THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside VEMA Greece AUGUST 2010 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: [email protected] MOTIVATION Discussing child and adolescent motivation strategies PAGE 3/19 HISTORIC PILGRIMAGE A Commanding Position John Stavridis, 41, reached a big milestone for himself and Sydney’s Greek community. He TO PONTUS took command of HMAS Arunta, a warship in the frontline of Australia’s naval defence. When Pontian Greeks left Turkey in 1922-23, they took the few painted by the Evangelist Luke, is the cradle of Pon- nothing with them but the scars from the deaths of tens of tic Greek religious belief and national identity, and a point of PAGE 2/18 thousands of their number during their forceful eviction and reference for all Pontians. Its construction began in AD 385. forced labour, carried out over the previous seven years by Under a 1930 agreement between Greek Prime Minister the Young Turks and Kemalist forces. The deaths were Eleftherios Venizelos and Turkish leader Ismet Inonu, Turkey recognised by the Greek parliament as a genocide in 1994. allowed the legendary icon, the monastery’s chalice from On August 15, the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Emperor Manuel Komnenos, and its Holy Bible to be trans- Mary, thousands of their descendants from several coun- ported to Greece, after two aged monks revealed the crypt tries made the pilgrimage to the Panagia Soumela in which they hid the objects in 1922. They are now at the monastery in the Turkish region of Trebizond for the first new Panagia Soumela Monastery on Mt Vermio, southwest liturgy in 88 years, conducted by Ecumenical Patriarch of the town of Veria in Macedonia, where thousands of pil- Vartholomeos in a highly moving atmosphere. grims flock each year. Thousands of people from Greece and all parts of the The historic liturgy was proposed by Vartholomeos and fi- world arrived at the monastery early in the morning to at- nally approved in June by a joint decision of the Turkish min- tend the mass officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholo- istries of culture and tourism, the interior and foreign affairs; meos, Metropolitan of Drama Pavlos and Bishop of Tyhonas. it will be an annual event. Ankara’s move is widely consid- However, only 600 people could finally attend the mass that ered a significant good-will gesture towards both the patri- was held outdoors. All others watched the service on giant archate and the estimated 1.5 to 2 million Pontian refugees screens. in Greece. But it is also intended to burnish Turkey’s Euro- The monastery, which was once home to the famed icon pean image, and the economic windfall from the religious PANAGIA SOUMELA - AUGUST 15 of the Virgin Mary that bears its name, by tradition one of tourism is considered significant. An icon’s sacred journey Travels PAGE 4/20 with a Nissan Note in the Troödos Mountains of Cyprus Mosaic of St Nicholas, Church of St Nicholas of the Cats, Akrotiri, Cyprus. PAGES 6/22-7/23 TRAVEL Karpathos: Wind-swept beauty www.standrewsorthodoxpress.com.au PAGE 16/32 The Greek Australian VEMA AUGUST 2010 2/18 TO BHMA A Commanding Position Last month, Sydney’s John Stavridis, 41, reached a big milestone for himself and Sydney’s Greek community. He Commander John took command of HMAS Arunta, a warship in the frontline Stavridis, Royal of Australia’s naval defence. Australian Navy, taking Command With the rank of Commander in the Royal Australian of HMAS Arunta Navy, John has had his eye on the Captain’s chair for some time. “I always wanted to join the Navy and, with a family his- tory of naval service, it only seemed natural. “Twenty three years ago my parents were very sup- portive of my career choice and I have never looked back.” CMDR Stavridis was born in Sydney, the son of Iordanis and Kaliopi who emigrated to Australia from the islands of Lemnos and Samos in the 1960s. He joined the Navy in 1988 straight out of Sydney’s Trin- ity Grammar School. He attended the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra for a university degree, and graduated with honours in 1991. After navigation training he specialised as a maritime warfare officer and began to travel the world. “I have been to a lot of places with the Navy; Asia, the Americas, the Pacific and the Middle East, although I am secondly Kastellorizian history. He has had bitohs) ry, the Law and rebetika. still waiting for the opportunity to take my ship to Europe - and one day hopefully Greece.” Commander Stavridis considers the Royal Australian Navy an employer of choice. “I could not think a better employer in Australia today,” he said. “It is the range of job opportunities, adventure and travel, job security and world-class training that make this career so rewarding.” “To give an example the Navy has sponsored me through two masters’ degrees.” Commander Stavridis could be the first Australian of St Andrew’sSt Andrew’sAnd rPatristicew’s PatristicPat Symposiumristic Greek heritage to command an Australian warship, but he is not sure. SSySymposiummposiu2010m 20201010 “What I do know is that all us Greek-Australians in the Navy today are serving with pride.” “The Navy is very supportive and accepting of my cul- StStSt Gregory GGregoryregory thethe TheologianTTheologianheologian oro ror tural heritage and I personally hold close the Greek cus- TThehe PoetryPoetry ofof TheologyTheology toms, language and traditions. My faith is also important to The Poetry of Theology me and the Navy is also very supportive of that.” CMDR Stavridis has now moved to Perth, WA, where HMAS Arunta is based but his travels are continuing. He and his crew will be deploying to Darwin and South-East Asia in August to take part in multi-national naval exercis- es. Throughout the month of September, St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College invites you to a celebration for the heart and mind Inaugural address by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, Dean of the College. The proceedings of the 2009 St Andrew’s Patristic Symposium will be launched. A series of scholarly papers, exploring the legacy of St Gregory the Theologian September 2010 Wednesday Evenings 242 Cleveland Street, Redfern, in the Main Hall For enquiries, please contact the Registrar at On site parking is limited. Please, (02) 9549 3100 or [email protected] consider alternatives AUGUST 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/19 Editorial Greek society six years ago. This would allow museums to operate The increase in visitor numbers, how- Reviving Different people have come up with outside the standard time schedule. It ever, is not just the result of chance nor various ideas, but all aspire to draw on would also be a breath of fresh air for can it simply be attributed to the fact that the 2004 spirit the patriotism of that sector of Greek so- the aging state apparatus. These volun- August is the peak tourist season. On the ciety that is outside the loop, as it were. teers would become the ambassadors of one hand, local businesses on both of “Why don’t we revive the volunteer It’s not just those within the 18-24 age a new ethos that would elevate the na- these islands had responded to the omi- movement that made us proud during the group but also a large number of people tion above private interests. nous signs of the economic crisis by low- 2004 Olympic Games?” over 50 - mostly women with grown chil- Then, perhaps, we could hold a fresh ering their prices and offering special The conversation began with a discus- dren and fewer commitments who would debate about the many key issues con- cut-price deals. sion about volunteer forest rangers but be willing to work part-time for the com- cerning culture and cultural promotion in In addition, the tourism organizations soon wandered into other fields such as mon good. the tourism-oriented country that is on these two islands launched low-cost the operation of the country’s archaeo- Following a brief training session, vol- Greece. but clever advertising campaigns to pro- logical sites outside of normal opening unteers could be used to help out during mote local attractions. hours. The discussion among friends museums’ and archaeological sites’ ex- The example of Rhodes and Kos indi- was sparked by recent news reports tended opening hours, to work at re- When we work cates that there is much to be gained that the Culture Ministry would be unable freshment stands and souvenir shops, to from cooperation between local authori- to cover overtime pay for the security provide information or clean up gardens together ties and businesses when they work to- staff employed at the temples of the and paths. gether according to a plan for the bene- Acropolis and Sounio, two of the archae- A badge saying “I am a volunteer and The significant increase in international fit of all. ological sites that were scheduled to stay am helping my country” would be enough arrivals to the islands of Rhodes and Kos, Despite the crisis, there are still many open late on the night of the August full for these people. They could be given a in the southeastern Aegean, provides a things we can do to help lift the country moon. It was not the first time that ordi- discount for all public archaeological glimmer of optimism for a sector that is out of the doldrums - as long as we all nary people were feeling nostalgic for sites and museums, and they would be without doubt the driving force of the join forces and make use of them.