THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside VEMA Greece MARCH 2010 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: [email protected] COPING WITH TEENAGERS A scientific view of the adolescent brain PAGE 3/21 GREECE DEBT: EU AGREES BAILOUT DEAL The eurozone has agreed to a multibillion-euro bailout for getary surveillance" of all 16 participating countries. The aim Papandreou says Greece as part of a package to shore up the single curren- is a new regime of "reinforced economic policy co-ordina- cy after weeks of crisis, the Guardian has learnt. tion" in the EU. talks with Obama Senior sources in Brussels said that Berlin had bowed to "This is the essential lesson that has to be learned from successful the bailout agreement despite huge resistance in Germany the Greek case," Olli Rehn of Finland, the new commission- and that the finance ministers of the "eurozone" - the 16 er for economic and monetary affairs, told the Guardian PAGE 12/30 member states including Greece who use the euro - were (and four other European papers). to finalise the rescue package on Monday 15 March. "The Greek case is a potential turning point for the euro- The single currency's rulebook will also be rewritten to zone," said Rehn in the interview. "If Greece fails and we enforce greater fiscal discipline among members. fail, this will do serious and maybe permanent damage to The member states have agreed on "co-ordinated bilater- the credibility of the European Union. The euro is not only a al contributions" in the form of loans or loan guarantees to monetary arrangement, but a core political project of the Eu- Greece if Athens finds itself unable to refinance its soaring ropean Union … In that sense, we are at a crossroads." debt and requests help from the EU, a senior European com- While ready to bail out the Greeks if only on terms of "rig- mission official said. orous conditionality", European leaders are hoping that the Other sources said the aid could rise to €25bn (£22.6bn), rescue will not be needed, that the draconian package of although it is estimated in European capitals that Greece austerity measures announced by Prime Minister George could need up to €55bn by the end of the year. Papandreou will be enough to calm the markets and sta- Germany, the EU's traditional paymaster, but the most re- bilise the euro. luctant to come to the rescue of a fiscal delinquent in the EU leaders are to rule on whether Papandreou is doing e- current crisis, has played the pivotal role in organising the nough to slash the 12.7% budget deficit by four percentage rescue package, the sources added. points this year, part of his ambition to cut the deficit by 10 The rules governing the operation of the single currency points over three years. proscribe a bailout for a country on the brink of insolvency. Rehn said he would unveil new proposals next month, en- Berlin, in particular, has been worried that any bailout of shrining a new single currency regime of "rigorous surveil- Greece could be challenged in its constitutional court. lance of national budgets" and that Eurostat, the EU's statis- The 2010 Sydney The senior official said the agreement - which will not in- tical agency, would need to be given formidable new audit- Royal Easter Show volve any contribution from the UK taxpayer - had been tai- ing powers over the books of eurozone member states, lored to respect the bailout ban and avoid a supreme court a demand that may be resisted by EU governments. At Sydney Showground from April 1 to 14 challenge in Germany. "That's the hard core of our proposal. [The surveillance] Alongside the financial relief package for Greece, the Eu- should be automatic," said Rehn. Held by the Royal Agricultural Society of New ropean commission is rushing through tougher rules for the "We have an immediate corrective instrument for the South Wales each year at Easter time, the Syd- eurozone, using powers conferred by the recently enacted Greek case, plus another framework to prevent new Greek ney Royal Easter Show is more than a farm fair. Lisbon treaty to try to establish a system of rigorous "bud- crises." PAGE 19/37 St Andrew’s Theological College enters th Kozani 25 year Although blighted by a large electricity plant, of teaching this prosperous district has preserved much of its impressive architecture and traditions. PAGE 2/20 PAGE 17/35 The Greek Australian VEMA MARCH 2010 2/20 TO BHMA ST ANDREW’S THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE ENTERS 25TH YEAR OF TEACHING The customary group photograph in the courtyard of St Andrew’s Theological College The Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos with His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias and His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Dorileou, with the four first-year students. Thursday 18th February marked goals of the Church to come closer and to chitecture as well as Pastoral Education. time undergraduate seminarian students the official opening of the academic speak a more convincing language, be- They can lead to priesthood within the Or- as well as nineteen students engaged in year at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox cause only out of need does the human thodox Church. They can also be a path- part-time graduate-level and elective theo- Theological College in Sydney. For being become sincere and properly pious. way for further university studies leading logical studies. For more information about the 25th consecutive year, the tradi- “I do not need to stress the importance to careers such as teaching and social Orthodox Christian theological education tional Doxology Service was celebra- of the mission which our College has in work. They are also particularly useful for please visit the College’s website on ted in the College Chapel of St John this country. I repeat this every time when enriching one’s own Orthodox Christian www.sagotc.edu.au. the Evangelist and Theologian by the we commence a new academic year. And faith. T. Kalogerakis Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Sty- yet, we know that we are not sufficient, The College currently serves twelve full- Registrar lianos of Australia, among Faculty we are not capable enough to respond to members, staff, alumni, students so many needs, and to so many responsi- and guests. bilities which are to be found in our parish- His Eminence warmly welcomed all tho- es and in society. se present, among whom was His Grace “I thank all those who are working hard Bishop Nikandros of Dorileou from Ade- to make our presence here not merely vis- laide. He further welcomed Sister (Dr) Mar- ible, but fruitful. But this is not up to us garet Beirne RSC as a permanent part-time alone; it is up to the grace of God along member of staff, teaching in the field of with the dedication we should each have New Testament Studies, as well as College both personally and collectively.” graduates Antony Papantoniou and Mario His Eminence thanked the NSW Bible So- Baghos who join the teaching staff in their ciety which each year generously donates roles as tutors and assistant teachers in copies of the critical edition of the Greek Patristics and Church History respectively. New Testament to commencing students. Not least, His Eminence wholeheartedly The establishment of evening lectures welcomed the four first-year seminarian for the first time this year was also noted students: Harry Hadjigeorgiou (Perth), An- as a further effort by the College to extend drew Laoutas (Melbourne), Dimitrios Mar- its outreach in theological education to a cou (Melbourne), and Chrysovalantis Side- broader student base, particularly at grad- ris (Adelaide). uate-level. The ongoing interest engen- After welcoming everyone His Eminence dered by the well-established summer and reflected briefly on the task of theology winter intensives is seen as an encourag- within the Church and College, mentioning ing sign too. also the following: The customary group photograph in the “We are fortunate to celebrate; actually courtyard of the College was followed by the right word is not ‘fortunate’ because a luncheon generously prepared by the only the secular world speaks of ‘fortune’. tireless ladies’ auxiliary of the Archdiocese. [Rather] we are blessed to be able to gath- St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological er and celebrate the beginning of the College is a tertiary institution established twenty-fifth year of operation.” in 1986 by the Greek Orthodox Church of- “Theology today, unfortunately, as we all fering undergraduate and postgraduate know, seems to be somehow neglected or degrees fully accredited by the NSW De- overlooked; not estimated as it should be. partment of Education and Training and And yet, the need for theology was never equivalent to those of Australian universi- so great, so deep, and so profound. Be- ties. These degrees have international va- cause the more critical the times become, lidity. They focus on Orthodox Theology the more theologically interesting they be- and its related subject areas such as Bibli- come. Danger is always a factor which can cal Studies, Church History, Liturgical Stud- bring those who would like to serve the ies, Patristic Studies, Orthodox Art and Ar- Visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia website www.greekorthodox.org.au MARCH 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21 Editorial Back down to earth with a bang Wednesday, March 3, 2010, will go down in history was to give the disenfranchised, who formed the bulk The easy money of the past three decades had a as the day that a modern Greek government made a of PASOK’s voters, a shot at living like the middle class.