THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece email: VEMA [email protected] NOVEMBER 2007 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 In this issue... Our Primate’s View SOMETIMES “IT IS BETTER TO BE SILENT” PAGES 5/23-6/24 Athens urges

Breaking Skopje move the guilty silence

PAGE 14/32 PM asks FYROM to drop defiant stance; UN envoy to visit next month

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis (photo) called upon the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to drop its intransigent stance in the name dispute with Greece and cooperate in finding a solution if it wishes to be taken seriously as a potential member of NATO. “Skopje must meet us halfway so we can settle on a mutually acceptable solution,” Karamanlis told Parliament. Karamanlis’s comments came as sources told Kathimerini that United Nations envoy Matthew Nimetz, charged with mediating the name dispute, is due in Athens next month, probably on December 3 and 4. The PM had been responding to a question by far-right LAOS leader Giorgos Ka- ratzaferis who accused the government of a “political shift” on the FYROM issue and Australians calling called for a referendum on whether the country should be considered as a candidate for return for European Union membership. reserved for FYROM authorities who, he respect for international law, and it must ful- Karamanlis rejected the call for a referen- said, “must realize that persistence and fill all preconditions, without exception,” of Parthenon Marbles dum, saying there was a “broad consensus” intransigence do not build alliances... nor Karamanlis said. among political parties on matters of nation- does obsessively hostile propaganda or irre- Athens has said it will consider a compos- PAGE 15/33 al interest and that the issue would be debat- dentist logic.” ite name for FYROM, which would clearly ed in Parliament. FYROM must demonstrate that its behav- differentiate the Balkan state from the region “National interests are harmed when they ior is in keeping with NATO and EU mem- of Macedonia in northern Greece. FYROM are subordinated to partisan expediencies,” ber states if it wants to join these clubs, the has refused to consider an alternative to its Karamanlis said. premier added. “It must prove that it wants “constitutional name” which, it says, is the But Karamanlis’s sternest words were to be an ally and a partner, it must show Republic of Macedonia. Tom Hanks helping Greece get back on The Tweed Coast is no Hollywood’s longer the poor cousin radar

PAGE 18/36 PAGE 19/37 The Greek Australian VEMA NOVEMBER 2007 2/20 TO BHMA

SALVOS AT CHRISTMAS This Christmas The Salvation Army expects to assist more than 300, 000 people across Australia in both metropolitan and November 28, 1520 rural areas. Magellan reaches the Pacific Major Neil Dickson said that, “at Christ- After sailing through the dangerous straits mas, more than any other time of year, peo- below South America that now bear his ple turn to The Salvation Army for help. name, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand “Over the Christmas period, financial pres- Magellan enters the Pacific Ocean with sures, relationship issues, alcohol abuse, three ships, becoming the first European mental health issues and domestic violence explorer to reach the Pacific from the all peak and often people struggle to make Atlantic. ends meet. “Many areas across Australia are still in the December 4, 1991 grip of a prolonged drought and as a result, Hostage Terry Anderson freed demands for our services in rural areas have in Lebanon never been greater. “Our rural chaplains are working with other On this day in 1991, Islamic militants in front-line Salvation Army officers in the Lebanon release kidnapped American bush to meet this demand which we expect journalist Terry Anderson after 2,454 days will increase as we approach Christmas. in captivity. “For many it’s a time when all the pressures As chief Middle East correspondent for of life come to a peak as people struggle to the Associated Press, Anderson covered have a happy Christmas.” the long-running civil war in Lebanon With the support of the Australian commu- (1975-1990). On March 16, 1985, he was nity, this Christmas The Salvation Army kidnapped on a west Beirut street while expects to provide more than ten million dol- vouchers or hampers. Additionally The Aussie Christmas by supporting The leaving a tennis court. His captors took lars worth of food vouchers, hampers and Salvation Army hopes to provide Christmas Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal. Tax him to the southern suburbs of the city, toys to people in need. This will include the lunch to over 8, 000 people around the coun- deductible monetary donations can be made where he was held prisoner in an under- distribution of nearly a quarter of a million try. by phoning 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or visit ground dungeon for the next six-and-a- toys and provide in excess of 100, 000 food Help all in our community have a good salvationarmy.org.au half years Thanou and Kenteris cleared The Athens 2004 accreditation passes for emails between the two men had been only knew Arnold through his nutritional sprinters Kenteris Thanou and coach discovered. supplements company. Tzekos, handed back to the International But Tzekos insisted on October 30 that he ATHENS NEWS Olympic Committee at the time of the Olympic Games Olympic medallists Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou as well as their former coach Christos Tzekos will not be tried on doping charges, it was revealed on October 30. The trio released a statement saying that the Athens prosecutors office has decided to drop an investigation into possible links

between Tzekos, the athletes and the December 6, 1884 BALCO case in the USA. Washington Monument com- As a result, Kenteris and Thanou will not be COMMUNITY CARE WORKERS REQUIRED IN pleted charged with taking banned substances but ST GEORGE & SUTHERLAND AREAS they still face a trial next year over the alleged motorcycle crash that led to their On this day in 1884, in Washington, D.C., ƒ Training provided workers place a nine-inch aluminum pyra- missing a doping test on the eve of the mid atop a tower of white marble, com- Athens Olympics in 2004. ƒ Flexible hours pleting the construction of an impressive Nikos Kollias and Maria Kevga, the two ƒ Care for older people at home monument to the city's namesake and the lawyers representing the athletes, said the nation's first president, George prosecutor had taken the decision to drop the case after examining evidence supplied by Hammond Care is an independent Christian charity, Washington. nationally & internationally recognised for its excellence in As early as 1783, the infant U.S. Congress judicial officials in the USA who had also decided that a statue of George Washin- been investigating US-based BALCO in aged care and dementia services. Our ‘care in the home’ gton, the great Revolutionary War general, connection with the doping of American services are expanding rapidly and we have positions in should be placed near the site of the new athletes. the St George & Sutherland areas for people who are BALCO’s owner Victor Conte was accused Congressional building, wherever it might genuine about making a difference in older people’s lives. be. After then-President Washington of being the source of the previously asked him to lay out a new federal capital undetectable designer steroid THG (tetrahy- As a community care worker, you will be part of a on the Potomac River in 1791, architect drogestrinone) following raids on the dedicated and well-supported team providing care in the Pierre L'Enfant left a place for the statue at laboratory in 2003. He spent four months in home for the elderly and their carers. prison for his role in US sport’s biggest the western end of the sweeping National Mall (near the monument's present loca- doping scandal. tion). “The clearing of the athletes from any You will need a current driver’s licence and a car (for charges of taking banned substances is yet which mileage allowance is paid). We offer flexible hours another vindication for the athletes and their and a friendly environment. trainer who have strenuously denied any connection to the BALCO laboratories and the banned substances they distributed,” the For further details, please phone Cheryl Johnson (St lawyers said in a statement. George) or Yvonne Ward (Sutherland) on 8295 1859. It had been alleged that Tzekos had links with BALCO chemist Patrick Arnold after NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21

Solomos remembered How a west European poet became the Greek nation’s bard

MARK DRAGOUMIS example of the linguistic, stylistic and expressive perfection sought by Solomos during his whole arduous career. Such was Dionysios Solomos, who died 150 years ago in Corfu, has his own dissatisfaction with his performance that shortly been celebrated this year in many special events throughout before his death he reverted to writing once again in Italian. Greece. He is the country’s national poet whose verse hailing Liberty, not Greece, constantly resonates throughout the realm Steeped in the west European Romantic culture in general, whenever the national anthem is played and sung in halls, Solomos tried hard to give the Greek War of Independence a schoolrooms, military quarters and parades. It consists of the wider humanistic meaning and show that it was an event first two stanzas out of the 158 that his famous Hymn to linked with the then widespread struggle of peoples to gain Liberty is made of. It was put to music by the poet’s friend their freedom from all sorts of oppressive regimes. Thus, in the Nikolaos Mantzaros and reads as follows in the rather free Hymn to Liberty, there is much more than a simplistic attack translation that Rudyard Kipling made in 1918: on the Ottoman ruler. There is, for instance, a dig at the Austrian Eagle “that feeds on the entrails of the Italians - to We knew thee of old, grow wings and talons”. There is also a stanza, the 22nd, dedicated to America and the solidarity between the two Oh, divinely restored peoples in their common determination to gain freedom and secure it. Here is the stanza in its original form: By the lights of thine eyes, Γκαρδιακά χαροποιήθη And the light of thy Sword. και του Βάσιγκτον η γη, From the graves of our slain, και τα σίδερα ενθυμήθη Shall thy valour prevail που την έδεναν κι αυτή. As we greet thee again - Here, in the absence of Kipling, is a modest attempt by this Hail, Liberty! Hail! writer to render it in English, respecting the form that Solomos gave it: Language preoccupied Solomos from a tender age. Although bilingual - having been educated in Zante (Zakynthos) by There was heartfelt elation prominent Greek and Italian scholars of the period - he felt more comfortable with Italian, the language in which he wrote In Washington’s land his first poem at the age of 17. What tipped the balance in his choice of poetic career was a meeting in 1822 with the father Recalling as a nation of Harilaos Trikoupis, Greece’s first great statesman, Spyridon Trikoupis, friend of Lord Byron’s, and author of the Its own ruler’s iron hand. authoritative History of the Greek Revolution, who became prime minister of Greece in 1833. Having completed his There is one dictum by Solomos that has recently been much studies in Paris and London, Spyridon Trikoupis became quoted again in Greece, namely that “the nation must learn to private secretary to Frederic North, 5th Earl of Guilford and consider as national what is true”. This injunction was recently governor of the Ionian islands that came under English rule in used by those supporting the adoption of a new history book 1814. In the winter of 1822, Trikoupis met Solomos in Zante for the 6th grade at primary school that attempted to depict and discussed with him the Greek War of Independence that more objectively Modern Greece’s history. On the other hand, had broken out some months earlier in March 1821. the traditionalists - who won the day as the book was finally withdrawn by the government - stuck to the principle which This was no idle talk. Trikoupis told the young poet point- views as true what is national, thus reducing history to blank: “Your talent as a poet will certainly provide for you a propaganda. good place in the Italian Parnassus, but the top places there are National poet Dionysios Solomos already occupied. The Greek Parnassus, on the other hand, Solomos was so proud of his compatriots who were fighting does not have its Dante... yet.” for their freedom in particular and for Freedom in general that confessed almost in despair, “As if I had any care on my mind he never felt the need to stress the continuity of Hellenism and Solomos was tempted but hesitant. “I don’t know Greek well other than liberty and language...” Liberty, Solomos could praise them for their Ancient Greek ancestry. He admired their enough,” he replied. Trikoupis promised to help in every only long for and write about; language he had to conquer all demotic language and their courage but was deeply distressed possible way. Thanks to a private tutor and the assiduous study by himself. by their fissiparous tendencies. A warning that has not often of Fauriel’s collection of Greek demotic songs, Solomos been heeded by Greeks is the exhortation made to them at the gained better control of the language. He even paid people for The poet’s work at his death, to a great extent in fragments, end of the Hymn to Liberty to maintain their unity and avoid every new word that they could teach him. was given shape, carefully edited and published by his pupil, civil war, which had already erupted at the time of writing. friend and fellow poet Iakovos Polylas. The stunning Free However, this is another story, as Rudyard Kipling - who Deeply conscious of the difficulties he had to overcome, he Besieged, about the exodus of the Greeks from Messolonghi in translated the first two stanzas - would say. never stopped correcting his work. His perfectionism has 1826, consists of 61 fragments, of which 27 are single lines, remained legendary. The numerous drafts of his completed seven are two lines and two are half-lines. Written in the poems and the sheer volume of his unfinished ones show an traditional 15-syllable verse, this work remains to this day one ATHENS NEWS author compulsively vying for excellence; a poet who of the masterpieces of Greek literature and a characteristic

THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece email: VEMA [email protected] OCTOBER 2007 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 In this issue... Our Primate’s View “TORMENTED MOTHERLAND, GREECE”!

PAGE 5/23 Howard declares The Greek Australian VEMA Nov 24 election

Sydney ranked top on “right” leadership city on tourist poll Australia will go to the polls on Novem- ber 24 for a federal election Prime Minis- PAGE 7/25 ter John Howard says is about the “right leadership”.

Mr Howard has dumped his “who do you trust” slogan from the 2004 election, con- ceding that some voters would loathe him no matter what he did. But he said at least voters knew what he stood for and where he planned to take the country. And the 68-year-old, who has promised to step down before the 2010 election if he wins a fifth term, said neither his age nor the length in office of his government were the issue. “I believe very passionately that this coun- try’s best years can lie ahead of us in the years immediately ahead,” Mr Howard told reporters, after announcing a six-week elec- tion campaign. “In order for that to happen this country does not need new leadership, it does not need old The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece leadership, it needs the right leadership. Pilgrimage to Symi: “The right leadership is the leadership which delivers the team which knows how to do Island of an Archangel the job. and ensure all Australians shared in the Mr Howard warned that if Labor was elect- “The right leadership is the leadership that country’s prosperity. ed federally, it would rule at every level of PAGES 8/26 & 15/33 has the experience to further expand the Some people were feeling pressure and government across the country, leading to a prosperity of the Australian economy and to some people were missing out, he said. lack of balance and robbing Australians of ensure that everybody gets a fair share of it.” “It is the responsibility of the government, as the necessary checks and balances on their The right leadership would make tough well as the alternative government, to out- government. decisions in the national interest and would line plans to ensure that people do get Six weeks was an appropriate length for a government for all Australians, not a narrow included and that people don’t miss out,” he campaign, he said. section of the community, Mr Howard said. said. “Why should we in any way in a great “The right leadership is the leadership that “The plans that I will unveil in detail in the democracy not be willing to debate the great tells the Australian people where it stands on weeks of the campaign will reward hard issues of the time over a period of six issues and what it believes in,” Mr Howard work, they’ll create jobs and they’ll provide weeks? And I can assure you ... it will go said. even more incentive for working very quickly,” he said. “Can I say, love me or loathe me, the Australians.” He said he was looking forward to the jour- Australian people know where I stand on all Mr Howard fronted the media alone, but ney, particularly meeting and interacting the major issues of importance to their said his team was strong and stable with with Australians. future.” Treasurer Peter Costello and Foreign “I’ve always found that a source of nourish- Calling the election means this week’s Minister Alexander Downer remaining in ment, a source of being re-energised, and an scheduled sitting of parliament will not go their key roles. opportunity to continue a dialogue with ahead. Nor will Mr Howard attend the By contrast, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd them which I have found profoundly Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga on had been forced into guaranteeing that rewarding over the past 11-and-a-half years Wednesday as planned. Wayne Swan would be treasurer under a and which I seek to continue,” Mr Howard Entering his last election campaign, Mr Labor government, while Robert said. Howard said he would spend the next six McClelland would not be foreign minister, A road trip to the weeks outlining plans to reward hard work he said. AAP Tel: (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: [email protected] Heart of Country All Saints Grammar 10th Annual Debutante Ball PAGE 16/34 PAGE 18/36 NOVEMBER 2007 4/22 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

All at sea over illegal immigration The Greek coastguard suspects that its Turkish counterpart may be abetting human traffickers

EFTHYMIOS TSILIOPULOS traders use the immigrants to probe Greek defences, the officer shrugged and said that in Illegal immigration in Greece has registered some cases they do, but mostly they just want a new high watermark for 2007, according to get rid of their charges quickly. to the merchant marine ministry, as At sea thousands of illegal immigrants have been pouring across the border with Turkey, The other route smugglers often use is the fleeing poverty and war in Iraq, Afghanistan Aegean archipelago. Both the Greek and Sudan, among others. coastguard and the navy maintain a constant On October 30, government spokesman presence in the Aegean. The army has set up Theodoros Roussopoulos noted that over monitoring stations equipped with state-of-the- 50,000 illegal immigrants enter Greece every art radar and optical equipment capable of year - apparently the highest number in Europe viewing in both daylight and darkness, at - with 13,151 illegal immigrants caught in extreme ranges, many of the uninhabited islets. September alone. Things have changed for the worse in a rather One option is the overland route into Thrace. surprising fashion recently. Smugglers now use Earlier this year the commander of the 16th faster boats, reaching speeds of up to 50 knots. Mechanised Infantry Division, Major-General These are capable of outdistancing the larger Frangos Frangoulis, spoke to the Athens News coastguard patrol craft, as well as navy picket with alarm about the increase. “There are more ships, although they cannot elude the faster, of them all the time. They come from places as semi-rigid craft of the army’s commandos and far off as Iraq and even Sudan. It’s surprising to the coastguard’s special forces. see Africans all the way up here,” he said. Recently, human-smuggling activities have Frangoulis’ unit is charged with protecting the focused on the 3km-wide straits between the The Greek coastguard and the navy maintain a constant presence in the Aegean border in the northern part of the Evros Greek island of Samos and the Turkish coast. arrest them.” It was on Farmakonissi that an lights and trained guns chasing them off, after prefecture, where most crossings take place Brigadier Evangelos Belesakos on Samos, army corporal saved a woman this summer firing warning shots across her bows.” because the Evros river widens out into easily described how boats are spotted: “We usually who was bit by a snake upon her landing. The Turkish military claims that the Greeks crossed marshes. first pick them on radar. They know this and One special forces private, a conscript, recalls: violated Turkish territorial waters at 7.30am for What surprised the general even more was the often attempt to hide behind a larger ship to “One night, a black man emerged from the 20 minutes in the region of Cesme, harassing ruthlessness of the professional smugglers, who mask their signature. When we do spot them, water and when he saw me he started crying out ‘fishing boats’ and firing on them. Greek often help migrants cross the tight borders we alert the coastguard, which has the legal ‘Italia, Italia’.” Apparently his “travel agent” authorities have been getting their stories where minefields are ever-present. “They equip authority to proceed with arrests. It’s their ball had told him he had booked a trip to Italy. crossed in response to this and have yet to these people with wire cutters to cut through the from there on.” Dangerous liaisons denounce Turkish claims. barbed wire, which leads them straight into the As soon as coastguard vessels appear to give Belesakos said the shift in smuggling activity minefields.” chase, navy and coastguard officials say, many The cat-and-mouse game in the Aegean is now to the Samos straits supports the theory that the In response, the general posted minefield of the smugglers force their human cargo embroiling the naval forces of Greece and Turkish coastguard is collaborating with warnings in several languages. (Although the overboard. Many migrants don’t know how to Turkey. On October 19, a boat with five smugglers. Smugglers avoid frequenting areas Greek army is removing anti-personnel mines swim, so the chase is interrupted as the immigrants tried to infiltrate Greek waters from opposite Turkish Army observation posts, under an international initiative, anti-tank coastguard tries to take on survivors. the Turkish city of Cesme. A high-ranking hence the shift to Samos from the far easier and mines are also a hazard.) A captain of the army Furthermore, the status of people in the water is source in the coastguard tells the Athens News narrower stretches opposite Hios. engineers told this newspaper, “Don’t think that that of “shipwrecked”, and they have quite a that the boat was discreetly accompanied by a Under the repatriation agreement between these [anti-tank mines] are safe. If you’re few more rights than illegal immigrants caught Turkish coastguard vessel. They were Greece and Turkey, Turkey has three months to running, like most of these people are, or if you in a boat or ashore. intercepted by a rapid-pursuit Greek coastguard respond to a Greek request for repatriation. are laden down, they can still go off.” One army officer on the garrison of the islet vessel before the immigrant smugglers could Usually the neighbouring country’s red tape is The division’s chief of staff said that when Farmakonissi commented: “Often they land dump their human cargo just inside Greek invoked for delays that lead to the lapse of the questioned, immigrants say that on the other right here, usually after swimming to shore. territorial waters. deadline. However, Turkish authorities do side of the river Turkish smugglers tell them They are often quite unaware of where they are. “This time,” the high-ranking source says, make some exceptions for certain nationals that once they clear the barbed wire “they are in They are wet and frightened. We give them “the Greek crew reacted before they [the whose countries border on their own. Europe”. Asked if some of these unscrupulous blankets, clothing, food and water. We can’t immigrant smugglers] could cross and shone ATHENS NEWS Greek writer wins Christian Dior, Gucci, Calvin Klein Katerina + Kyriacos Mavrolefteros Dean Psarakis & Mary Krithinakis French book prize OPTOMETRISTS Greek author Vassilis Alexakis has been awarded one of France’s top fiction awards, the Grand Prix du Roman de l’Academie Francaise, for his novel “Ap. J.C,” the academy said recently. Alexakis, 63, was born in Athens and came to France at the age of 17. He writes in both 874 Anzac Parade, Maroubra Junction Greek and French. In 1995 he won another (at bus stop, on RTA block) prize, the Prix Medicis, for his novel “La Langue Maternelle” (Mother Tongue). “Ap. J.C” tells the story of a young researcher TEL: (02) 9314-0393 looking into the history of the monks of Mount [email protected] Athos in northern Greece. We have over 1,200 spectacle frames Greek author Vassilis Alexakis, seen here posing in Paris, has been awarded one of 114624

and sunglasses on display! Silhouette, Adidas, Carrera France’s top fiction awards, the Grand Prix du Roman de l’Academie Francaise, for his novel

“Ap. J.C.” Serengeti, Dolce & Gabbana, YSL Polo Ralph Lauren, Oakley, La font NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 5/23 Our Primate’s View

We would have liked very much not to occupy ourselves Despite having entirely convinced us as to his again with the leadership struggle in the main opposition Party of ‘democratic’ conviction and conduct, for as long as Mr Pangalos Greece (PASOK), especially at this most critical hour, yet we loomed over the position of YPEX (Ministry for External Affairs) cannot ignore the ‘statements’ and ‘demeanour’ of certain like a ‘cloud-compelling Zeus’, we ask ourselves today why he individuals who, today, should have kept ‘bashful silence’! remembered ‘collectiveness’ so late(!), demanding it only of the ‘new Leader’? Reading or listening to the repetitious ‘gloating’of How did he tolerate Andreas (Papandreou) before he lay senior members in the PASOK party, as exactly we had been on his deathbed? We shall not speak about Professor Simitis accustomed to for decades, when they governed Greece with the because, as a Politician, he was an entire case on his own within arrogance and unchecked advance of foreign ‘invaders’, one is PASOK as a whole! We shall ask, however, how did Mr Pangalos not only sickened and frustrated but also angered: “Be angry, and dare compare “all the modern European Parties” with PASOK? do not sin” (Psalms 4.5). Did not this astute political scientist, now veteran politician, after 27 years of public life go beyond the bounds of every That perennially copious and sometimes particularly ‘euphemism’ in this case? boisterous member of the Opposition, Mr Theodoros Pangalos, hastening to explain “Why I am not standing as a candidate” Following the above, regarding the boastfulness and (‘VEMA’of Sunday 7/10/07) in the race of the three rivals for the verbosity of Mr Pangalos, when statements provoke excessively Presidency of PASOK, put forward many and interesting views. we feel obliged towards our readers to invoke as a clear ‘term of However, ‘interesting’ does not necessarily mean that comparison’ the characteristic example of truly progressive and they are also acceptable. They are interesting according to the patriotic Public Servants that will demonstrate how beneficial degree that they reveal yet again how easily a career Politician can changes in the political and social life of a Nation should be underestimate the intelligence of the public or at least overrate his understood. own! As much national, political, social or diplomatic History We refer here to a FEAT of unimaginable importance as a career Politician may have read, he should never have accomplished without any noise, immediately after the fall of the believed that, by dogmatizing according to the circumstances, he Junta, in the reformative efforts of 1976/77 by the Government of is actually ‘producing politics’, as it is termed in recent times. Nor Konstantine Karamanlis. should he ever believe that by enumerating the books of his By Archbishop personal library he will be more convincing about his ‘wisdom’. Stylianos The so-called ‘common sense’ which presupposes ‘unselfish- SOMETIMES of Australia ness’, that is, ‘freedom’ of thought, so as not to ‘discriminate‘, must constantly remember the truly wise saying of those before “IT IS BETTER us: “nafe kai memnaso apistein”. TO BE SILENT” Of course, we do admire from time to time the legendary ‘one-liners’ of Mr Pangalos which undoubtedly attest to a freshness and youthfulness reflecting a ‘poetic image’. However, The feat in mention was documented only in 2005(!) even in these moments of ‘euphoria’, the momentary impact is with complete substantiation of the necessary data by the insufficient to hide the ease of his newly minted ‘dictum’! distinguished Ophthalmologist Manolis Behrakis in a A small sample of how quick the former Minister for revelationary and staggering book of 286 pages entitled ‘THE External Affairs and later Minister for Culture is, to elicit ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE – The ‘conclusions’ in his one-sided evaluations, is the following play- chronicle of a challenge and historic flashbacks to the ful observation from his interview: “… when you imitate, you Universities of Greece’ (Potamos publications), including a are always second”! Why did he have to include “always”? foreword by the late noble politician George I. Rallis. Even if, by some unlikely chance, he was not aware of It is not essential for the reader to be a Doctor in order to the law of concurrence and contradiction, that is the ‘rela- properly appreciate the recorded ‘Odyssey’ of the handful of tionship of one thing to another’ that determines the correctness people associated with that ‘cosmogonic’ change, if one takes into of a phrase, did he not at least remember Kazantzakis? Even he, account the conditions of those days and the urgent priorities for despite his familiar ‘magniloquence’, had the modesty to declare other programmes which, in the short term, could have been more that ‘never’ and ‘always’ are not befitting of ‘earthen lips’! fruitful ‘vote-catchers’. In any case, if not for the eventful Minister for External Affairs, most certainly though for the brief-tenured Minister for The issue of Health and Hospitals, after so many Culture, we should altogether leniently recall a simple and ‘assistance packages’ from the European Union, even today undeniable truth: The humanistic meaning of ‘Culture’ and ‘Tra- constitutes one of the most complex and ostentatious problems. dition’, as taught by Greco-Roman antiquity, is irremovably based Even more so at the end of the 1970’s when neither the European on creative ‘imitation’ and not on self-gratifying ‘innovations’. Union was within reach, nor the unforeseen ‘windfalls’ that were We shall leave aside, as ‘fine print’(!), Christian Literature and the to flow later to the national coffers of poor Greece. Neptic Fathers of Orthodoxy. That which moves the unprejudiced reader even more With regard to his almost confessional interview, deeply, creating a dilemma as to where he should direct his including several declarations of at least indirect regret – without admiration and gratitude, is the manner in which the three albeit a subsequent cleansing(!) – there are, however, two protagonists in mention collaborated and mutually supported axiomatic positions, not of a simple ‘excessiveness’ but of an each other: abysmal audacity, where any degree of ‘leniency’ is precluded. Let us check them briefly: a) Professor Behrakis who was the inspiration behind this extraordinary venture, and had the a) He declares imprudently, brazenly we should say, the sensitivity to prepare the relevant Study in order to following in reference to PASOK: convince two of the ‘toughest’ politicians of his day. “We are the Party that has associated its name and its fortune with the historically greatest social and b) The responsible Minister for Education, George political changes that have taken place in this Land”. Rallis, who endorsed the proposals and the Study as a whole. Those of us who have not yet lost our memory, nor have shackled our ‘conscience’ as supporters of ‘factional’ expedien- c) The Minister who approved the expensive outlays in cies, are obliged to reply to him forthrightly that unfortunately, favour of Regional Greece generally, at a time when the large judged as a whole, the PASOK party could only boast about a urban centres of Athens and Thessaloniki were ‘suffocating’ in barbarization of political and social standards in Greece. their own various socio-political problems.

b) At another point in his interview, he makes the fol- Citing just two extracts from the Prologue by the late G. lowing axiomatic declaration: Rallis, we are able to judge the ethos of the three aforementioned “The collectiveness of a Party’s leadership, as occurs in all modern European Parties, must be the basic element of a new Leader”. Cont. page 6/24 NOVEMBER 2007 6/24 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

SOMETIMES FYROM - ‘Time to solve name “IT IS BETTER issue now’, Greek FM says The time for Greece to press for a solution In her reply, Bakoyannis said Greek foreign TO BE regarding the international name of the policy did not have the luxury of forgetting Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia some issues in favour of others and denied that SILENT” (FYROM) is now, before its application to Athens was behaving in a “phobic” fashion. join NATO comes under consideration in “We do not have any phobic syndrome, nor do six months, Foreign Minister Dora we suffer from immodesty or arrogance; we Cont. from page 5/23 Bakoyannis said before Parliament’s for- have self-confidence and this may cause men and their devotion to their country. eign affairs committee recently. annoyance to the people that you spoke with The two characteristic extracts yesterday,” Bakoyannis said, referring to are as follows: “We have said: ‘You will join NATO from the Alavanos’ trip to Skopje a day earlier and his moment that you fulfill terms of good-neigh- talks with the country’s leadership. bour relations and this means finding a com- Responding to criticism over the govern- “I must stress that our decision posite name,” Bakoyannis told MPs. ment’s alleged “tolerance” of inflammatory – taken by the then Prime Minister K. She underlined that Greece‘s policy on this statements by a top Greek cleric on the FY- Karamanlis and myself as Minister for issue had been clear and steadfast, with Athens ROM issue, meanwhile, the minister said she Education – for the establishment of making it clear that relations of solidarity and had made it clear on Wednesday that these did Schools of Medicine at the Universities partnership could not be developed in condi- not reflect the position of the government, the of Patra, Ioannina and Alexandroupolis, tions of obstinacy, and with one side present- Greek people and the country’s political is owed to Professor Behrakis. It was he ing irredentist positions. forces. who prepared a complete, substantiated The minister also stressed that Greece was not “Greece does not seek any change in borders, and detailed Study with zoning, financial prepared to put off a resolution of the issue particularly in the Balkans,” she underlined. and time-scheduling data. He enuncia- until 2015. “The time for a solution is now - Referring to Kosovo, Bakoyannis repeated ted the process and convinced us as to and before [the NATO summit] - we have six Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis Athens‘ position in support of a “clear and sta- the tenability of the decision”. months for negotiations,” she added. that Greece was seeking a solution based on a ble solution” that was compatible with Euro- Asked about the possibility that FYROM will composite name, while fellow PASOK MP pean values and principles and would allow or Further down, he states more join NATO under its current provisional name, Panos Beglitis described the composite name even impose a European perspective for the analytically: Bakoyannis noted that the Skopje government solution as a “last boundary” in negotiations, region, as well as enhanced international legit- seemed to think it could have things both provided that there was one common interna- imacy that would ensure its viability. “Invaluable co-workers in this ways: tional name for all uses. On the Cyprus issue, she repeated that rela- whole reformative effort, attempted “The latest developments have shown that Beglitis also warned that Greece would first tions between Greece and Turkey could never during that time at the Ministry for Skopje considers that it can follow a double have to back out of the interim agreement of be fully normalised until this was justly Education, were the late Lina Koutifaris, policy: On the one hand they consider that they 1995 at least a year before exercising its veto resolved, while she criticised the Turkish side then Deputy Minister for Education, can join (all international organisations) with to FYROM’s entry into NATO, asking for failing to stick to the July 8 agreement. Professor George Pantelidis of the the name FYROM and, on the other hand, they whether the government had considered the Commenting on a recent agreement signed directly dispute this name. This became clear- between London and Ankara that referred to National Metsovian Polytechnion and timing involved. ly evident at the last United Nations assembly, the illegal state set up in the Turkish-occupied then Director General for Tertiary Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader where the FYROM official presiding (over the Alekos Alavanos also caused a stir, when he northern territories of Cyprus as though it were Education at the Ministry for Education, assembly) referred to FYROM’s president as legitimate, Bakoyannis made the following as well as the technical adviser Loukas cited a “Skopjenisation” of Greece’s foreign ‘President of Macedonia’. In practice, this policy and claimed that the affair with statement: Kyriakopoulos. That which I think means that this entire affair is a deception,” she FYROM was being pursued at the expense of “Developments such as that arising with the deserves to be underlined with this said. the country’s interests vis-a-vis Turkey, which memorandum signed by the United Kingdom opportunity, is the fact that all these She also pointed out that, in terms of seeking was accruing negotiating advantages because and Turkey do not contribute to the processes efforts were achieved without any inflow a proper basis for relations of alliance, the of its role, while Greece was undermining its for a solution but indicate how important it is of funds to our Country, since Greece name issue was not a psychological problem position by its constant preoccupation with its to seek a new mobility on this issue, so that we had not yet become a member of the but a political issue linked to the requirement neighbours. are led to the reunification of the island. Du- European Union so as to enjoy the rich to actively seek good-neighbourly relations Bakoyannis denied that Turkey was “accru- ring our recent meeting, my British counter- financial benefits which, from 1982 till and terms that were self-evident in relations ing advantages” and pointed out that the part was clear that British policy has not chan- today, all successive governments have between allied states. European Commission had for the first time ged on the issue and that Britain remains stead- received and harvested, without, unfortuna- “This position of ours is put forward and is referred to the problems with the ethnic Greek fast in seeking implementation of the agree- tely, turning them at all times to their full understood because it is consistent in the direc- islands of Imvros and Tenedos, the rights of ment of July 8. And that the references that advantage, and without applying due dili- tion of encouraging countries in the region to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Turkey‘s con- were made did not seek to leave open to inter- gence. join NATO and the EU but without a carte tinued ‘casus belli’ threat against Greece. pretation or misinterpretation the things that In this way, all the relevant blanche,” Bakoyannis added. Alavanos also criticised the government for were written. I am particularly glad, because expenditure was financed exclusively by the Main opposition PASOK MP Theodoros failing to explain FYROM’s true significance from the first I judged this to be a misunder- national Budget alone, despite the fiscal Pangalos criticised the minister’s statement to the Greek people. standing,” Bakoyannis said. difficulties faced by Greece, remnants of the bad administration of the yet recent seven- year Junta. Major contributions to the suc- Skopje won't play ball cess of our initiatives in mention were provi- ded by Ministers of the Karamanlis Govern- Matthew Nimetz' latest - and last - attempt to resolve a name dispute Greece argues that a resolution of the name dispute will give ment of that period, namely Panagis Papali- got off to a less than propitious start, when top officials of the Former FYROM a much-needed ally at a time of potential regional instabili- gouras, Minister for Coordination and Evan- Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia publicly declared they will not con- ty. The UN mediator is expected to visit both Athens and Skopje by gelos Devletoglou, Minister for Finance, who sider any change to the constitutional name. the end of November. have since passed away. Barely had the UN envoy deposited his proposals with Greek The Greek government has undertaken its own diplomatic blitzkrieg, In the contents of the remarkable Ambassadaor Adamantios Vassilakis and FYROM counterpart Nikola with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis visiting both Berlin and book by Behrakis is included, with thorough- Dimitrov, that Skopje moved to immobilise Greece's main bargaining London to whip up support for Greece's positions. British Foreign ness and clarity, the background of the devel- chip, a threatened veto of FYROM's Nato accession next April. Secretary David Miliband acknowledged Greece's self-evident veto opments, from the day that the decision was "More than 90 percent of citizens have declared themselves for right. taken to establish the three new Schools of NATO membership. However, the simultaneous change of the consti- During talks with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier Medicine, up until the commencement of their tutional name [Republic of Macedonia] in accordance with the Greek on November 7, Bakoyannis said. "We seek a solution that will allow operation.” desire is too high a price for this priority, and that is unacceptable to the two countries to co-exist in common alliances and the common us even if it refers to NATO membership," FYROM Prime Minister European edifice." FYROM's hard line sparked nationalist salvos in For us nothing remains but to add Nikola Gruevski said in an interview on November 4, three days after Greece. Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki, responding to an enormous ‘Bravo’ to Professor M. Nimetz met with the two sides. FYROM maps showing large chunks of northern Greece as part of Behrakis and to express ‘May their memory But in a boost for Greece, US Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland that country, declared that parts of Fyrom that had substantial Greek be eternal’ to Konstantinos Karamanlis and urged Gruevski in November 8 talks in Skopje that his government populations (as Monastir) might have been better incorporated in to George I. Rallis. should settle the dispute with Greece. She also said Skopje must Greece. The remarks brought a withering attack on the bishop by the "sprint" to gain membership. Left Coalition party and the press. NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 7/25 Facts & Stats

Australia fourth fastest Aussies fifth fattest broadband growth in the developed world per person in Australia is now one of the fattest nations in growing incidence of obesity in most OECD OECD: report the developed world, according to a new countries, including Australia, may mean higher international report which singles out the health care costs in the future,” said AIHW Australia’s broadband internet conne- country’s sky-rocketing obesity rate. spokesperson Louise York. ction performance is on the improve The nation performed better on other markers but pricing and speed are still below A report released by the Organisation for of health, winning the fifth lowest daily world best. Economic Cooperation and Development smoking rate after Sweden, the US, Portugal A new OECD report, released recently, shows Australia performing well on smoking and Canada. shows that Australia rates fourth - up rates and survival from breast cancer and heart Australia succeeded in cutting its daily five places - among developed count- attacks compared with the other 29 OECD smoking rates in half over the last 20 years, ries in per capita broadband take-up. nations. from 35.4 per cent of adults in 1983 to 17.7 per The strongest growth, in the six mon- But it was one of the worst performers on cent in 2004. ths to June this year, was in Ireland, obesity, thanks to new statistics showing almost It also had one of the lowest death rates among Germany and Sweden. one in every four Australians now has a body people admitted to hospital with a heart attack - Australia rated sixth behind Denmark, mass index (BMI) over 30. five per cent compared with 25 per cent in the Netherlands and Sweden, but Australia had the fifth highest adult obesity rate, Mexico. ahead of New Zealand, Germany and 21.7 per cent, behind the US, 32.2 per cent, Total health spending accounted for 9.5 per the UK in the number of subscribers Mexico, 30.2 per cent, the UK, 23 per cent, and cent of GDP in 2004, in line with the OECD per 100 people. Greece, 21.9 per cent. average. Health spending as a share of GDP was On affordability, Australia trailed Ja- Australians are gaining weight even faster than lower in Australia than in the US and several pan, France, Sweden, Korea and Fin- people in the US, a notoriously fat nation. European countries but higher than Japan, UK land but tumbled to 19th when prices “Using consistent measures of obesity over and New Zealand. were measured on an average monthly time, the rate of obesity has more than doubled OECD, said the obesity problem would trigger “A strong rise in pharmaceutical spending has subscription basis. over the past 20 years in the United States, while increased diabetes and cardiovascular disease in been one of the factors behind the rise in total The fastest advertised download speed it has almost tripled in Australia,” states the the future, placing extra stress on the health health spending in Australia as well as in many were in Japan, France, Korea and Swe- report, Health at a Glance 2007. system. other OECD countries,” Ms York said. den with Australia ninth. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare “Given the time lag between the onset of Communications Minister Helen (AIHW), which supplied the figures to the obesity and subsequent health problems, the AAP Coonan said Australia was ahead of the US, UK and Canada for broadband speeds, affordability and growth in connections. “While the coalition is pleased with the OECD’s findings, we have a practical plan for the future to extend high speed broadband to 99 per cent of the population by 2009 at retail prices of between $35 and $60 per month,” she said. “Contrast this with Labor’s proposal Our which will miss one in four house- holds, cost families upwards of $100 per month and won’t be available until lifespans 2013.” Labor’s communications spokesman Stephen Conroy said the report’s fin- continue dings were based on departmental esti- mates rather than official statistics. to grow “The minister directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commis- sion to stop collecting statistics relating Men and women living in the ACT can to broadband earlier this year and, as expect to live longer than anywhere else in stated by the OECD, the Australian the country. Bureau of Statistics had none available to supply,” he said in a statement. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) “The OECD was left to base its findin- released new figures on life expectancy gs on estimates provided by the depart- today, showing the life expectancy of a boy ment, resulting in Australia leapfrog- born today is 78.7 years and 83.5 years for a ging up the broadband rankings. girl. “The latest OECD figures for broad- The ABS said that since 1986, life band speeds are based on advertised fi- expectancy at birth had increased by about gures not actual speeds that Australians six years for men and four-and-a-half years receive. for women. “The reality for most Australians, Having survived to 65, men could expect to particularly those living in rural and live another 18.3 years and women 21.5 ye- regional areas, is that they are unable to ars. access the high speed broadband ser- The ACT recorded the highest-life expectan- vices that are only available in the cy for both males (80.0 years) and females major cities.” (83.9 years). Labor has pledged to invest up to $4.7 The Northern Territory experienced the billion over five years to establish a lowest-life expectancy for both males (72.1 national broadband network in partner- years) and females (78.1 years). ship with the private sector. There were 133,700 deaths - 68,600 men and 65,200 women - in 2006. AAP AAP The Greek Australian VEMA NOVEMBER 2007 8/26 TO BHMA Windows to Orthodoxy Christ, the Mystic Mill? By Guy Freeland*

The Mystic Mill

On a capital (= the block of stone at the top of a column) in the nave of the exquisite twelfth-cen- tury Abbey Church of St Mary Magdalene, Vézelay in France is a very strange Romanesque carving (illustrated). At the top, it depicts Moses pouring grain into the hopper of a watermill to be ground, while, at the bottom, St Paul collects the resultant flour in a sack.

Following medieval convention, the mill is depicted in stylised form and in miniature, while the two figures are portrayed more or less in their true size and proportions. In reality, medieval watermills were massive bits of machinery filling a specially constructed mill-house.

On the outside, there would be a huge waterwheel turned by a fast flowing stream or river or by water flowing into “buckets” on the wheel from above. Often major works were undertaken to store, speed (the millrace) and control the flow of water. (See the illustration of the twelfth-cen- tury mill at Braine le Chateau, Belgium; photo. Pierre, Wikipedia.)

In order to understand the symbolic potential of watermills, one needs to understand that they were the marvels of technology of their time. In what has been called the Twelfth-Century Industrial Revolution, spear-headed by the Cistercians (= reformed Benedictine monks), water power was harnessed not only for grinding grain but also for such tasks as driving bellows and hammers for the iron industry and saws for the timber industry. Watermill technology remained the miracle of the age until the invention of the weight-driven mechanical clock late in the thir- teenth century.

The message the Mystic Mill seeks to convey is that the deeper spiritual meaning of the Old Testament is revealed through Christ and nourishes the Church. According to tradition (but not in fact) the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, were written by Moses. Jews know these books as the Torah (= the Law).

St Paul is the Apostle who laid down the foundations for the seemly conduct of the life of the infant Church. It would, however, be a mistake to see Moses as symbolic of the Old Testament law and Paul as symbolic of the New. Indeed, this reading is hardly likely since it is Paul who taught that while not all things are expedient all things are lawful for Christians (1 Corinthians 10:23). Any suggestion that he could be the instigator of a new body of law to replace the Jewish would have reputed remains of the Apostle spinning in their reliquaries.

No, Moses is on our capital as the (obvious) symbol of the entire Old Testament – “all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40) - and Paul as the symbol of the New. But, you might ask, why Paul rather than Christ? The answer is that Christ is the Mystic Mill itself. This is corroborated by the fact that the spokes of the waterwheel form a deliberate cross.

It is by, with, in and through the Incarnate Christ that the Word hidden in the words of the Old Testament is revealed through His teaching and saving mysteries. The husks hiding the inner grain are discarded and the grain is ground into the fine flour of the revelation of the Holy Trinity Spiritual insight – in other words, the living Christ dwelling within the heart of the exegete – is in Christ Jesus, the substance out of which the risen bread of the doctrine of the Church is baked. necessary in order to complete the grinding of the grain to extract the fuller meaning of the words. In fact, the spiritual meaning of Scripture is never totally exhausted. As St Ephrem the Syrian Christocentric Hermeneutics says, we should never try to drink the fount of Scripture dry.

The hermeneutics (= theory of biblical interpretation, as opposed to exegesis, the practice of So, the Mystic Mill is indeed Christ the Word/Logos Himself, the hermeneutic principle of all interpretation) of the Orthodox Church is that of Christ Himself as recorded in the Gospels and hermeneutic principles. He alone is “the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6). expounded and explicated by the New Testament writers and the Fathers of the Church. All Scripture (Latin, scriptura = a writing, a written composition) is composed through human Although there are a number of hermeneutic principles essential to a sound understanding of the minds and hands, whether there is a single author (as, for example, with the letters of St Paul) or Bible, there is one which is arguably the key to Orthodox hermeneutics. This is the principle that more than one (as with the Psalter). There are also “redactors” (editors) of texts. Many books of the entire Bible, Old as well as New Testaments, is to be interpreted Christocentrically. the Bible, particularly of the Old Testament, have a complicated redaction history.

In answer to the Jews, Christ says: A narrative as we have it in our Bible (think Genesis) might have been created out of the fabric of two or more earlier narratives, whether transmitted through writing or orally, which them- “You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have selves might be the product of a lengthy redaction history. eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me … Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you … If This means that the divine inspiration involved in the composition of Scripture might (think St you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me.” Paul or the Evangelists) or might not (think much of the Old Testament) be that of authors per (John 5:39, 45-46 RSV, my italics.) se. In the case of the Old Testament, it is often the divine inspiration of the person or persons who were responsible for the final redaction of a received text of Holy Scripture that is of significance.

And Christ said to Luke and Cleopas, as He walked with them along the road to Emmaus on the But Scripture not only has a human author (or authors) and/or redactor (or redactors) but also a day of His resurrection: divine author and that, in the Christian view, means the Logos/Christ. Except in the case of actu- al words of Christ recorded in the Gospels, the divine Word is always expressed through the “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets words of inspired human authors/redactors and is accommodated to the background knowledge, have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these horizons and limitations of particular times and places. things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things Moreover, in the case of the Old Testament, since it predates the Incarnation, the grain (the Word) concerning himself.” (Luke 24:44-45.) is always veiled by the husk; that is, encoded within the text. The encoded text has therefore to be unveiled/decoded through the revelation in Christ. And Christ Himself instructed the Church To discern the Word within the words, the spiritual and theological message of Scripture, fre- as to how it was to separate the grains from the husks and grind them into the fine flour of the quently entails penetrating beneath the literal surface of the text (the outer husk). Christ typical- Gospel. ly taught in parables, which had to be decoded in order to extract the message encoded in the story. This should forewarn us that the Word has frequently to be searched out deep within the Of particular importance, amongst methods for establishing the unity of the Bible and the spiri- substance of a biblical text, particularly in the case of the Old Testament. It is no accident that the tual sense of the Old Testament, is typology. Responding to the request for a sign, Christ says: Church calls the Old Testament passages read at Vespers “parables”. NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 9/27 Windows to Orthodoxy Cont. from previous page

“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:39-40.)

Christ here established a correspondence between His forthcoming crucifixion, descent into hell and third-day resurrection, the antitype, and the story of Jonah and the whale (Jonah 1&2), the type or antetype. Although type and antitype have quite different content, they share a common structure – the sacrifice; the descent; the three days and nights; the ascent (resurrection for Christ, regurgitation onto dry land for Jonah).

Origins and Iconography

Possibly, we need look no further for the inspiration of the Vézelay sculpture than medieval mill technology, with its seemingly miraculous power to harness the energy stored in water to per- form a whole raft of operations without the aid of human or animal exertion. But it usually turns out that even obscure-seeming iconography has some grounding in the Bible.

The Old Testament tells how, after Delilah deprived him of his strength by cutting off his hair, Samson was seized by the Philistines who: “gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with bronze fetters; and he ground at the mill in the prison.” (Judges 16:21.) This is a verse which seems to have subterranean depths of meaning which might possibly have been typologically linked with Christ, and hence have something to do with the Mystic Mill.

Samson’s actual mill would have been turned by human muscle, but a stained glass panel from La Sainte Chapelle in Paris actually depicts a watermill. The window is thirteenth century but an association of Samson with the Mystic Mill, to which it might possibly point, could well be ear- lier.

But even if there was a biblical association, it seems plausible that the ultimate inspiration for the metaphor of the transforming power of the mill derives from a letter of St Ignatius of Antioch (d.c.107), written to deflect well-wishers from attempting to intervene to prevent his martyrdom:

Let me be thrown to the wild beasts, for through them I shall come to God. I am God’s wheat, ground by the teeth of the wild beasts so as to be made pure bread.

In its turn, Ignatius’ metaphor might very well have been suggested by a related metaphor in a prophecy of the Passion of Christ in Isaiah (63:2-6): “Why is thy apparel red, and thy garment like his that treads in the wine press?” (Verse 2.)

There is in fact another iconographic example, a roundel of stained glass in the Royal Abbey of Saint-Denis, near Paris. The original panel was installed c.1140-1144 by the great Abbot, Suger . Unfortunately, the roundel in place today is a modern reconstruction based on Suger’s descrip- tion and it depicts not a watermill but a handmill turned by St Paul. Suger’s description of the original, however, seems to refer to a scene close to that of the Vézelay capital.

The roundel is one of a set of five which make up what has been called Suger’s “Anagogic Window” (anagogy = spiritual, mystical – the anagogic is the most exalted spiritual meaning of Scripture). Suger’s aim in adorning the Abbey Church was anagogic (he uses the term himself), to lift the soul from the mundane to the spiritual realm. But the purpose of the iconography of the Anagogic Window is more specific; to shed light on the nature of the hermeneutic transforma- tion of the Old Testament into the New.

Ah, but I can hear murmurings. Is it proper to depict Christ, even if as the embodiment of the hermeneutic process, as a watermill? Umberto Eco has written perceptively of strange symbols:

According to the Pseudo-Dionysius, it was appropriate that the things of God should be symbolised by very dissimilar entities … because it was precisely the incongruity of a symbol that made it palpable and stimulating. … In a symbolic universe, … everything answers to everything else. … It was a kind of polyphony of signs and references. (Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages, Yale University Press, pp 55-56.) The Mystic Mill undergoes another transformation in a print in a Reformation pamphlet of 1521 (illustrated). This shows Christ pouring the Evangelists into the hopper of a watermill while If Christ can be symbolised as a lion, lamb, eagle or peacock then why not as a wondrous piece Erasmus collects the pure flour of the Word. Behind, Luther kneads dough to bake the bread of of machinery? Protestant doctrine. A character, who is probably the Reformer Zwingli, hands Bibles to the Pope, hierarchs and monks, who refuse them, while another Reformer, Karsthans, flails the Catholics. It should be no surprise that the symbol of the Mystic Mill has been redeployed. Even from the twelfth century, there is a detailed drawing of the machinery of a watermill that has the Theotokos The final twist comes with a Swiss stained glass panel of 1566 which depicts Protestants pour- emptying grain into the hopper (illustrated). This presumably symbolises the transformation of ing Popes, Cardinals and monks into a hopper, who then emerge from their grinding as hideous the nutriment she supplies to the child in her womb into the flesh of the God-Man, Jesus, “the serpents and dragons. But this scene is a biting satirical protest at the wars, witch hunts and other bread which came down from heaven.” (John 6:41.) horrors perpetrated by both Catholics and Protestants in the period of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, for the Protestants are also depicted as diabolical monsters. I know of two examples in which the Mystic Mill, still clearly signifying Christ, has been used to symbolise the late medieval doctrine of transubstantiation. Is there any further mileage in the Mystic Mill? For goodness sake, let’s get back to Vézelay and Suger! A painted altarpiece of c.1440 shows the Theotokos, assisted by the Evangelists, pouring flour into a hopper, while below the Pope and hierarchs collect consecrated wafers. In a fifteenth-cen- tury stained glass window from Nuremberg the Evangelists pour unconsecrated wafers into the * Guy Freeland is an Honorary Lecturer at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological mill which emerge as a loaf, signifying the Body of Christ. College, Sydney. NOVEMBER 2007 10/28 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA UN members urged to observe Olympic truce

The UN general assembly urged all mem- ber states to observe a truce during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and help build "a peaceful and better world through sport".

A resolution adopted unanimously by the 192 member body hailed the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to spur efforts "to promote a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce," in line with a practice dating back to ancient Greece. It urged all member states to cooperate with the IOC "in its efforts to use sport as an instru- ment to promote peace, dialogue and reconcil- iation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period". The resolution called on all countries to respect the truce individually or collectively during the 29th Olympiad in Beijing next year and endorsed China's slogan "One world, one dream" for the Olympic Summer Games scheduled for August 8 to 24, and the Paralympic Games from September 6 to 17. "If we are going to build a world with greater tolerance, mutual understanding and peace, sport must continue to be used to channel energies away from aggression and self- destruction and into learning and self-respect," Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said. "This is the essence of the Olympic ideal." AFP ORDER FORM

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NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 11/29 NOVEMBER 2007 12/30 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

In the presence of His Grace Bishop Seraphim on Tuseday 13th November, St Spyridon College warmly welcomed, Mr Vassilios Papageorgopoulos, Mayor of Thessaloniki.

LEFT: Head of College, Mrs Efrosini Stefanou-Haag, greets Mr Papageorgopoulos on arrival. RIGHT: St Spyridon Parish Priest, Fr Stylianos Scoutas with the Mayor of Thessaloniki

LEFT:Mayor of Thessaloniki Mr Papageorgopoulos with His Grace Bishop Seraphim, Consul General of Greece Mr Raptakis, Father Steven, Father Kyrillos, Parish President Mr Elia Economou, Parish Bursar/CEO Mrs Christina Tsakonas, Parish Vice President Dr Thomas Savoulis, Principal of Senior School Mrs Athena Katsogiannis, Principal of Junior School Mrs Mary Hamer and students of St Spyridon College. RIGHT: The Mayor presents His Grace with a book on his city Thessaloniki, which Bishop Seraphim handed over to the College

Preparing for the Preliminary and HSC Courses 2008/2009

LEFT: Mr Michael Daley MP, adrressing The program was opened by Mr Michael Daly MP, Member the Year 10 students at for Maroubra. He spoke to the students about their future and the opening of the told them the most important thing was to believe in them- Preparing for the selves. Preliminary and HSC Courses 2008/2009 at Mr Daly expressed how impressed he was with the concept St Spyridon College. and the program which he saw as ‘comprehensive and well considered’. He said ‘this is a time to discover yourself, to RIGHT: Mr Michael apply yourself and to get the most from the course as it will Daley MP presenting influence who you are’. Christopher Stasos with his Certificate of Every student in Year 10 was presented with the Certificate of Graduation Graduation by Mr Michael Daley MP Member for Maroubra.

This 12 day program is designed for the Year 10 students who will be continuing their studies at St Spyridon College beyond the School Certificate and is compulsory.

LEFT: Year 10 St Over the 12 days students will attend workshops on stress Spyridon College stu- management, the literacy demands of the H.S.C., managing dents. Board of Studies paperwork, study skills, spiritual enlighten- ment and good works in the community, global connections RIGHT: Parish through the children of Kenya project and an excellent President Me Elia Careers Market featuring universities, TAFE and other major Economou presenting further education providers. Anthony Giavis with his Certificate of The program is demanding and requires a responsible attitude Graduation from our future Yr 11 and 12 students. NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 13/31

HEALTH SKIN CANCER NEWS And Commonly held misconceptions about sun exposure Other, but much less common causes of skin WITH DR. THEO PENKLIS * cancer include some medications , such as immunosuppressant drugs and use of sun lamps and solariums. Even ultraviolet thera- Summer is approaching, the weather is get- py for treatment of skin conditions such as ting warmer and the sun’s rays are stronger psoriasis can cause skin cancer. Over expo- and more harmful. sure to chemicals such as coal tar, soot, paraf- Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of fin waxes, arsenic and polycyclic hydrocar- abnormal skin cells. Australia has the highest bons can cause skin cancer. incidence of skin cancer in the world. It usu- ally occurs in people who have been exposed The signs of skin cancer to too much ultraviolet light from the sun. People who have fair skin are most at risk, Skin cancer can advance locally in the area in but people with dark complexions are not which it occurs or spread to other parts of the necessarily immune. People who live in body if undetected or left untreated. sunny climates are in the high risk group and Skin cancer is a disease of the body’s skin people with freckles are also at risk of skin cells caused mainly by cumulative exposure cancer. to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Skin is People with crusty, non-healing sores or the largest organ of the body, and the top sunspots, or people who have a persistent layer of the skin (called the epidermis) con- small lump that is red, pale or pearly in tains three different types of cells: basal cells, colour, or people who have a new spot, mole squamous cells, and melanocytes. These cells or freckle that has increased in size, changed produce keratin (resists heat, cold and the colour or bled, should consult their doctor. effects of many chemicals), and melanin In general, the areas to watch are the (gives skin its colour and absorbs ultraviolet exposed areas of the body: face, ears, neck, radiation). Cancer can form if the cells mul- shoulders, arms and backs of the hands and tiply abnormally and form a malignant feet. But skin cancer can occur anywhere, tumour. There are three main types of skin especially melanomas. cancer named after the type of cells they start In general, it is worth having a skin cancer from: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell check once a year with your general practi- carcinoma, and melanoma. tioner. pathology reports, the doctor may be Protection from the sunlight is important. It required to do a wider excision. That is, to is important to avoid direct sunlight when the Commonly held misconceptions about sun Types of skin cancer take a deeper section of skin. sun is at its strongest from 10am to 3pm stan- exposure The three main types of skin cancer are If skin cancers are large, or depending on dard time, and from 11am to 4pm during There are a lot of common misconceptions named after the three main types of cell they the position of the lesion, a plastic surgeon daylight saving time. about sun exposure.The following state- start from: may be required to do a skin graft or skin Seek shade wherever possible. Always wear ments are all incorrect; flap. a broad brimmed hat, be wary of reflected 1/ Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) Sometimes skin cancer can be treated non- sun on cloudy days and wind that dries the * It is possible to tan safeley –wrong! This is the most common and least danger- surgically. Non-surgical treatments of skin skin. Cover your forearms with a shirt or * A tan provides protection from the sun- ous type of skin cancer. It usually appears on cancers include: dress with sleeves. Wear wrap around sun- wrong! the face or neck. It typically grows slowly over glasses to protect your eyes. * Sunscreen is adequate protection on its a period of months or years and only rarely Curettage and Diathermy: Small BCC can be It is important to use a sunscreen with a own –wrong! spreads to other parts of the body. It usually treated this way where the doctor uses an minimum 15+ factor on exposed areas of the * Sun protection is only required when it is starts in a small round or flattened lump or instrument called a curette to scrape away skin and renew it regularly. hot and sunny –wrong! ulcer that is red, pale, or pearly in colour. the lesion and then uses the electronic Children must be protected from the sun * The sun is only harmful in the middle of the BCC is most common in people over forty diathermy to stop bleeding and destroy the with sunscreen, swimming vests and hats. day –wrong! years of age, but can occur in young adults. remaining cancer cells. The skin of children is more sensitive than * You need plenty of sun to avoid Vitamin D the skin of adults. deficiency –wrong! 2/ Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) Laser: Small and superficial skin cancers are * You only need protection when it is hot and This is a very dangerous form of skin cancer. sometimes treated with laser. Early detection of skin cancer sunny –wrong! Squamous cell carcinoma grows faster than a Early detection is important. The earlier the * Olive and dark skinned people can cannot basal cell carcinoma, usually over a period of Radiotherapy: This can be used when sur- skin cancer is detected, the more easily and get sun burnt or skin cancer –wrong! weeks to months. It usually appears in the gery may be disfiguring or if a person is unfit better it can be treated. Talk to your doctor hands, forearms, face and neck. SCC looks for surgery. today about a skin cancer check. If you devel- Your skin needs protection from the sun. like a red scaly spot or lump and is usually op a skin lump or change in the shape or thickened. It can bleed easily and ulcerate Chemotherapy: This is in the form of a cream colour of a mole or area of the skin, or have The function of the skin and may be tender to touch. Most patients containing 5- Fluorouracil. This is sometimes a sore which will not heal or bleeds, see your The skin provides protection to the body. It with SCC are over forty, but it can occur in used for skin cancers in the early stage of doctor without delay!! helps regulate temperature and prevents younger adults. development. dehydration. It is made up of a number of * The information given in this article is of a layers and different types of cells. 3/ Melanoma Medications: There are a variety of other general nature and readers should seek advice The outer layer, the epidermis, contains This is the rarest, but most dangerous form drugs available to treat some superficial from their own medical practitioner before mainly squamous cells. Deeper in the epider- of skin cancer. It is highly malignant but can BCC’s. embarking on any treatment. mis are the basal cells. Scattered among these usually be treated successfully, if diagnosed are the melanocyte cells which give the skin early. It usually starts in a mole, but can start Cryotherapy : is where the skin conditions Dr. Theo Penklis is a General Practitioner. its colour. The dermis lies underneath the in previously normal skin as a new lesion. A are treated with liquid nitrogen which freezes He is the Director of a group practice in Rose epidermis and contains the roots of hairs, melanoma can occur anywhere in the body. the lesions and kills the abnormal cells. It is Bay in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. glands, blood and lymph vessels and nerves. not used to treat skin cancers or moles. It is Diagnosis and Treatment of skin cancer used for the treatment of solar He studied Science at the University of Sydney What are the causes of skin cancer? If your doctor suspects a skin cancer, a biop- keratoses(commonly called sun spots). They and then Medicine at the University of New The most common cause of skin cancer is sy may be taken to confirm the diagnosis. If are red scaling areas of skin most frequently South Wales. He did his hospital training at the overexposure to the harmful ultraviolet the diagnosis is reasonably certain by the exposed to sunlight. Although a solar kerato- The Prince of Wales Hospital and The Prince rays of the sun over a prolonged period of appearance of the lesion, for example, for a sis is benign, treatment is required because it of Wales Childrens’ Hospital (now known as time. Exposure to sunlight in childhood and known BCC or SCC, the doctor usually cuts may become a SCC. The Sydney Childrens’ Hospital) adolescence is a major factor in the develop- the lesion out sends it to a pathologist for ment of skin cancer. However, it is not the examination under a microscope for confir- The disadvantage of cryotherapy is that a He is a second generation Greek Australian. only factor and indeed skin cancer can occur mation of the diagnosis and to be certain all biopsy is not taken. His grandparents originated from the island of in areas of the body that have had little or no the cancerous cells have been removed. Kastellorizo in the Dodecanese. He is married exposure to the sun. After excision of a melanoma, depending on How can skin cancer be prevented? with 2 young children. NOVEMBER 2007 14/32 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

Breaking the guilty silence Schoolchildren 8 to 12 years old are routinely being sexually or physically abused, according to recent research

More than 15 percent of eight- to twelve- year-olds have suffered sexual or physical abuse, according to research carried out on Greek school children. A University of Athens questionnaire, com- pleted by 2,500 schoolchildren across Greece, not only indicates that three in 20 children have been abused by a member of their family or someone within their immediate family cir- cle, but also shows that others are systemati- cally covering up for this abuse. Professor Christina Antonopoulou, the psy- chologist and sociologist who instigated the research, told this newspaper that the conclu- sions were “shocking”, but that it was also esti- mated that 80 percent of child abuse cases in this country go unnoticed. “The reality may be much more dramatic,” she said. Speaking after a conference on sexual and physical child abuse organised by the maga- zine To paidi mou ki ego, Antonopoulou said: “It is clear from the responses of children that most cases of abuse come from people within their family or immediate environment.” She added: “This shouldn’t surprise us. People known to the child are able to abuse that child in ways that are unnoticeable. The wounds are internal. They are psychological. There is a guilty silence, not only from the abusers but also from other adults who know the abuse is going on, and from the children who fear they will be incriminated. And while this guilty silence persists, other children will be abused every day.” The technical advisor for the family of schoolboy Alex Meshivilli, who went missing from the northern town of Veria in March 2006, Antonopoulou devised the questionnaire in order to ascertain how schoolchildren had been affected by the highly-publicised disap- pearance of the then 11-year-old and to inves- tigate the extent of child abuse in Greece. Five schoolboys have been accused of mur- dering Alex. However, Antonopoulou, as well as others, maintain that he was kidnapped by an international paedophilia ring. Hidden truths: A few simple questions can reveal whether a child has been physically or sexually abused. Inset: Alex Meshivilli may have been the victim of an international paedophile ring Profile of an abused child physical abuse.” in other countries children can testify through The questions were designed to build up a Maroussi Mayor George Patoulis, who is also video links, here they have to appear in court psychological profile of each child and indi- the president of the inter-municipality network each time and sit opposite the person they are cate - rather than specify - whether they had at of health services and the host of the confer- accusing.” any time been the victim of sexual or physical ence, echoed these sentiments and said: He added that physical evidence is required abuse. “Sexual abuse is one of the most hideous for sexual abuse to be proven and that prosecu- “We know, for instance, that children who are crimes, not only on the body but also on the tors in rural communities are often reluctant to sexually abused have images in their mind that human psyche and dignity. We believe the best hand out jail terms to known members of the frighten them,” Antonopoulou explained. “So approach to this problem is prevention rather community because of local pressures. than simply attempting to treat the victims. we ask them: ‘Do you ever have ideas or Punished again and again images that frighten you? Do you have bad There is an enormous scope for improvement dreams or nightmares? Have you ever been in the way the subject is approached in As well as mentioning the instance of an 11- approached by someone who wanted to harm schools. We all need to be educated.” year-old Greek girl made pregnant by her you? Do you feel unhappy? Do you talk about Instances of sexual abuse of children appear father, Yannopoulos gave two examples where sex with your friends? Has anyone ever to be fuelled in Greece by the tendency of “the children are punished more than the approached you offering money or something small, rural communities to keep tight-lipped abusers”. able to leave and get a job,” said Yannopoulos. else?’ We know from international research about known or suspected perpetrators. Firstly, he said, the charity was instructed by “A few months ago, however, she was notified that if you answer yes to these, and many other Furthermore, despite harsh penalties for con- an Attica-based prosecutor to look after a 13- that her parents were suing her for slander, and questions, you may have been sexually victed paedophiles, the court cases against year-old girl who had, she said, been sexually we are helping her all over again. There are abused.” accused child abusers are often long-winded abused by her father. After four years of delays lawyers in this country who are paid an awful The intention, said Antonopoulou, was not to and arduous for the children, and prosecutions and difficulties with the court case, the girl lot of money to show that what these children leave us all open-mouthed, but to break our are rare. returned home. “Apparently, she accepted her are saying is a product of their imagination.” silence on a subject that is taboo. “Rather than focus on statistics, we should be father’s actions,” said Yannopoulos. In more recent cases, three Albanian boys, “The relevant authorities, for instance the talking about the fact that the legal system for The second example was of a 16-year-old girl aged 9 to 13, alleged in January that they had ministry of education, must be mobilised,” she convicting someone who has been sexually from the Peloponnese, who was also entrusted been repeatedly raped by a 47-year-old “busi- said. “There is no proper sex education in abusing a child is also damaging to the child,” to the charity after accusing both her father and nessman” in Edessa, northern Greece. The schools. Parents, teachers and children must Costas Yannopoulos, president of the chil- grandfather of repeatedly raping her. learn to recognise the symptoms of sexual and dren’s charity A Child’s Smile, said. “Whereas “We helped her for five years, until she was NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 15/33

Cont. from previous page * Sudden and inexplicable fear of meeting a certain person abuse, said the boys, took place with the * Sexual activity or knowledge that is inappro- Australians calling for return knowledge of their parents, who had apparent- priate for a child’s age ly accepted money in return for their silence. * Often draws images of a sexual nature And, on November 1, it was reported that a 15- * Sexually abuses other children of Parthenon Marbles year-old girl on Rhodes was repeatedly raped * Takes on the role of a parent at home (in by her 27-year-old brother, apparently on one cases of incest) occasion in front of her brother’s 40-year-old * Suddenly has a significant amount of money friend. * Symptoms of regression, such as thumb- The local prosecutor chose not to detain the sucking and bed-wetting brother pending trial. * Nightmares, fears, eating disorders, lack of That it is the abused children who often end self-esteem and suicidal thoughts up being punished is a point that Antonopou- * Disturbing behaviour, such as aggression or lou also makes. In the case of Alex Meshivilli, withdrawal Antonopoulou includes in this equation the * Excessive and unprovoked fear five boys accused of murder. * Feelings of loneliness, guilt, depression or In her recently-published book Alex: The sleep disturbances story of a disappearance she explains that after * Sudden change in behaviour, including anger hearing police testimonies and interviewing and instances of running away children in Veria she has concluded that the * Decline in attendance at school or resistance Georgian migrant was kidnapped. to doing schoolwork “What is certain is that that there is an attempt * Ailments, such as headaches and gastric to cover up what happened, which includes trouble, for no apparent physical reason sexual abuse, paedophilia and trafficking,” she * Genitourinary disease while denying to be said. sexually active an lack of trust in people “There are people trying tooth-and-nail to incriminate five children, who may have par- Typical signs ticipated in some sort of activity but are not of neglect Australia‘s two most prestigious newspa- an empty room that will “await” the return of murderers. pers, “The Sydney Morning Herald” and the Parthenon Marbles that were removed by “They will retain the stigma of murderers for “The Australian”, are endorsing the Lord Elgin and are in the British Museum. the rest of their lives because, in any case, they * Permanent hunger, lethargy and low weight return of the Parthenon Marbles to The report in “The Sydney Morning are not going to face trial as they are under 13 * Poor personal hygiene and state of clothing Greece on the occasion of the functioning Herald” refers to the historic event of the years old.” * Frequent medical problems that cannot be of the new Acropolis museum. transfer and sale of Parthenoin Marbles by cured Lord Elgin. Households at high risk * Difficulty in concentrating at school Both daily newspapers, having circulations Now, as the work on the restoration of the * Low self-esteem and tendency to self- running into hundreds of thousands of copies Parthenon is being completed and as the destructive behaviour each, are promoting in relevant reports inauguration of the New Acropolis Museum * Single-parent families * Difficulties in forming social relationships events and lectures that began in Sydney is approaching, the time has now come for * Children with a poor relationship with their * Anti-social behaviour, for instance running recently on the issue of restoration work at the return of the Marbles to their home. parents or that are treated too strictly away from home and stealing the Acropolis and the New Acropolis As is noted by Maria Ioannidou, the direc- * Presence of a stepfather Museum under the general title of “The tor of the Acropolis Monuments Mainte- * Absence of mother from the house for rea- Parthenon Project.” nance Service, “we must no longer call them sons of work, illness or disability Signs of emotional abuse “The Australian” mainly refers to the cam- the Elgin Marbles but the “Parthenon * Presence in the house of a person with a his- paign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles Marbles” and they must be returned to tory of sexually abusive or deviant behaviour * Growing up in an overly strict environment and the New Acropolis Museum. Greece.” * Absence of a normal, heterosexual relation- * Developmental, intellectual and emotional According to the report, the most noticeable “The Parthenon is not a ruin. It is standing ship between adults in the household backwardness element of the New Acropolis Museum, that autonomously and for one to see it complete, * Families where a member suffers from alco- * Symptoms of regression, such as thumb- is expected to open early next year, will be the Marbles must be returned,” she said. hol abuse sucking * Past physical or sexual abuse of either or * Being on edge, such as over-reacting to fail- both of the parents ure or a fear of confronting new situations * Disturbing behaviour, such as running away Signs of sexual abuse in children or stealing

* Vague talk about a friend who has a problem ATHENS NEWS

For the bibliophiles...

The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way. Translated by George P. Fedotov (New Sarov Press)

The paperback is an excellent introduction to the Jesus Prayer. Whether or not the he or she is already familiar with hesychasm, or about praying without ceasing, this book will inspire them to search further. A must in everyone’s personal library.

The Power of the Name: the Jesus Prayer in Orthodox Spirituality. By Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia (Kallistos Ware) (SLG Press)

This is a very short, almost pamphlet-style, book. In its 32 pages this booklet introduces and attempts to clear up a number of aspects related to the Prayer, such as breathing exercises. Unlike the above book, it does not stress (to the same extent) the need for a teacher, nor does it have the same ‘spriritual punch’. It is, however, a worthwhile addition along the path to hesychasm. A.C. NOVEMBER 2007 16/34 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA People and Places STORIES OF PEOPLE AND PLACES AROUND THE WORLD PAY INEQUITY liest documented use of cacao, an important luxury commodity in Mesoamerica before BRISBANE, AAP - Queensland Minister for European invaders arrived and now the basis Women, Margaret Keech, says pay inequity of the modern chocolate industry. begins in childhood. “The earliest cacao beverages consumed at Ms Keech told state parliament of a survey that Puerto Escondido were likely produced by fer- found boys received more pocket money than menting the sweet pulp surrounding the girls. seeds,” the scientists wrote in the journal “It seems a woman’s fight for pay equity Proceedings of the National Academy of begins even before they start school,” she said. Sciences. “The latest Duracell Australian Toy Survey has One of the researchers, anthropologist John revealed a startling statistic - when it comes to Henderson of Cornell University in Ithaca, pocket money, Australian boys get a whopping New York, said cacao beverages were being 25 per cent more than girls.” concocted far earlier than previously believed - and it was a beer-like drink that started the CHOCOLATE chocolate craze. “LIKE BEER” KIWI IS SCRABBLE CHAMP MUSEUM DISCOVERS DINOSAUR IN OWN COLLECTION WASHINGTON, Reuters - The chocolate WELLINGTON, NZPA - A New Zealander is TORONTO, Reuters - A Canadian museum that went hunting for a dinosaur skeleton, discov- enjoyed around the world today had its origins the world scrabble champion. ered it already had the massive creature buried in its own collection. at least 3,100 years ago in Central America not Nigel Richards, 40, won the world scrabble The 24-metre long Barosaurus had been obtained by Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum as the sweet treat people now crave but as a championships in Mumbai, India - the first (ROM) in 1962 and forgotten about over the years, the museum said today. celebratory beer-like beverage and status sym- New Zealander to do so. An employee searching for a dinosaur skeleton in the United States read an old article that said bol, scientists said today. The Christchurch man, who now lives in the museum already had exactly what he was looking for. Researchers identified residue of a chemical Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, took home Because the ROM did not have the space to display the assembled creature when the skeleton compound that comes exclusively from the $US15,000 ($A17,128) in prize money from was obtained, the bones were divided among collections, but without a note saying they cacao plant - the source of chocolate - in pot- the biannual competition, which began in belonged to a single animal. tery vessels dating from about 1100 BC in 1991.gised to a grandmother of two for refus- “When all the parts were pulled together we realised just how much of the animal the ROM Puerto Escondido, Honduras. ing to allow her to buy a bottle of wine because actually had, the better part of a skeleton of a rare, giant dinosaur,” associate curator David This pushed back by at least 500 years the ear- she could not prove she was over 18. Evans said in a statement.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Please tell me about the life of Saint Nikon the ness to leave the city through his prayers. It was then that the saint conceived the idea of build- Metanoete, who is celebrated by the Church on ing a great Church in Sparta to be dedicated to our Lord the Savior. The saint planned the build- Q ing hiself and all the people of Saprta worked together to build the Church. It was reputed to November 26. be very beautiful and an example of Church architecture. It became sebsequently the “Catholikon,” or Church of the monastery which gradually was built around it. From there, Nikon continued his work of building up the Church. Powerful political and military leaders St. Nikon was a remarkable saint of our Church. Born in the first quarter of came to him for his advice and counsel. He continued to speak to the Spartans and the people A the tenth century (900-925) A.D.) in Paphlagonia, the area of Asia Minor also who came great distances to meet the saintly Nikon, “concerning the fear of God, the destruc- known as Pontos, in a wealthy family, he was given the name Niketas. From tive consequences of the sinful passionns, concerning the virtues, concerning love for neigh- childhood he was spiritually oreiented, and was unimpressed by the material bor, concerning hospitality, visiting the sick, supporting the poor, the clothing of the naked, wealth which surrounded him. When he came of age, his father sought to etc.” in the words of one of his biographers. bring him into the management of the vast properties which he held. One day the young man This is the message which he left to his beloved Christians in Sparta as he came to was sent to survey the opreations. Instead of being impressed with the family wealth, he was the end of his life. When he died, the Bishop of Sparta, who deeply respected Nikon’s spritual overtaken with sorrow because so many poor and struggling workers suffered many hours of life and work, conducted the funeral. Immediately, it is reported by his biographer, as a river, a hard and backbreaking work just to keep body and soul together. Niketas was so overwhelmed fountain of richly sweet smelling oil poured forth from his burial coffin. Many miracles were by the disparity between the family wealth and the poverty of the workers that he could not subsequently reproted from among the throngs of pilgrims who visited his tomb. No offiicial bear to continue to be associated with the situation. Gathering a few things together he traveled as of “Sanctification” exists for this saint. The Orthodox tradition by which the conscience of to a well-known monastery of the region, known as the Monastery of the Golden Rock. There the Church recognizes the sainthood of its spiritual athletes led clergy and laity alike to recog- he found a deeply spiritual father, who upon receiving him into the monastery, changed his nize Nikon’s sancity. Unfortunately, we are also without many details of the subsequent histo- name to Nikon, both names having the meaning of “victor” from the Greek word “nike.” ry of the Church and monastery which St. Nikon built. The Frankish occupation forced the In the monastery of the Golden Rock, Nikon lived a severe ascetical life for two years. Orthodox population to move to Mystra for safety, and little by little the buildings deteriorated Subsequently, his spiritual father, the Abbot of the Monastery had a hermit’s hut built for him until they were lost to memory. In 1934, archeological evidence was dicovered on the ancient some distance from the monastery. He became the example for all the other monks in the sever- acropolis of Sparta of a Church and Monastery. Some archeolgist identify these remains with ity of his ascetical life, with fasting, prayer, meditation on the Word of God and the writings of St. Nikon’s Church and Monastery. the Holy Fathers. This intense spritual activity, however, came to an end when word arrived However, his memory continued to be revered in the Orthodox world, but especially that Nikon’s father had discovered where he was located after twelve years as a hermit. When in Sparta, where his icon appears in many places, churches are named in his honor, and his he was confronted by his father, who intended to take him back to manage the family wealth, name is given to many children. One of the most well known persons bearing his name is the Nikon spoke courageously and the father’s plan was foiled. former Dean of the Holy Cross School of Theology, theologian archdioccsan officer and schol- About that time, the Byzantine General Nicephoros Phokas had freed the island of ar, Fr. Nikon Patrinakos. Crete from its conquest by non-christians. Nikon felt called to go there. When he arrived he The first biography of the saint was written in1142 by one of his successors as Abbot found that the population had suffered profound changes in belief. Few were loyal to the of the monastery, the learned Gregorios, who included references to many miracles attributed Church anymore. He began a missionary tour of the great island, preaching the Gospel, and to the saint. calling the people to repentance and return to the Christian faith. Because he began his preach- ing with the words “Repent” (“Metanoete” in Greece), he became known in history as “Nikon * * * * * the Metanoete,” that is Nikon, the man preached repentance. At first his work was strongly From the Orthodox Church: 455 Questions opposed, but his virtuous life made its mark on the hearts and souls of the people, and after sevn and Answers years of preachng, building churches, directing the worship, selecting and training good men , by Stanley S. Harakas, published by Light and Life. for ordination, he was universally honored by the people. If you have any questions about the Orthodox faith which you would like From there he moved northward to the Peloponnesos in Greece proper and from there answered in the VEMA, send them to to Athens, all the while preaching the Gospel, teaching the people and giving the example of Christian living. Going to nearby Euboia, where he healed a little girl who had drunk poisoned water, he continued his preaching of repentance. His missionary through Laconia, Corinth, Vema -Q.&A., Argos, Nafplion, finally ending his missionary efforts in the area of Sparta.When he fell sick P.O.Box M59 Marrickville South, NSW 2204 there, as a result of a sickness of plague dimensions, shortly after his arrival, the people gath- or e-mail them to: ered around him and prayed for his well-being. He, in turn as he became better, caused the sick- [email protected] NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 17/35 Food & Wine Cool summer wine from the Kominos winery

By Ann Coward that his involvement in winemaking dates contribution of the Granite Belt’s wines to development of the local area and its commu- from the 1970s, is more likely to be attributa- Australia’s wine industry, is the plan to estab- nity. The involvement of Greeks in Australia’s wine ble to his Greek background than the recent lish a campus, Queensland College of Wine production has come a long way from the days addition of wine to popular Australian drinking Tourism, in Stanthorpe. A generous donation To find out more about the wines and the win- of Governor Macquarie. Today, if we surf habits. by Tony and Mary of $36,000 worth of ery, the awards, events, discount wine sales internet sites for discerning wine consumers, Foundation Wine to be sold through the and the region, or to subscribe to the online chances are we’ll come across recommenda- Tony and Mary Comino were born in College cellar door served as a very practical newsletter, visit Kominos wines website at tions for Kominos wines. This winery, noted Queensland. Tony’s grandfather migrated to expression of their commitment to the ongoing http://www.kominoswines.com for producing some of the best wines in Australia along with his brothers from the Australia, took out a string of awards last year Greek island of Kythera in the late 19th – early at both state and national levels and took out 20th century. The Comino brothers were well- the gold with their 2005 Reserve Merlot in known early pioneers in Queensland, involved New Zealand at the 2006 International Wine in a number of ventures ranging from tobacco show. Not satisfied with a gold award, plantations to cafés. Being of Greek stock, Kominos wines were judged worthy of three both Tony and Mary grew up with the view silver medals and two bronze medals as well – that wine is a natural accompaniment to meals, not bad for one year’s vintage! Maintaining the but it was not until several years after complet- Wyndham Estate winning streak, this year the 2005 Reserve ing his degree in biological sciences that Tony Merlot has again won gold at the New Zealand settled on the direction his career was to take. Bin 999 Merlot, 2005 International Wine Show 2007. For Tony and Mary, the establishment of a Such success is not achieved overnight. The winery in the Granite Belt district of With warm berry nuances, a hint of vanilla-oak 2006 International Wine Show brought the Queensland has been more than a commercial and toast, the aroma as you open the bottle is most awards given to Kominos wines to a total of venture. As well as looking after their young enticing. As you’d expect, the wine is not as full- 40, all tributes to the devotion of the owners, family, both have displayed a dedication bodied or as robust as a cabernet sauvignon or a Tony and Mary Comino, and to the skill and towards promoting their industry, and their shiraz and, although it’s smooth and well balanced, maturity of Tony in his role as winemaker. local community. Tony’s involvement began Discernment is a term often bandied around in the 1990s when he was chair of the the lack of flavour is something of a when discussing wines, but without this per- Queensland Winemakers Association. Follow- disappointment after the initial sniff. That said, it sonal attribute all the education in the world ing on from this, he took up the position of is very approachable so, if you’re looking for a would count for little. Tony, it is clear, has both Chairman of the Granite Belt Spring Wine nice, unimposing drop to have regularly with your the academic credentials – a Bachelor of Festival for twelve years (until 2004). From meals, this is a good wine. Agricultural Science from the University of 2000-2004 Tony also served as President of Queensland – and a discerning taste built up the Granite Belt Wine Industry Association. through years of experience. All of this is Cost: under $20 topped off by a deep love of wine which, given An exciting move, and one that recognizes the Singling out nutrients in food "confuses" consumers

Marketing food as a package of individual nutrients is confusing for consumers and doesn't help them improve their diet or their health, nutritionists say. Australian and US specialists have authored a dietary review that warns the food industry should start marketing the benefits of the whole product, rather than the specific vitamins and minerals con- tained in it. "We are confusing ourselves and the public by talking so much about nutrients when we should be talking about foods," the two nutrition experts wrote in the international Journal of Nutrition Reviews. "Consumers get the idea that diet and health can be understood in terms of isolated nutri- ents. It's not the best approach and it might be wrong." Professor Linda Tapsell, director of the National Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods at the University of Wollongong, and US colleague Professor David Jacobs, from the University of Minnesota, argue that food, not specific nutrients, is the fundamental unit to health in human nutri- tion.

www.cure.org.au Funding the critical early work of brilliant creative scientists as they pursue potential breakthrough research to solve the riddles on cancer cells. Contribute to the Cure & send your tax deductible gift to: PO Box R185 Royal Exchange NSW 1225 Tel 02 9251 61 88 NOVEMBER 2007 18/36 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Travel

The Tweed Coast is no longer the poor cousin By Diana Plater The bypass will allow residents from Developed by Resort Corp, the $70 million by Mount Warning. Brisbane to travel to the Tweed in a bit over an five-star Beach Resort has a rare, north-east- The design of the apartments was aimed at The northern part of New South Wales is now hour, and the improvements to the airport will facing aspect. As its name suggests, it sits right “timeless elegance”, with a fresh, clean look known as the New Tweed Coast. allow more international flights, expected to be on the beachfront with no road marring the using a lot of white and green. It used to be the quiet sleepy part, as opposed from Singapore, Hong Kong, the Middle East view of the beach. Although the resort’s penthouse has a $5 to the hippie/trendy area of Byron Bay or the and Europe. It has 57 residential resort apartments over million price tag, Cabarita still has a small- much more developed Gold Coast. But further south is Cabarita, still your typical three levels around a landscaped area, with town feel. I can have breakfast across the road In fact, it was seen as the poor cousin. beachside town, where people fish on the three warm and cold pools and spa and what at the Blue Rose Cafe and borrow DVDs from But that’s all changed. Now there are huge beach at sunset, take their children for an will be a swim-up bar. If that’s not enough, the local video shop, and the apartments have developments with million-dollar houses afternoon surf and walk up the headland to see there’s also a small gym and a residents’ well set-up kitchens, so another option is overlooking the sand dunes as well as a range the whales. cinema as well as a conference room and eating in. of resorts, spas and restaurants. The newest kid on the accommodation block multimedia room. We were treated to dinner at Cottage on And the building hasn’t stopped. is The Beach at Cabarita, built on the site of the Our apartment - known as Absolute Coronation at Pottsville Beach, a BYO Ten kilometres of coastline is now a $4 billion former pub. Beachfront - looked straight out at the beach, restaurant in a charmingly colourful timber tourism area with two resort villages - Salt and There were some who weren’t so happy about providing one of the most soothing views I’ve house with great food. Casuarina Beach - full of luxury accommo- this development, but it appears to have been seen in quite some time. The tall buildings of The Beach is owned by Resort Corp, whose dation including Domain Casuarina Beach accepted by the community. And the owners Tweed Heads and the Gold Coast could be co-managing director Paul Brinsmead said the Resort, Peppers Salt Resort and Spa, Mantra are hoping the $10 million Beach Bar, due to seen in the distance but seemed a million miles operators were pleased to be achieving their on Salt Beach as well as The Golden Door open in November, will become the locals’ away. promise of “rejuvenating the Cabarita Health Spa. favourite watering hole. To the west is the Tweed Valley, overlooked economy”. Showing confidence in its future, perhaps, He believes the new bar will “revive Cabarita Stephen Snow has moved his renowned Fins as one of the popular day-trip destinations for restaurant from Byron Bay to Salt. Brisbane and Gold Coast residents as it was in These days you’ll find a lot of the taxis and the 60s, 70s and 80s”. limos are heading south from Coolangatta (or The group also owns Balinese-style resort Gold Coast) airport, rather than north. Santai and The Beach Shacks at Casuarina Developers including The Ray Group started Beach, Nor Nor East and Sea on Marine a New Tweed Coast campaign two years ago Parade, Kingscliff, and Soraya Dreamtime to promote this new beachside tourism Beach and Zen apartments on Murphy’s Road, precinct and created a “brand” to better Kingscliff. These are part of its $170 million position the resort and residential precinct. development portfolio on the Tweed Coast. The first resort, Mantra on Salt Beach, It has other coastal projects in Queensland formerly Outrigger on the Beach, opened its worth around $1.4 billion. doors to guests in January 2005. The major challenge has been to fill more IF YOU GO: than 780 new resort rooms, but the conference market has helped a great deal with this. The Beach at Cabarita: freecall: 1800 256 911. Two new developments - Pandanus Pocket Or (02) 6670-0900. 2-6 Pandanus Parade, and Cotton Beach - are also under Cabarita Beach, NSW, 2488. Email: construction. [email protected] or visit: Meanwhile, real estate prices are booming. www.thebeachcabarita.com.au At Casuarina, the capital growth rate of home The Tweed Coast is 105km from Brisbane and and unit sales in the past 12 months doubled 835km from Sydney. compared with the suburb’s five-year average. Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Qantas fly into Gold It’s predicted that the building of the Tugun Coast Airport. Bypass, due to be completed next year, and the An alternative is Ballina Byron Airport to the $100 million extension of the Gold Coast south. Airport runway will see prices surge even more. AAP NOVEMBER 2007 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 19/37

Tom Hanks helping Greece get back on Hollywood’s radar

Decades after serving as the setting for hit films like “The Nia Vardalos but projects have routinely run afoul of strict regulations laid Guns of Navarone” and “The Big Blue”, Greece has elicit- out by Greek archaeologists. ed help from Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks to get back And amid price hikes following its adoption of the euro, on Hollywood’s radar. Greece has had a hard time competing with neighbouring The Hollywood star, whose wife Rita Wilson is of Greek Balkan and eastern European countries which can combine descent, is helping bankroll two movies which officials here lower production costs with similar landscapes for location hope will translate into extra tourist arrivals at the country’s shots. archaeological sites and island holiday spots. “Foreign productions have a tendency to get ripped off here,” One production stars Nia Vardalos, the Greek-Canadian writer noted producer Christina Aspropotamiti, who worked on an and star of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, the 2002 romantic American documentary shot in Athens last year. comedy that became one of the most successful independent She said she was stunned when she sought permission to film US box office productions of all time. long-range shots of the Parthenon, the classical temple atop the Titled “My Life in Ruins”, the new comedy centres on a tour city’s famed Acropolis citadel. guide played by Vardalos and was given rare permission to “The local archaeological office asked us for 1,500 euros shoot in key Greek archaeological sites, including the Acropolis A film crew working at (2,120 dollars) per square metre (per 10 square feet) of the in Athens, Delphi and Ancient Olympia. the Parthenon entire Acropolis site ... at those rates it would have made better The second production is a film version of the hit Broadway sense to just buy the place,” she said. musical “Mamma Mia”, starring Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Political sensitivities have also complicated film plans, as in Streep, and was shot on the Aegean islands of Skiathos and the case of the 1984 production of “Eleni” - an American film Skopelos in August. starring John Malkovich on the thorny topic of the 1944-1949 The back-to-back Hanks projects are a welcome boon to a Greek Civil War. Greek state eager for a fresh start after decades of scaring away “The film showed the communists brutalising the areas they big-name productions with a combination of nightmarish occupied during the Civil War,” said the film’s co-producer bureaucracy, poor organisation and sheer ineptitude. Nick Gage, a Greek-American journalist whose biography on “In the 1980’s, the word in Hollywood was that Greece was his mother’s execution by the communists was the basis of an unwelcoming place to shoot a film,” acknowledged Markos “Eleni”. Holevas, director of the Hellenic Film Commission set up in but have not served as major movie locations. “We had trouble with the film unions, which were communist- May to facilitate foreign productions in the country. The Ionian island of Cephalonia was in 2001 the site of dominated at the time,” Gage told AFP. “There was sabotage “Now there is a desire to change things ... the Greek state has “Captain’s Corelli’s Mandolin” starring Nicholas Cage, while overnight as we began the shooting in Athens ... equipment was realised (the benefits) and wants to promote Greece through the Aegean island of Santorini had a scene in “Tomb Raider: broken, you’d find your lights busted.” film ... and Tom Hanks with Rita Wilson were the first to Cradle of Life” with Angelina Jolie two years later. When the production company decided to relocate to southern respond to this policy.” Greece also apparently had a chance to host Oliver Stone’s Spain, Gage’s home region of Epirus lost millions of dollars, he “The message is: forget the past, let’s make a new start,” 2004 blockbuster “Alexander” but the government failed to said. “It was very unfortunate, we spent the equivalent of 50 Holevas said. pursue the offer, Holevas said. million dollars in today’s figures that could have been spent in Greece’s picturesque islands, many of them major tourist des- The country boasts impressive archaeological sites that have Epirus, one of the poorest areas in Greece. It would have bene- tinations, have provided the backdrop for scenes in recent films, long been in demand for both television commercials and films, fited the area considerably,” he added. Stamfords is an Australian Demand Innovation advisory and consulting firm with offices in Sydney Value Solutions and Perth with vast experience in Australia and abroad providing the following services:

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