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New DNA study shows today’s Greeks are similar to those of 2,000 BC

Present-day Greeks are genetically similar to 2,000 BCE Aegeans from Northern Greece, an anthropological DNA research project published in the scientific journal, Cell, has found.

The research was led by Dr. Christina Papageorgopoulou of the Department of History and Ethnology of the Democritus University of Thrace and Dr. Anna-Sappho Malaspina of the Department of Computational Biology of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

The study involved the sequencing of entire genomes from four Early Bronze Age skeletons and two Middle Bronze Age skeletons found around Greece.

At first, researchers were able to discover that Early Bronze Age populations were quite genetically homogenous.

Dr. Christina Papageorgopoulou of the Department of History and Ethnology of the Democritus University of Thrace, is one of the authors of the study.

However, by the Middle Bronze Age, which began around 4,000 years ago, migration from the East caused DNA to differ significantly in comparison to Early Bronze Age Greeks.

The study found that Greeks of the Aegean from the Middle Bronze Age shared around half of their DNA with people from the Ponto-Caspian Steppe. This is an area which forms part of modern-day Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, and Kazakhstan.

These findings show that “today’s Greeks – who also carry Stepperelated ancestry – share 90% of their ancestry with their Middle Bronze Age counterparts, suggesting continuity between the two time periods.”

They also support other theories surrounding waves of migration from the East and the impact they had on Greek society.

Source: Keep Talking Greek.

Greece and Australia among the lowest ranked in the OECD for global foreign aid

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The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have released their international league table for global foreign aid spending, and Australia and Greece are in the bottom ten.

Out of 29 OECD member nations that provide foreign aid, Australia was placed 22nd after OECD figures showed the country gave 19 cents in foreign aid for every $100 of national income in 2020. That compares with around 33 cents in aid for every $100 of national income in 2011.

Only eight other countries now give a smaller share of national income than Australia – and that group includes Greece (ranked last) and Portugal, which were both badly hit by the European debt crisis, and relatively new donor nations such as South Korea.

READ MORE: Former finance minister Mathias Cormann to be next OECD Secretary General.

Out of 29 OECD member nations that provide foreign aid, Australia was placed 22nd.

In 2014, there were 17 OECD aid donors that contributed a smaller share of national income than Australia.

Sweden and Norway were the two most generous donors as a share of national income from among OECD nations last year, while the two biggest donors in dollar terms were the United States and Germany.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, analysis by Australian National University’s, Professor Stephen Howes, shows that between 2011 and 2020, Australian aid fell by 31 percent, after adjusting for inflation, while foreign aid overall increased by 26 percent in that period.

“The world has over the last decade been increasing aid, while Australia has been cutting it. We definitely stand out,” Professor Howes said in his analysis.

Professor Howes then went on and said Australia had for the first time joined the OECD’s “0.2 per cent club” – the group of donors who give less than 0.2 per cent of national income.

“It is not a club we should be part of,” he said.

This analysis comes on the eve of the federal budget, which will update Australia’s foreign aid spending.

READ MORE: What to expect from the Federal Budget 2021: Aged care overhaul, borders and migration.

In a statement to the Herald and The Age, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia was a generous donor and provided $4 billion in assistance to developing nations this financial year.

“This is affordable, targeted and effective,” the spokesperson told the media outlet.

“In recognition of the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, the government has increased its support to our region, announcing temporary, targeted and supplementary initiatives to the ongoing $4 billion overseas development assistance (ODA) budget.”

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Largest-ever Greek flag raised above Lake Plastira at Agrafa

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Authorities in the region of Karditsa, central Greece, raised what they claim to be the largest Greek flag in history, at the valley beneath the Agrafa mountain range near Lake Plastira, over the weekend.

The flag, measuring 1,500 square meters, was raised by a balloon to commemorate 200 years since the revolutionary flag of the Greek War of Independence was first raised in the mountains of Agrafa on May 10, 1821.

The event was held under the auspices of the Greece 2021 Committee and was supported by the Region of Thessaly and the Council of Karditsa.

Agrafa is a mountainous region in Evrytania and Karditsa regional units in mainland Greece, consisting mainly of small villages.

The region is famous for its complete autonomy throughout the entire years of Ottoman occupation of central Greece.

The word ágrafa literally translates to unwritten, which means unregistered or uncharted, because the Ottomans were unable to conquer this region. The area and its population were not recorded in the Sultan’s tax register.

Greek leaders call for peace in Jerusalem as violence and tension escalates

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Hamas militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel on Monday, including a barrage that set off air raid sirens as far away as Jerusalem, after hundreds of Palestinians were hurt in clashes with Israeli police at a flashpoint religious site in the contested holy city.

The rocket fire drew heavy Israeli retaliation in the Gaza Strip. Health officials said at least 20 people, including nine children, were killed in fighting, making it one of the bloodiest days of battle between the bitter enemies in several years.

Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, accused Hamas of crossing a “red line” with the rocket attack on Jerusalem, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Gaza, and promised a tough response.

Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, Monday, May. 10, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Khalil Hamra.

“Whoever attacks us will pay a heavy price,” he said, warning that the fighting could ”continue for some time.”

Earlier, Israeli police firing tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets clashed with stone-throwing Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa mosque, which is Islam’s third-holiest site and considered Judaism’s holiest.

More than 270 Palestinians were injured, including 205 who went to hospitals and clinics for treatment, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Five of the injured were in serious condition.

Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City Monday, May 10, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean.

In an apparent attempt to avoid further confrontation, Israeli authorities changed the planned route of a march by ultra-nationalist Jews through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City to mark Jerusalem Day, which celebrates Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem.

Greece expresses its ‘deep concern’ at violence:

In a statement this morning, the Greek Foreign Ministry has expressed its ‘deep concern’ over the violence in Jerusalem in recent days.

“Greece expresses its deep concern over the violent incidents that have taken place in Jerusalem in recent days and have resulted in the injury of hundreds of people, some of whom are in critical condition,” the statement reads.

“In this context, Greece calls on all parties to refrain from the use of force, which could lead to escalation.”

This follows a statement by the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem calling for an end of violence against Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

“We the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, are profoundly disheartened and concerned about the recent violent events in East Jerusalem,” the statement reads.

Palestinians evacuate a wounded protester during clashes with Israeli security forces at the Lions Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, Monday, May 10, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Oded Balilty.

“These concerning developments, whether at the Al Aqsa Mosque or in Sheikh Jarrah, violate the sanctity of the people of Jerusalem and of Jerusalem as the City of Peace.

“We call upon the International Community and all people of goodwill to intervene in order to put an end to these provocative actions…”

The number of Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land is estimated to be approximately 500,000 individuals – the majority of them are Palestinian.

Associate Law Professor and LGBTIQ+ member, Lisa Sarmas, on social justice and inclusivity

“I think the real barrier for people entering areas like law is less on the basis of sexuality and gender and probably more on social class, although all forms of structural disadvantage of course are interconnected and play a role,” Lisa Koralia Sarmas says as we sit down for our exclusive chat.

“I come from a very proud working class Greek family, but a lot of people working in law come from very privileged backgrounds. That, I think, is what needs to change.”

It’s clear from the very beginning that the Associate Professor of Law at Melbourne Law School feels a great responsibility to call for social justice and inclusivity in Australian society.

Whilst many would say this commitment comes from Lisa’s proud identification with the LGBTIQ+ community, that’s not entirely the case. In fact, Lisa was attracted to the idea of fighting for equality from a very young age, when she used to watch old crime dramas on television and imagined herself as a lawyer.

Lisa knew she wanted to be a lawyer from a very young age. Photos supplied.

“Probably like a lot of young kids watching movies with court scenes, I had quite a romantic view of what the law was like. But it was watching those movies and a real commitment to justice that got me interested in law,” Lisa tells The Greek Herald.

From there, Lisa went on to study a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University in 1983, before changing to a combined Arts/Law degree two years later and completing her practical legal training. All of this, Lisa stresses, couldn’t have been done without the incredible support of her parents.

“My parents have always been the most supportive people I’ve ever known of everything that I’ve wanted to do and without their support, I probably wouldn’t be able to do any of this. As far as law was concerned, they provided the perfect learning environment for me at home and supported me every step of the way,” Lisa says.

Lisa as a graduate and law student. Photos supplied.

‘Social justice is at the forefront of what I do’:

It’s with this support and love which ultimately saw Lisa ‘stumble into academics’ at Melbourne Law School in 1991.

“A friend of mine, who was working at the same law firm as me, got a job at Monash University as an academic and I thought, ‘that sounds really interesting.’ It allowed that opportunity for deep thought in the law and I found that attractive. So I approached Melbourne Law School… and I was employed there,” Lisa says.

Since then, Lisa has never looked back and she says the school always accepted her as a female academic and LGBTIQ+ member, who has been in a relationship with her partner, Adele, since 1996.

Lisa is a proud member of the LGBITQ+ community. Photo supplied.

“The Law School itself has been an incredibly inclusive and welcoming place and I found it quite a comfortable place to be an academic there,” Lisa says.

Of course, I had to ask – Can the same be said for the Greek Australian community?

“I think there’s homophobia in all communities and I don’t think there’s any more so in the Greek community. Certainly, the Greek community that I know has welcomed me with open arms and an open heart,” Lisa says passionately.

Lisa says the Greek Australian community has always been supportive of her. Photos supplied.

It’s this clear acceptance which has driven Lisa to fight harder for equality and the inclusivity of those people who don’t have the same privileges as her. Although Lisa knows there’s no easy way to achieve this, she says she’s more determined than ever to make substantial change.

“I feel I have a great responsibility… when I write things and when I deal with students to [make sure] that social justice is at the forefront of both those words and those actions that I take. That is the key really – that we’ve got to be aiming for inclusion on the basis of gender, sexuality and class as well,” Lisa explains.

Powerful words from a trailblazing female law academic who is determined to make waves in the field of social justice and equality.

GOCSA Dance Academy marks Greek Revolution bicentennial with impressive performance

With an over two-hour, sold-out spectacle that included storytelling, live music, theatre and traditional dances, the Greek Orthodox Community of SA (GOCSA) Dance Academy students entertained the nearly 500 spectators who attended the ‘EPANASTASI’ performance held at Adelaide University’s Scott Theatre, on Saturday May 8. 

Among the attendees were state, council and community representatives, the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide George Psiachas and Federal Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas.

“It takes a lot of effort for an organisation to put an event like this together,” said GOCSA Dance Academy Coordinator, Hellas Lucas and went on to thank the Greek Orthodox Community of SA (GOCSA) for the funding, the parents for encouraging their children to attend Greek dance classes and teachers, Yianni Oikonomou, Anastasia Mavrides and George Douventzidis, for their passion and dedication.

GOCSA President, Bill Gonis, said that this year is a milestone for the community as it marks the Greek Revolution bicentennial and the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA.

“This evening, as Australian Greeks, we proudly display our heritage through Greek dance and music and we take pride in the achievements of those who were part of the uprising and those who paid the ultimate price in the fight for the freedom of the Greek nation,” Gonis said, expressing his gratitude to the parents who support the continuation of the Greek cultural heritage.

The Community’s Secretary General, Panagiotis Ppyros, said that GOCSA was the first Greek Community in SA -established in 1930- highlighting that the Dance Academy is fully supported by GOCSA and the lessons are free of charge for all young Greeks.

“Tonight, we honour the heroes of the Greek revolution and the pioneers who founded this organisation that we endeavour to keep independent as it has been since the day it was established,” Ppyros said.

Master of Ceremonies Theo Panagopoulos and Narrator James Avdoulas kicked off the performance, before the nearly 90 students, aged from 5 to 50 years old, took to the stage and performed dances from around Greece to the tunes of Melbourne based folk band Omados, Efthimi Avgetidis (Pontian Lyra) and vocalists Melpomene Tantalos, Sofia Dimitrakopoulou and Stamatis Dimitrakopoulos.

The event concluded with the usual group shot and the promise that ‘EPANASTASI’ will be continued on and off stage. 

*PHOTOS by The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa

Vasilis Vasilas officially launches ‘Little Athens: Marrickville’

In the presence of family, friends, and honourable dignitaries, local Greek Australian historian Vasilis Vasilas officially launched his new book Little Athens: Marrickville on Sunday at the Marrickville Town Hall.

Vasilas’ book is a culmination of years of historical research into Marrickville’s once thriving Greek population, looking at the longevity and success of Greek businessmen and women as well as their contribution to local, national and international markets.

The event was MC’d by Dr Vicky and Stavros Kritikos, who introduced the event’s honourable dignitaries including George Lizides who represented Christos Karras, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mark Drury, Councillor of Inner West Council, who represented Mayor Darcy Byrne, University of Sydney Professor Vrasidas Karalis, and Amie Zar, Inner West Council History and Heritage Co-Ordinator.

Vasili’s book launch. Photo: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.

Councillor Drury, the first speaker of the evening, expressed his joyfulness on behalf of Mayor Darcy Byrne for Vasilis dedication to ensuring the Greek legacy of Marrickville lives on.

“While the Inner-West has possibly become a little less Greek… what this book shows is that Australians of Greek background can continue to call Marrickville their home,” Cr Drury said, adding that the Inner West Council has further delivered on this commitment through their renaming of the precinct as ‘Little Athens’.

Chris Skoufis. Photo: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.

Chris Skoufis, of Olympia Refrigeration, delivered an emotional speech in thanking Vasili for honouring the hard work of not only himself, but all all Greek migrants who contributed to the development of Marrickville and Sydney.

Harry Souris, owner of the famous M and J Chickens, drew applause when he announced that Marrickville would forever be the home of the iconic poultry store.

“Throughout the years, we’ve built up really strong friendships in the area… as our business has grown and developed over the years so has Marrickville,” Souris said.

Harry Souris. Photo: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.

Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of Modern Greek at the University of Sydney, echoed the thanks of Stavros Kritikos for Chris Skoufis’ generation of Greek migrants, who brought with them the hard-working ethos from their homeland.

“You are the heroes… You dedicated yourself to your professions and finally all the community can celebrate your life,” Professor Karalis said.

“I think this book is not simply a recording of archaeological history, it is a history of the ordinary people… of the suffering hard-working people”.

Professor Vrasidas Karalis. Photo: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.

Author of the book, Vasilis Vasilas, concluded the evening by speaking about the history of Marrickville’s Greek population and the legacy they retain.

“Marrickville shatters every stereotype of a what Greeks did in Australia,” Vasilas said.

“All the people that come away reading Little Athens, leave with a more complete picture, not a full picture, but a more complete picture of what the Greek contribution to Greek business and market is.”

Vasili and his family. Photo: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.

“Everything from yeeros to feta cheese… Marrickville’s Greeks did it and they’re still doing it now.”

Vasilis added that it doesn’t matter who has the better souvlaki store, or who sold the best chicken, but the story behind each of those businesses is one of hard work and perseverance.

To those who were unable to make the launch, the book is available to purchase at Danas Deli Cafe, Marrickville.

‘Mothers are special’: Here’s how Greek Australians celebrated Mother’s Day this year

By Argyro Vourdoumpa and Andriana Simos.

Every Mother’s Day, mothers, grandmothers, aunts and many others, are celebrated for everything they do to support their family and friends.

To mark the occasion this year, Greek Australians celebrated Mother’s Day with special cakes, luncheons and festivities.

Here’s a look at some of the events which were held in Sydney and Adelaide.

Sydney:

Sydney’s Greek community put out all this stops for Mother’s Day on Sunday, with associations such as Pontoxeniteas Sydney hosting a High Tea at Gardens on Forest.

The event was attended by a number of Greek Australians, including Sophie Cotsis MP with her mum and daughter. They all enjoyed a number of sweets, sandwiches and meat pies, as well as shared stories and memories on the day.

Pontoxeniteas Sydney High Tea. Photos: Eleni Lambousis.

Elsewhere in Sydney, at St Nectarios Greek Orthodox Parish in Burwood, young people from Youth In Action spent a whole afternoon baking and decorating delicious cakes to present to their mums for Mother’s Day. The flavour of the day was vanilla, with buttercream made from scratch and hand-rolled fondant for the top of the sponge cake.

For her part, mother-of-two, Eleni Gerassis, along with her family, dropped off 74 bags filled with beauty products, cupcakes, cookies, chocolates, flowers and much more, to each NICU mum in The Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Westmead Hospital. 

All this was possible with the help and support of family, friends, businesses and total strangers.

Her reason for organising the initiative, she tells The Greek Herald, is personal as her own daughter, Dimitra, was born on Mother’s Day 13 years ago and she “will never forget what it felt like to be spending this special day in hospital not knowing whether my baby would survive.”

“In appreciation and gratitude for all that we have, the first class care we received, we have spent the last 10 years dedicating our time to giving back to the people that helped bring our little girl home to us,” Eleni tells The Greek Herald.

“As a new mum, you would normally receive gifts, flowers and visitors in hospital to celebrate the birth of your new baby, unfortunately, this isn’t the case in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit so I organised this initiative to help put a smile on these amazing mums faces, to let them know that we are thinking of them during these difficult times.

“We are and will always be so appreciative to everyone who contributed to making this happen and helping make this day that extra bit special for these brave and courageous mums.”

The donated bags. Photo supplied.

Adelaide:

South Australia’s Greek associations also celebrated Mother’s Day with sold out events and The Greek Herald joined-in with the festivities.

A Mother’s Day BBQ was hosted by the Cyprus Community of SA in Welland, Adelaide while the Pontian Brotherhood of SA held a Sunday lunch at their Pennington house. Both events featured live music, local delicacies and desserts prepared by dedicated volunteers.

“We are here to honour all Mothers and we are very excited to have 200 of our members with us,” Cyprus Community of SA President, Andreas Evdokiou, told The Greek Herald.

“Mothers are special. Nothing can substitute a mum’s affection and warmth. Look after your mothers for as long as you have them,” Evdokiou said, thanking the volunteers for their tireless work.

A bit further north, in Pennington, members and volunteers of the Pontian Brotherhood of SA treated mothers to a mouth-watering lunch and honoured them with Pontian lyra and a combined dance performance by the Brotherhood’s Senior and Junior dance groups.

“This day is special as we are celebrating all the mums” said Pontian Brotherhood of SA President, Nazareth Nalpantidis Chisholm, in her opening speech, thanking the volunteers for their efforts.

“It’s important to keep our culture alive,” Nalpantidis Chisholm said.

First generation Pontian Australian and mother of four, Kasiani Koutris, said events like these are important to keep the cultural heritage alive and carry it on to future generations.

“I am a first-generation Pontian Australian woman and I’m very passionate about Pontian issues and the way of life. My husband is Turkish-Pontian. It’s been a very rich experience for me and I try to keep this part of our culture alive for our children as well,” said Koutris who is also a filmmaker, currently working on a project for the International Pontian film festival.

Turkish Australians react to Koutsantonis’ motion for Greek Genocide Remembrance Day in SA

With a letter issued on Monday and addressed to the Members of the SA Parliament, Executive Secretary of the Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance, Baris Atayman, has expressed ‘his disbelief’ in Tom Koutsantonis’ MP proposed motion for the state government to recognise May 19 as the official day of remembrance of the Greek genocide.

“As the peak public affairs body, representing the Australian-Turkish community, we are writing to you to express our disbelief in Tom Koutsantonis MP’s proposed motion to be floored this week, calling for the state government to recognise May 19 as the official day of remembrance of the so-called Greek genocide,” reads the letter.

READ MORE: Koutsantonis MP to lead motion to recognise Greek Genocide Remembrance Day in SA.

In the same letter, Atayman says that the motion is “a distraction motivated solely by Mr Koutsantonis’ personal ethnic bias” and calls the Members of Parliament to “shun Mr Koutsantonis’ biased political manoeuvre.”

“Mr Koutsantonis’ political act is a disgrace to the great things many Greek and Turkish people who share Australian values achieve together. It will only create disharmony between our children,” it reads.

Koutsantonis: “I will not be intimidated into silence”

In his response to Attayman, Tom Koutsantonis MP says that “he will not be intimidated into silence” and that Greek people deserve justice.

“Obviously my motion in the South Australian Parliament to recognise the Genocide of the Hellenes of Asia Minor has angered those who have attempted for over a century to conceal the atrocities committed by the Turkish Military on the civilian population of Asia Minor,” says Koutsantonis.

“This latest attempt to silence the truth will not work. We owe to all the journalists imprisoned in Turkey today to stand up for the truth, for all the political activists imprisoned for their dissent in modern Turkey today to speak up and most importantly we owe to the millions murdered to speak up and never forget.

“The South Australian House of Assembly has already recognised the genocide of the Hellenes, Armenians and Assyrians of Asia Minor by the Turkish Military. We will once again consider this motion and I will not be intimidated into silence,” he concludes.

Markos Vamvakaris: The famous Greek rebetiko musician

By Ilektra Takuridu.

Markos Vamvakaris was a well known Greek “rebetiko” musician, who was born on May 10, 1905, in the settlement of Skali, in Ano Chora of Syros.

He came from a Catholic family and was the first of the six children of Domenikos and Elpida Vamvakaris. His family was very poor, but they were rich with a passion for music, an intergenerational talent. Markos’ father played the bagpipe, and his grandfather wrote songs.

His family belonged to the island’s large Roman Catholic community, the “Francosyrians,” a term derived from the colloquial Greek reference to West Europeans collectively as “the Franks.”

Markos had many jobs and had worked as a shoe polisher, a paperboy, and a worker in the yarn industry since he was a child. He left Syros at the age of 12 and moved to Piraeus, where he worked in various other jobs for the next several years.

Markos Vamvakaris.

Music career:

At a later age, he decided to learn how to play the bouzouki and began writing his first songs. He watched a bouzouki player play one day and made a promise to himself that if he didn’t learn to play the instrument within six months, he would cut off his own hand with a cleaver (he was working in the public abattoirs at the time).

Markos studied the bouzouki intensively and became an inventive virtuoso player, he did all this without ever learning notes.

At the beginning of his career, he often performed in illegal hashish-smoking establishments known as tekés; later, he and his band, which included Giorgos Batis, Anestis Delias, and Stratos Pagioumtzis, performed in more legal clubs and popular taverns.

The band’s compositions became tremendously popular, and Markos recorded the majority of them. Among the rebetes community, he was known as “the Frank” (Fragos).

Markos was a well known Greek “rebetiko” musician.

The composers, musicians, and singers of rebetiko were known as ‘rebetes,’ which means defiant, misled or disobedient, a Greek term similar to “Manghes,” someone who is anti-establishment.

One of the most famous songs Markos ever wrote was Fragosyriani in 1935, a classic love song that regained popularity twenty five years later with a cover  by singer Grigoris Bithikotsis.

Markos’ composition style was straightforward: limited orchestration with melodic lines. The lyrics in his songs, as most rebetiko style songs, frequently addressed poverty, class problems, marriage, love, addiction and immigration. War, unemployment, and death were all inspirations.

Due to the anti-authoritarian style of Rebetiko, the music was banned during the censorship of the Metaxas government in 1937, Markos then had to change his playing style and adapt the lyrics.

Even so, Markos was so famous during the 30’s that 50,000 adoring fans attended his concerts, performed in Thessaloniki, near the White Tower.

In 1942, he married Evangelia and had three sons: Vasilis, Stelios, and Dominikos. His son Stelios followed in his father’s profession and also became a musician.

Markos has three sons with his wife, Evangelia. Source: CNN Greece.

Death and Legacy:

In the aftermath of WWII, Greece was still in turmoil despite being liberated from Nazi Germany’s occupation. The difficult times led to the style of music Markos played to no longer be popular or trendy. As well as his popularity being low, Markos also suffered from arthritis in his wrists, which affected his bouzouki playing. Due to his illness and the shift in music genre popularity, Markos became irrelevant and disappeared from the music scene.

On the 8th of February 1972 Markos passed away at age 66, he left behind many compositions and songs that are still adored today. There is even a museum exhibition in honour of him, in his home town of Syros.