The Ministry of Culture has introduced an initiative within the framework of the ‘Cultural Routes’ program to restore important monuments in northern Greece inscribed on the UNESCO protection list.
These monuments include the church of Panagia Acheiropoietos in Thessaloniki, the Palaeologan frescoes in the churches of Agia Aikaterini, Agios Nikolaos Orfanos and Profitis Ilias, the Orta mosque in Veria, the central church of Maximianoupolis in Komotini and other important monuments.
A total of 11.6 million euros will be allocated from the resources of the Recovery Fund for the creation of two of five pilgrimage routes. “In the Steps of the Apostle Paul” will be allocated 2.7 million euros while the “Egnatia Road” will be given 7.9 million euros as it covers a large part of northern Greece.
Nestors Palace in Pylos, Messinia
The 300 km-long cultural route includes the stations of the Second Apostolic Tour includes places like Kavala, Amphipolis, Philippi, Apollonia and others, while the places that St Paul visited by sea include Samothrace, Athens, Keghres, Ancient Corinth, and Nikopolis.
The second route will include the maintenance of the Rotunda in Thessaloniki, the restoration of the Palaeologan frescoes in the churches of Aghia Aikaterini, Aghios Nikolaos Orfanos and Profitis Ilias and the restoration of the Bey Hammam baths built in 1444.
The Ministry of Culture recently approved the third cultural route “Monumental works of Cyclops and people during the Mycenaean period,” which will have the fundamentals of Mycenaean architecture with a budget of 500,000 euros.
Stations of the route will be Dimini, the citadel of Gla, the vaulted tomb of “Minya” in Orchomenos, the citadels of Mycenae, Tiryns and Midea, the vaulted tombs of Messinia, and the palace of Nestor.
These historical monuments have been a crucial part of Greece’s culture and the investment by the Ministry of Culture has ensured that the future generation has access to these incredible pieces of history.
Anthony Locascio is back this week to tell us all his favourite Greek recipes, from things he found in Greece to things his Yiayia made for him growing up. Are his favourites in your list as well?
Lahanodolmades
Like traditional dolmades but swap out the vine leaves for lahano (cabbage) making them bigger and badder; and with Greek food, bigger=better is usually the mantra! These are my Yiayia’s go to – avgolemono on top is optional, but recommended. (Avgolemono is a lemon/egg sauce, but is often confused with the kotosoupa, chicken soup, which is served with avgolemono on top as a main attraction of the Greek Easter feast).
Lahanodolmades
Pastitsio
(basically Greek Lasagne)-pasta plus mince is always a victory, but adding a roof of bechamel is the stroke of culinary architectural genius you never knew you needed. Probably the most common dish to find in a Greek/Aussie household too. Often mispronounced ‘PastiCHO’ – an example of the Aussie bastardisation of Greek as with the avgolemono confusion above (it really upsets me, sorry).
Pastitso, not PastiCHO!
Kolokithokeftedes
Keftedes are meatballs, but these ones are made with kolokithi (zucchini) and your choice of Greek cheese. I could plow through about 30 of these at a restaurant in Greece if nobody stopped me. Plus the word is fun as hell to say. I actually never tried these until going to Greece as a kid, but I promptly begged my Yiayia to learn the recipe. She actually already knew it, and was holding out on me. We didn’t speak for months.
Kolokithokeftedes. now say it five times fast!
Saganaki
You could probably deep fry a sock in olive oil and drizzle honey on it and it’d taste alright, so doing so to kefalogaviera, my personal pick for Greece’s best cheese, is like touching heaven. Usually drizzled with honey, I’ve been told by some restaurant owners that ‘real Greeks drizzle Ouzo’ onto it, and I worry for these people’s livers. Unless you fancy oil smatterings as a nice addition to your kitchen wall paint, don’t try to make this one at home.
Saganaki. The greek word for ‘mouth watering’
Papara
This is a total cheat, but sue me. Papara is not a food per se, but a philosophy; nothing is wasted. The art of papara is mopping up any remnants of your meal, be it one of those I’ve mentioned or simply the last trickle of oil in your Greek salad, with fresh Greek bread. This is, for lack of a better way of putting it, the woggiest shit you can do.
The best part of the Greek salad is right at the end
A worsening flood crisis in New South Wales has led to evacuation orders for large parts of north-west Sydney ahead of more heavy rainfall expected today.
According to ABC News,the weather system that drenched the state’s north has been sitting off the Central Coast but is now heading onshore and is expected to make landfall later today.
A number of flood evacuation orders remain in place, including for communities across western Sydney along the Hawkesbury-Nepean. Check @NSWSES for the latest warnings. If you’re in a warning area, take action. #NSWRFS volunteers will be out again today helping where they can. pic.twitter.com/dLUNTcf3X8
In response, evacuation orders were issued this morning for flood-affected parts of the city with thousands of people living along the Hawkesbury River in Sydney’s north-west and Georges River in the south-west told to evacuate by 9am.
The SES said that 300,000 people are now under evacuation orders.
A flooded street in Penrith, Western Sydney, as water began to rise yesterday. Photo: AAP Image / Dan Himbrechts.
Many roads across Sydney also remained closed due to flooding, including the Bells Line of Road at North Richmond, the Yarramundi Bridge and Windsor Bridge.
More than 100mm of rain fell over parts of Western Sydney overnight and the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting that flooding along the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers could be worse than that seen this time last year.
Fatalities in the northern NSW disaster zone continue to mount, with four people confirmed to have died as of Wednesday night.
The funeral of Marietta Giannakou, a former education minister and veteran lawmaker with the country’s ruling New Democracy party, took place on Wednesday in Athens.
The funeral service was attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, former PM Kostas Karamanlis, and several ministers and MPs from New Democracy.
In a small eulogy during the service, Mitsotakis said Giannakou “was an example of a self-made politician and of a strong woman.”
Funeral service. Photo: The National Herald.
“She never shied away from responsibility. She had a rare breadth of knowledge and stood out for her clear and tangible choices,” the Prime Minister added.
“Her kindness over the years shaped a unique example of political conduct that was accompanied by radical rhetoric. She proved that a progressive mindset is not a catchphrase nor is it simply joining a political sphere. It is a lifestyle.”
Marietta Giannakou.
After the ceremony, Giannakou was laid to rest at Athens’ First Cemetery.
Giannakou had a history of health problems, including a recent fall at home, a heart attack six years ago and the amputation of a leg in 2008, due to complications from diabetes.
She passed away on Sunday at the age of 70 and is survived by her daughter, Zoe.
A humanitarian corridor was opened for the evacuation of Greek nationals from Mariupol on Wednesday as Russia’s troops encircle the Ukrainian port city.
The convoy comprised of 21 cars carrying 82 passengers and left Mariupol for Ukraine’s south-eastern Zaporizhzhya region before crossing into Moldova.
Consul General Manolis Andoulakis will remain in Mariupol, the heart of the ethnic Greek community dating back to the 18th century.
At least 10 ethnic Greeks died last month by Russian air strikes close to Mariupol.
This evacuation comes as Greece is set to open 50,000 jobs in the tourism sector for Greek expats and Ukrainian refugees, SchengenVisaInfo.com has reported.
Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, said in a press release on February 28 that over 50,000 surpluses were not covered by the country’s domestic market last year.
“Could these people with dignity, with European contracts and collective labour contracts be absorbed and help in this sector,” he said, inferring that these positions could be filled by Ukrainian refugees and Greek expats.
Greece’s Minister of Civil Protection, Takis Theodorikakos, added on Tuesday that the entry of Ukrainian refugees to Greece will be eased in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Embassy.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Canberra.
In the meantime in Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Canberra and met with Ukraine’s Charge d’Affaires in Australia, Volodymyr Shalkivskyi, who informed him about the current situation in his homeland.
His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis and Archimandrite Christoforos were also in attendance at the meeting on Wednesday.
Archbishop Makarios briefed Mr Shalkivskyi on his talks with Australian Government officials, while reaffirming the position of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in favour of peace.
Just a day before the sails of the iconic Sydney Opera House were illuminated blue and yellow in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian community in New South Wales, I e-meet with Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors, Mark Coure.
We chat about the military action that has already claimed lives – including those of Greek nationals – and Coure sends his thoughts to those affected. “My heart and sympathies go out to all of those who have lost loved ones overseas during this conflict. Hopefully, we can see very soon an end to this war.”
I can’t help but think it should be a challenging time politically and socially to hold two important portfolios but Coure seems committed and passionate about the job.
Mr Coure with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet
I ask him about his first months in the new role and he refers with admiration to the state’s diverse communities, the contribution of migrants and how Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
“I’ve got the best job in government,” he says. “Probably the second-best job in government. The Premier is the best job,” he corrects himself with a sense of humor as he unfolds his family’s immigration story.
“My grandparents arrived in Australia after World War II. They came from Egypt. In fact, my grandmother spoke five, possibly six languages. I do know Greek was one of them,” he says.
Born in Hurstville Grove, Coure was educated in local schools St Joseph’s Oatley and Marist College Penshurst, before studying at Macquarie University. Prior to being the Member for Oatley, he ran his own small business and served on Kogarah City Council for 8 years. Today, he lives in Penshurst with his wife Adla, a school teacher and first generation Australian of Lebanese heritage, raising their sons James and Sam.
“All of our neighbors are Greek and have been here for generations. Their parents or grandparents were the ones who worked on the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge,” he says.
Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors Mark Coure with his wife Adla and sons James and Sam. Photo: FB/Mark Coure MP
With Ministerial responsibilities come challenges especially after a pandemic which tested multicultural communities in NSW, but Coure has a grassroots approach and his involvement with various community groups over the years seems to come handy.
“There’s always challenges,” he says. “And I think this portfolio, is about keeping communities safe, happy, ensuring that they have got the proper resources they need to, particularly during the pandemic.”
Mr Coure after a meeting with the SydWest Multicultural Services team
Asked what his goals are and which issues he wants to tackle first, he says that his priorities are to combat social isolation among older adults and increase funding for multicultural groups to help their members through mental health workshops, translated material for vaccination and food hampers.
“Community groups do it best. And I think that with our programs, we are going into the heart of many of these community groups, helping them to help their members. That’s my priority. To ensure that our community leaders and our multicultural community groups in particular are supported during this pandemic.”
Mr Coure with the Board of the Ethic Communities Council of NSW
“And I must say in New South Wales that the community leaders, the religious leaders have done an exceptional job in educating their communities. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
The politician is well known within the Greek community for attending community events, supporting initiatives and for his love for the language and culture.
“We have many Greek language schools here in New South Wales and across Australia which we are supporting and will continue to support because it’s very important that the Greek language continues,” he says and pledges to help increase the number of students who take a second language all the way to HSC.
— Mark Coure MP – Min for Multiculturalism & Seniors (@markcourelive) December 21, 2021
“I’m going to do everything I can as minister of multiculturalism to ensure that our children are taking up that second language,” he says.
Coure comes across as one of the most chilled politicians I’ve interviewed over the years.
He says his door will always be open to feedback from communities over a coffee and he makes sure to invite me to the Greek Festival of Sydney which he has been supporting and attends every year.
“I can’t wait,” he says. “It’s been on for 40 years and it’s one of those events that it’s not just for Greeks.”
It’s certainly promising when the Minister for Multiculturalism invites you to your own community’s cultural event with such excitement. You know it’s not all Greek to him.
We can’t wait for Minister Coure to initiate the popular community event with a speech in Greek next year.
The NSW Premier’s Harmony Dinner for 2022 was a huge success on Tuesday night as over 1000 multicultural leaders and community groups gathered to celebrate their significant contributions to the state.
Held in the Grand Ballroom at the International Convention Centre, attendees were treated to a sit-down dinner and a number of special performances by Thandi Phoenix and the Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts group.
All photos copyright: Salty Dingo.
Official proceedings were kicked off by emcees for the night, Catalina Florez and Ali Bahnasawy. They introduced Uncle Allan Murray to the stage for the traditional ‘Welcome to Country,’ followed by the Walangari Dance Group for the smoking ceremony.
The NSW Federation of Community Languages Schools Choir, which included a young boy dressed in a traditional Greek tsolia costume, also went on stage to perform the Australian National Anthem and ‘Together We Are One.’
This was followed by a number of speeches from the NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet MP; the NSW Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors, Mark Coure MP; the Chair of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board, Dr G.K Harinath OAM; and the CEO of Multicultural NSW, Joseph La Posta.
In his speech, the Premier welcomed everyone to the event and stressed the importance of coming together to acknowledge the “phenomenal efforts that our multicultural community has made throughout the last two years [of the pandemic].”
Mr Coure, who was attending the Dinner for the first time as Minister for Multiculturalism, congratulated all multicultural leaders for their achievements and thanked them for continuing to make NSW “a fantastic place to live, work and visit.”
At the conclusion of these speeches, the 2021 Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards Winners were acknowledged in a special video presentation. This included The Greek Herald‘s own digital journalist, Andriana Simos, who was named NSW Young Journalist of the Year and won Best Audio / Visual Report.
Later, the Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals were presented in categories such as the Carla Zampatti Arts and Culture Medal, the Settlement Services International NSW Human Right Medal, and the NSW Rugby League Youth Medal.
Apostolos ‘Jack’ Moulos is being remembered as an ‘incredible’ great-grandfather, pilot, cafe owner and photographer after he passed away at Presbyterian Aged Care with COVID-19 on January 15. He was 97.
Jack was the son of Kytherian migrants who opened and owned The Niagara Caféin Singleton. It was in this cafe where Jack grew up and devoted much of his life.
In a piece for The Guardian, Jack’s two daughters, Michelle and Carolyn, share what it was like growing up with Jack and remember his passion and love of life.
Blacktown City Council has honoured former Mayor and Councillor, George Nicolaidis OAM, with a Key to the City for his long and distinguished service.
Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM, presented the prestigious honour in the presence of George’s family, CEO Kerry Robinson, former Alderman, George Perrin, and Council staff.
“It’s not every day somebody dedicates 32 years to their community like George did,” Mayor Bleasdale said at the ceremony.
“For more than three decades, George was driven by a passion and commitment to wanting to improve people’s lives in Blacktown City.
“I thank George for his incredible service and ongoing legacy.”
George Nicolaidis OAM.
George was born in Egypt to Greek parents and migrated to Australia in 1949.
He was elected nine times to Council, serving from 1965-1983, 1987-1995 and 1999-2004. He served as Mayor from 1974-1976.
In 1965, George made history as one of the first post-war immigrants to be elected to serve on a local council in Sydney.
During his time on Council, he argued to have all roads in the city curbed, guttered and sealed. He also fought tirelessly for vital infrastructure funding to match the city’s ongoing population growth.
Former Socceroos coach, Ange Postecoglou, is bringing his Celtic FC side to Australia in November for a four-team tournament also likely to include Rangers, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers.
In a statement to Celtic’s official website, Postecoglou said he’s looking forward to his homecoming and believes the trip to Australia will be beneficial to his squad ahead of the resumption of competitive football in the middle of December.
“I haven’t been home for almost three years by the time this comes around so I’m super-excited,” Postecoglou said.
Photo: Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images.
“It is a homecoming in many respects. That’s where my roots are, that’s where I grew up and I know that since I’ve been in this position at Celtic, people have been following my journey, whether they know me or not, and I’ll have a great sense of pride going back to Australia as manager of Celtic.
“Just being back on home soil and bringing this great football club to my shores will be special.”
Celtic appointed Postecoglou as manager in June. The club is on top of the Scottish Premiership, a win ahead of Glasgow rivals Rangers.
