Home Blog Page 1412

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia condemns conversion of Hagia Sophia into Mosque

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia have released a statement on the decision to convert Hagia Sophia to a Mosque, denouncing the Turkish President’s actions.

The Archdiocese called the decision “unfair” and shows “disrespect to the memory of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk.

“This decision is a sacrilege in a monument of world cultural heritage, which is also a global symbol of the Orthodox Church and Christianity”.

“Hagia Sophia belongs to the whole world.”

Read the full statement translated to English below:

With deepest sorrow and pain of soul, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, together with the God-loving Bishops of Australia, all the clergy, the monastic brotherhoods and the hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Christian faithful in the Fifth Continent and all of Oceania learned of the unnecessary decision, by the President of Turkey, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to convert Hagia Sophia into an Islamic Temple.

Unfortunately, certain decisions, while for some may seem courageous, in reality represent small-mindedness, resentment, intolerance and religious fanaticism. It is for this reason that they are recorded in history with dark letters. This decision is unjust primarily for the people of Turkey and their future, but it also proves disrespectful to the memory of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Ataturk.

This decision constitutes sacrilege to a monument of world cultural heritage, which represents, at the same time, a global symbol of the Orthodox Church and Christianity. Hagia Sophia belongs to the whole world.

For us Orthodox Christians, Hagia Sophia will continue to be an eternal symbol. We continue to sing, “To you, my Champion and Commander” and spiritually make our pilgrimage to Hagia Sophia. We close our eyes and feel the first dome of human history covering the entire universe. No one can erase the truth and historical reality.

We pray and believe that injustice will soon be restored before history and humanity.

Read the full statement in Greek below:

Με βαθύτατη θλίψη και πόνο ψυχής ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αυστραλίας κ.κ. Μακάριος, οι Θεοφιλέστατοι Επίσκοποι της Αυστραλίας, όλος ο κλήρος, οι μοναστικές αδελφότητες και οι εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες Ορθοδόξων πιστών στην πέμπτη Ήπειρο και σε όλη την Ωκεανία πληροφορηθήκαμε την, άνευ αναγκαιότητας, απόφαση του Προέδρου της Τουρκίας κ. Ρετζέπ Ταγίπ Ερντογάν, να μετατρέψει την Αγία Σοφία, σε μουσουλμανικό Τέμενος.

Δυστυχώς, κάποιες αποφάσεις, ενώ για ορισμένους φαίνονται γενναίες, στην πραγματικότητα αποδεικνύουν μικροψυχία, εμπάθεια, μισαλλοδοξία και θρησκευτικό φανατισμό, γι᾽ αυτό και γράφονται στην ιστορία με μαύρα γράμματα. Η απόφαση αυτή είναι άδικη πρωτίστως για το λαό της Τουρκίας και το μέλλον του, ενώ αποδεικνύει ασέβεια στη μνήμη του ιδρυτού της Τουρκικής Δημοκρατίας Κεμάλ Ατατούρκ.

Η απόφαση αυτή συνιστά ιεροσυλία σε ένα μνημείο παγκόσμιας πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς, το οποίο παράλληλα αποτελεί και παγκόσμιο σύμβολο της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας και του Χριστιανισμού. Η Αγία Σοφία ανήκει σε όλο τον κόσμο.

Για μας τους Ορθοδόξους Χριστιανούς η Αγία Σοφία θα συνεχίσει να είναι ένα αιώνιο σύμβολο. Ψάλλομε το “Τη Υπερμάχω” και νοερώς κάνουμε το προσκύνημά μας στην Αγία Σοφία. Κλείνουμε τα μάτια μας και αισθανόμαστε τον πρώτο τρούλο της ανθρώπινης ιστορίας να σκεπάζει όλη την οικουμένη. Κανείς δεν μπορεί να διαγράψει την αλήθεια και την ιστορική πραγματικότητα.

Προσευχόμαστε και πιστεύομε ότι σύντομα θα αποκατασταθεί η αδικία ενώπιον της ιστορίας και της ανθρωπότητας.

Εκ της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αυστραλίας

Vasili’s Taxidi: The King of Sydney’s Night Life, Peter Skoulis, and Athina Greek Night Club

In its heyday of the 1960s and early 1970s, Sydney’s Greek community was buzzing with a strange mixture of uncertainty and excitement for the adopted homeland, Australia, and simultaneously missing the language and culture they left behind in their homeland, Greece (as well as Cyprus and Egypt). In those early years of these migrants’ integration into the Australian lifestyle, there was a huge demand for Greek social alternatives; Pan Hellenic SC, for instance, was arguably the most popular football club in Sydney. 

In Sydney’s Greek night life scene, it boomed, with several clubs opening to cater for the growing demand for live Greek music; after working as factory-fodder throughout the week, Greek migrants just wanted to go out and forget how hard they worked… 

One of the Greek night club’s that left its mark on this bygone era was Athina Night Club, in Redfern, run by Panagiotis Skoulis- it operated from the early 1970s to the mid 1908s!

Stamatis Kokotas. Photo courtesy of Peter and Maria Skoulis

After migrating to Melbourne in 1956 and working for several nightclubs, such as St Kilda Night Club, for years, he came to Sydney in the early 1960s and Maria (nee Drossos), and resumed working in Sydney’s Stage Coach night club, Redfern, where internationally famous actors and singers, such as Shirley Bassey, would visit the club after their own shows. At the Stage Coach, Panagiotis worked his way to assistant  manager at the Windsor Hotel.

With this wealth of experience in night life, Panagiotis teamed up with Theo Morris to buy the Patris Night Club in Redfern. At the same time, Maria and Panagiotis were fortunate to acquire a liquor license and bought the Oxford Hotel, on Oxford Street. 

Asked about the Greek migrants’ and their relationship with night clubs was like, Panagiotis explains, ’Every few weeks another shipload of Greek migrants arrived in Sydney. If they asked others, ‘Where do you go out at night?” people would reply, “bouzoukia”. The Greek night clubs consoled so many migrants with an environment where they could speak Greek, listen to Greek music, eat Greek food and do Greek dancing.’  

Photo courtesy of Peter and Maria Skoulis

After five years at the Patris Night Club, Panagiotis and Maria bought Athina Night Club off Vangelis the ‘Castellorizian’, Redfern; it was open seven nights and the only day it shut was Good Friday! While Maria looked after the Oxford Hotel during the day, Panagiotis looked after Athina- and Maria would help out at Athina once she finished up at the hotel- they were endless days and nights. 

Asked about the artists who came through Athina Night Club, and the list goes on and on. As an entrepreneur, Panagiotis branched out in bringing out Greek film stars, who performed at the Elizabeth Theatre, and would later come to the Athina Night Club to socialise- and even get up for an impromptu performance. Just to name a few, they were: Greece’s most famous star, Aliki Vougiouklaki; the dynamic couple, Tzeny Karezi and Michalis Kazakos; and Anna Fonsou. 

And what music stars passed through Athina? Stamatis Kokotas, Viki Moscoliou, Stelios Vamvakaris, Loukas Daralas, Beba Blaz and Yiannis Sideris… just to name a few!!!

Photo courtesy of Peter and Maria Skoulis

Asked what motivated him to bring such famous stars to Australia, Panagiotis explains, ‘There were so many Greek clubs- Vrachos/Mykonos, Panorama and Salona, so there was a lot of competition. I thrived on competition and action… for me, can you imagine how exciting it was to bring Aliki to Australia? Whenever we had a slow period, I ring up our travel agent, Andrew Vass, and fly out to Athens to search which star was available to come to Australia. We had to do this to stay ahead of competitors.’ 

Asked what Aliki Vougiouklaki was like as a person, Panagiotis explains, ‘Maria and I took Aliki all over Australia- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, so we got to know her very well. In business, she was a tough negotiator and she was a gentlewoman socially. And she was also very generous too; one time, Maria complimented her about her beautiful crucifix… she took it off and gave to Maria, just like that! Realistically, she was very conscious about her performances; she never wanted empty seats, so there were times she gave away some tickets to fill up the theatre.’ 

Panagiotis admits he had a great team at Athina, especially the resident band with Giorgos Lagoutaris, Fani, Elli Rigas and Marianna on vocals; Mimis Mandylis on bouzouki; Nikitas Naris on Bouzouki; Stelios Makris and Giorgos Foundis on Drums respectively; Peter Damianos on guitar; and Nikos Stefanidakis on keyboards. 

By the mid 1980s, the local area’s Greek demographics had changed, these Greek migrants were married and with children by then and had other social alternatives, and random alcohol breath testing was introduced… it was a changing world and Athina finally shut.

Asked if he missed these times, Panagiotis admits, ‘Of course I do, Maria and I were much younger then (laughs). If I was reborn again, I would do it all over again. My life was definitely an adventure, and that is why I enjoyed it so much.’

Canberra Greek Community slams Turkey’s Hagia Sophia decision as “unacceptable”

0

In a statement this afternoon, the President of the Greek Community of Canberra, John Loukadellis, condemned Turkey’s decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

FULL STATEMENT:

29th May 1453 & 11th July 2020 – both equally sad days for Orthodox Christians around the world and a disappointing day for the future of our Agia Sophia.

The decision by a Turkish court this morning is yet another backwards step in recognising the Christian Orthodox values of our historic place of worship. At best, allowing Agia Sophia to remain a museum for both faiths as a symbol of solidarity is somewhat acceptable, however, Erdogan’s and the Turkish Government’s decision today is totally unacceptable and a complete injustice.

Long live Agia Sophia and its Christian Orthodox Faithful. Long live Constantinople.

UPDATE:

On Sunday night, the Community has sent a letter not only to the Prime Minister of Australia, providing full details of their stance on Hagia Sophia, but also to UNESCO via their website.

The letter states in part:

“This decision by Turkey is unacceptable, unfair and one that has shown total disregard for history. As Orthodox Christians, the Hagia Sophia Cathedral is more than just a sacred place of worship. It is a cultural centre full of history, a UNESCO world heritage listed site and as His Eminence, Archbishop Makarios of Australia stated, Hagia Sophia belongs to the whole world.”

Melbourne Greek community condemns Turkey’s decision to turn Hagia Sophia into mosque

0

The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria has strongly condemned the Turkish Republic’s decision to reinstate the World Heritage listed cultural icon, Hagia Sofia (Αγία Σοφία), back into a mosque.

Hagia Sofia is a significant cultural monument acknowledged by UNESCO to be of World Significance. It’s complex history is testament to the symbolic role it plays in the life of many people around the world, including Australians of Greek background.

Hagia Sophia belongs to the whole of humanity and should not be used as a tool of political and nationalistic exploitation.

Greek community of NSW condemns Turkey’s decision to convert Hagia Sophia into mosque

Η απόφαση της κυβέρνησης Ερντογάν να μετατρέψει την Αγία Σοφία, ένα μνημείο παγκόσμιας πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς, σε τζαμί είναι απαράδεκτη και προκλητική.

Η ενέργεια αυτή δεν συνιστά μόνο ευθεία προσβολή του χαρακτήρα του μνημείου που έχει χαρακτηριστεί από την UNESCO μνημείο παγκόσμιας κληρονομιάς αλλά έναν κρίκο στην συνολική προκλητική και επιθετική πολιτική της τουρκικής κυβέρνησης.

Η Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Κοινότητα της Νέας Νότιας Ουαλίας καταδικάζει απερίφραστα την ενέργεια αυτή και καλή την παγκόσμια κοινότητα να σταματήσει της επικίνδυνες και διχαστικές ενέργειες του Ερντογάν.

Καλούμε την Αυστραλία Κυβέρνηση να πάρει πρωτοβουλίες σε όλα τα διεθνή Φόρουμ για την μη εφαρμογή αυτής της απόφασης ή οποία το μόνο που προσφέρει είναι το μίσος και την εχθρότητα ανάμεσα στους Λαούς.

Εκ του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου της Ελληνικής Ορθόδοξης Κοινότητας Νέας Νότιας Ουαλίας

Greek Community of SA condemns Turkey’s decision to convert Hagia Sophia into mosque

The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) strongly denounces Turkey’s decision to convert the World Heritage monument of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

GOCSA President Bill Gonis says, like many countries and numerous organisations we too urge Erdogan to reverse this disrespectful decision and restore Hagia Sophia’s remarkable legacy as a museum for people of all faiths and cultures to visit.

Internationally we should be outraged by Erdogan’s decision to take Hagia Sophia, part of our common world heritage and use it as a political tool that divides.  Hagia Sophia is a focal point of both the Christian Byzantine and Muslim Ottoman empires and one of the most visited monuments in Turkey.

GOCSA fully supports UNESCO’s calls on the Turkish authorities to open a dialog without delay in order to avoid a step back from the universal value of this exceptional heritage whose preservation will be reviewed by the World Heritage Committee in its next session. 

Hagia Sophia remains the symbolic centre of the Greek Orthodox faith, even almost six centuries after its fall to the Ottomans and is the eastern heart of Christianity. The Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was at the core of both the Christian Byzantine and Muslim Ottoman empires. Once again this is all about domestic politics, in order to pacify and keep together the eroding voter base.

Fronditha Care staff member tests positive to COVID-19

0

On Friday, 10 July 2020, a staff member of Fronditha Care’s St Albans residential aged care team tested positive for coronavirus.

The staff member did not work while infectious and was tested positive eight days after their last shift.

They have been in quarantine and will remain so until the necessary protocols are followed. They are not a member of the direct care services team.

Fronditha Care’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Malakonas, said the organisation has notified public health officials and will be continuing to follow infection control procedures.

“The Public Health Unit informed Fronditha Care that we don’t need to do any contact tracing, resident testing, resident quarantining nor staff testing, as the staff member who tested positive has been away from work well past the incubation timeframe,” Mr Malakonas said.

“We want to make residents, their families, our dedicated staff and our community aware of this situation and reassure everyone we are working tirelessly to protect our residents and staff.”

Mr Malakonas said the organisation is providing “every support to the affected staff member” and is working with all residents and their families to explain the situation.

“We are also reminding all staff to remain vigilant with internal infection control protocols and community safety,” he said.

Fronditha Care has been, and continues to be, on maximum alert levels.

“Our priority was to firstly inform the residents, families or representatives and staff at the home first, before making a public statement,” Mr Malakonas said.

“We are committed to providing the latest information to staff, residents and families and are working with authorities to ensure we have adequate supplies of infection control equipment.

“We wish to thank our much-loved residents, their families and friends for their understanding during this challenging period. In particular, we want to acknowledge our amazing staff for their approach and professionalism throughout this difficult time.

“Keeping our residents and the staff who care for them as safe as possible is a shared responsibility between Fronditha Care and our entire community, and we ask everyone to join in this commitment.”

Kerry Kourpanidis charged with murder of man at Canberra pub

35-year-old Kerry Kourpanidis has been charged with murder, following the death of another man at a pub in Canberra last weekend.

Warren Hordpenko, 44, died on Sunday night after a fight at the Kingston Hotel.

Police believe Mr Hordpenko, who was from Dalmeny on the NSW South Coast but worked in the ACT, did not know Mr Kourpanidis.

“There is no previous relationship that we’re aware of between the two men,” Detective Inspector Matt Reynolds said on Friday morning.

But he said Mr Hordpenko and Mr Kourpanidis had seen each other earlier on Sunday evening at the Kingston Hotel.

Kerry Kourpanidis, then a Sapper in the Australian Army, is pictured on a training exercise outside Townsville. Picture: ADF

“As a result of that incident, the 35-year-old male later returned to the Kingston Hotel where the incident took place,” Detective Reynolds said.

Documents tendered to the ACT Magistrates Court revealed Mr Kourpanidis left the pub after a meal with his partner, six-year-old daughter and another person. But it is alleged he returned some time later, going straight into the pool room, where he accused Mr Hordpenko of an offence against his child.

“You f***ed with my daughter, c***,” Mr Kourpanidis is alleged to have told Mr Hordpenko.

The documents alleged Mr Kourpanidis then tackled Mr Hordpenko off a stool and to the ground, punching him several times in the head.

Police said two other men in the bar left, fearing they would be attacked.

Mr Hordpenko was found unconscious on the floor a short time later.

Police officers were called to the hotel on Sunday about 9:15pm after reports of a disturbance. Once there, they found ACT Ambulance Service paramedics already treating Mr Hordpenko. He died at the scene a short time later.

Detective Reynolds said police had already taken statements from many patrons who were in the pub at the time, as well as hotel staff. He also thanked the public for their help, after ACT Policing released a CCTV image of Mr Hordpenko on Thursday.

“The incident occurred in the pool room [of the Kingston Hotel]. There is no coverage of CCTV in that particular place, however the hotel has numerous other CCTV cameras,” he said.

“Police went through all of the CCTV of the Kingston Hotel and identified the offender… We are very appreciative of the public’s help in this matter.”

Mr Kourpanidis was arrested on Thursday and charged with murder.

During a brief appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, his lawyer argued the events did not justify the charge and he should be allowed bail.

But Magistrate Lorraine Walker refused Mr Kourpanidis bail and he was remanded in custody until later this month.

Last chance to provide feedback for new Greek precinct in Marrickville and Dulwich Hill

Greeks across NSW have until tomorrow to provide their feedback towards the new precinct in Marrickville and Dulwich Hill, which is to be renamed to commemorate the contribution of Greek migrants.

The name change of the precinct, which the Mayor of Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne, referenced as a ‘Little Athens’, is done to honour the incredible contribution of Greek Australians to the Inner West.

“This is a gesture of respect to all the Greek migrants who helped establish the Inner West as the birthplace of Australia multiculturalism,” the Mayor says.

“In the ’60s Greek was commonly spoken on the streets and there was high demand for authentic Greek products and experiences – delis, restaurants, cake shops, clothing stores, to name a few.”

People have the chance to provide their thoughts on where they think the “heart” of the new Greek precinct should be placed.

READ MORE: Marrickville and Dulwich Hill precinct to be officially renamed to honour Greek migrants

“The Council intends to honour and celebrate the long-standing relationship between the Inner West community and the people of Greece by naming a Greek precinct in Marrickville and-or Dulwich Hill,” the Inner West Council media team told The Greek Herald upon its announcement.

The renaming of the precinct will completed after a period of consultation with local Marrickville and Dulwich Hill Greek residents, organisations, wider community and businesses – as well as the Greek Consulate General.

People can provide their feedback here: https://yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/greek-precinct

Arthur Evans: The British archaeologist who discovered the Palace of Knossos

One of the greatest discoveries made in the modern world was pioneered by none other than British archaeologist, Arthur Evans, who paved the way for the analysis of ancient Minoan culture.

The eminent British archaeologist was one of the pioneers in the study of the Aegean civilisations of the Bronze Age, with his major work being the discovery of the Palace of Knossos in Crete.

Arthur Evans at the Palace of Knossos. Photo: British Archaeology at the Ashmolean Museum.

Born on July 8, 1851 in Nas Mills, East England, Arthur was the son of the archaeologist John Evans (1823-1908). He studied archaeology at Oxford and soon turned to monetary archaeology.

His interest in coins and seals led him to Crete for the first time in 1894. He later returned and from 1899 to 1934, starting with his own money, he brought to light the ruins of Knossos, which covered an area of ​​17 square meters. 

Arthur helped make the world aware of the Cretan culture of the Bronze Age, which he named Minoan, correlating the complex plan of the Palace of Knossos with the labyrinth.

The Palace of Knossos today. Photo: viator.com.

After researching layers under the palace and carefully comparing its findings with Egyptian excavations, Arthur created a chronological system that formed the first systematic basis for dating prehistoric times in Europe.

His interpretations, as is natural in the work of pioneers, contained many weaknesses and exaggerations but in general, his work sealed the development of knowledge of prehistoric civilisations in Greece. 

From 1909, he was an Associate Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Oxford. In 1911, for his services to archaeology, he was knighted by King George and was awarded the title of “Sir.”

Arthur died on July 11, 1941, in Oxford, at the age of 90.

Source: San Simera.