader Mike lieve also that it may have shown don’t need this,’ and walked away,” [email protected] among whom are the great Cap- Mechanism – from the island off Edmunds, professor of astronomy the position of some of the planets, Mr. Paschalides said. padocian Fathers: Saints Gregory which the Roman ship sank – the at Cardiff University. "If the ancient possibly just Venus and Mercury," “All the records are missing – the Theologian, Basil the Great and assemblage of cogs and wheels Greeks made this, what else could he said. the letters, the receipt books, the his brother Gregory of Nyssa. looks like the innards of a very bad- they do?" The box-shaped mechanism – donations that were made – all Isn’t it funny how all those ‘first ly maintained grandfather clock. He spoke at a two-day confer- the size of office paper and operat- these records have disappeared. He *120906* But the first clockwork devices ence on the Antikythera Mecha- Continued on page 5 appeared more than a thousand nism which opened in Athens last Continued on page 7 Continued on page 4 2 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 American College of Thessaloniki is a Great Place GOINGS ON... ■ THROUGH DECEMBER 17 Tom Lantos of California, Con- ASTORIA. The Greek Cultural Cen- gresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen To Pursue a Higher Education at One-Fifth the Cost ter Theater Company presents Eu- of Florida and Greek Ambassador ripides’ classic tragedy, “The Trojan to the United States Alexandros P. By Dimitri Soultogiannis Women,” weekend performances Mallias, and the American Friends Special to the National Herald at the Greek Cultural Center in As- of the Jewish Museum of Greece toria (27-18 Hoyt Avenue South) cordially invite the community to WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Education through December 17. Under the attend the opening of “Hidden in Greece is clearly in transition at direction of Andreas Tselepos, the Children in Occupied Greece,” a all levels,” according to Richard production under the auspices of traveling exhibit of the Jewish Mu- Jackson, President of the American the Cypriot Consulate in New seum of Greece, at the Embassy of College of Thessaloniki, during his York). One of the world’s greatest Greece in Washington, DC (2217 recent address at Woodrow Wilson anti-war plays, this work and con- Massachusetts Avenue NW) on Center for International Scholars. tains a message transcending time: Monday, December 11, from 6:30 “Unfortunately, Greek teachers “In war, there are no true winners. to 8:30 PM. Introduction by have been protesting for salary in- The consequences of war, regard- Solomon Asser, American Friends creases for quite a while now and less of its causes, are devastating to of the Jewish Museum of Greece that’s a tremendous loss for our chil- conquerors and conquered alike.” Official inauguration by Greek Cul- dren,” Mr. Jackson said during an Fridays & Saturdays, 8 PM. Sun- ture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia. event hosted by the Wilson Center’s days, 7 PM. Admission $20 ($15 Remarks by the Hon. Richard Ben Southeast Europe Project, referring for seniors, students and children). Veniste and Moses K. Constantinis, to the recent teacher strikes in For more information, contact the President of Central Board of Jew- Greece which lasted almost six Cultural Center at 718-726-7329, ish Communities in Greece. Fol- weeks. or visit the web at www.greekcul- lowed by cocktails. RSVP to Mr. Jackson, who moved to turalcenter.org. [email protected]. For more Greece in the early 1970’s, made an information, call 202-939- insightful presentation of the Greek ■ DECEMBER 9-10 1311/1335, or visit the web at educational system to American and NEW YORK CITY. The Cathedral www.jewishmuseum.gr. International scholars on November Fellowship Movie Club cordially in- 14. vited the community to attend ■ DECEMBER 13 There are many pros and cons to “Emmanuel’s Gift,” a documentary WASHINGTON, D.C. The South- the Greek system, he said. TNH STAFF about a young Ghanaian’s courage east Europe Project of the “One of the big problems at the Richard Jackson, left, President of the American College of Thessaloniki, and John Sitilides, Advisory in the face of huge obstacles, at the Woodrow Wilson International university level, I believe, is the po- Board Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Southeast Europe Project, during a seminar hosted by Cathedral Center of the Holy Trini- center for Scholars is inviting the larization of the system in the 1980’s SEP last month. Mr. Jackson was discussing the pros and cons of Greece’s educational system. ty Archdiocesan Cathedral in Man- community to attend “Civilization and 1990’s. Any significant decision hattan (319-2337 E. 74th Street and Culture: Discovery through is shaped by an organized student elites.’ That would be article 14 of Baccalaureate; a four-year bachelor people and language. Our host city, between 1st and 2nd Avenues) on Tourism,” part of the Tsakopoulos- lobby,” he said. the Greek Constitution, and soon of arts and bachelor of science pro- Thessaloniki, named for the sister of Sunday, December 10, at 6:30 PM. Kounalakis Lecture Series, to be de- That’s the main reason why, enough, that article might be re- gram and 1-2 year MBA program Alexander the Great, is a paradise Born handicapped, Emmanuel be- livered by Her Excellency Fani Pal- sometimes, Greek campuses across vised,” citing the British system as with 600 students from 20 coun- for young people; it’s safe, friendly came a national hero fighting for li-Petralia, Minister of Tourism for the country experience criminal ac- an example which Greece could fol- tries, and accreditation by the New and culturally and historically rich. the dignity and welfare of his hand- the Hellenic Republic, on Wednes- tivity, he added. “The Greek educa- low. England Association of Schools and Our on-campus Rainbow summer icapped countrymen. The docu- day, December 13, at 2-3:30 PM (1 tional system needs to undergo re- “Let’s take a look, for a moment, Colleges, the accrediting body for camp, in English, for children ages mentary was released in 2005 and Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald form in many areas,” he said. at the British system of education. In Harvard and MIT. We are also very 4-14 takes full advantage of these was produced and directed by Lisa Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylva- In some cases, he said, the com- Great Britain, for instance, the Gov- proud to have the Bissell Library, in- attractions,” Mr. Jackson added, Lax and Nancy Stern. For more in- nia Avenue NW, 5th Floor Confer- pletion of a bachelor’s degree can ernment has the ability to fund pub- augurated in 2002, and one of the urging American, Greek and inter- formation, call 212-288-3215 or e- ence Room). RSVP acceptances on- take up to ten years in Greece, lic schools which, by the way, have most sophisticated facilities of its national companies interested in mail [email protected]. ly (e-mail: [email protected]). whereas the normal estimated time many international students. But kind in Southeast Europe,” he said. business in the Balkans to think of A valid photo ID is required for en- for the completion of that degree is then again, the British were always “ACT is international in scope, Anatolia as a potential vehicle for KENILWORTH, N.J. His Eminence try. Please allow time for routine only four years. “Also, the faculty at much more service-export savvy and 35 percent of its graduates go this outreach. Metropolitan Evangelos of New security check. Public parking is the elementary and secondary compared to the Americans – or the onto prestigious graduate programs When asked by the National Her- Jersey and members of the Metrop- available underneath the Reagan school and university levels need to Greeks, for that matter,” he said. in Europe or the U.S, while others go ald about the interaction between olis Council cordially invite the Building. Transportation by metro be re-evaluated every now and Mr. Jackson also took some time directly into Greek, regional and in- private schools in Greece and the community to attend the Holy Me- or taxi recommended. For more in- then,” Mr. Jackson said. to discuss the American College of ternational businesses. Costs are as Greek Government, Mr. Jackson tropolis of New Jersey’s its 4th an- formation, call 202-691-4310 or He also expressed his faith in Thessaloniki. “Anatolia College is little as one fifth of U.S. colleges, said “We have a wonderful relation- nual Christmas Tree Lighting & visit the web at both Prime Minister Costas Kara- now well into its second century of and a growing number of American ship with the Greek Government; Holiday Celebration, at Metropolis www.wilsoncenter.org. manlis and main opposition George service to education. Our school students are drawn by the prospect within the Greek Ministry of Educa- headquarters in Kenilworth (629 Papandreou for bringing fresh ideas evolved from a seminary established of a fully accredited U.S. degree at tion, there are some really impor- Springfield Road) on Sunday, De- ■ DECEMBER 19 for change, “as they are both U.S ed- near Constantinople in 1840, took an affordable tuition in a safe and tant people who are willing to coop- cember 10, at 5-9 PM, featuring the WASHINGTON, D.C. The American ucated.” the name Anatolia College in 1886, welcoming Mediterranean environ- erate with us.” sounds and voices of the New Jer- Hellenic Institute cordially invites Mr. Jackson also noting that and was relocated to Thessaloniki in ment,” he said. sey Metropolis Choir and Greek the community to attend AHI’s an- Greece is one of the few countries, if 1924,” he said. “Our various study abroad op- For more information on the students of area parishes. Fore nual Open House Christmas Party not the only one, which has includ- “Today, we are four schools in tions, including summer sessions, American College of Thessaloniki, more information, call 908-686- at the Hellenic House in Washing- ed a paragraph in its constitution one: an elementary school of 340 are an ideal opportunity to ‘re-Hell- call (011-30) 231-039-8239, e- 0003 or visit the web at ton, DC (1220 16th Street NW) on which states, “ ‘All public education children; a high school of 1,300 stu- enize,’ and to discover the beauties mail [email protected], or visit www.nj.goarch.org. Tuesday, December 19, at 5:30-8 is free for the public and not the dents; as well as the International of ancient and modern Greece, its the web at www.act.edu. PM. RSVP by December 15 to BROOKLINE, Mass. The Maliotis [email protected]. For more in- Cultural Center, located on the formation, call 212-785-8430 or campus of Holy Cross Greek Ortho- visit the web at www.ahiworld.org. dox School of Theology in Brook- line (50 Goddard Avenue), cordial- ■ JANUARY 12-13 Greek American Astronomer Keeps Track of Time ly invited the community to attend PORTLAND, Ore. and SEATTLE, “Christmas at the Maliotis Center,” Wash. “Mount Sinai: The Frontier a concert by the Saint George of Byzantium.” medieval Byzantine Down to the Nanosecond at U.S. Naval Observatory Church Choir of Lynn, Massachu- chant from Saint Catherine’s setts, featuring a performance of Monastery in Sinai, presented by By Dimitri Soultogiannis USNO Master Clock,” Dr. Matsakis Menotti’s opera, “Amahl and the Cappella Romana. Alexander Lin- Special to the National Herald explained. Night Visitors,” by Mass Theatrica, gas, director. Produced in Coopera- “Thus, the USNO must maintain at the Maliotis Center on Sunday, tion with the J. Paul Getty Muse- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Greek and continually improve its clock December 10, at 4 PM. Reception um, “Holy Image Hallowed American community has always system so that it can stay one step to follow. Tickets: $35. All pro- Ground: Icons from Sinai.” Friday, been proud to see its members excel ahead of the demands made on its ceeds to benefit the Maliotis Center January 12, 8 PM, at Saint Mary’s in any and every aspect of American accuracy, stability and reliability,” he and Mass Theatrica. For more in- Cathedral in Portland (1716 NW life. Demetrios Matsakis, Director of added. formation, call 617-522-2800 or Davis Street). Saturday, January the Time Service Department at the According to Dr. Matsakis, the visit the web at www.maliotis.org. 13, 8 PM, at Holy Rosary Church in Naval Observatory in Washington, is present USNO Master Clock is based Seattle (4139 42nd Avenue SW). one such example. on a system of dozens of indepen- IRVINE and LOS ANGELES, Calif. For more information, call 503- In a recent interview with the Na- dently operating cesium clocks and “Mount Sinai: The Frontier of 236-8202 (toll free: 866-822- tional Herald, Dr. Matsakis, a resi- a dozen hydrogen maser clocks. Byzantium,” medieval Byzantine 7735) or visit the web at dent of Silver Spring, Maryland, “These clocks are distributed chant from Saint Catherine’s www.capellaromana.org. spoke about his position at the Naval over 20 environmentally-controlled Monastery in Sinai and Christmas- Observatory, his family and his clock vaults to ensure their stability. tide, presented by Cappella Ro- ■ FEBRUARY 1 Carpathian background. By automatic intercomparison of all mana (Alexander Lingas, director), NEW YORK CITY. The Cathedral “We are the world’s leader in clocks every 100 seconds, the USNO produced in cooperation with the Fellowship of the Archdiocesan generating time,” Matsakis said, time scale can be computed which is J. Paul Getty Museum for the ex- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity cor- stressing the need to measure time not only reliable, but also extremely hibit, “Holy Image, Hallowed dially invited the community to at- with accuracy. stable. Its rate does not change by Ground: Icons from Sinai.” Perfor- tend Bouzouki Night at Lafayette “At the observatory, we have more than about 100 picoseconds mances: Saturday, December 9, at Grill in Manhattan (54 Franklin about 100 atomic clocks and many per day (100 trillionths of a sec- 8 PM, Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Street), on Thursday, February 1, at employees computing time daily. ond),” Dr. Matsakis said. Church in Irvine. Sunday, Decem- 7:30 PM. Mike Stouppakis and Lef- We set time to keep accuracy to “On the basis of this computed ber 10, at 3 PM, J. Paul Getty Muse- teris Bournias will lead Mike’s En- within billionths of a second. In ten time, a clock reference system can um. For more information, call semble for a night of dancing and years, we will need to measure time be steered to produce clock signals Greek American astronomer Demetris Matsakis, center, Director of 503-236-8202 (toll free: 866-822- fun. Buffet and dessert will be pro- a hundred times more accurately,” which serve as the USNO Master the of the U.S. Naval Observatory's Time Service Department in Wash- 7735), or visit the web at vided by Dino Bakakos, owner of he said. Clock. The clock reference system is ington, DC. Dr. Matsakis heads a staff of 100 people. The TSD's prima- www.capellaromana.org. Lafayette. For more information, “The United States Naval Obser- driven by a hydrogen maser atomic ry purpose is to measure time as precisely as possible through use of call 212-288-3215 or e-mail cathe- vatory is charged with the responsi- clock. Hydrogen masers are ex- atomic clocks and electromagnetic transmissions. ■ DECEMBER 11 [email protected]. bility for precise time determination tremely stable clocks over short time NEW YORK CITY. The Ronald Mc- and management of time dissemina- periods, less than one week. They ry team in 1990, and seven years lat- Louis,” he said, adding that his fa- Donald House cordially invites the ■ THROUGH MARCH 4 tion. Modern electronic systems, provide the stability, reliability and er, he became director of the TSD. ther cared deeply about the Greek community to attend the RMH LOS ANGELES. “Holy Image, Hal- such as electronic navigation or accessibility needed to maintain the He now has about 100 employees American community and its fu- Greek Division’s annual Christmas lowed Ground: Icons from Sinai,” a communications systems, depend accuracy of the Master Clock sys- working under him at the Observa- ture. Party at the Ronald McDonald visually stunning exhibition featur- increasingly on precise time and tem,” he said. tory. Dr. Matsakis is married with two House in Manhattan (405 E. 73rd ing 43 icons and five manuscripts time intervals,” Dr. Matsakis said. Dr. Matsakis said he knew he Born in Saint Louis, Dr. Matsakis children, a son, 27, and a daughter, Street) on Monday, December 11, from Saint Catherine’s Monastery, “Examples would be the ground- wanted to become an astronomer said he always loved and respected 22. His son is married and is com- at 6 PM. RMH is a home away from will be on display at the J. Paul Get- based LORAN-C navigation system when he was ten years old. “I used his Greek Heritage. His father was pleting his doctoral studies in Com- home for children with cancer and ty Museum in Los Angeles until and the satellite-based Global Posi- to go outside all the time and look at born in Pittsburg, and has been liv- puter Science at the University of other serious illnesses. For the past March 4. Nestled at the base of tioning System. These systems are the stars,” he said. He received his ing in Nicosia, Cyprus for about sev- Switzerland in Zurich. His daugh- 27 years, it has served more chil- Mount Sinai in Egypt, Saint Cather- based on the travel time of the elec- bachelor’s degree in physics from en years. ter, who recently graduated from dren of Greek heritage than any ine’s is the oldest functioning tromagnetic signals: an accuracy of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- “After my father came back from college in New Mexico, is a media other nationality. Donation $50. In- Christian Monastery in the world, 10 nanoseconds (10 one-billionths nology and his doctorate from the Cyprus, he pursued a degree in network director for a local compa- cludes cocktails and buffet. Funds with a collection of more than of a second) corresponds to a posi- University of California in Berkley. Dental Medicine. His dream was al- ny. Dr. Matsakis also has two sib- raised will be used to support the 2,000 Byzantine icons, some dat- tion accuracy of 10 feet. In fast com- After graduating, he returned to ways to become a dentist. And he lings, one brother and one sister. RMH Greek Division’s needs. For ing back to the 6th Century. For munications, time synchronization Washington and participated in a became an excellent dentist. My fa- “We try to go to Karpathos every more information, call 212-717- more information, visit the web at is equally important. All of these of- project measuring the Earth’s rota- ther moved around a lot – Boston, now and then. We still have a house 6608, 212-639-0100, 718-746- www.getty.edu/museum. ficial systems are referenced in the tion. He joined the Naval Observato- New York City and finally Saint there,” he said. 9027 or 917-432-1753, or e-mail [email protected]. ■ MARCH 4 MATAWAN, NJ. The Fifth District NEW YORK CITY. The American Daughters of Penelope cordially in- Hellenic Institute Business Net- vites the community to attend its work and the AHI New York Chap- 4th Biennial “Salute to Women” at 102-Year-Old Woman Recalls Early Days of Pittsburgh Church ter cordially invite the community Buttonwood Manor (845 State to attend the Annual Christmas Route 34) in Matawan on Sunday, By Jerry Vondas tion later occupied a former Protes- She recalled how the Philopto- The Rev. Sarantos Serviou, Dean Party at the re-modeled and ex- March 4, at 3-6 PM. A testimonial Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tant church on Fullerton Street in chos women volunteered to help of the Cathedral, praised Liacakos panded Lafayette Bar & Grill in will honor an individual for her dis- the Hill District until 1923, when it the American Red Cross during as exemplifying the spirit of Saint Manhattan on Monday, December tinguished service and outstanding PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Frossan Lia- acquired its present building in World War II by preparing medical Nicholas, patron saint of the Cathe- 11, at 5:30-8 PM (54 Franklin achievements in civic, educational, cakos was a young bride from Spar- Oakland. supplies to be sent to soldiers fight- dral, where she and her husband Street, just off Lafayette Street, 3 and cultural ideals. Aulis Chapter ta, Greece when she arrived at Mc- Liacakos, 102, now of Mt. ing in Europe and the Pacific. raised three young orphans in the blocks south of Canal Street, TEL: #195 (Asbury Park, Zone 1) will Kees Rocks in 1928. Lebanon, recalled the Cathedral's Alice Gary, a member of the Orthodox Christian faith and tradi- 212-732-5600). Hot and cold buf- host this affaire. For more informa- Her late husband, Nicholas, a difficult early years, especially dur- Saint Nicholas Philoptochos and tion. fet, plus complimentary wine and tion, call 732-229- 8274. restaurateur and candymaker, was ing the Great Depression when bas- chair of the Cathedral's centennial The congregation celebrated its beer (cash bar for mixed drinks). one of the first members of Saint ket collections averaged $20 per celebration, said Liacakos is an in- 100th anniversary on November 19 Please make sure to bring business ■ NOTE TO OUR READERS Nicholas Church – now Saint Sunday and where the congrega- spiration to today's Philoptochos with a hierarchal Divine Liturgy at cards and material about your This calendar of events section is a Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathe- tion's Philoptochos (Friends of the members. the Cathedral, presided by Arch- company for distribution. Admis- complimentary service to the dral – which has been a beacon for Poor) women baked and cooked to "She was always a lady who con- bishop Demetrios, primate of the sion: $20. RSVP to Dean Sirigos by Greek American community. All thousands of Greek immigrants bring in sorely needed money. ducted herself in a manner to be ad- Greek Orthodox Church in Ameri- December 8 is REQUIRED (csiri- parishes, organizations and institu- since its start 100 years ago. "At Candy Kitchen and Chartiers mired," Gary said. "Mrs. Liacakos' ca. [email protected]). There will be tions are encouraged to e-mail The first services were held on a Restaurant in McKees Rocks, I, like dedication to the ideals of our soci- no monthly AVRA event in Decem- their information on any Greek-re- second-floor loft on Diamond many other of our Philoptochos sis- ety, reaching out to those in need, is The above was originally pub- ber. lated event 3-4 weeks ahead of Street, which is now Forbes Av- ters, took the time to work for our an inspiration for those who knew lished by the Pittsburgh Tribune- time to english.edition@thenation- enue, downtown. The congrega- church in many capacities," she said. her and worked with her." Review. WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman alherald.com. THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 COMMUNITY 3 Health Minister Demetris Avramopoulos Meets with Greek Patients and Doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital

By Demetris Tsakas about their heritage and health including the approximately 400 remarks, he invited Ms. Schwab and Special to The National Herald problems. In turn, the teary-eyed doctors who offer their services vol- the Hospital’s Greek American doc- patients shared their gratitude for untarily. She pointed out that a large tors to visit Greece. NEW YORK – Greek Health Minis- his kind words, and thanked the portion of the medical and nursing Speaking about his efforts for the ter Demetris Avramopoulos paid a minister for his visit. In their com- staff is comprised of Greek Ameri- global medical network, he noted visit to Mount Sinai Hospital of ments to the National Herald, they cans, and that roughly one third of that medicine is a universal field Queens last Friday, December 1, an referred to Mr. Avramopoulos’ visit the patients receiving medical treat- which transcends borders, and that institution staffed largely by Greek the most pleasant surprise of the ment at any given time are of Greek Greek American doctors and Greece American physicians and nurses day. extraction. itself would greatly benefit from this which treats many Greek American Also attending the meeting be- She also spoke about the project. patients. tween the Ms. Schwab and Mr. progress which has been made in The ensuing discussion focused During his tour, Mr. Avramopou- Avramopoulos were Hospital Med- the last seven years, since the Hospi- on the special circumstances and los had an opportunity to meet with ical Director David Newman, Public tal, once known as Astoria General, administration of U.S. hospitals. Is- the Hospital’s top administrator, Relations Director Katherine Ruben- was acquired by Mount Sinai, as sues like the manner in which hospi- Caryn Schwab, in addition to Greek stein, Chief Surgeon Dr. Panagiotis well as the renovation efforts, con- tal facilities are supplied, proce- American department heads and Manolas, and Greek American tinuous modernization and the ex- dures for blood testing labs, and doctors affiliated with the Hospital. physicians Andreas Kosmatos, Flo- pansion of the hospital facilities tak- other related issues dealing with His visit to the emergency room and rentia Christodoulidou, Manolis ing place. hospital management and health- intensive care unit, as well as other Kouroupos, Demetrios Markouzos, Mr. Avramopoulos explained the care in general were examined. hospital wings, was filled with mov- George Varsos and Anastasios Kas- purpose of his visit, citing his efforts Immediately after his visit, Mr. ing moments. apides. to help establish a global communi- Avramopoulos spoke to the National Mr. Avramopoulos shared heart- Ms. Schwab spoke in detail about cations network of Greek physi- Herald and the Greek State televi- TNH/COSTAS BEJ felt discussions with Greek Ameri- the Hospital’s 100-year history, and cians, and the organization of a sion network, ERT, highlighting that Greek Health Minister Demetris Avramopoulos, left, presents Hel- can patients, whom he wished a noted that Mount Sinai currently worldwide medical convention on his stateside visit as a splendid op- lenic Medical Society of New York President Dr. George Dangas with a speedy recovery, while inquiring employees 1,100 staff members, not the Greek island of Kos. During his portunity to compare notes and ex- likeness of Hygeia, the ancient Greek goddess of health, at HMS’s pand the network he is trying to pro- 70th annual Scholarship Gala last Saturday evening. mote. “During my trip here for the sig- nificant gathering of physicians of Greek descent in the United States, I had the opportunity to visit one the Avramopoulos Unveils central hospitals, here in the heart of Astoria, where many Greek Plans for New Initiative Americans are received and treated as patients and, moreover, where the majority of the doctors and nurs- Continued from page 1 tion to its continuing contributions es treating them are renowned pro- to medical research. fessionals of Greek heritage, who in- and inventor of the Pap Test. Dr. Charles Yeo, a 1979 gradu- formed me of how the health system Event speakers hailed Mr. ate of Johns Hopkins University operates here. I have to say that I’m Avramopoulos for being the first Medical School, a professor of on- leaving with considerably more ex- health minister of Greece to partici- cology and alimentary tract dis- perience. Based on what I saw, I’m pate in HMS’ recent symposium in eases who specializes in the evalua- very moved because I find myself honor of the late George Papanico- tion and treatment of patients with among our people; first, second and laou, renowned medical researcher pancreatic disorders, spoke about third-generation Greeks, who are and inventor of the Pap Test. his Greek heritage with pride, and undergoing difficult experiences in Mr. Avramopoulos gave HMS recognized his mother’s role in his their lives as we speak. What went President Dr. George Dangas a bust accomplishments. on inside was very moving,” he said. of Hygeia, the mythical daughter of “Very simply, what I’d like to say Asklepios and ancient Greek god- is that our country, Greece, cares dess of health, Hygeia, and said the Event speakers hailed about Greek citizens, wherever they Papanicolaou Award will be con- Mr. Avramopoulos for may be, and in whatever conditions ferred upon worthy physicians and they may find themselves. And this medical researchers every two being the first health is what I tried to convey to our com- years by the President of the Hel- minister of Greece to patriots today, and what I believe lenic Republic. participate in HMS' they felt,” he added. During the Gala, which was at- Dr. Manolas, told the Herald he tended by 300 people, HMS also recent symposium was pleased with Mr. Avramopou- bestowed its Distinguished Hellene los’ visit, citing that, “This is the first Award to Alexander S. Onassis Pub- Dr. Karfopoulos, who was born time a representative of the Greek lic Benefit Foundation President in Asia Minor, studied Medicine at TNH/COSTAS BEJ Government has come to visit this Antonis Papademetriou, who re- the University of Athens, graduat- Greek Health Minister Demetris Avramopoulos wishes a speedy recovery to Demos Christoforos, and ex- hospital, where so many Greek pa- ceived it on behalf of the Founda- ing in 1954. tends his well wishes to Mr. Christoforos’ daughter, Anna Michaelides, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens tients are treated. About one third of tion; its Distinguished Physician He practiced medicine at Rari- last Friday, December 1. Mount Sinai CEO Caryn Schwab and Chief Surgeon Dr. Panagiotis Manolas are all patients here are Greek, and Award to Dr. Charles Yeo; and its tan Bay Medical Center in Perth standing by Mr. Avramopoulos. most of the doctors are Greek.” Esteemed Colleague Award to Dr. Amboy, New Jersey for 25 years, Astoria is the largest Greek Alexander Karfopoulos. where he was director of Urology, neighborhood in the U.S., he added, Mr. Papademetriou stressed that and also at JFK Medical Center in and through this visit, the many ser- the honor belongs to the Founda- Edison, New Jersey. He spoke vices the Hospital offers the Greek tion’s founder, the late Aristotle about the efforts to advance HMS’ American community are getting Onassis, and also highlighted the mission, calling on all the guests to Hellenic Medical Society of New York the attention and recognition they organization’s philanthropic, edu- urge doctors of Greek heritage to Holds Annual Scholarship Symposium deserve. cational and cultural work, in addi- join the Hellenic Medical Society.

By Stavros Marmarinos cohol, he said, and this procedure to Dr. Tsioulias, the testing of this Special to The National Herald not only improves patients’ quality new substance is still limited, and of life, but extends their life ex- has been conducted primarily upon NEW YORK – Last Friday, Decem- pectancy. subjects who have not yet devel- ber 1, the Hellenic Medical Society Unfortunately, he added, the oped this type of cancer. of New York held its annual schol- number of candidates eligible for Dr. Spyros Mezitis, a leading en- arship symposium at the Cathedral surgical treatment of pancreatic docrinologist who specializes in di- Center of the Holy Trinity Arch- cancer remains low, covering only abetes research and teaches at diocesan Cathedral in Manhattan, 5-10 percent of cases. Weill-Cornell Medical College, and issuing scholarships and awards to Dr. Yeo also highlighted the who also serves as an academic ad- Greek American medical students. need to develop new methods for visor at New York Presbyterian and This year’s symposium was ded- early detection, and discussed the Lenox Hill Hospital Hospitals, icated to the treatment of various treatment of pancreatic cancer spoke about diabetes and the latest forms of pancreatic cancer. with chemotherapy and radiation, pharmaceutical treatments. He Dr. Charles Yeo, the Greek or a combination of the two. He gave special attention to long- and American director of Surgery at stated that there are many effective short-acting insulin, administered Jefferson Medical College in drugs yielding significant results through needles and sprays, and Philadelphia, spoke about modern which are currently under clinical new drugs which interact with the treatments for pancreatic cancer. study. digestive system to increase insulin He cited 32,000 cases annually, Dr. George Tsioulias, Director of levels. and noted that this illness is the Surgical Oncology at Mount Sinai HMS President Dr. George Dan- fourth leading cause of death in the Hospital of Queens, and event co- gas, a professor of Cardiology at United States. He also pointed out ordinator for the evening, contin- Columbia University and Director that great advances have been ued the presentation, speaking of Interventional Cardiology at made in surgical treatment of pan- about the role of natural and labo- New York Presbyterian Hospital, creatic cancers, resulting in surg- ratory-generated substances which spoke about heart conditions relat- eries with a very low mortality rate. prevent pancreatic cancer. ed to diabetes, illnesses of the pan- Dr. Yeo also recalled his experi- Dr. Tsioulias cited a new drug creas and obesity. He noted that ences from Johns Hopkins Univer- called “super aspirin,” cautioning young Greek American medical sity School of Medicine and Jeffer- the audience that studies are still in students were rediscovering their son Medical College, citing the their early stages, and have not yet Hellenic roots, and added that it is need to control the pain which aris- reached the level of clinical testing. their responsibility to help their fel- es from pancreatic cancer. But to date, he said, testing has low man. A new method has been discov- yielded very promising results, Awards and scholarships were ered which deadens the nerve end- which allow hope that it will soon distributed at the Symposium’s ings of the pancreas with phenyl al- be available to patients. According conclusion.

TNH/COSTAS BEJ The Hellenic Medical Society of New York issued scholarships and research grants to 17 Greek American medical (and aspiring medical) students during its annual symposium last week. Since its inception, HMS has issued more than $500,000 in scholarships and grants to students pursuing careers in medicine and related fields. 4 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 “Athens-Sparta,” Onassis Foundation’s New Exhibition, Thrills Crowd of More Than 1,000 at Grand Opening

By Stavros Marmarinos stood for, both through their rivalry Special to the National Herald and cooperation. I have a feeling that the initiative taken by the Onas- NEW YORK – “This is the first time sis Foundation will continue with we’ve had such a huge turnout,” a other exhibitions, because this is tru- beaming Antonis Papademetriou ly the best way to present a slice of told the National Herald immediate- our history and a significant part of ly following the grand opening of Hellenic society.” the new Athens-Sparta exhibition at Demetrios Pantermanlis, a pro- the Onassis Cultural Center in New fessor of Archaeology at Aristotle York this past Tuesday evening. University in Thessaloniki, said that Mr. Papademetriou, president of the Exhibition combined both his- the Alexander S. Onassis Public Ben- torical and archaeological interest. efit Foundation, said he was very im- “Everyone, Greek or not, knows pressed with the number of people what Athens and Sparta were,” he who showed up for the event, easily said. “People know that these two 1,000 or more, the night before the city-states represent two different new exhibition opened to the gener- outlooks, not only ideologically, but al public. in their approach to things and way “In and of itself, this is an exhibi- of life. One can see that tangibly in tion of tremendous import, and in- this Exhibition, through these par- cludes rare and priceless artifacts ticular artifacts, which I believe give The Very Rev. Kyrillos Markopoulos, former pastor of Saint Demetrios that have left Greece for the first a complete picture of these two rival Church in Jersey City. Parish Council members allege that the archi- time,” he said. “The pieces on dis- cities of ancient Greece, which mandrite took some of the church’s sacred objects when he left. play should provoke considerable helped create the miracle we call discussion in search of answers. Classical Antiquity, and became a Even though the exhibit revolves model for Western Europe.” around Ancient Greece, I will bor- Mr. Pantermanlis added that he row a reference to the Christian con- is confident the Greek American Jersey City Parish: Former cept of ‘rightly dividing the word of community will demonstrate a clear truth.’ All viewers should be able top TNH/COSTAS BEJ interest in Athens-Sparta, and that find answers to their questions re- (L-R) Greek Culture Minister George Voulgarakis, Hellenic MP for PA- the average American will also find Pastor Took Sacred Items garding the age-old conundrums SOK Anna Diamandopoulou and Onassis Public Benefit Foundation many points of interest. “Some of posed by philosophy, political theo- President Antonis Papademetriou during the ribbon-cutting ceremo- these pieces are going on display for Continued from page 1 had with Father Chrysanthos Zois, ry, the arts and history of Greece. ny for the grand opening of "Athens-Sparta," a major exhibition at the the very first time,” he said. the present parish priest, he told me And everyone will leave having Onassis Cultural Center in Manhattan, this past Tuesday, December 5. Joan Breton Connelly, professor destroyed them. He got rid of that the parish is now trying to item- formed their own answers.” of Archaeology at New York Univer- them,” he added. ize the things that are missing and The opening ceremony was held of antiquity, Athens and Sparta, are is believed to be ancient Spartan sity, also attended the event. Speak- Asked if he was sure of what he send a report to the Metropolis,” at the Olympic Tower Atrium, where being promoted in a modern-day King Leonidas, discovered at the ing to the National Herald, she said was telling the Herald, Mr. Evangelos added. the Onassis Center is located in the cultural hub, New York.” He also Acropolis of Sparta near the temple she places great significance on the Paschalides said, “Absolutely.” The National Herald tracked the heart of Manhattan, with many stressed that “Greece’s greatest am- of Athena, dating back to approxi- fact that there was such a high level Asked about the case concerning archimandrite down in Athens, VIP’s and distinguished guests in at- bassador is its culture.” mately 480-470 BC. of interest among art lovers to see an the home of the late Eleni Mainta- where he now lives. tendance. The exhibition was coordinated People also demonstrated great exhibition in the heart of New York nis, Mr. Paschalides said, “This is a In an interview by telephone, Fa- Greek Culture Minister George and presented by Ambassador Lou- interest in the spear and arrow tips centered on Athens and Sparta, separate story. She was a rich ther Markopoulos denied all the al- Voulgarakis was also on hand to at- cas Tsilas, Executive Director of the discovered in the renowned battle- adding the Exhibition was of im- woman. You are asking about a sub- legations against him, calling them tend the official opening. In his re- Foundation’s New York office. field of Thermopylae from the Fifth mense personal interest to her as a ject that will open Pandora’s box.” “slander and mud.” marks during the opening ceremony, Member of Hellenic Parliament Century BC. During the tour, Mr. Pa- professor of Archaeology at a top Mr. Paschalides also said, “Now He also said, “I have communi- and the banquet that followed at the Anna Diamandopoulou and His Em- pademetriou also offered his com- American university. we have a very good board. He left cated with my legal advisor in New St. Regis Hotel, Mr. Voulgarakis con- inence Archbishop Demetrios of mentary, augmenting the tour with Greek Consul General in New us with a lot of debt, $7,000 for pub- York, Brian Scarlatos, to look into gratulated the Onassis Foundation America were among the dignitaries additional details of archaeological York Catherine Boura noted that the lic service and $2,000 in telephone the allegations against me and take for its constant initiatives to promote attending the event and given a tour interest. Onassis Foundation has a surprise bills for calls he mostly made to the proper legal action.” Hellenic values and ideals, and cred- of Exhibition Curator Dr. Nikos Kalt- Speaking to the National Herald, prepared each year for the promo- Greece. When we realized what was When he was asked why he left ited the Foundation’s events for cap- sas, Director of the National Archeo- Mr. Voulgarakis said the exhibition tion of Hellenic culture, and each happening, we came to lock the the United States, he said, “I became turing the attention, imagination logical Museum in Athens, who pro- is “fabulous… It offers the public in year’s surprise is better than the pre- church. I confronted him at that tired after 14 years in Jersey City. I and admiration of a sophisticated vided detailed insight on various ar- New York a chance to see a very sig- vious year, congratulating the Onas- point, and asked him about many of also have a voice problem, and I audience. The Greek Culture Minis- tifacts. Visitors were especially im- nificant exhibition from two great sis Foundation for what she called a these things. When I told him about couldn’t fulfill by liturgical duties in ter noted that “two significant cities pressed by the marble bust of what ancient cities and everything they “splendid exhibition.” the icons, he said they were old and the parish anymore.” broken, and that he threw them Asked if he was going to serve in away.” Greece and where, Father Mr. Paschalides has been a Markopoulos said, “I will serve parishioner at Saint Demetrios wherever my voice disorder permits Church for more than 50 years, and me to serve.” Asked if he would Celebrities Come Together to Teach Kids the Power of has served as president of the parish serve the Church in Crete, he said, “I council three times. will be traveling back and forth to Father Markopoulos has received Crete.” Dreams in New “Growing Up with Loukoumi” Book/CD canonical release from the Metropo- When asked about the accusa- lis of New Jersey to the Metropolis tions his former parish in Jersey NEW YORK – Some of today’s most of Lampis & Sfakion in Crete, under City has made against him, as it successful celebrities joined the ef- the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Met- was reported in the American me- fort for a new children’s book/CD, ropolitan Ireneos, who told the Na- dia, (that he took sacred items, “Growing Up With Loukoumi” by tional Herald by telephone, “Yes, I icons, the artoforion, and even the Nick Katsoris, to help children dis- admitted Father Kyrillos to my me- balcony pews), Father Markopou- cover that they can choose to be tropolis a month ago.” los said, “There is a report of mine whatever they want in life. Metropolitan Ireneos appeared (inventory) at the Holy Metropolis “This message is increasingly im- to be unaware of events which have of New Jersey, in which I have reg- portant for children, as many strug- transpired at the Jersey City parish, istered everything. I handed the re- gle to find appropriate role mod- and said he did not know about the port to the chancellor, Father Anar- els,” Mr. Katsoris said. media reports. gyros Stavropoulos. Secondly, The book includes a narrated CD Metropolitan Evangelos of New when I assumed my priestly duties featuring the voices of singing leg- Jersey told the Herald that he did at Saint Demetrios in 1992, I did end Gloria Gaynor (Grammy Award not know the whereabouts of Father not receive anything. Whatever the winner for “I Will Survive”), Oscar- Markopoulos, but said the parish is church has now, it was done during winning actress Olympia Dukakis, conducting an internal investiga- my service. The church itself was CBS national correspondent Alexis tion, and that Father Markopoulos beautified both inside and outside.” Christoforous, American Idol 2005 could even be recalled. When asked that about the accu- finalist Constantine Maroulis (cur- “Metropolitan Ireneos of Lampis sations concerning the parish icon rently starring on Broadway in “The & Sfakion requested the release of screen he said, “A portion of the Wedding Singer”) and Guiding Father Markopoulos in order to ap- icons is placed on icon stands; an- Light actor Frank Dicopoulos. point him in his metropolis. I fol- other portion in the Holy Altar of the In Growing Up With Loukoumi, lowed the proper ecclesiastical and Chapel; and the sacred items are in a lamb named Loukoumi struggles canonical process, and I granted closet on the left side of the Altar.” with what she wants to be when she him his release two months ago, if As far as the pews are concerned, grows up. She considers becoming a I’m not mistaken. An investigation is he said, “That is slander. I am suffer- firefighter, a judge or a doctor. As underway at the parish level about ing at this moment. I am in pain. I she walks along, she encounters Father Markopoulos, and nothing feel the bitterness after 14 years of several friends including Gus the has been ruled out, even the possi- struggles and sacrifice.” He also de- Bear, Fistiki the Cat, Dean the Dog bility of recalling his release from nies that he has taken or destroyed and Marika the Monkey. Each friend the Metropolis of Lampis & Sfakion parish records. explains to Loukoumi that she can in order to return to the Metropolis As far as the accusation that he be whatever her heart desires. The of New Jersey so that proper canon- has stole the house of Mrs. Mainta- key is that she must always believe (L-R) Alexis Christoforous, Frank Dicopoulos, Gloria Gaynor, Olympia Dukakis and Nick Katsoris during a ical and ecclesiastical process would nis, Father Markopoulos said, “She in herself, stay positive and work CD recording session for “Growing Up with Loukoumi,” the second in Katsoris’ series of children’s books. be followed,” Evangelos said. gave it to me on her own. She loved hard because “if you believe in “We were notified about the alle- me very much, and I took care of her yourself, your dreams will come The CD also includes an original to America. The book received ful to all the celebrities who gener- gations by phone from Saint until the end.” Asked why he took true.” song from Gloria Gaynor, “Believe,” strong reviews from many outlets, ously donated their time to help Demetrios parish, and we immedi- her to Greece, where she died, Fa- Each celebrity voices a character as well as the original Loukoumi including The New York Times. It convey its message. They have ately requested a written and signed ther Markopoulos said, “That was which encourages Loukoumi to book narrated by Ms. Dukakis and has also launched a Loukoumi achieved their dreams in their lives report. I a recent conversation that I her wish.” reach for her dreams. featuring the voices of the afore- plush toy to complement the book. and in their careers, showing kids mentioned celebrities. The book In March 2006, The Livanis Publish- that anything is possible,” Mr. Kat- and the CD premiered a the at the ing Organization in Athens, Greece soris said. Children’s Museum of Manhattan purchased the foreign rights to the Ms. Dukakis said she was glad to on November 5, featuring a live book, translated it into Greek and help: “I think it’s very important for Books from celebrity reading and the world pre- distributed it throughout Europe. children to hear and know that The National Herald miere of “Believe,” sung live by Glo- “Growing Up With Loukoumi” there are grown-ups who believe ria Gaynor. will also be translated with a narra- that if you work hard and strive for “Growing Up with Loukoumi” is tion by Greek pop superstar Anna something, it’s possible to have your the second in Mr. Katsoris’ Loukou- Vissi and her daughter Sophia dreams come true. ‘Growing Up mi series. $2 from the sale of each Karvelas. with Loukoumi’ is the sweetest book/CD will benefit a national “When I first created the charac- book, and my grandchildren re- children’s charity. ter of Loukoumi the lamb, I wanted sponded to it very strongly. The The first book, Loukoumi to create not only something that messages of the book are worth say- IKARIA REMEMBERED (www.loukoumi.com), told the tale children would enjoy, but also that ing,” she said. of the lamb trying to make her way they could learn from. I am so grate- Ms. Gaynor echoed those senti- ICHOLAS ARDAS ments: “The world's most important N L discoveries, inventions and things we need to make our lives more Nicholas Lardas, architect and author from Ann Arbor, Michigan writes of comfortable and convenient are his childhood on the island of Ikaria during the Great Depression. His made by dreamers. I feel wonderful enigmatic stories have the classical “O’Henry-twist endings” as he propels the about the opportunity to do some- reader through intertwined and complex relationships. thing that I know is going to help $12.00 Utilizing multi-media artworks, his brother Zacharias, a Connecticut artist, young people and children realize illustrates the doomed Ikarus who flew too close to the sun and fell into the their dreams,” she said. Agean Sea. Upcoming book signings will be held at Barnes & Noble (December This unique collection of stories, poems, myths and artworks creates a 2, 10AM-12PM, Manhasset, Long compelling view of the Lardas family’s ancestrial home, Ikaria. Island); Make-A-Wish Foundation 16th Annual Holiday Auction (De- cember 7, 6 PM, Puck Building, THE NATIONAL HERALD BOOKSTORE Manhattan, TEL: 212-849-6993); NATIONAL HERALD, INC. 37-10 30th Street, L.I.C., N.Y. 11101-2614 Barnes & Noble (December 9, 1:30 Tel.: (718) 784-5255, Fax: (718) 472-0510, E-mail: [email protected] ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PM, Bayside Queens); and FOR- By check or credit card: VISA MASTERCARD AMERICAN EXPRESS DISCOVER TUNOFF (December 17, 1-3 PM, CARD NO: ------EXP. DATE: ------Book Reading & Signing White Plains, New York). NAME:------Ε-MAIL:------Saturday, December 9 at 1:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble ADDRESS: ------CITY: ------STATE: ------ΖΙΡ: ------23-80 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY • 718-224-1083 TEL.:------CELL: ------NO. OF COPIES: ------For more details and information www.ekirikas.gr www.thenationalherald.com on additional events, visit the web at www.loukoumi.com, or call 212-397-2804. THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 FEATURE 5 Maximos: This Pope Built on Spilled Blood, the “Resorts” of Cappadocia Seems More Flexible Continued from page 1 Christians’ are gone now. Gosh, I do wonder whatever became of all By Theodore Kalmoukos no authority over the others. The those Christian people. But, hey, Special to The National Herald Pope is the Primate of the local why think about that? Cappadocia Church in Rome.” is an empty landscape of art, beau- BOSTON – When he was still When the National Herald ty and fun just waiting for all fun- Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict pointed out that the teaching of the loving tourists. XVI and Metropolitan Maximos of Roman Catholic Church is that the That being the case, it is only fit- Pittsburgh knew one another and Pope is the supreme bishop of the ting that the tourist-specific plea- became friends years ago as partici- entire church, Maximos said Pope sures of our times take precedent pants in the Second Vatican Coun- Benedict does not share that opin- over the past. And those amiable cil (Vatican II, 1962-65), Maximos ion. “This Pope does not seem to Turks have been preparing “unfor- as an observer delegate of the Or- have this idea.” gettable jeep safaris with camping thodox Church for the Ecumenical When the Herald cited that the accommodations… horseback rid- Patriarchate of Constantinople, and new Pope recently refused the title ing tours… hot air ballooning… Benedict as a theological consul- of Patriarch of the West and adopt- and the world’s smoothest roller tant for the Roman Catholic ed the title of “Vicar (general over- coaster,” for us to enjoy. Church. seer) of the Church under Heaven,” For those who would just take Metropolitan Maximos has rep- Maximos said, “This is heresy. The the time, all these historical trea- resented the Greek Orthodox Pope is one of the Primates, and the sures, as well as modern-day fun, Church in the Orthodox-Roman fact that the Pope travels to Con- await them at the Kapadokya Catholic dialogue for more than stantinople as the brother of An- Lodge Country Club. three decades, and is one of the cient Rome to the brother of New It goes without saying, or so one most well respected systematic the- Rome, means that the Pope, if he so would think, that for individuals of ologians for the Orthodox. In an in- wishes, may change things by Armenian, Assyrian, Greek or terview with the National Herald, restoring the ancient tradition of Sephardic Jewish descent, the very the Metropolitan said the Pope is “ the Church, that of the Councils of idea – let alone the obvious reality a remarkable human being and a the united Church.” of this theme park – is well past the fine theologian, and certainly a Asked whether the Bishop of realm of the grotesque. But lucky good Greek scholar.” Rome stands within or outside of for us those wacky Anatolian Turks Maximos said he believes the the Church, or if the Roman know how to turn a buck. Tourists can go on hot-air balloon rides over Cappadocia in Asia Minor (Present-day Turkey), a rugged Pope’s encounter last week with Ec- Church is schismatic, Metropolitan Now I learned of this theme land once occupied by many thousands of Greeks from ancient times. The Turks have essentially extermi- umenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Maximos said the general percep- park when I found the www.ka- nated the land’s indigenous Christian population and now present a different history altogether. the Patriarchate, the spiritual cen- tion of schism revolves around in- padokyalodge.com website. As I ter of Orthodoxy, is of immense ec- tercommunion, and that the say, it was sometime in 2003 when I money just so we can enjoy our- elplanner.com). DC that they have stopped ever se- clesiastical significance. Schism has more profound roots in first cam across it. You can imagine selves among the ruins of Cappado- Why these deeply devout Mus- rious effort to get a resolution the Fourth Crusade, and expressed my dismay when I recently tried to cia. lim businessmen seem to be push- passed condemning them for the itself more concretely two cen- return to this website only to find But hey, let’s not forget Mr. Bora ing the Christian past of Anatolia in holocaust they committed in 1922. turies later. that it was gone. My first thought Özkök, another one of those new all these publicity descriptions on So be sure to let your United States “To be faithful to our tradition, was that one of those international big boys. He’s “something of a leg- the Internet escapes me. Still, I do Representative and Senator know and in spite of the schism of 1204, public relations firms out of New end in Turkish tourism,” you know, want to assure the National Her- that you know that next time they the Forth Crusade – which is the re- York had finally earned some of the “because of his personally guided ald’s readers that, yes, the balloon want your vote, okay? al date of the schism created by the millions of dollars the Turkish Gov- cultural tours.” tours over the desolate “moon- Lets be objective about this for a West, and not 1054 – let us not for- ernment spends every year on im- I wonder, what little pearls of scape” (now at a new record length moment. All the Turkish Govern- get that Saint Mark of Ephesus (Eu- proving its “image” to the rest of Cappadocian history does Mr. of 1 hour and 15 minutes long) are, ment did was put in the “the genicos), who lived during the 15th the world. Özkök “share” with those American as the advertising still jauntily world’s smoothest roller coaster” Century, concelebrated with the Luckily, I was wrong. There is and European tourists? maintains, “the symbol of Cap- over the dead bodies of thousands Westerners at first, but refused to now a host of websites for a series So don’t despair. You can find padocia.” of Christian Cappadocians. Where’s concelebrate when he realized that of hotels all across Cappadocia. It’s this new array of websites any time There are deep cultural taboos the harm in that? And why should I the schism of 1204 had become a those fabulous funny loving Anato- you want. You can still hear of the which no sane decent person complain? Was I there? Have I ever reality. lian Tiger businessmen we’ve heard “fairy chimneys” of “sensuous folds should ever violate, however. Can been to Cappadocia? From one point of view, what so much about of late that are in the soft volcanic rock” in the you imagine what the very sugges- Yes, in a sense I have, many was imposed upon us by the instal- bringing us all this fun-filled adven- “area around the towns of Ürgüp, tion of a theme park in places like times. Let me just relate one such lation of a Latin Patriarch in ture. Why one of these “Turkey Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos, ad Auschwitz or Dresden would en- “visit.” Jerusalem, and who still remains as Travel Planner” descriptions ac- Mustafapasa. We hear, once more, gender? Bill Knapp Restaurants are an such, is a sign of schism,” he said. cords Mr. Süha Ersöz the honor of that “the center of interest is the But hey, it’s those jolly Turks. upscale chain found in the Mid- To the question of whether John being the leader of these enterpris- Göreme Valley, filled with rock- The Turkish Government’s lobby, west. Bright and snappy, they serve of Lateran’s proclamation of the ing hoteliers. What a jolly old gen- hewn churches decorated with me- not the nefarious Greek American decent, if largely uninteresting, Vatican as a secular state diminish- tleman he must be to invest all his dieval frescos (www.turkeytrav- one, is so powerful in Washington, food. I was collecting oral histories es the ecclesiastical status of the for a museum exhibition. A man I Church of Rome, Maximos said, wanted to interview hosted me at “No. But simply put, it confuses the one of these restaurants. As I un- situation, for now, what is the derstood from him, his mother had Pope? Is he head of a secular state, barely escaped the horror and fire or is he the primate of the Bishops of her Cappadocian village’s de- of the Latin Church?” struction at the hands of Turkish As to what the Pope’s position troops. As far as she was ever to would be if an Ecumenical Council learn, no one else from her family were to be convened today, Maxi- or village escaped. In sheer panic, mos said, “The President would be the then-young girl ran and ran and the Patriarch of Constantinople, ran. In a blur of days without food for we have kept the tradition of or shelter, she ran. It was not until Councils,” adding that, while the she was in a cave, her feet bleeding, Church of Rome has “not com- clothes torn and wracked with ex- Metropolitan Maximos of Pitts- pletely” rejected the tradition and haustion, that looking out over the burgh precepts of the Ecumenical Coun- Aegean, she finally burst into tears. cils, “but in some way, has falsified And her son, in telling me this story, “The most important thing is them.” wept. As did I. that the Bishop of Ancient Rome is But the Metropolitan also af- I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me. visiting the Bishop of New Rome,” firmed that the Orthodox Church Who knows? Perhaps a holocaust Maximos said. recognizes the priesthood of Ro- theme park is just what Turkey According to the theology and man Catholics, “and consequently, needs to raise money for its unde- the tradition of the Seven Ecumeni- their sacraments,” stressing that clared war on its Kurdish citizens. cal Councils, at least two of them – there are two basic differences be- And let’s not forget all the costs in- the Second and the Fourth – and tween Greek and Latin theology: curred with its illegal occupation of the Council held at the Church of One is the procession of the Holy Northern Cyprus. Military cam- Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Spirit (the filioque clause), and the paigns cost a lot of money, after all. 879, spoke very clearly regarding other is the understanding of Papal Why should we care if the Turks primacies in the life of the Church: supremacy. raise money on the dead bodies of One of the primacies is that of “Regarding the primacy issue, our fellow Greeks to seize Greek Rome, and the other one, equal to we have already discussed it to lands? that of Rome, is the primacy of hon- some extent; once again, the theol- Let’s just get into the spirit of fun or of Constantinople, or New ogy and tradition of the Councils of that can only be found in the fairy Rome. the undivided Church speak of, and tale atmosphere of Turkish history. “Consequently, the Pope, as a practice primacies in the life of the fine theologian, was willing to be- Church. It seems to me that this The Ataman Hotel in Cappadocia, an old house first built 200 years ago in the Cappadocian tradition of Readers interested in contacting gin restoring the tradition on its means the unity of the Church can homes carved out of the rocks in Cappadocia, the land of Saints Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Grego- Mr. Frangos may e-mail him at solid foundation. When he was only be restored on that basis; that ry the Theologian. It became a large estate in the 1950’s and, since 1985, has been a hotel and restaurant. [email protected]. elected as Pope, he said that he is, the mutual recognition of the would try to bring East and West primacies established by the Ecu- closer together. He said that he menical Councils, and also those would attempt (visible) unity be- established, after these Councils, tween Orthodoxy and Roman on a similar basis,” Maximos said. Catholicism,” Maximos added. “As to the procession of the “The fact that the Pope traveled Holy Spirit, our joint Theological to Constantinople in a chaotic cli- Consultation of Orthodox and Ro- mate of relations between Chris- man Catholics in North America tianity and Islam is very encourag- has dealt with this question at ing; it means that the Pope meant great length. We have reviewed the what he said at the time of his elec- history of the teaching, and found New Year’s Eve tion (in April 2005),” the Metropol- that Saint Augustine, but not ex- itan said. clusively, is the author of this With respect to the Pope’s posi- teaching. The Church was not di- celebration tion in the Church today, he ex- vided because of that teaching, plained, “as the situation devel- however. This means that a united starting at 9:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. oped following the so-called Church today can find ways of in- Schism of 1054, there are two opin- terpreting that teaching, so that 5 course dinner ions: One is that of Rome, accord- the teaching of the entire Eastern ing to which the Pope alone holds Orthodox Church, on the basis of Champagne primacy in the life of the Church; the teaching of the Cappadocian and the other one, according to Fathers regarding the Monarchy of $100 per person which – and the present Pope be- the Father in the All Holy Trinity lieved this one when he was a Bish- may be preserved intact; and also, op in Munich – the Pope is one of that the text of the Nicene-Con- the Primates. Again, according to stantinopolitan Creed may be fully the theology of the Ecumenical respected. To that extent, our dia- Councils, the Pope is the First logue, in its agreed statement on Among Equals. This does not mean the procession of the Holy Spirit, that any of the others are inferior. has asked the Church of Rome to There is no doubt whatsoever that eliminate the filioque addition our theology, according to which from the Creed, while the theolo- the primate in every local church is gians continue their work and find a first among equals, also applies to ways of resolving the differences in the Pope.” the theological teaching. We hope The Metropolitan also noted and pray that the International that the First Among Equals in to- Theological Dialogue between Or- day’s Orthodox Church is the Ecu- thodox and Roman Catholics will menical Patriarch of Constantino- adopt the findings of our local ple. North American Dialogue. It is also “The Church Fathers, like Saint to be noted that the present Pope Cyprian of Carthage for example, has repeatedly recited the Creed say that the primacy of Saint Peter without the filioque. I hope this is not just the primacy of the Pope, means that, in the near future, this but the primacy of every Primate, Pope, Benedict XVI, will have no BETWEEN THE CITIES OF MIAMI and that every Bishop is the pri- difficulty agreeing with our North AND FORT LAUDERDALE mate in his own Diocese. The Pri- American dialogue about eliminat- mate of every local Church has the ing the filioque clause from the of- same position as Peter among the ficial text of the Creed,” Maximos twelve, which means that Peter had added. 6 OBITUARIES CLASSIFIEDS THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 Dr. John P. Sevastos, 80, Lobbied for Osteopathic Doctors John G. Fatolitis, Former Tarpon

By Wally Guenther He also was a founder of the Ohio the American College of General president of the church and a mem- Judge, Dies at 80 Years of Age The Plain Dealer University College of Osteopathic Practitioners in 1975, he led a ber of its board of trustees. Medicine in Athens, Ohio. In 1997, group of osteopathic physicians to Sevastos was a member of the By Will Van Sant 53, said. "He loved school." PEPPER PIKE, Oh. – Dr. John P. he was a co-founder of Pikeville Col- the Yucatan Peninsula, where they Greek Orthodox Church in Ameri- St. Petersburg Times In fact, Mr. Fatolitis did stints as a Sevastos, 80, who died on Sunday, lege School of Osteopathic Medicine administered medical care to the ca's Archdiocesan Council and public school teacher, both in Ohio November 26, was a pioneer in the in Pikeville, Kentucky. Mayan Indians. served as Greek Orthodox Advisor TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. – When and Florida. osteopathic medical profession who Sevastos was born in Woodville Sevastos was past president of to the Archbishop of North & South John G. Fatolitis died on Monday, No- As an attorney, Mr. Fatolitis was successfully lobbied in Washington to Greek immigrant parents. As a the American Osteopathic Associa- America from 1970 to 1997. vember 27, three weeks after a heart known as a zealous defender of the in the 1970's for equal practice teenager, he frequently accompa- tion, Ohio Osteopathic Association, He is survived by his wife of 58 attack put him in a coma. He left be- rights of Greek immigrants. rights for osteopathic physicians in nied the town's doctor on house Ohio State American College of years, Rae; daughters, Athena of hind more than a wife, brother, But in 1977, that passion got him all medical institutions. He died in calls in the rural community. General Practitioners and the Pepper Pike and Sherie Steinberger daughter, grandchildren, nieces and in trouble. In a case which made his Pepper Pike home. Later, he likened his own prac- Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic of Highland Heights; sons, Peter of nephews. headlines in Tampa Bay, the Florida He founded the Highland Med- tice to the country-style doctor's – Physicians. Mayfield and Charles of Lyndhurst; Mr. Fatolitis, the son of Greek im- Bar banned Mr. Fatolitis from practic- ical Clinic in Warrensville Heights in by getting to know his patients; He had been a member of the six grandchildren; and one brother. migrant parents from the island of ing law after he was sentenced to 1957, where he practiced medicine learning about their families; and AOA Board of Trustees since 1982. The funeral was held on Novem- Kalymnos, also left behind a record of three years' probation for involve- for 50 years, up to several months displaying a sense of humor in his He was a member of many local, ber 30 at the Cathedral. Arrange- achievement and community service. ment in a plan to get Greek aliens cit- ago. work, as well as attending to their state and national osteopathic asso- ments were by Yurch Funeral Home "Tarpon Avenue and Pinellas Av- izenship through sham marriages. The practice became family-ori- medical needs. ciations. He received numerous in Parma. Memorial contributions enue will never be the same," said Mr. Gialousis said her father's "bull- ented. A son, Charles, an osteopath- Sevastos was often sought out as professional honors and awards. can be made to the Saints Constan- Fatolitis' daughter, Renee Gialousis. dog" approach to defending immi- ic doctor, joined him. Sevastos' wife, a speaker and lecturer at medical Sevastos received a pharmacy tine & Helen Cathedral Memorial "Everybody knew him. And anybody grants had vexed the federal immi- Rae, and their son, Peter, manage conferences, state and national degree from the University of Tole- Fund (3352 Mayfield Road, Cleve- who wanted advice, he was there for gration office in Tampa, whose the books. Daughters Sheri Stein- medical associations, and medical do, and earned his doctor of osteo- land Heights, OH 44118); the AOA them." lawyers set their sights on him. berger and Athena run the office. and pharmacy schools throughout pathic medicine degree from the Greatness Fund (142 East Ontario When Mr. Fatolitis, 80, suffered "It was like a witch hunt," Gi- Sevastos was one of the found- the country. Chicago College of Osteopathic Street, Chicago, IL 60611); or the his heart attack on November 3, he alousis said. "They tried to go after a ing staff members of Brentwood In 1984, he was the guest lectur- Medicine. Brentwood Foundation (6000 Lom- was still practicing law from his office man who never harmed a soul." Hospital in 1957, now South Pointe er at the International Congress of He was a member of Saints Con- bardo Center #100, Seven Hills, in the heart of downtown Tarpon Mr. Fatolitis, whom his daughter Hospital, where he credentialed the Medicine for the American College stantine & Helen Greek Orthodox OH 44131). Springs, where he had been city said never believed he had commit- first general practice osteopathic of General Practitioners in Bu- Cathedral in Cleveland Heights judge from 1968 to 1976. Prior to ted any wrong, was allowed to prac- residency program in the United dapest and Vienna. since 1956. He was active in the The Cleveland Plain Dealer pub- holding the top post, he spent eight tice law again in 1980. "He was a de- States. When he served as president of Greek community, and was a past lished the above on November 30. years as associate municipal fender of the underdog," Gialousis judge.Mr. Fatolitis began his working said. "He loved helping people." life making a living with his back, not Mr. Fatolitis was a past president from law books. of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Born in Ambridge, Pennsylvania Cathedral, the Tarpon Springs Parent in 1926, Mr. Fatolitis moved to Tar- Teachers Association and the George Rev. Peter Kyriakos, Close Friend of Archbishop Iakovos pon Springs as a child and graduated Washington Chapter of the American from high school there. He worked Hellenic Educational Progressive As- Continued from page 1 New Rochelle. of Greenwich, Connecticut, Linda ican community: “Father Peter was on sponge boats and in Ohio steel sociation. Father Kyriakos was honored (Mario) Faustini of Purchase, New truly a model priest, a priest of mills, and served in the Army Air In addition to his daughter, he is in Brookline, from which he gradu- during his long and fruitful ministry York; Steven (Francine) Kyriakos of priests. God had gifted him with the Forces during World War II. Deter- survived by his wife, Evelyn; his ated in 1950. From 1950 to 1952, with the offikia (ecclesiastical titles) New Canaan, Connecticut; Dean charisma of goodness, and his mined to set himself apart, Mr. Fatoli- brother Phillip of Tarpon Springs; he pursued graduate studies in Pas- of confessor, sakellarios, economos (Michelle) of Bend, Oregon; and melodic voice turned Church Ser- tis managed to obtain several de- three grandchildren; and many toral Psychology at Andover-New- and protopresbyter. In 1982, in eight grandchildren: Christina, Pe- vices into heavenly melodies. And grees which put him on a path to nieces and nephews. One grandchild, ton Theological School in Newton recognition of his longstanding and ter, Nicholas, Katie, Angelique, An- his love and dedication to our practicing law. Among them were an John Gialousis, plans to become a Centre. dedicated service to the Church, he drew, Anthony and Elena. geronta (spiritual father), Archbish- undergraduate degree in education lawyer like his grandfather. He was ordained to the Dea- received the Golden Cross of the Ec- In lieu of flowers, memorial do- op Iakovos of blessed memory, has from Youngstown University, a mas- The funeral was held at the Cathe- conate on October 26, 1952 at the umenical Patriarchate of Constan- nations may be made to the V. Rev. touched my soul forever,” she said. ter's in administration from the Uni- dral on December 2. Arrangements Annunciation Cathedral in Boston tinople. Peter N. Kyriakos Endowment (c/o Dr. Peter Kalellis, one of Father versity of Miami, and a law degree were by the Dobies Funeral Home in by then Bishop Ezekiel of Nazian- He has served as a member of Holy Trinity Church, 10 Mill Road, Kyriakos’ closest friends said he nev- from the University of Florida. Tarpon Springs. zos, who later became Archbishop the Archdiocesan Council; Saint New Rochelle, NY 10804). er heard his friend utter an unkind "After law school, he applied to of Australia, and into the Holy Pres- Basil’s Academy; Saint Michael’s Speaking to the National Herald, word: “A good friend, an exception- medical school, but my mother said The St. Petersburg Times pub- bytery on November 21, 1954 by Home; the Special Tribunal of the Nicholas Kyriakos said, “It is with al priest, and a true human being it's time to settle down," Gialousis, lished the above on December 1. Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus. Archdiocese; and the Inter-Reli- much sadness that we mourn the has departed. I never heard him in Father Peter served the Annunci- gious Council of New Rochelle death of our father, yet we rejoice all those 50 years of our friendship ation Cathedral from 1952 to 1960. which honored him as Man of the for the qualities and fond memories say anything bad about anyone. In 1961 he was appointed head Year in 1996. that he has left his family, friends, God granted him the talent of beau- CLASSIFIEDS priest at the Hellenic Community of Father Kyriakos was a faithful congregations and fellow clergy- tiful voice. Bishop Athenagoras Greater Cleveland, Ohio and later reader of the National Herald’s dai- men: his spirituality, inspiration, Kavadas use to take Father Peter Dean of Saints Constantine & Helen ly Greek edition for more than fifty eloquent voice, integrity, gentle- with him to various parishes to do HELP WANTED Services in all localities - Cathedral in Cleveland. In 1973, he years, and also of the English-lan- ness, sense of humor and a person- the chanting,” he said. Low cost shipping to Greece was appointed pastor of Holy Trini- guage weekly publication since its ality radiating with kindness and Rev. Demetrios Kavadas, one of JOURNALISTS WANTED ty Church in New Rochelle, New inception nine years ago. humility. May the Lord give rest to Father Kyriakos’ closest friends, Nation’s leading Greek American ANTONOPOULOS York until his retirement in 1996. He is survived by his loving and his beautiful soul.” said, “Father Peter was like a broth- newspaper needs reporters and as- FUNERAL HOME, INC. The viewing and funeral, which devoted presvytera of 54 years Kay Paulette Poulos, a longtime fami- er to me. He was a true man. The sistant editor for English weekly Konstantinos Antonopoulos - was preceded by a Divine Liturgy, (Evdokia) from Aigion, Greece; four ly friend, said Father Kyriakos was a great Archbishop Iakovos connect- paper. Exceptional writing/report- Funeral Director took place at Holy Trinity Church in children: Nicholas (Vicki) Kyriakos true role model for the Greek Amer- ed the two of us.” ing skills and bilingual fluency a 38-08 Ditmars Blvd., must. Car a plus. Fax or e-mail clips Astoria, New York 11105 and cover letter to 718-472-0510 (718) 728-8500 or [email protected]. Not affiliated with any DEATHS 111609/01 other funeral home. FOR SALE (GREECE) APOSTOLOPOULOS ■ RAMOUNDOS, STAMATIOS N. mons and the way he celebrated the day School (1973 E. Maryland Ave., Demetria Vlahandreas; daughter of Apostle Family - The Star-Ledger reported that Sta- divine services. The impact of his Phoenix, AZ 85016). the late Chris and Helen Scontriano; ISLAND of EYBOIA (CHALKIDA) 60km Gregory, Nicholas, Andrew - matios N. Ramoundos, 23, of ministry has affected generations of dear sister of the late Tula from Athens. Custom built CONDO in Funeral Directors of Gloucester Township, New Jersey Orthodox Christians. He is survived ■ THANOS, PERSEPHONE B. Christopoulos; and sister in-law of the most private desirable location, in RIVERDALE FUNERAL HOME Inc. died last Friday, December 1. Mr. Ra- by his wife of 60 years, Presvytera The Cleveland Plain Dealer that Leah Vlahandreas-Petropoulos. A complex of 5 luxury units facing the 5044 Broadway sea of Gulf of Eyripos, just steps to the moundos was the beloved son of Irene Manikas Sitaras; his daughter, Persephone Biris Thanos, 82, former- native of Oakland, she was born on sea. This elevator condo features 105 New York, NY 10034 Nicholas and Joan (nee Sungenis) Sophia S. (Bill) Agapion; his son, Rev. ly of Cleveland and a 42-year resi- April 21, 1919. Tina was a talented sq.meters of space, 2BR, 1 1/2 bath (212) 942-4000 Ramoundos of Gloucester Township; Michael (Mary) Sitaras; his son, Rev. dent of Willoughby, Ohio died unex- Renaissance woman. An astute busi- w/jacuzzi, indoor parking, storage, 2 Toll Free 1-888-GAPOSTLE dear brother of Maria N. Ramoundos Stelios Sitaras; his daughter, Katerina pectedly on Wednesday, October 11, nesswoman, she began by owning large verandas, custom kitchen, fire- of Salisbury, Maryland; and loving S. (Rev. Christopher) Makiej; his 12 at Riverside Methodist Hospital. She and operating liquor stores. She be- place, fully furnished, never occupied, LITRAS FUNERAL HOME grandson of Joseph Sungenis of Sick- grandchildren, Irene Agapion Pala- was born in Akron, Ohio on Novem- gan her career at the age of 15 as a just completed. 365,000 Euro. Call ARLINGTON BENSON DOWD, lerville, New Jersey. He is also sur- maris, Dina Agapion Psatha, Basil ber 13, 1923 and raised in Canton, saleswoman at Kahn’s Department (914) 472-5297 or Mr. Milonis @ INC FUNERAL HOME vived by several aunts, uncles and Agapion, Emanuel Agapion, Nicholas Ohio. She was a graduate of Canton Store in Oakland; fashion was her John’s Hotel 011-302210-24996 83-15 Parsons Blvd., cousins. His funeral was held this Sitaras, John Sitaras, Alexander McKinley High School and attended joy. Her dream came true when she 268139/9664 Jamaica, NY 11432 past Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Saint Thomas Sitaras, Christina Sitaras, Melina Mt. Union College. She was a loving opened a chain of women’s retail (718) 858-4434 • (800) 245-4872 Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Sitaras, Alexia Sitaras, Nicholas and devoted wife, mother and grand- dress shops, Kristine’s Kreations and FUNERAL HOMES Hill, New Jersey. The family requests Makiej and Michael Makiej; and four mother. She is survived by her hus- Tina’s Fashions, in the early 1960’s. that, in lieu of flowers, donations be great grandchildren, Julian Putnam, band of 51 years, Dr. Daniel Thanos, She was a member of the Daughters CONSTANTINIDES TO PLACE YOUR made to the John N. Balis Education- Constantina Palamaris, Sophia Pala- a retired obstetrician; her daughters, of Penelope. She was also an AHEPA FUNERAL PARLOR Co. CLASSIFIED AD, CALL: al Center (Saint Thomas Church, 615 maris, and Iliana Psatha. Funeral ser- Georgene (Charles) Smith of Upper beauty queen, representing the or- 405 91st Street (718) 784-5255, EXT. 106, Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ vices were held on Nov. 29 at the Dor- Arlington, Ohio and Anastasia der of AHEPA for the State of Califor- Bay Ridge - Brooklyn, NY 11209 E-MAIL: [email protected] 08002), or to one’s charity of choice. mition of the Theotokos Greek Orth. (Sean) Lannan of Sudbury, Massa- nia at the 1939 convention held in (718) 745-1010 Church in Greensboro. In lieu of chusetts; her grandchildren, Daniel, New Orleans. It was at this conven- ■ SCARVELIS, MIKE S. flowers, memorial donations may be Jacqueline and Stephanie Smith, tion where she met her husband. She The Detroit Free Press reported that made the Dormition Church (800 John and Peter Lannan; and her sis- was a member of the Philopotochos REAL ESTATE Mike Steve Scarvelis, 94, died on Westridge Rd, Greensboro, NC ters in-law, Kathleen (Costas) Biris Society at the Ascension Greek Or- Monday, October 9, in Tarpon 27410). and her children, John and Judith thodox Cathedral in Oakland, and Springs, Florida. Born April 7, 1912 Biris, Sophia (Peter) Kopanas and an avid volunteer of the American in Chios, Greece. He leaves behind ■ SKLIRIS, ARISTIDIS J. their children, Christopher, George Red Cross and the Mother’s March of his wife of 67 years Rena (Madias); The Record reported that Aristidis J. and John Kopanas. Persephone was Dimes, as well as the Oakland Muse- two children Stephen Mike and Ayn- Skliris, 98, of Fair Lawn, NJ died on predeceased by her parents and two um White Elephant Sale. She was in- na (Zervos); six grandchildren Eryn Wednesday, October 18. Before retir- brothers. Persephone was a member volved with many charities and po- Zak, Michael, Maria, Maria (Peters), ing in 1969, he was a toolmaker for of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek litical events. Tina is survived by her Angelo, Michael, and four great Bendix Corporation in Teterboro, NJ Orth. Cathedral in Cleveland two daughters, Kristine Vlahan- grandchildren Michael Zak, Lauren, where he worked for 40 years. He Heights, where she was active with dreas-Hamrah of Oakland, and Jonathan, and Gus; and a half-sister was a member of St. Nicholas Greek Daughters of Penelope. She also vol- Elana Vlahandreas of Hawaii; her Plomitsa Monouthe. Mike belonged Orthodox Church in Wyckoff, NJ. unteered at the Women’s Medical beloved grandchildren, William to the Chios Club and the Benevolent Auxiliary at Lake West Hospital, the (Lauren) Vlahandreas of Santa Rosa, Society. His funeral was held in-state ■ SOILES, JAMES G. Willoughby Fine Arts and the Order California, Krissi (Eric) Venanzi of on October 18 at Holy Cross Greek The Arizona Republic reported that of Eastern Star. A private funeral ser- Walnut Creek, California, Kathi Vla- Orthodox Church in Farmington James G. Soiles, 87, passed away on vice was held on Oct. 14 at the An- handreas of Reno, Nevada and John Hills, MI. Memorial donations may Friday, October 13, in Phoenix. nunciation Greek Orth. Church in Spiro (Dawn) Vlahandreas of Salem, be made to Holy Cross Church James was born in Dracut, Massa- Columbus, Ohio. Memorial contribu- Oregon; her beloved great grand- subscribe (25225 Middlebelt Rd., Farmington chusetts on February 5, 1919. He was tions can be made to the Childhood children, Nicholas and Alexander PRINTED EDITION OF THE NATIONAL HERALD Hills, MI 48336). taken to his native land in Greece as League Center Board XII (670 S. 18th Vlahandreas, John and Matthew Ve- via the post-office: ❏1 Month for $9.95 ❏3 Months for $19.95 an infant by his immigrant parents in Street, Columbus, OH 43205). nanzi, and Hayden and Grant Vla- ❏ ❏ ■ SITARAS, REV. MICHAEL 1920. He met his wife Irene and mar- handreas. She was the favorite aunt 6 Months for $29.95 One Year fo $59.85 The Greensboro News & Record re- ried her in 1940. James moved to the ■ VLAHANDREAS, KATHRYN T. of Dan Christopoulos and Elaine Pla- VIA HOME DELIVERY (NY, NJ & CT): ported that the Very Rev. Michael U.S. in 1945 and later brought his The Oakland Tribune reported that tias. Her funeral was held on Oct. 16 ❏1 Month for $12.95 ❏3 Months for $29.95 Sitaras, 87, fell asleep in the Lord on family in 1947. He was the head tai- Kathryn Tina Vlahandreas, 87, at the Ascension Cathedral. Memori- ❏6 Months for $43.99 ❏One Year for $80.00 Sunday, Nov. 26, at Wesley Long Hos- lor at Porter's, Hanny's and Goldwa- passed away on Wednesday, October al contributions can be made to the VIA HOME DELIVERY (NEW ENGLAND, PENNSYLVANIA & pital in Greensboro, North Carolina. ter's Men's Stores. He and Irene start- 11, in Oakland. She was the dear Ascension Cathedral (4700 Lincoln WASHINGTON D.C.) Father Sitaras was born in Tripes of ed "Soiles Fine Tailoring" in 1969. He wife of the late Spiro Dean Vlahan- Ave., Oakland, CA 94602) or a char- ❏1 Month for $15.95 ❏3 Months for $37.45 Chios, Greece on March 19, 1919. He was actively involved in his church dreas; loving mother of the late ity of your choice. ❏6 Months for $51.75 ❏One Year for $99.00 served in the Greek Royal Navy dur- and was a Mason and a Shriner with ing World War II. He graduated with El Zariba. James is survived by Irene, ON LINE SUBSCRIPTION www.thenationalherald.com ❏ honors from the Risarios Theological his wife of 67 years, daughter Christi- NON SUBSCRIBERS: One Year for $29.95 ❏One Month for $3.95 Seminary in Athens. The son of an na, sons George and Theodosius, 9 ❏ ❏ Orthodox priest, the late Father grandchildren, 18 great grandchil- SUBSCRIBERS: One Year for $19.95 One Month for $1.95 Michael Sitaras of Chios, he was or- dren and one great-great grandson. dained into the Holy Priesthood in The funeral service was held on Oct. NAME: ...... 1953. He served the Church of the 21 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox ADDRESS: ...... Holy Cross in his hometown of Kar- Cathedral. Memorial donations may CITY:...... STATE: ...... ZIP:...... damyla in Chios. In 1960, Father be made to Holy Trinity Greek Ortho- TEL.: ...... E-MAIL:...... CELL...... Sitaras immigrated to the U.S. with dox Cathedral Greek School or Sun- Basil G. Litras PLEASE SEND A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO: his wife, where he raised his four chil- Managing Director NAME: ...... dren. He served as one of the first ADDRESS: ...... priests in Greensboro. He served This is a service 75 years of Funeral Service CITY:...... STATE: ...... ZIP:...... parishes in West Virginia, Ohio, to the community. Honoring Hellenic Family Tradition TEL.: ...... E-MAIL:...... CELL...... North Carolina, Maine, Florida, Announcements of deaths Please specify method of payment Georgia, Pennsylvania and New York. may be telephoned to the TOLL FREE NATIONWIDE I enclose a check/money order for $ ...... made payable to: Before his retirement in 1986, he es- Classified Department of (866) 725-4872 The National Herald, Inc., 37-10 30th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 - 2614 tablished several parishes in Florida The National Herald at or please debit my ❏ Mastercard ❏ Visa ❏ American Express while serving as a priest in Fort (718) 784-5255, CARD NUMBER: ...... Pierce. He also had the joy of seeing OUR PERSONAL SERVICES Monday through Friday, ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL COMMUNITIES EXPIRATION DATE: ...... SIGNATURE:...... his two sons become priests and his 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST daughter marrying an Orthodox or e-mailed to: Executive Offices priest. His love for God was ex- [email protected] 117 Washington Avenue, Pleasantville, NY 10570 pressed through his chanting, his ser- THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 GREECE CYPRUS 7 France, Germany Back Plan to Partially Suspend Turkey Talks

By Paul Ames At a meeting in Germany with on December 14-15. details of the review still have to be ment to democracy and human tions, including Cyprus, as part of Associated Press French President Jacques Chirac British Prime Minister Tony Blair worked out. The European Commis- rights. conditions for starting membership and Polish Prime Minister Lech has called a partial suspension a "se- sion, the E.U.'s executive arm, cur- But European Commission Presi- talks with the E.U. BRUSSELS (AP) – France and Ger- Kaczynski, Merkel called the Euro- rious mistake." Spain's Premier Jose rently produces an annual report on dent Jose Manuel Barroso stuck by Turkey does not recognize the many backed a plan to partially sus- pean Commission's recommenda- Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has urged the progress of Turkey and other the plan to partially suspend the Republic of Cyprus, and insists the pend Turkey’s EU membership talks tion last week for a partial freeze a the E.U. to "work intensively" to candidates toward meeting E.U. talks, calling it "credible, fair and E.U. should first abide by a promise due to its refusal to open trade links "good basis" for a decision next keep the doors open to Turkey. Carl membership standards. balanced." to lift trade restrictions on the with Cyprus, and called for a full re- week. Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister, Since the E.U. and Turkey began "I hope the member states will breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in view in 18 months of Ankara's trou- Chirac said he agreed. has warned that the Commission's negotiating entry terms in October broadly support it because this is the the island's north, which is recog- bled effort to join the bloc. The plan has provoked an angry recommendation risked destabiliz- 2005, relations have become in- right way to go," he told a meeting nized only by Ankara (Cyprus has Finnish Prime Minister Matti reaction from Turkey. "To distance ing the region. creasingly strained, and mutual of European lawmakers. "Speed of been divided into Greek and Turkish Vanhanen, whose country will chair Turkey from the negotiating table At the meeting in Mettlach, Ger- public misgivings have increased. progress toward enlargement de- sectors since Turkish troops invaded European Union meetings next would be a grave mistake," said many Merkel called for the Commis- Anger over E.U. demands has pends on results, and results on the in 1974, to exploit a failed coup by week, also backed the plan to freeze Turkish Prime Minister Recep sion to report back to E.U. leaders seen a sharp drop in support among respect for rule of law is a funda- supporters of union with Greece). eight of 35 negotiating chapters Tayyip Erdogan. "Turkey has noth- between Turkish elections next fall Turks for the plan to integrate the mental principle of the European Finland, which holds the E.U.'s which Turkey must complete to join ing to lose. If anyone will lose, it will and European elections in early Muslim nation of 70 million into the Union." current rotating six-month presi- the E.U. be the European Union." 2009 for a review of Ankara's Christian European bloc. The freeze would affect talks in dency, has proposed a compromise "Something we expected didn't Vanhanen said E.U. foreign min- progress toward membership. Among E.U. nations, too, opin- eight trade-related areas – e.g., free which would ease a trade boycott happen. It must have certain conse- isters should decide next week "We don't want to set any kind of ion is divided between those who movement of goods and services, on the breakaway Turkish Cypriot quences," German Chancellor An- whether the partial freeze will go ultimatums, but we want the Com- see Turkish membership as a way to agriculture, fisheries, transport, cus- state, while opening Turkish ports gela Merkel said, referring to ahead. mission to say to us what has been anchor a moderate Muslim nation toms and external relations – in re- to Greek Cypriot ships and aircraft, Turkey's refusal to open its harbors E.U. nations are split over the achieved, and how we could pro- in the West, and those concerned sponse to Turkey's failure to abide but Turkey rejected it last week as and airports to ships and planes plan, and the issue is likely to spill ceed," Merkel said. over the impact on immigration, by a 2005 commitment to open its not going far enough to end the iso- from Cyprus. over to the bloc's year-end summit German officials have said that E.U. finances and Turkey's commit- ports to ten new E.U. member na- lation of northern Cyprus. Cyprus Welcomes French-German Proposal to Extend Scientists Trying to Unlock Deadline by 18 Months, Turkey Offers to Open 2 Ports Ancient Star Gazer Secrets Continued from page 1 NATURE suggested that the Continued from page 1 threatened to derail Turkey's E.U. know-how for these medieval aspirations. Last week, Ankara re- ed with a hand-crank – could pre- clocks may have reached Europe In an apparent hardening of its jected a compromise plan drafted dict an eclipse to a precise hour on from the East after the fall of Bagh- stance, Athens said the E.U. must by Finland, which would lift the a specific day. dad – capital of a highly cultured, send Ankara "a strong message" for isolation of the breakaway Turkish "The design of the Mechanism is prosperous Islamic state – to the refusing to fully comply with its Cypriot state in northern Cyprus, very wonderful, making us realize Mongols in the 13th Century. promises to the bloc, a reaction while opening Turkish ports to how highly technological the an- The Antikythera device was which indicated the issue would Greek Cypriot ships and planes. cient Greek civilization was, much probably made on the island of continue to divide the E.U. in the The Turkish move prompted more so perhaps than we thought," Rhodes, which had a long tradition run-up to the December 14-15 Cyprus to threaten to block Edmunds said. in astronomy and applied mechan- summit. Turkey's E.U. membership talks. The new study of the ancient de- ics. The Cypriot Government ex- In Brussels earlier this week, vice, with the aid of Hewlett- The sunken ship, thought to have pressed its support this past Tues- Greek Foreign Minister Dora Packard and the British x-ray been carrying plunder from Roman- day for a French-German proposal Bakoyanni urged the E.U. to im- equipment maker X-TEK, more conquered Greece to Rome, is be- which would apparently give pose an 18-month deadline on than doubled the amount of the in- lieved to have sailed from Rhodes. It Turkey more time to fulfill its oblig- Turkey to open trade with Cyprus. scriptions readable on the Mecha- sank in the First Century BC. ation to the European Union as part If there is no progress over nism. The wreck was found in 1900 by of its membership talks. Cyprus, "we should have a serious "We will not yet be able to an- Greek sponge-divers at 50 meters Although details of the proposal and responsible re-evaluation of swer the question of what the (164 feet) deep, just off the small were not made public at press time, the situation in 18 months," she Mechanism was for, although now island of Antikythera, on what is it appears to include a review of said this past Monday, but she also we know what the Mechanism did," still a busy trade route between steps taken by Turkey to fulfill its stressed that negotiations with Edmunds said. southern mainland Greece and obligations after 18 months. Turkey should not be entirely bro- His fellow team member, Crete. "We fully support this proposal ken off. Xenophon Moussas, an associate A systematic search of the wreck to set a clear timeframe for Turkey "The process must continue with professor of Space Physics at the revealed a group of bronze and to fulfill its obligations toward the Turkey. There must not be a com- University of Athens, speculated badly weathered marble statues, as Republic of Cyprus," Cypriot Gov- plete halt in the talks," she said. that the device could have been well as the Antikythera Mecha- ernment Spokesman Christodoulos "What is important is that Europe used for navigation at sea or for nism, in what remained of its origi- Pashiardes told reporters. remains united and speaks with mapmaking. nal wooden casing. German Chancellor Angela one voice, and is not split." The first comparable devices All the finds – including wine Merkel and French President Bakoyanni said she had dis- known in the West were clockwork jars, pottery, silver coins and plates Jacques Chirac met in Germany on cussed the E.U.-Turkey impasse with clocks developed during the Middle – are now at the National Archaeo- Tuesday, along with Polish Presi- Lillikas and U.S. Undersecretary of Ages. logical Museum in Athens. dent Lech Kaczynski, where they State Nicholas Burns during a meet- discussed Turkey's membership ne- ing of the Organization for Security gotiations. and Cooperation in Europe. The Cypriot Government said In Athens on Monday, Italian this past Wednesday that the Prime Minister Romano Prodi said French-German proposal to review the E.U. should not slam the door Turkey's troubled E.U. accession on Turkey, despite a stalemate in bid could put essential pressure on the country's membership talks. Ankara to open trade with the di- "Our position is that we should vided island republic. leave the door open, and ensure France and Germany have pro- AP/PETROS GIANNAKOURIS that the rules of EU integration are posed cutting back membership Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, right, and his Italian coun- equal for all," Prodi said, citing the talks with Turkey over the Cyprus- terpart, Romano Prodi, leave a press conference after their meeting in number of policy areas frozen as "a trade impasse, and review progress Athens, this past Monday, December 4. Prodi was in Greece on an offi- technical issue." after Turkish general elections due cial one-day visit to discuss Turkey’s troubled bid to join the European Prodi, on a one-day visit to next fall. Union. Greece, spoke after meeting with The European Commission has Greek Prime Minister Costas Kara- recommended that the European before November of next year. An of Turkey, which was not provided manlis. Union freeze talks on eight of 35 exact date has not yet been fixed, for in the European Commission's Karamanlis said Greece still sup- policy areas in Turkey's member- but the 18-month timeframe gives recommendations," Cypriot For- ports Turkey's prospective E.U. ac- ship negotiations, which began in Turkey time to meet its obligations eign Minister George Lillikas said. cession, "but Turkey must under- October 2005. after the vote, Pashiardes pointed "It is not so important if the time- stand that the progress of its mem- European nations are split over out. frame is 18 months or two years." bership negotiations depends on its the plan, and the issue is likely to His comments came less than Lillikas, speaking before flying progress in fulfilling the criteria be discussed by E.U. foreign minis- one week after Cyprus threatened to France, added that Turkey would that have been set, and with which ters due to meet in Brussels this to block Turkey's E.U. membership have no motivation to resolve the it has agreed." coming Monday, December 11. talks, unless Ankara commits to trade dispute if it was not given a Turkish presidential elections opening Turkey's ports to Cyprus. new timeframe for a review of AP Writers George Psyllides and are to take place in May 2007, and "What is important is the fact progress in its negotiations. Derek Gatopoulos contributed to general elections must take place that there will be a new evaluation The stalemate over Cyprus has this story. Human Trafficking Has Reached Epidemic Proportions

By John F.L. Ross on Action Against Trafficking in Hu- plans to ratify the Convention, ac- would help wider efforts to fight AP/THANASSIS STAVRAKIS Associated Press man Beings, which Requena called cording to Greek Interior Ministry crime. A tentative reconstruction of the 2,100-year-old Antikythera Mecha- "the first treaty in its field" because it Spokeswoman Evgenia Tsoumanis. "When we are protecting the vic- nism, believed to be the earliest surviving mechanical computing de- ATHENS (AP) – Human trafficking distinguishes between victims of Requena told conference dele- tims, we are also making an invest- vice, at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the focus of a has reached "epidemic proportions" trafficking and migrants who are il- gates that it was in their best interest ment in the prosecution of the traf- two-day conference starting in Athens last week, with the participa- over the past decade, with an annu- legally but willingly smuggled to fight human trafficking, as it fickers," she insisted. tion of scientists from several countries. al global market of about $42.5 bil- across borders. lion, Europe's leading human rights CRIME OF INDIFFERENCE watchdog said this past Tuesday. "Trafficking is a crime of indiffer- The problem has become more ence," said keynote speaker Athana- A PERFECT XMAS GIFT visible in Europe, as some eastern sia Sykiotou, a criminologist from NEW European countries, which are fre- the University of Thrace. "We are all quently noted as points of origin, responsible." ELENI YORK have joined the European Union, or Only three Council members are candidates to do so, officials of have ratified the Convention – Aus- COSMETICS the Council of Europe told a two-day tria, Moldova and Romania – while seminar on the subject in Athens. another 31 have signed on. Ratifica- It flourishes because "it is much tion by at least ten states is needed for the Convention to enter into force, eight of which must be council ELENI "When we are members. Unusually, the treaty is NEW YORK protecting the victims, open to states outside the 46-mem- COSMETICS ber Council, with enforcement up to we are also making adhering states. an investment in the It is "the only convention that prosecution of the gives a definition of the victim," Sykiotou said. Contact Helen Arapis Makeup Artist traffickers" It also provides safeguards for trafficking victims, including provi- easier to cross borders with persons sions for more secure protection A Full Line of Cosmetics & Skin Care including than with drugs or weapons," said shelters for victims, as well as med- Marta Requena of the Council's Di- ical and legal assistance. Lipsticks, Lip Gloss, Lip Plumping Lip Gels rectorate General of Human Rights. An estimated 600-800 thousand ...to make your mouth shimmer and shine "The profits are very high, and the people are illegally trafficked each risks are very low." year, some 80 percent of them Also men’s skin care More than 200 experts, govern- women and children forced by eco- ment officials and representatives of nomic deprivation into the illicit sex non-governmental agencies were trade, according to the U.S. State By appointment in studio Air brush foundation attending the seminar, organized by Department. Other victims include 718.316.0667 - 718.423.8926 now available the Council and the Greek Interior forced organ donors and farm labor- Ministry to discuss strategies for ers. See our full line on the web at: Special Holiday combating what is often called slav- Some states, notably Italy, re- www.eleniny.com ery in its modern form. cently boosted relevant legislation. e-mail: [email protected] $40 makeover Organizers also were pushing for Greece has launched television cam- governments to implement last paigns to raise awareness and coun-

a b Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year year's Council of Europe Convention seling centers for victims. It also 8 EDITORIALS LETTERS THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006

The National Herald LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest Pope’s Gestures Were Nice, but ognize the Pope’s authority; they Boulos Iskander, that poor Syrian about use of the Greek language in to the Greek American community of the United States of America. Probably Just Window-Dressing feel they are a bridge to eventual Orthodox priest who was beheaded the Liturgy. unity between the two “Sister and dismembered by Moslem fa- So what does it mean? It’s clear Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris To the Editor: Churches,” but in so doing, they are natics in Iraq (see October 21 edi- that our Western Christian Thank you for providing such in- actually a source of contentious di- tion), and also for following up “brethren” don’t really care about Assistant to Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos depth coverage of Pope Benedict vision, and the Roman Church real- with a press clipping a few weeks what happens to their Eastern Managing Editor Evan C. Lambrou XVI’s visit to Turkey last week. The ly needs to stop encouraging the later from the Weekly Standard Christian “cousins.” And part of Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros Pope’s meeting with the Ecumeni- Uniates’ bad behavior; otherwise, (see November 18 edition). that is our own fault, but that’s an- Webmaster Alexandros Tsoukias cal Patriarch certainly did not get it’s nothing but window-dressing. Your newspaper is providing this other discussion. The National Herald (USPS 016864) is published weekly by the attention it deserves in the If the Pope really wants to re-en- community with a valuable service Peter Sofianos The National Herald Inc. at 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 mainstream American press, which ter full communion with the Ortho- by bringing these things to our at- New York, New York Tel: (718)784-5255, Fax: (718)472-0510, focused overly on another aspect of dox, he should reverse this and oth- tention. e-mail: [email protected] his visit (i.e., improving relations er problems, and then relinquish I’m not writing because I think with the Muslim world). his claim to Papal supremacy. That we need to keep the war in Iraq go- Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, e-mail: [email protected] If it wasn’t for your newspaper, would be a genuine gesture of hu- ing, or because I want to argue that our community would be com- mility and contrition. If Benedict the Islamic threat to the West needs TO OUR READERS Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $59.85, 6 months $29.95, 3 months $19.95, 1 month $9.95 pletely in the dark about issues does that, he will deserve instant to be answered the Bush Adminis- Home delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $80.00, 6 months $43.99, 3 months $29.99, 1 month $12.95 which should be of great concern to sainthood. tration’s way. Far from it. The National Herald welcomes Home delivery New England States, Pennsylvania & Washington DC: us, so you deserve a lot of credit for Will it happen? Probably not. It’s I’m writing to point out that this letters from its readers intended 1 year $99.00, 6 months $51.75, 3 months $37.45, 1 month $15.95 for publication. They should in- On line subscription: Non subscribers: 1 year $29.95, 1 month $3.95; shedding light on those issues each just too much too ask, and people story did not receive anywhere Subscribers: 1 year $19.95, 1 month $1.95 week. don’t like to admit they’re wrong. near the attention it deserves in the clude the writer’s name, address, I was particularly impressed But that’s ultimately what it would English-speaking press, and the and telephone number and be Periodical postage paid at L.I.C. NY and additional mailing offices. with Theodore Kalmoukos’ inter- take for reunification of Greek East fact that the National Herald took addressed to: The Editor, The Na- Postmaster send change of address to: view with the Roman Catholic and Latin West. the time to gather information tional Herald, 37-10 30th Street, THE NATIONAL HERALD, 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 Archbishop of Boston in last week’s Paul Androutsos from various sources to publish a Long Island City, NY 11101. edition. Mr. Kalmoukos’ questions Astoria, New York complete story is an impressive concerning Uniatism, and the an- feat. Letters can also be faxed to (718) swers to those questions, were very I also want to bring something 472-0510 or e-mailed to revealing. Brutal Murder of Father Boulos else to your readers’ attention: The english.edition@thenationalher- Fulfilling a promise For all his flowery statements, In Iraq Should Open our Eyes fact that the Western world has ald.com. We reserve the right to Cardinal O’Malley indicated just largely ignored the brutal murder edit letters for publication and re- The Greek Minister of Health, Demetris Avramopoulos, was in New York how little the Roman Church is of Father Boulos should speak vol- gret that we are unable to ac- last week to fulfill a promise he made to the Hellenic Medical Society of New willing to bend on this issue, which To the Editor: umes to the Orthodox Christian knowledge or return those left York last spring: to attend their annual gala, which was held last Saturday is very important to the Orthodox. The National Herald is to be community of this country, some unpublished. evening. The Uniates, who practice commended for publishing a front- members of which like to circulate You might ask why this event is so important that it deserves our commu- Byzantine rites and traditions, rec- page story in recently about Father naïve or disingenuous missives nity’s attention. Because it honors our physicians, who work so hard and do so much to help people and society in general, and for the simple reason that, in the past, some Greek Cabinet members would make similar promises, but ultimately fail to keep them, embarrassing both themselves and event organizers. PRESS CLIPPINGS Mr. Avramopoulos kept his promise not only because of who he is, but al- so because he genuinely cares about this community. He recognizes its contri- butions to the motherland; respects its progress; and is very much interested in tapping into its scientific talent in order to help improve the Greek health- care system. Time to Heal the Schism between East-West Christendom We believe that high-ranking officials in both the government and the op- position party ought to visit our community on an annual basis, without nec- By David Warren brief vogue among some of the bat- and how easily we could slump tourage. His formal statements in essarily being invited to the White House, or to meet with U.S. Government Ottawa Citizen tier deists of the early Enlighten- back into it. I look, for instance, at political venues, such as to the officials. ment. It is as long, rambling, igno- the garbage being studied and diplomats in Ankara, were neces- We also believe they ought to visit our local communities across the coun- "We spit on the tomb of Jesus S. rant and senseless as the Da Vinci taught in the politically correct sarily too plain and sane to be try, from East to West and North to South. These kinds of visits afford a splen- Kikeerguard," read perhaps the Code. English departments of our univer- worth reporting: That religious be- did opportunity for both sides to get to know each other better, and therefore most intriguing sign at the last legal The consensus of modern schol- sities, and I am reminded that we lievers should everywhere enjoy bring us all closer together. Istanbul rally before the Pope's visit ars is that it was written originally ourselves are on the skids. The abil- the freedom to organize their own to Turkey began. According to the in Constantinople (present-day Is- ity to distinguish even between institutional lives; that religious au- BBC correspondent who spotted it, tanbul), then circulated to Europe what is sane and insane is slipping thorities should not exercise direct and guessed that it was English, the in Spanish and Italian. It contains a away. political power; that none should Turkey and the E.U. bearers of the sign were unable to number of giveaway Turkish fea- But let us return to Constantino- advocate violence; that Muslims explain it. He noticed that they tures, including a Turkified version ple (as it was called through the and Christians alike should "pro- Pope Benedict’s visit to Turkey is over, but it continues to resonate were very angry, however. I would of the Islamic "shahadah" (or centuries before it fell to the Ot- mote the dignity of every human among politicians and clerics alike. myself guess that the slogan com- creed). toman conquest in 1453). It re- being and the growth of a society As we noted last week, it went better than expected. Since expectations memorates some heroic effort to People believe what they want mains the seat of the Ecumenical where personal freedom and care were so low to begin with, the absence of any serious trouble made it a combine Jesus, and by extension to believe, which is one of the rea- Patriarch, of Eastern Christendom. for others provide peace and seren- success almost automatically. the Pope, with Soren Kierkegaard, sons the Protocols of the Elders of The Pope's visit to Turkey was pri- ity for all." As for Turkey, it has proven to be a bonanza: The Pope’s basically trou- and by extension Danish cartoon- Zion continue to enjoy a good cir- marily for the purpose of meeting But the answer came, as ever, by ble-free visit went a long way to convey the mistaken impression that ists, into a single object for hatred. culation. That, and the fact that this this Patriarch, Bartholomew I. It reading the stated agenda. The Turkey is a moderate Islamic country, and a bridge between Middle East References in protest signs to Russian-fabricated late 19th Centu- was intended secondarily as the lat- joint declaration with Patriarch and the Christian West – a point pushed very hard by the American and the "Barnabas Bible" were more ry blood libel against the Jews has est Vatican act of outreach to the Is- Bartholomew offered the most British media. comprehensible. The Gospel of been big-budget dramatized on lamic world. The international me- scintillating demonstration of the As European Union leaders are scheduled to meet next week to discuss Barnabas was an obvious forgery state television in Egypt and many dia managed to frame it as an act of growing will, both Catholic and Or- the issue of Turkey’s admission to the E.U., first France and Germany, and from the 16th Century (not the other Muslim countries. contrition for remarks Pope Bene- thodox, to overcome divisions later Cyprus, made a 90-degree turn – from threatening to block Turkey’s 14th, as reported by the BBC). It Turkish television recently dict made in Bavaria, touching on which "are a scandal to the world." entry to giving it 18 months to revise its policies on trading with Cyprus by purports to give a life of Jesus in showed a massively popular dra- Islam, which were twisted viciously I do not know where "the dia- granting Cypriot ships and planes access to its harbors and airports. which Christendom's Founder de- matic series, in which basic ele- out of context, at first by the BBC. logue between Christianity and Is- “What is important,” said Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas, “is nies His Own Divine Sonship, and ments from the Protocols were re- Their coverage has been a kind of lam" can go, but the real effort to the fact that there will be a new evaluation of Turkey, which was not pro- instead points forward to the cast, as an "expose" of baby-eating deathwatch, in anticipation of the heal the breach between Eastern vided for in the European Commission’s recommendations. It is not so im- Prophet Muhammad. But it also in- U.S. soldiers in Iraq. possibility the Pope might be assas- and Western Christendom, which portant if the time frame is 18 months or two years.” corporates Gnostic and other apoc- It is worth remembering such sinated. became fixed nearly a thousand Actually, however, it makes a big difference, because time is not work- ryphal and heretical materials from things when we consider the possi- I could not myself understand years ago in 1054, is something cer- ing in Cyprus’ favor. Just a few days earlier, Mr. Lillikas himself expressed earlier centuries. It is widely be- bilities for "dialogue" between cul- why His Holiness would want to go tainly consequential over a longer immense dissatisfaction with the French-German proposal to set such a lieved in the Islamic world to be the tures. It is also worth considering through with the Turkish journey. historical view. long deadline. true gospel of the Apostle Barnabas with what great difficulty the West There would be no fond crowds, as Apparently, the pressure exerted on Cyprus and the European Union, – "the one the Christians tried to was raised out of the barbaric wel- Muslim and Christian Turks alike The Ottawa Citizen published the brought to bear by the United States and Great Britain, is too strong. And suppress." In the West, it enjoyed a ter of superstition and paranoia, feared to be seen near his en- above on December 2. that is why, at the end of the day (contrary to public outbursts aimed at placating the local electorate), the Europeans are bending over backwards to let Turkey into the E.U. What about Religious Liberty for Turkey’s Orthodox Christians Onassis Foundation By George Weigel reconsidered his position as pope; exercise the jurisdictional and doc- new their tourist visas. “Athens-Sparta,” the exhibition inaugurated at the Onassis Cultural Cen- Newsweek but in any case, his questions about trinal authority in world Orthodoxy The Ecumenical Patriarchate is ter in New York this week, featuring 283 Greek antiquities, is the latest in a Turkey's E.U. ambitions, plus his which the Papacy exercises in not permitted to own property; series of cultural events of the highest quality brought to our community and Rome and Constantinople for- September lecture in Regensburg, world Catholicism, it does enjoy a thus it owns none of the churches the general American public by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit mally parted ways via mutual ex- Germany where he raised hard historic status as "first among under its religious jurisdiction. Foundation. And it could very well be that this is the best one, so far. communications in 1054, after cen- questions about the ways in which equals" in Orthodoxy; plays an im- Turkish authorities have also con- Athens and Sparta were two city-states markedly different in structure turies of controversy in which ge- certain Islamic conceptions of God portant role in coordinating Ortho- fiscated houses, apartment build- and philosophy, but linked together by their common language and drawn ography and language played per- led to lethal worldly consequences, dox affairs globally; and is regard- ings, schools, monasteries and together as two opposites often are at the peak of their power. haps as large a role as controverted have conspired, in the global me- ed as the spiritual center of global lands which were once owned by The study of these two ancient cities is a never-ending project. New dis- questions of theology and liturgical dia's mind, to cast Pope Benedict's Orthodoxy by Orthodox believers. the Ecumenical Patriarchate; the coveries and new interpretations of existing works and recent findings practice. However we understand impending visit to Turkey in a light Yet it is Turkish law, not the canons state seized the Patriarchate's 36 shed new light and meaning to age-old questions. Examining their way of the reasons for the split between both he and Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, which de- cemeteries, which are now the life and their individual historical paths is not only relevant to today’s Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy, Bartholomew dislike: as far as most termines who is eligible to be elect- property of various legal subdivi- world, but also necessary for anyone who wishes to make sense of contem- those mutual excommunications of the world is concerned, the Pope ed ecumenical patriarch, and Turk- sions of the city of Istanbul; and, porary events. opened up a religious and psycho- is going to Islamic Turkey, not to ish law limits the pool of possible earlier this year, the state confiscat- “Athens-Sparta” brings these two important cities to a wide audience, logical faultline which would have the Ecumenical Patriarchate of candidates to Turkish citizens liv- ed the boys' orphanage run by the and invites all of us to delve more deeply into their way of life, as well as profound historical consequences Constantinople, and the real issue ing in Turkey. As a recent memo- Patriarchate (which is the oldest into their triumphs and failings. throughout the second millennium being engaged in Istanbul from No- randum from the Ecumenical Patri- wooden building in Europe and of We urge all those who can to stop by. It is well worth the effort. of Christian history. vember 28 through December 1 in- archate put it, "the result of these great historical value). Ever since the historic 1964 volves Catholicism and Islam, not restrictions is that, in the not-so- The Turkish Government also meeting in Jerusalem between Pope Catholicism and Orthodoxy. distant future, the Ecumenical Pa- determines who may teach in the Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Given the ecumenical priorities triarchate may not be able to elect a elementary schools that serve the America can do better Athenagoras, Catholic theologians which both Pope and Patriarch as- Patriarch." Orthodox community, and enforces and Orthodox scholars have sign to this historic encounter, how- The Turkish Government closed a six-year "approval" process to The American people knew it already. But the Bush Administration had worked to close the breach formal- ever, it is very unlikely that the Pa- the Patriarchate's seminary, the control the flow of books to Ortho- to get this piece of news from a high-level commission assigned with the task ized almost a thousand years ago so pal pilgrimage will see Regensburg Theological School of Halki, in dox school libraries. of assessing the situation in Iraq. And what they reported on a chilly morn- that the Church could once again II, a major statement from Benedict 1971, and has refused, despite nu- No Christian community in the ing this past Wednesday is that the policy in Iraq “is not working.” "breathe with both lungs," as the XVI on Christianity and Islam. That merous requests, to reopen it. West would tolerate such condi- That’s a nice way of saying that we are losing the war in Iraq. late Pope John Paul II liked to put it. is not because the Pope is retreating Turkey will not grant the Ecu- tions, which involve violations of The report also stated, “The situation is grave and deteriorating and… So when Pope Benedict XVI, suc- from what he said at Regensburg; it menical Patriarchate legal "person- basic human rights. the ability of the United States to influence events within Iraq is diminish- cessor of the Apostle Peter, goes to is because this pilgrimage has a dif- ality," in defiance of the Lausanne If Turkey is to be the model of a ing.” Istanbul on November 28 to meet ferent purpose. Treaty of 1923, which defined the modern Islamic society, it must re- Meanwhile, Robert M. Gates, the Defense Secretary nominee, during his Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew But there is a link between what legal position of minorities in move restrictions on the exercise of confirmation hearings the day before, spoke of the possibility that a failure I, successor of the Apostle Andrew, Benedict XVI thinks he's doing dur- Turkey; this refusal to deal with the some of the most fundamental as- in Iraq could produce “a regional conflagration” in the Middle East. the Pontiff's primary concerns will ing his Turkish pilgrimage and the Patriarchate as a legal "person" (as pects of religious freedom: the free- One of the main points Mr. Gates made is the possibility that a “variety of be ecumenical: how might he and world's expectations of another churches are regarded throughout dom of religious communities to regional powers will become involved in Iraq, and we will have a regional Bartholomew (who did some of his episode in the confrontation be- the West) is, according to the Patri- educate their people; perform conflict on our hands.” One such scenario foresees a Turkish invasion of the doctoral work in Rome) advance tween the West and Islam. That archal memo, "a major source of works of charity; and choose their northwestern (Kurdish) part of Iraq to prevent the creation of a separate the dialogue between Catholicism link involves the dramatic restric- many other problems." For to deny leaders according to their own the- state there, which would probably ignite the Kurds in southeastern Turkey. and Orthodoxy, so that Peter and tions under which Patriarch that the Patriarchate is a legal enti- ological self-understanding. Might Neither the Baker commission nor Mr. Gates are saying anything new, Andrew and the Churches they em- Bartholomew and the Ecumenical ty with certain rights, an entity Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to Turkey but their statements are making a heavy impact, and are also raising some body might, one day, find them- Patriarchate must operate, thanks which can work with the Turkish focus the world's attention on the very disturbing questions: selves again in full communion to the obstacles put in the Patriar- Government within the framework stranglehold the Turkish state at- Why couldn’t the U.S. Government itself see earlier how badly the situa- with each other? chate's path by the Turkish Govern- of the law, means that all issues be- tempts to exercise on Ecumenical tion was developing, and then take some action to correct it? Why did it cost In the days when the world ment – restrictions which raise seri- tween the Patriarchate and the Patriarch Bartholomew and his hundreds of billions of dollars and 2,900 American lives before the Adminis- knew him as Cardinal Joseph ous questions about Turkey's ability state become political issues, sub- people, such that that stranglehold tration finally heard that its Iraq policy isn’t working? Ratzinger, Benedict XVI expressed to meet E.U. human rights stan- ject to political pressures and coun- begins to ease? If the 79-year-old On the central issue of troop withdrawals, the Commission seems to play reservations about Turkey's acces- dards. Should the Papal visit to the terpressures – especially problem- pontiff managed that, Christian it both ways by warning against “precipitous pullback” or an open-ended sion to the European Union, which Phanar (sometimes referred to as atic, since less than one tenth of 1 unity and the dialogue between the commitment: “We should seek to complete the training-equipping mission he believed would mark the end of the "Orthodox Vatican," much to percent of the Turkish population is West and Islam would both be ad- by the end of the first quarter of 2008,” it says. the E.U. as the political expression the aggravation of the Orthodox) now Orthodox. vanced. That smells like a deadline to us. And once there is a deadline, all the in- of a common culture. Instead, focus world attention on the gaps The Turkish Government blocks surgents need to do is to wait us out. Ratzinger suggested, Turkey in Turkey's practice of religious work permits for non-Turkish citi- Newsweek published the above Our view is that policymakers unquestionably need to face reality and should be associated with the Euro- freedom, the situation of the Ecu- zens who wish to work at the Ecu- in its December 4 issue. Mr. change the policy of conducting this war. But it seems like a quick-fix climate pean Union in such a way that it menical Patriarchate might be im- menical Patriarchate, such that the Weigel is senior fellow at Wash- is developing fast, and if an exit strategy is applied in such a climate, it will would enjoy the economic benefits proved – and so, in consequence, ten Greek clergymen, one Ameri- ington’s Ethics & Public Policy leave not only Iraq and the Middle East in a terrible mess – much worse and of E.U. membership without be- would Turkey's chances of a closer can layman and one British layman Center and the author, most re- more dangerous than before – but also the United States with no credibility, coming a member, with full voice relationship to the E.U. now working at the Phanar are do- cently, of “God’s Choice: Pope at all, for many years to come. and vote, of the E.U.'s political de- Although the Ecumenical Patri- ing so illegally, and must leave the Benedict XVI and the Future of Cutting and running is not a good policy. America can do better than that. liberations. Perhaps Ratzinger has archate of Constantinople does not country every three months to re- the Catholic Church.” THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 VIEWPOINTS 9 Hamlet, God and Allah: The Pope and the Diplomacy of Religion

What do President Bush, Pope American People. The a significant part of the Religion has once again secured Process of Final Partition Benedict XVI and Iranian President letter, couched in a American body politic its place as an essential element of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad have in universal religious to accept and forgive the relationship between nations. By Nicos A. Rolandis cient political judgment, so it ended common? They all believe in the tone, accused the Bush what is arguably one of We can not dial the clock back. For Special to The National Herald with the 1960 Agreements, which centrality of their religious faith to Administration of hid- the most incompetent the democracies of the world, it is then Consul-General of Greece in the conduct of foreign affairs. ing the many efforts of administrations in his- only a question of how they address Hamlet, in William Shake- Cyprus Angelos Vlahos described as Pope Benedict clearly scored a the Iranian Govern- tory. Religious fervor this new reality. speare’s play of the same name, says “a way out of a shipwreck.” And we diplomatic triumph in a visit that ment and people to ex- also took precedence The Orthodox are already en- “politicians are persons that would continued blaming Karamanlis. was politico-religious in its entirety. tend a hand of friend- over the morality of gaged. Patriarch Bartholomew has circumvent God.” In their course of Karamanlis, aggrieved and resent- The English-language Turkish Daily ship to Americans. The torture, corruption and already defied the Moscow Patriar- action, politicians would outmaneu- ful, never visited Cyprus. News waxed poetic: “I must say, extremely well-written impoverishing an in- chate’s attempt to seize the leader- ver and evade even their own Cre- 2. From 1960 to 1974, most Pope Benedict XVI surprised all of letter offers Iran’s view creasingly large num- ship of the Orthodox. He has helped ator. And I feel certain that Machi- Greek Cypriots pursued union with us in Turkey and throughout the of why two nations ber of our fellow citi- Orthodox Churches in Moscow’s pe- avellian machinations and Byzan- Greece (enosis), and most of the Muslim world during his four-day which are “God-fear- by AMB. PATRICK N. zens. riphery maintain independence. He tine intrigue, which are beyond di- Turkish Cypriots worked for parti- visit to our country… He seems to ing, truth-loving and THEROS How else could one took charge of the ongoing struggle vine parameters, of course, and tion (taxim). Very few Cypriots real- have impressed everyone in Turkey. justice-seeking and… explain Bush’s victory of Jerusalem to maintain its reli- Special which politicians employed in ly believed in the Republic of There is not one person who can (which) seek dignity, to The National Herald in 2004 and the fact gious rights and freedoms. Now he Cyprus during the past 50 years, Cyprus. In 1963 Makarios, acting brand any unfavorable word about respect and perfection” that, in 2006, the Re- has unilaterally proposed to Pope have brought about the deadlock against the advice of the Greek Gov- his visit.” must be friends, not publicans retained Benedict, according to Turkish which we encounter today. ernment, made the wrong decision Benedict’s visits to Ataturk’s enemies. The letter sets out Iran’s their majorities mostly in the poor- news reports, a new dialogue on Since 1955, the two Cypriot com- to try to amend the Constitution. In Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia and the case against Israel in strong, yet ra- est and most disadvantaged coun- reconciliation. Moscow will not be munities have embarked on a war of 1967, the House of Representatives Sultan Ahmet (Blue) Mosque were tional terms, which invite argument ties in America? pleased at this resurgence of Hel- words many times, but also on voted unanimously for the union of box office hits which would drive and not condemnation. Mr. Bush has clearly signaled lenic primacy competing with its armed conflicts. Greece and Turkey Cyprus with Greece. Militias, like any politician green with envy. Most Interestingly, almost no Ameri- that religion plays an important role resurgence from the tyranny of the have been actively implicated in this Akritas (Greek Cypriot) and TMT emphatically, Benedict made no ef- can news media carried the full text in his conduct of foreign policy but Soviet Union and its reassertion of clash. Each side steadfastly believes (Turkish Cypriot) spread fear and fort to cloak the essentially religious of the letter, but rather chose to has just as clearly failed in the im- its previous influence. to be in the right. According to an death. Various warlords entered the aspects of his persona while pursu- parse, denounce and ridicule its plementation (a common failing of Greece has an opportunity to ex- ancient Greek adage, one can only game. The two communities were ing political goals. He made the contents, sincerity and intent. Com- this administration). He uses the ploit its role as the ancient leader of see the bag hanging in front of his gradually but steadily demolishing right gestures, even in appearing to mentators from CNN to rightwing imagery of muscular Western Chris- Orthodoxy. Greek foreign policy chest which contains the mistakes of the cells of the Republic of Cyprus. pray towards Mecca in the Blue blogs condemned the letter as hyp- tianity fighting Islam – e.g., the which successfully advocates and other people; he has no knowledge 3. In 1974, a coup was car- Mosque. ocritical, and inaccurately de- “Crusade” – seemingly unconscious protects the Orthodox in other of his own mistakes, which lie in a ried out by Greeks and Greek Cypri- His All Holiness Ecumenical Pa- scribed it as calling for the destruc- of the effect it will have on an audi- countries will gain great support in bag hanging on his back. ots, with the objective of union with triarch Bartholomew described tion of Israel. That it did no such ence of Muslim (and Eastern Christ- the Arab World, which has long Greek Cypriots use the prefix Greece. In his speech at the U.N. Se- Benedict’s visit to the Ecumenical thing seemed not to bother the ian) victims of the original Cru- seen Greece and Greek Orthodoxy “pseudo” when we refer to the other curity Council on 19 July 1974, Patriarchate as being “of incalcula- commentators, many of whom sades. His administration injects as synonymous, and also as its clos- community. The Turkish Cypriots Makarios repeatedly referred to a ble value in the process of reconcili- probably did not bother to read the fundamentalist interpretations into est non-Arab friend. Similarly, an consider our government as the “ad- Greek invasion against Cyprus. The ation,” and signed a joint declara- letter, but only noted the fact that it important foreign aid programs – active Greek role as champion of ministration of the south.” World- following day (20 July 1974), tion in which both noted the need to had been sent. The Administration e.g., banning use of USG money for Orthodoxy could certainly appeal to wide, the media refer to “north” and Turkey invaded Cyprus, and subse- “preserve Christian roots” in Euro- said it would ignore the letter while the purchase of condoms to fight those in the Balkans and elsewhere “south” or to “Turkish Cyprus” and quently occupied more than 37 per- pean culture – extracting support trying to counter any suggestion HIV, which seems to defeat the pur- in Eastern Europe who want an al- “Greek Cyprus.” cent of the territory and has, since for Benedict’s views on the basic that the U.S. and Iranian Govern- pose of the assistance. He has in- ternative to Moscow. We accuse Turkey of the invasion then, solidified the occupation. cultural structure of Europe. ments should engage in any dia- vented an oxymoron: “Islamo-Fas- As for Turkey, Greek Foreign and occupation of our country; the 4. A number of initiatives for Bartholomew and Benedict tem- logue. cism” which stirs up hatred within Minister Dora Bakoyanni, speaking other community charges that we a solution of the Cyprus problem fol- pered what could be construed as Ahmedinejad anticipated a US America and alienates potential in Washington, offered that country carried out a coup d’etat, and that lowed, of which seven could be con- an affront to Turkey by adding, Government reaction which would friends. To his credit, he often a way to improve its image and in- we have imposed an embargo on sidered basic (excluding some initial “while remaining open to other reli- make him more popular in Iran, of demonstrates a very Christian com- fluence through religion. Why does them, and have cut them off from efforts in the wake of the invasion): gions and their cultural contribu- course. The letter, and our reaction, passion, such as in his immigration Turkey try to suffocate the Patriar- the international community. We The Anglo American Canadian Plan tions.” Benedict now has the sup- no doubt won him support across policy. But his political party almost chate? Imagine, she asked, how consider the Turks as the culprits (1978); The Evaluation – Waldheim port of the Ecumenical Patriarchate the spectrum of Iranian politics. To universally does not share that com- Greek-Turkish relations and and ourselves as the victims (al- (1981); The Indicators – Perez de for a view of Europe significantly at the anti-American religious Iranian, passion, and he seems to lack the Turkey’s world influence would though in Brussels, in June 2004, Cuelliar (1983); The Consolidated odds with that of most E.U. Govern- we proved that America hates Islam backbone to demand it. The 2006 benefit if Ankara championed the our President, together with the oth- Documents – Perez de Cuelliar ments. Benedict’s unabashedly reli- – since we rejected a call for friend- elections validated this view: The Patriarchate’s Ecumenical role? er 24 members of the E.U., com- (1985); The Set of Ideas – Boutros gious policies snatched victory from ship based on our common morality Republican Party has been decimat- As noted, America has already mended Turkey for its positive con- Ghali (1992); Trautbeck and Glion – what had threatened to be a cata- and religious views. To those who ed everywhere except in the funda- injected religion into the conduct of tribution to the prospective solution Kofi Annan (1997); and the Annan strophic visit to Turkey. He exploit- want better ties with America, mentalist Protestant southeast. its foreign policy. Moreover, as not- of the Cyprus problem – obviously Plan (2002). ed the fact that Muslims are actual- Ahmedinejad demonstrated that he Many Americans and Europeans ed, doing so has caused more prob- during the April referendum). The All the above initiatives were ly much more comfortable with was willing to try. believe, with the certainty equiva- lems. We do not have the capacity Turkish Cypriots think that we are to turned down. They contained what Christians who wear their religion President Bush has made no se- lent to that of a religious fanatic, to play the religious card without blame. was feasible, and not what was de- openly than with those who would cret that he believes his faith has that democracy influenced by pow- provoking hostility both within the There has been an incessant bick- sirable. Greek Cypriots rejected all hide behind secularism. Turks have given him the Divine Guidance nec- erful and organized religious insti- United States and abroad. We are ering between the two communi- of them except for the 1997 initia- learned that 70 years of secularism essary to lead our country. At times, tutions is an oxymoron. They fail to too diverse to promote a particular ties, and quite often, foreign powers tive. Turkish Cypriots accepted only in Turkey means oppression, cor- he has more or less explicitly stated recognize that secularism now com- dogma, and when we try, we fall flat become the target of our wrath. For- the Annan Plan. ruption and humiliation. that the Guidance is direct and not petes for the political space with re- on our face. We have removed reli- eign mediators, including our Euro- All those implicated with the Benedict also stole the show inspired. His political supporters ligion on religion’s terms. gion from the curriculum of the pean partners (who certainly pursue Cyprus problem, most of them from Orthodoxy. His visit was origi- have also cited their own personal A very large segment of the great schools of America and edu- and promote their own interests as friends of ours, ended up as “ene- nally billed as a meeting of reconcil- messages from God as justifying Mr. world’s population believes that the cated our elite to regard religion as well), are already sick and tired of mies.” They were vilified in a vulgar iation with the Ecumenical Patri- Bush’s stewardship of the United rapid social and moral changes of irrelevant. We need to know more us. As Special Representative of the fashion. U.N. Secretaries-General arch. He converted it into a political States. I can not know nor comment the last century have eroded social about religion and its importance U.N. Secretary-General Hugo Gobbi and their representatives, ministers, tour de force between Ankara and on Mr. Bush’s personal beliefs and structures essential to a good life. worldwide, and pay it the respect it aptly told me in Geneva back in and E.U. officials were all scorned the Vatican. The Pope’s visit to how he sees his relationship with Hollywood, sexuality, narcotics and demands. But we must not ever fall 1983, when he was about to leave and disparaged. We created hostile mosques and meetings with Turkish the Almighty. From what little evi- the change in age and gender roles again into the trap of trying to ex- Cyprus, “Kyprianou and Denktash feelings. But a small and weak coun- officials stayed on the world’s front dence is available, I would argue have disrupted society. The old po- port a particular brand of faith. deserve each other.” try needs friends, not enemies. pages for days. His meetings with strenuously that he is sincere and litical movements have failed to During all these years, we have The situation today is the worst the Patriarch, the ostensible reason honest in his beliefs. evolve with change. Consequently, The Hon. Ambassador Theros been looking for scapegoats. We all we ever had. Turkish Cypriots have a for the visit, did not even make it in- However, I would argue equally the “Politics of the Unhappy” have served in the U.S. Foreign Service consider ourselves to be sinless, moderate leader, who of course pro- to the “Other News” columns of the strenuously that Messrs. Rove, Fal- become the politics of religion for 36 years, mostly in the Middle however, and we don’t want to ad- motes their interests, but with Western press. Benedict has made well, Robertson and Graham fer- worldwide. In the process, the East, and was American Ambas- mit any wrongdoing on our part. whom we might reach an under- the Vatican, once again, a major vently believe that emphasizing the Robertsons, Kahanes, Osamas and sador to Qatar from 1995 to So… standing. player on the world scene, and he religious aspects keep Mr. Bush and others who exploit religion as a 1998. He also directed the State 1. In the 1960’s, we consid- We have deviated from the did so playing the religious card. their version of the Republican Par- means to power have usurped the Department's Counter-Terrorism ered that then Greek Prime Minister course of solution to the Cyprus A few days earlier, Ahmedinejad ty in power. They correctly calculat- leadership of the traditional reli- Office and holds numerous U.S. Constantinos Karamanlis was to problem, and we have veered off in- addressed an “open letter” to the ed that religious fervor would cause gious hierarchies. Government decorations. blame for the 1960 Zurich-London to other directions. We have acted as Agreements. We overlooked the fact amateurs, and we are facing dead- that we had commenced the 1955- locks. We became entangled in the 59 struggle, despite the advice of the E.U. accession process of Turkey, in Greek Government. The struggle the “small” and “big” vetoes, in was heroic and glorious, but there Turkish ports which are not opening was no programming and no suffi- up for us. In the meantime, Cyprus is in a process of final partition, since there is no communication, no contact GUEST EDITORIALS and no dialogue between the com- munities. Turkish Cypriots, after The National Herald welcomes they got to know us a little better in manuscripts representing a vari- the past 2-3 years, appear to have ety of views for publication in its distanced themselves from us. We View Points page. They should in- managed to lose our properties in clude the writer’s name, address, the north, and to be inundated with new influxes of settlers. Partition is and telephone number and be ad- being cemented in an impeccable dressed to the View Points Editor, manner. The National Herald, 37-10 30th I wonder whether there is still Street, Long Island City, NY hope. God and Allah Who, for the 11101. They can also be faxed to past 46 years, have been circum- (718) 472-0510 or, preferably, e- vented by politicians, as Hamlet mailed to english.edition@then- says, might at last wake up and de- ationalherald.com. Due to consid- cide to act. They might work their own miracle. erations of space we enforce a strict 1,400-word upper limit. We Mr. Rolandis was the Cypriot Gov- reserve the right to edit for repet- ernment’s Foreign Minister itiveness, diction and syntax. We (1978-83) and Minister of Com- regret that we are unable to ac- merce, Industry & Tourism (1998- knowledge or return manuscripts, 2003). He was also a member of published or unpublished. the Cyprus of the House of Repre- AP/PETER DeJONG sentatives (1991-96) and presi- Pope Benedict XVI bids the press farewell prior to his departure from Istanbul airport in Turkey last Friday, December 1, ending an official four- dent of Liberal Party (1986-98). day visit to Turkey marked by a message of dialogue and "brotherhood" between Christians and Muslims. Iraq: An Arab Solution to an American Problem

By Dr. Nikolaos A. Stavrou tion; only an Arab one would do. ing the Middle East for six decades; stead of democracy. The word- ernment has called America’s bluff. dence; the Turks on the verge of in- Special to The National Herald Moreover, any half-serious read- and if history is any guide, the “Bak- smiths, produced by Harvard and It welcomes majority rule, anointed vasion; the Iranians flexing their er of Middle East history will con- er-Hamilton Report” will be just an- similar ideological factories, never by a purple finger, though not the muscle; and the Kingdom of 33,000 The inventors of the Iraq war clude that expectations raised by other document replete with “yes internalized the notion that democ- middle one. The Maliki operetta Princes, Saudi Arabia, feeling Shi- have exhausted all means to a dig- the Deus ex machina, known as the but” and “on the other hand” racy is a homegrown plant, condi- pretends to be sovereign, and we ites breathing down its neck. nified exit. The conflict – fashioned Baker-Hamilton “Iraq Study Group” clichés. tioned by the environment of each pretend to believe it. Private mili- The situation requires dramatic by elites who never fired a rifle, (ISG), have been unreasonably high For a brief interval, no doubt, the society, which can not be exported, tias, controlled by Sheiks or Clerics, responses before the Iraq chaos en- managed by certifiably incompe- and reflective of our post-Cold War eagerly anticipated “Report of the imposed or dictated. Adding insult dwarf a fledging military and a cor- gulfs the entire Middle East. In- tent civilians and executed by gen- imperial hubris. ISG” would provide talking points to arrogance, they picked the rupt police force. No one knows stead of endless debates on how to erals who salute and march (with- Events on the ground in Iraq will for diverse talking heads, but not a wrong country, in the wrong place, how many roles these forces play pass the buck until 2008, the U.S. out asking where or why) – has now not be altered by the prescriptions blueprint for an orderly exit strate- and in the age of terrorism to test while wearing purloined American must exercise a fast fading option: morphed into a civil war. Even Hen- of an American group born out of a gy. One would have hoped that the warped theories of democratiza- uniforms. declare “victory” with the removal ry Kissinger, the guru who botched strategic quagmire and intellectual- Bush Administration would have tion. President Bush promised the (or hanging) of Saddam; get our more post-World War II conflicts ly programmed to produce half realized, by now, that solutions with Iraq was a secular state, albeit American people “we will stand troops out; ask the Arab League to than he cares to admit, agrees. It is a measures. Indeed, the chaotic con- an American stamp, influenced by run by a ruthless dictator, with a 90- down, as the Iraqis stand up” to de- act in its own best interest; and put bloody Shiite vs. Sunni showdown, ditions which now prevail in Iraq the subcontractors of our Middle percent literacy rate, equality of fend their country. The problem is up a force big enough to pacify Iraq with Kurds waiting in the wings and will not be ameliorated by the col- East policy, are not marketable in women, one of the best healthcare that the wrong guys have stood up the Arab way. Failing that, it will be Americans in the crosshairs. lective wisdom of ten political has- the Arab world. It behooves all con- systems in the Middle East, a history and made a mockery of the corner- done the Ayatollah way. And this The intramural debates, set in beens in search of relevance, who cerned to take a deep breath and re- of anti-fundamentalism (two mil- stone of democracy: i.e., the rule of time, let’s forget about playing the motion by the results of the mid- collectively are predisposed to treat count the elements of the first lion dead to prove it), and heir to law. The chaotic conditions in Iraq Kurds as yoyos in half-baked term elections, if translated into Arabs as underdeveloped Ameri- strategic fiasco of the 21st Century one of the world’s ancient civiliza- produce terrorists at an unprece- schemes which would de-stabilize policy, would lead to deeper U.S. in- cans. Passing the buck via blue rib- before marketing new solutions. tions. The results of American occu- dented rate and ready for export in- Iran or Turkey or both volvement, and ultimately to a bon panels may rescue politicians The neo-conservative cabal, pation, at a cost of 3,000 young to a combustible region. wider conflagration for one simple from their blunders and keep the which imitated Nero in its obses- American lives, are clear for all to Iraq is in the grip of a sectarian, Dr. Stavrou is Professor Emeritus reason: Iraq is a problem made in natives blissfully ignorant, but sion with dismantling functioning see. ethnic fragmentation with the of International Affairs at America, but has no American solu- rarely address the core issues afflict- states, has spread only chaos in- An Ayatollah-dominated gov- Kurds on the verge of indepen- Howard University. 10 EAST MEETS WEST THE NATIONAL HERALD, DECEMBER 9, 2006 Pope, Patriarch Demonstrate Desire for Unity

By Harry Moskos Albuquerque Journal

ISTANBUL – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew greeted his "beloved brother" Pope Benedict XVI amid the ringing of church bells last Wednes- day night, November 29, at the Pa- triarchal Cathedral of Saint George to mark the historic meeting of the two church leaders. After embracing and lighting candles, Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of more than 300 million Or- thodox Christians, escorted the Pon- tiff into the historic church to com- memorate Benedict's first visit to Is- tanbul, the present-day name for Constantinople. "Beloved brother, welcome," the patriarch said in his homily during a Doxology of Thanksgiving and Peace attended by many Roman Catholic cardinals and Greek Ortho- dox prelates, along with several hundred dignitaries and worship- pers from around the world, includ- ing some 150 Americans of Greek AP/PATRICK HERTZOG Orthodox faith. Pope Benedict XVI looks up in awe during a visit of the 1,500-year-old "It is with open embrace that we Hagia Sofia in Constantinople last Thursday, November 30. The an- welcome you on the blessed occa- cient church, is considered a majestic tribute to faith, with its remark- sion of your fist visit to the city," able mix of Koranic calligraphy and Christian mosaics from its legacy Bartholomew said. as a marvel of early Christianity and then a coveted prize of Islam’s Benedict's four-day visit is the expansion. first official visit of a Roman Catholic pope to Istanbul in 27 years. In response, Benedict said he AP/L’OSSERVARTORE ROMANO hopes these meetings "strengthen Pope Benedict XVI, left, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace during their meeting at the Pa- Pope and Patriarch Issue our mutual affection and renew our triarchal Cathedral of Saint George last Thursday, November 30, as they commemorated the feast day of common commitment to persevere Saint Andrew the First-Called Apostle during the last day of the Pontiff’s four-day visit to Turkey. on the journey leading to reconcilia- A Common Declaration tion and the peace of the churches." walked down the church's center nation." who attended the service, and then The Orthodox and Roman aisle to the altar, with Bartholomew They also discussed in the Decla- clasped hands in a joint wave to the Continued from page 1 teachings as “evil and inhuman.” Catholic churches split in 1054 over standing to the right of the altar's ration, as well as in their homilies people. The Pope avoided any direct theological, cultural and political is- entrance and Benedict to its left. during the service, the establish- In other points raised in their which later became the first ecclesi- mention of Islam after praying with sues, but relations have been im- The Pope attended a Divine ment of closer ties between the Ro- common declaration, the prelates astical Throne in the Christian East. Bartholomew in Constantinople, proving in recent years. Liturgy service the next morning to man Catholic and Orthodox Christ- urged the protection of minorities. The homage of the Orthodox capital of the Byzantine Empire be- During the doxology service it- commemorate the feast day of Saint ian churches. They also expressed concerns over feast day liturgy was also highly fore falling to Muslim forces in self, there were prayers asking that Andrew the Apostle, the founder of In his homily, the Pope said, "My the increase of secularization, rela- significant to Roman Catholics. An- 1453. the "steps" of Benedict and the Church of Constantinople. After presence here today is meant to re- tivism and even nihilism, especially drew was the brother of Saint Peter, The echoes of the city’s turbulent Bartholomew "be directed in good the service, the two issued a joint new our commitment to advancing in the Western world. who was martyred in Rome and is history were among Benedict’s works," and "for the stability of the statement. along the road toward the reestab- Their three-day visit ended with considered the first bishop of stops. Haghia Sophia, once a spiritu- holy churches of God, and for the In a common declaration last lishment – by God's grace – of full Bartholomew attending a Papal Rome. al center of Christianity, was con- unity of all." Thursday, November 30, the two communion between the Church of Holy Mass at the Roman Catholic Both the Pope and the Patriarch verted to a mosque in the 15th Cen- Following the doxology service, Church leaders condemned the Rome and the Church of Constan- Church of the Holy Spirit in Istan- are noted throughout the world for tury. The site became a museum fol- the two venerated the relics of "killing of innocent people in God's tinople." bul. The Pope headed back to Italy their efforts to create “bridges of lowing the secular reforms which Saints John Chrysostom and Grego- name as an offense against human Describing efforts to build closer on Friday afternoon, December 1. truth and love” across religious, eth- formed modern Turkey in the ry the Theologian – both former dignity." ties between the Catholic Church There are an estimated 20-30 nic, environmental and political di- 1920’s. archbishops of Constantinople – They expressed concern over ten- and Orthodox Churches as a "mis- thousand Roman Catholics who re- vides. The document is considered The Pope, wearing white robes, which were returned to the Church sion in the Middle East, saying, "We sionary task," Benedict said the divi- side in Turkey. In a city where Greek by some to be a powerful symbol of stopped often to gaze on Koranic two years ago by the late Pope John fervently hope that peace will be re- sions which exist among Christians Orthodox Christians once num- ecclesiastical solidarity. passages carved in the ancient mar- Paul II. The relics had been seized in established," and "that respectful co- "are a scandal to the world and an bered in the tens and hundreds of The signing of the joint state- ble – in some places where crosses 1204 during the Fourth Crusade. existence will be strengthened be- obstacle to the proclamation of the thousands, less than 3,000 remain. ment continues a tradition which and the fish-shaped sign of early Security was tight for the Pope's tween the different people who live Gospel." began in 1964, when Pope Paul VI Christians were chiseled away. visit, with Turkish authorities block- there, between the churches and be- At the conclusion of the service, The Albuquerque Journal pub- and Ecumenical Patriarch Above them were frescoes and mo- ing vehicular access to the church. tween the different religions found the two exchanged gifts, with the lished the above on November 30 Athenagoras met in Jerusalem, and saics which couldn’t be touched by Several thousand police officers, in- there." Patriarch presenting the Pope with a and December 1. Mr. Moskos, a later in Constantinople and Rome, Muslims: figures such as Jesus and cluding sharpshooters on rooftops, The two prelates encouraged the gilded Bible and the Pope presenting Journal columnist and letters edi- for the purpose of renewing the rela- the Virgin Mary, who are regarded were on security detail for the visit. establishment of closer relationships a chalice to the Patriarch. They then tor, was acting as the public rela- tionship between the Roman as revered predecessors of Muham- As the Pope entered the church, between Christians, "and of an au- left the church walking side-by-side tions official for Ecumenical Patri- Catholic and Orthodox Churches. mad. which has been the Patriarchal thentic and honest inter-religious di- to the courtyard, and then to the pa- arch Bartholomew during Pope The three-day meeting between Security for the Papal pilgrimage Cathedral since 1601, there was a alogue, with a view to combating triarchal balcony, where they Benedict XVI’s official visit to Benedict and Bartholomew follows was stringent. But it grew even burst of applause. Both prelates every form of violence and discrimi- blessed the several hundred people Turkey last week. a recent meeting of the Joint Inter- tighter as the Pope moved about national Commission for Theologi- Constantinople. Police blockades cal Dialogue between the two virtually sealed off parts of the city’s Churches last September. ancient heart. Snipers stood watch Following the celebration of the on the minarets added to Haghia Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral Sophia following the Muslim con- of Saint George on November 30, quest. the Pope and his entourage sat at the About 150 nationalists demon- formal luncheon in the headquar- strated against the Pope’s visit to the ters (the Patriarchal House) of the site, gathering at a square about a Ecumenical Patriarchate. half mile away and urging the Turk- During his official four-day visit ish Government to open the muse- to Turkey last week, the Pope also um to Muslim worship. Nationalists offered wide-ranging messages of viewed the visit as a sign of Christian reconciliation to Muslims, including claims to the site and a challenge to appeals for greater understanding Turkish sovereignty. and support for Turkey’s effort to be- “Haghia Sophia is Turkish, and come the first Muslim nation in the will remain Turkish,” one protest European Union. sign read. Riot police surrounded But Benedict also set forth his the demonstrators to prevent them own demands. He made repeated from reaching the site. calls for greater freedoms for reli- On the third day of the Pope’s vis- gious minorities – including the tiny it, the Turkish Government reiterat- Christian community in Turkey – ed that it has no intentions of recog- and denounced divisions between nizing Bartholomew by his official Christians as a “scandal to the title: “Ecumenical (i.e., universal) world.” Patriarch.” He has made reaching out to the Questioned on the controversial world’s more than 250 million Or- issue during a press conference as thodox a centerpiece of his Papacy, Bartholomew held talks with Bene- and has set the difficult goal of “full dict, Turkish Foreign Ministry unity” between the two ancient Spokesman Namik Tan said, “We branches of Christianity, which split have often repeated our position: in the 11th century over disputes in- We see the Patriarchate as a Turkish cluding Papal authority. institution, and this is how our laws The pope also recalled how the also see it. Other definitions are in faith was shaped by the encounters no way binding for us. We have pro- of early Christians with the scientific claimed to the world that we do not and intellectual traditions of ancient recognize the title “ecumenical.’ ” Greece. It was the same theological AP/L’OSSERVARTORE ROMANO AP/ERHAN SEVENLER backdrop – faith and reason – which The above incorporates informa- Pope Benedict XVI, second from left, and Ecumenical Patriarch Pope Benedict XVI, center, visiting Hagia Sophia Museum – once the was the basis for his explosive re- tion from reports posted by the Bartholomew I, right midground, look on during a mass celebrated at greatest church in Eastern Christendom (arguably the world), then a marks in September, during which Associated Press, Agence France the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul last Fri- mosque after Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 – last he quoted a medieval Christian em- Presse and the Ecumenical Patri- day, December 1, during the last day of the pontiff's four-day visit to Thursday, November 30. The Pope was in Turkey on an official four- peror who described Muhammad’s archate. Turkey. At left is Master of Ceremonies Bishop Piero Marini. day visit. Full Text of Common Declaration Signed by Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I

The full text of the Common both Churches to strengthen their as well as the problems of humani- roots, traditions and values, in or- terrorism and famine prevail, as cern in the face of great dangers Declaration, signed by Pope Bene- prayers and endeavors towards ty in today's world. der to preserve respect for history, well as the exploitation of the stemming from the destruction of dict XVI and Ecumenical Patriarch the unity of the Churches. 5. Referring to the forma- and to also contribute to the cul- poor, of immigrants, of women the natural environment, and the Bartholomew on November 30, is 3. They express their joy tion of the European Union, they ture of a future Europe, as well as and children. They call on Roman negative consequences for humani- published below: and satisfaction for the recom- stress the following: “We evaluat- to the quality of human relations Catholic and Orthodox Christians ty and all creation, caused by un- 1. The filial meeting of the mencement of the official Theolog- ed positively the path towards the at all levels. In this respect, how to take up common action for the controlled economic and techno- two Church leaders renews their ical Dialogue between the two shaping of the European Union. could we not refer to very ancient respect of human rights for all peo- logical progress. As spiritual lead- commitment to work towards the Churches, as well as for the recent The key players in this huge en- martyrs and to the glorious Christ- ple and the protection of human ers, they support every effort for the restoration of full communion be- meeting of the plenary session of deavor will surely take into ac- ian heritage of the land, in which life from the slaughter of inno- protection of the natural environ- tween the two Churches, which is the International Joint Commis- count all that is related to human we are meeting, beginning with cents, especially when it is carried ment, so that an intact, unharmed God’s will and command. sion for Theological Dialogue in beings and their non-negotiable the words of the Book of the Apos- out in the name of God. In particu- planet is inherited by future genera- 2. The two Prelates recalled Belgrade, offering their full sup- rights, especially religious free- tles for Saint Paul, Apostle to the lar, they turn their eyes to the Mid- tions, where they could live. with gratitude their predecessors, port to its works. dom, which is proof and assurance Nations? On this land, the message dle East, where the Lord lived, and 8. Finally, they turn to all Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, 4. They underscore the duty of respect for all other freedoms. In of the Gospel and ancient philo- where Christians have been living faithful Roman Catholic and Or- as well as Ecumenical Patriarchs of the Church to carry the message every initiative for union, minori- sophical tradition have met. This for centuries. They stressed the thodox Christians around the Athenagoras and Demetrios, who of the Gospel to the modern world, ties, with their cultural rights and bond, which contributed to our need for the restoration of peace in world – clergy, monks and laypeo- lead the path towards the reconcil- and especially to Christian coun- religious distinctiveness should be common Christian heritage, re- the area, and for a peaceful coexis- ple – giving them their blessing iation (abatement) of the two tries, where secularization, rela- protected. In Europe, both Ortho- mains current and will, in the fu- tence and cooperation between and their reassurance that they churches, through their meetings tivism and even nihilism is ob- dox Christians and Roman ture bear, fruit for the promotion the people, churches and religions, shall have their prayers and their and mutual visits, as well as the served, particularly in the West. Catholics, while remaining open to of the Gospel and for our unity.” and they encourage interfaith dia- love, as well as to all other Chris- lifting of the 11th Century anathe- The common heritage of the two other religions and their contribu- 6. They turn their eye to- logue in order to counter violence tians, with whom they are willing mas between Rome and Constan- Churches should take into account tion to culture, should unite their wards the lands where Christians and discrimination in every form. and ready to come into dialogue tinople. They call on the faithful of modern cultural trends and quests, efforts to safeguard Christian face difficulties and where wars, 7. They express their con- and cooperation.