Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has appeared live on television to say he has authorised a special military operation in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Putin called on Ukraine military to “lay down its arms” and return home, claiming his goal was to demilitarise the country.
Explosions are being heard in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv. Picture: centrometeorologicopuertorico/Instagram.
He also warned other countries not to interfere with Russia’s military plans. He warned NATO and others that interference would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
Immediately following the speech, sounds of explosions were heard in Kramatorsk, followed by reports of sounds of explosions or artillery firing in Kharkiv, Odessa, Mariupol and capital city Kyiv.
Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had carried out missile strikes on infrastructure and the country’s border guards, and that explosions had been heard in many cities.
He said martial law had been declared across the country and that he had spoken by phone to US President Joe Biden.
Mr Biden said the United States and its allies would respond in a united and decisive way to “an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces” on Ukraine.
They recently treated Thanasi Kokkinakis to a Cretan feast after he and Nick Kyrgios secured the doubles title at the Australian Open but this is not the first time John and Susie Rerakis’ restaurant, Philhellene Provincial Greek Cuisine, makes headlines.
Since November 2008, when it opened its doors at Moonee Ponds in Melbourne, the restaurant has been featured, several-times, in the Age Good Food Guide as the ‘best Greek restaurant’ and its dishes have been praised by food connoisseurs local and international.
Susie and John Rerakis with tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis
But apart from the recognition, which John Rerakis is grateful for, he says the family business has a greater mission. To break the stereotypes around Greek food and provide a rich experience with original flavours, culture, music and history.
“The Greek food and culture have been stereotyped for many years. It’s not only about ouzo, souvlaki, bouzouki, and Mykonos or Santorini – which are beautiful places but commercial,” John Rerakis says.
“We have an obligation to pass on the things we learned from our parents to future generations.”
Susie Rerakis with Yiayia Katina and Yiayia Nikki
A slow food movement supporter and keeper of Cretan know-how and traditions, John grows his own produce and the action in the restaurant kitchen is orchestrated by his wife Susie, his 82-years-young mother, Katina and 72-years-young mother-in-law, Nikki.
The daily specials include broad beans with artichokes avgolemono, lamb antikristo, rabbit stifado, fava dip and zucchini flowers stuffed with herbed rice, horta and kalitsounia pastry parcels.
“Everything in here is Greek,” says John proudly and shows me the Greek olive oil, salt and a wig of fresh rosemary that sit on each of the tables.
The walls are decorated with old photos of sentimental value and a vintage map that according to John is from his father’s primary school in Crete which was closed down four decades ago.
I know from experience that where there are Cretans there is an abundance of passion, filotimo, hospitality and a sense of humour. John is not an exception.
I ask him how he pulled through during the pandemic and he has again something positive to share.
“It wasn’t fun but I am not here to criticise state and federal governments. We lost staff, we hurt but we are resilient and we are not complaining,” he says.
During the pandemic the Rerakis family provided free of charge food to international students who were stranded in Australia.
“They had no income; they didn’t know how to pay their rent. They were crying. We know we did the right deed. This is what our parents taught us. It’s not all about us but also the people around us.”
As we wrap up the interview, I ask him what his plans are for the future.
“I love what we do and we are lucky to live in Australia but we also come from a very nice place in Greece. I love Crete and maybe one day I can have my garden there. If it happens, I’ll be happy,” he says.
“At the end of the day all that matters is memories.”
“We didn’t realise how many people would be disappointed when we made the announcement,” Parea Greek Tavern owner, Nicholas Papas, tells The Greek Herald.
“We wanted to thank every one of you that dined, drank and celebrated many milestones with us while we were in business.
“We are beyond grateful for all of these memories and friendships forged.”
Despite the closure, Mr Papas says customers can still enjoy a Greek feast from Pare Express in Kogarah, and the business will also continue to offer offsite catering for special events and occasions.
Greece’s Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis, has sent a letter of congratulations to the new Board of Directors of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM).
In the letter, Mr Chrysoulakis congratulated Bill Papastergiadis on his re-election to Chairman of the Board and stressed his belief that Mr Papastergiadis’ new term “will be extremely beneficial and successful for the Greek expatriates of Melbourne.”
“I’m sure that… together with the other members of the Board, [you] will promote in the best way the interests of your Greek Community, for the achievements of which all Greeks are proud,” Mr Chrysoulakis wrote.
The Secretary General then went on to assure the GCM that he will “make every effort to support your actions for the prosperity and development” of the Community.
“The Secretariat will assist in all your efforts to spread Greek language and Greek culture in Australia as part of the initiatives and actions it carries out around the world,” the letter stated.
Mr Chrysoulakis concluded his letter by stating that his goal is to further strengthen communication channels and modernise services used by Greek expatriates abroad.
2021 was always going to be an unpredictable year with COVID continuing to play havoc. Nonetheless, the Greek Community of Melbourne’s weekly seminar series continued uninterrupted.
Attempts to return to live or even hybrid presentations at the Community’s mezzanine level were thwarted by lockdowns, as well as an unpreparedness by people to return to the CBD as the pandemic raged.
The program was mostly delivered online with an array of local but mostly international speakers. The themes were quite diverse, but a significant emphasis was placed on topics relating to the 1821 War of Independence bicentenary.
The 2022 seminar series promises to be bigger than ever. It will feature a large international cast but also strongly complemented with locally-based speakers.
As the centenary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe approaches, there’ll be numerous seminars exploring issues associated with this tumultuous period. Music will also feature strongly, where Professor Karalis will reflect upon the late composer Mikis Theodorakis, and Christopher King will examine the ‘mirologia’ (laments) of Epirus.
Professor Tim Parkin will kick-start the lecture series.
Expect a strong North American-based contingent in this year’s program from Berkeley’s Christine Philliou, to Ohio State University’s Giorgios Anagnostou, Athanasios Gekas from York University (Canada) and the University of Chicago’s Stefanos Katsikas.
The program will finish off with Columbia University’s Mark Mazower, a British historian who has written extensively on Greek and Balkan history. For further information or sponsorship enquiries simply contact the GCM on info@greekcommunity.com.au
The first seminar begins on Thursday, March 3 at 7pm, with Professor Tim Parkin from the University of Melbourne.
Tsiknopempti is part of the traditional celebrations of Apokries – the Greek carnival season.
The celebration, which is also known as Charred or Smoky Thursday, is one of the last days where Greek Orthodox faithful are allowed to eat meat before they begin their Lenten fast for Easter.
Origins:
The name ‘Tsiknopempti’ originated from the fact that on that particular day, in many places around Greece, people would melt the fat from pigs while groups gathered in homes to barbecue meat.
Souvlakia are a favourite for Tsiknopempti.
The widespread smell of burning meat from any household which could afford meat, led to the naming of the day ‘Tsiknopempti.’
The custom itself is said to originate as far back as the Bacchanalian feasts of the ancient Greeks and Romans, which survived with only a few changes until Christian times.
How do people celebrate?
Aside from barbecuing meat, people also dress up and have some fun with their neighbours.
Tsiknopempti occurs during Apokries.
In the villages, people walk around in groups from house to house, knocking on doors and asking for a treat and some wine, which were both consumed on the road.
The custom also included some “minor damage” to the outside of houses, as people would knock down flower pots to spill the dirt. They would then smear their faces with the dirt and party on until the next morning.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, paid an official visit to Romania on Wednesday and met with the country’s Prime Minister and President to discuss bilateral relations and the current Ukraine-Russia crisis.
In his separate meetings with Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă, Mitsotakis discussed how to strengthen cooperation between Greece and Romania in the areas of economy and energy.
Με τον Πρωθυπουργό της Ρουμανίας, Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă, συζητήσαμε για την περαιτέρω αναβάθμιση και ενίσχυση των διμερών σχέσεων και της διμερούς συνεργασίας, ιδιαίτερα στους τομείς της οικονομίας, του εμπορίου, της ενέργειας, του τουρισμού και της άμυνας. https://t.co/UF4Rg3QJg6pic.twitter.com/RbW6gM0QD5
Mitsotakis outlined ways to increase and expand the Greek business presence in Romania and to promote bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries.
The two countries’ shared perception of major European and international issues was also confirmed, while the leaders exchanged views on the latest developments in Ukraine.
Later, the Greek PM visited the Greek Embassy in Bucharest and met with the Greek-Romanian Chamber of Commerce.
Στη σημερινή συνάντηση με τον Πρόεδρο της Ρουμανίας, Klaus Iohannis, συζητήσαμε για την περαιτέρω διεύρυνση και εμβάθυνση των διμερών σχέσεων Ελλάδας-Ρουμανίας, με έμφαση στην οικονομία και στην ενέργεια, αλλά και για τις εξελίξεις στην Ουκρανία. https://t.co/l8yy0GllVkpic.twitter.com/DmBxEfL5lF
Discussing the events in Ukraine, Mitsotakis said that it was an issue of concern to all but especially Romania, which neighbours Ukraine.
“It also concerns the entire world, however, because no change in borders through violence can be tolerated, even more so by a country that has placed international law at the centre of its foreign policy,” Mitsotakis said.
Rescue crews on Wednesday recovered a second body from a ferry that caught fire while sailing from Greece to Italy last week, Greek authorities said.
The man, whose identity could not be immediately confirmed, was among 10 passengers who had still been listed as missing.
The smouldering hulk of the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia was towed to the mainland port of Astakos in western Greece on Wednesday to facilitate further search and rescue operations onboard.
The Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia was towed to the mainland port of Astakos.
A 64-strong team of firefighters have been sent to Astakos to help with the operation. Their first task is to remove some trucks for easier access in the search for the nine passengers still unaccounted for.
The ferry was carrying at least 292 passengers and crew when it caught fire on Friday, three hours after it left the northwestern Greek port of Igoumenitsa for Brindisi in Italy.
A total of 281 people were safely evacuated, while the body of a Greek man was discovered inside the ship on Sunday.
Greece’s President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, has expressed her support for the Greek diaspora in Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia over the last few days.
In a post on Facebook, Sakellaropoulou wrote that Greece’s “thoughts are on the Greek communities of Ukraine,” which include those “cities and villages where our language is still heard, the schools where lessons are taught under the Greek flag, and the expatriates of all ages who keep alive in their hearts the bond with their Greek roots.”
The female President then gave a number of examples to stress the continued resistance of the Greek diaspora in Ukraine despite constant tensions with Russia.
“The proud spirit of our expatriates, as expressed in their thousand-year presence in the region of Ukraine, remains strong during these difficult times. We honour their strength, we are close to them and we support them,” Sakellaropoulou concluded.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to rise. Photo: AFP.
This statement comes after a tumultuous 24 hours in which Russia mobilised its tanks and artillery into east Ukraine and Western nations, including Australia, hit back with unprecedented sanctions, travel bans and restrictions.
Amid these rising tensions, Greece has also made plans for additional gas supply with government spokesman, Giannis Oikonomou, confirming the news on state television on Wednesday.
Mr Oikonomou said that Greece will try to get as much gas as it can via a pipeline which runs from Azerbaijan to Italy.
On Thursday, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) launched a new advertising campaign showcasing Greece’s national treasures as the perfect weekend getaway – well in their words, a ‘Greekend.’
As a part of this new campaign, Athens and Thessaloniki are promoted as ideal destinations with good weather and easy flight connections. The campaign highlights the many offerings of both cities from the local cuisine to the art galleries and shopping destinations.
Athens Monastirki Centre (left), Thessaloniki by the water (right)
Greek Tourism Minister, Vasilis Kikilas, told Ekathimerini: “Hotels in our cities, particularly Athens and Thessaloniki, have suffered due to the pandemic. This campaign is the first in a series of initiatives we will carry out, inviting visitors to safely enjoy an authentic Greek weekend in our largest cities.”
EOT General Secretary, Dimitris Fragakis, added: “The pandemic has negatively impacted urban tourism. In many cases, disproportionately to our other tourist destinations.”
Navaiyo, Zakynthos.
“The Greekend campaign seeks to promote a complete tourist product, one that is equal to other established European weekend destinations,” Mr Fragakis added.
The campaign is due to run for two months and in ten countries including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Israel.
