www.goyanz.org.nz Issue No. 10 November 2001 GOYA 50th Reunion Greek Church Is By John Serepisos Destroyed In Wake of Towers’ Collapse abour weekend 2001 will long be remembered for the get- together of the original immigrants to New Zealand who arrived St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, L here on the MV GOYA in three separate sailings in 1951. On a tiny church that for decades stood the Saturday afternoon a special commemorative function was held at alone in the middle of a parking lot the Greek Community Centre where a slide-show presentation was held across the street from the World Trade depicting immigrants and scenes from the GOYA voyage to New Centre, was swept away in the wave of Zealand. It was a good chance for many of the original voyagers to destruction as the complex collapsed. reflect and catch up with old friends and family. It was also a timely “I was down there on Wednesday,” says reminder to the younger generation and descendents of the hardships Father Romas, known as Father John among his congregants. “My and sacrifices that the GOYA immigrants had to endure. heart was broke in two. My church is gone — and to have so many people in the World Trade Centre that are dead.” Before the end came, the four-story building was known as a survivor, its plain white-washed walls cloaked in the shadows of the steel- and-glass skyscrapers that rose as the neighborhood evolved from a bustling immigrant enclave into a center of global finance. Property values soared, but despite developers’ continual efforts to get the church to sell out, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church steadfastly resisted razing. “The first thing I saw was the landing gear of the plane along the right side of the church,” says parishioner Bill Tarazonas, 50 years old, who was in the church that morning to let in an electrician. He fled before the towers fell and walked to safety in Brooklyn. “I saw MV GOYA 1951 a pickup truck slashed in half like a tomato. On the top of the roof was human remains. Bones... lying all over the place... I was numb... After the war in Europe had ended in 1945, millions of displaced people I guess St. Nicholas gave me the push, the courage, to get out of fled from their homelands because of political unrest and poverty. These there. I started running and running.” refugees were scattered across Europe and were becoming a burden to many of the countries that had granted them access. In 1947 the Lorraine Romas, the wife of Father Romas, says it has been difficult International Refugee Organisation was established to meet the to account for all of the church’s roughly 90 congregants. But she resettlement requirements of displaced persons in Europe to other believes none died in the attack. “I’m devastated that we lost our countries. In 1951 the MV GOYA was charted by the IRO to take a little church,” she says. “I’m more determined than ever to get it in total of 2000 displaced persons (including 900 Greeks), on 3 trips to our power to get it up again.” Now, Father Romas and his congregants New Zealand. These voyages were in May, June and August of that year. are collecting contributions to aid the recovery effort and rebuild. The voyage took about one month to complete. Settlers arriving in New Father Romas hopes to get a permit from the City of New York to Zealand were herded to camps and worked in local industries. Most had search through the wreckage for the fourth- and sixth-century saintly to work in jobs that were unfamiliar to them as well deal with problems relics that are the church’s treasures, housed on the building’s fourth like language. Over time they were engrained into new Zealand society floor. “They certainly have sentimental and ecclesiastical value,” says where they worked hard to make a better life for their children. Father Romas’s wife. continued on page 10 continued on page 3 Regular Features Special Features • Editorial, IMNZ p 2 • GOYA Reunion pp1 & 3 • News in Brief pp 5 & 11 • St Nicholas pp1 & 10 • Music Review p 6 • AHEPA Housing Intiative p 4 • Dear Thea, Horoscopes p 7 • The story of the Greek Flag p 13 • SAE p 8 • OXI p 14 • Religion p 9 • GOYANZ Dance p 15 • Sport p 12 • G-Net p 13 • Soccer & Netball p 16 • I think it is important that GOYANZ acknowledges the support of its main sponsors: Chris Lingonis of “The Cue Room” and OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Peter Rathod and Surish Dayal of “The Local”. GOYANZ and From the Metropolitan Office Olympic have received in excess of $50,000 in 2001. These funds • The Salvation Army and the Friends of Byzantine Arts present have been used to supplement our junior and senior soccer teams, East Meets West - At Christmas Byzantine Church Chanting our netball teams, the radio programme, Ta Matia tou Kosmou newsletter and other ancillary activities. Show your support for “The music - beautiful, rich, history-laden, the chants and melodies Cue Room” and “The Local” whenever you can. It goes without of the Eastern church for hundreds of years. Salvation Army saying that this type of financial assistance goes a long way in meeting band music - soul-stirring, rousing stuff to set your feet tapping GOYANZ objectives. and your heart afire, modern in contrast. • On another subject, progress on the Priest’s house, next to the For the first time, the two traditions will come together in one main church at Hania Street, is moving at an admirable rate. unique programme, East Meets West - At Christmas, at 7.30 This venture is designed to house Father George in the 1st floor, p.m. on the 1st of the December in the Salvation Army Hall, and has a flat and small hall on the ground floor. A lot of the Constable Street, Newtown. Admission is free and refreshments “kenotitas” funds have been committed to this project and they will follow. Dr Panayiotis Bouras, Metropolitan Chancellor of must take full credit for making the Church more readily available the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese will perform the Byzantine to the local Greek community. Hopefully in the not too distant Sole Chanting music, while the South Wellington Salvation Army future GOYANZ can also make progress in addressing a home band will provide the Salvation Army contribution, under Steve for its youth!! John Serepisos Stein. Join us for a fascinating and uplifting evening, as the sounds and talents of two cultures intermingle with the shared aim of celebrating the forthcoming Christmas season. Inquiries, please call either 972 6164 or visit www.imnz.org.nz Check us out on-line at www.goyanz.org.nz or www.olympicafc.org.nz he issue of maintaing and teaching the Greek Language to the Greeks abroad is one that we all have to tackle! It GOYANZ Youth T is one of few things which bounds us together as Hellenes. Looking back at the 28th October Celebrations, and the dwindling Radio Program number of kids attending the Greek school, we must take a good look November 4: Kostandina Karasavas at ourselves and determine what we expect of the future Greek youth. November 11: Stelios Manousakis It would not be an understatement to say that only 10% - 20% of Voula Kosmadakis Greek kids within the community are sent to Greek School at Tom Skotidas present. If we want our community to flourish, surely celebrating November 18: Peppy Tziakis and promoting our language would be a great place to start. November 25: to be confirmed Organisations such as SAE as well as the Greek government have December 2: Kostandina Karasavas clearly acknowledged this, and as a result a number of initiatives are in place worldwide to promote the language. Every year the December 9: Peppy Tziakis Greek government spends million of dollars in salaries to pay for December 16: Stelios Manousakis teachers from Greece that they have posted overseas to teach the Voula Kosmadakis language, the least we can do is support it by sending the kids Tom Skotidas there. Stelios Manousakis December 23: Kids Show Greek School Christmas Special If anyone is interested in doing a radio show or if you have a dedication or request, please Τα Ματια Του Κοσµου call Stelios Manousakis on 021 393035 is produced by GOYANZ Tune in and listen to the latest Greek music. PO Box 6257 Wellington Every Sunday at 3.00pm - 4.00pm Layout and design TBD www.tbd.co.nz Thanks to Ultracopy www.ultracopy.co.nz on Access Radio, 783, AM 2 GOYA 50th Reunion Grand Ball 50th Jubilee M/V GOYA Date: Sunday 21 October 2001 1951-2001 Reunion Organising Committee: Jim & Stella Bares, Presentation. Nick & Mariana Calavrias, Costa & Gloria Date: Saturday, October 20th, 2001 Stellin, Telly & Tasula Tsalis Venue: Greek Hall, Hania St, Wellington Over 450 people turned up to the black tie event held at the Duxton Hotel to A while ago, my family were discussing the commemorate the GOYA sailings of 1951. Goya reunion that was going to be held on Guests arriving to the Ball were greeted with a Labour Weekend. My great grandfather replica of the GOYA ship walk-on platform. Ioannis Pantazis and my After crossing the platform they were shown great uncle Theodore to their tables where a traditional Pantazis had arrived in Greek antipasto New Zealand on the Goya’s first sailing. In Anastasious Theodorou (87) was invited to cut our photo album we had the GOYA cake, as the oldest surviving a photo of the captain representative of the original GOYA travellers.