By Theodoris Roussos.
The Head of the International Institute of Kytheraismos Symposium, Elias Marsellos, is returning to Australia for the International Symposium of Kytheraismos, which will be held in Sydney from November 17-20.
The Greek Herald speaks to Mr Marsellos prior to his visit.
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Kythera, grew up in Kythera, studied at the Athens University of Economics and Business, went to Athens Law, Columbia University, New York University, New School University, was a Professor of Economics at the University of West Attica… and for 32 consecutive years was Head of the Department of European and International Relations – which I first founded – of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
What is your relationship with Kythera? What are your feelings that this year’s conference in Sydney coincides with the centenary of the Kytherian Association of Australia?
Throughout the years, my relationship with Kythera was intense, continuous and very warm and interesting. I became interested scientifically with the island, with studies of an economic-technical nature, while I published the first book on historical research. Also, I was the editor of the newspaper ‘Kythiraiki Idea’ in 1980, which was later renamed ‘Kytheraismos’ and in 2002 I founded the Institute of Kytheraismos in order to bring closer the Kytherians abroad with their island and the expatriates.
However, this contact also helped the University of Athens because through the connections I had developed, the Dean and I went to Sydney in 1993 and signed three Educational Exchange Agreements between the Universities of Athens and the University of Sydney, the University of NSW and the University of Technology Sydney. Today, there are 13 agreements for the exchange of teachers, students, material, etc. The same thing happened in the United States.
Tell us a few words about the International Symposium of Kytheraismos.
The symposium in Kythera was opened in 2008 by the Ambassador of Australia. In 2010 in Alimos, Attica, it was opened by the President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad. In 2012, it was postponed due to the economic crisis. In 2014, it was held in Sydney, Australia and opened by former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott MP. In 2016 in Kythera, in 2018-2019 in Brisbane. Parallel annual events are held in Kythera entitled Kytheraismos Reunion.
What does Kytheraismos mean? What is the relationship with third and fourth generation Kytherians?
Regarding the term Kytheraismos, this is a neologism that I considered to be able to bind more closely, to connect but also to interconnect, the Kytherians but also the pro-Kytherians of the world. Apart from political beliefs, religious beliefs or anything else. It is a word that in it includes customs, traditions. Not only the birthplace -Kythera – but especially the experiences of people. Kytherians and pro-Kytherians, diachronic and diatopic.
Wherever they are, in the depths of time, before and after, regardless of the existence of those who invented it. It was, after all, an amalgam of the word Kythera with history, mythology, traditions, allegory, arts, poetry, etc. and the word Tsirigo, which is the common name of the island. It is up to future generations to cultivate it.
Who were the Kytherians who inspired you on your great journey?
The Kytherians who have inspired me are many overseas but also in Kythera. Among them, Arki Kalokerinos, who saved thousands of Aborigines with his life-saving work, George Sklavos with the bequest that helped to complete the Kythera nursing home, and many more.
Do you have a message for the Kytherian community in Australia?
My message is that I will continue to fight, for as long as I live, for greater connection and interconnection of Kytherians abroad with their birthplace, but also with each other interplanetary.
