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New smartphone app opens famed Greek monasteries to the world

Andriana Simos
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New smartphone app opens famed Greek monasteries to the world

Tourists who are longing to visit Greece can still enjoy the magnificent views of the Meteora monasteries and even walk alongside the monks of Mount Athos using a new app called “VR Pilgrim.”

Just by using their own smartphone, tourists can enjoy 360-degree views of two of Greece’s most spectacular sites, the Meteora monasteries and the twenty monasteries atop Mount Athos. 

Development Director of VR Treasures, Giorgios Tsatsanidis, said the VR Pilgrim app was launched to provide “comfort and peace” to tourists during the coronavirus pandemic.

“When scientists around the world are working hard on medicine against the virus, when people are facing a new reality with travel limitations and enforced space between them, we’d like to provide peace and comfort in a time when people seem to really need it,” Mr Tsatsanidis said.

The VR Pilgrim app lets you get access to the monasteries of Mount Athos. Source: VR Treasures.

“It is the first app in the world that makes it possible for anyone to touch, virtually, the greatest shrines and relics of the Christian world, filmed in the corners of our planet that are unique and sometimes off-limits to most travellers.”

Starets Kirill, Archimandrite of the cell of St. Nicholaos Halkias of Mount Athos, who was directly involved in the filming process, said: “Two years ago, when we blessed VR Treasures for the creation of a virtual library about the treasures of Athos, no one could imagine how relevant this would become.”

“In the actual situation, VR Pilgrim is the only opportunity to see the holy places with your own eyes,” Archimandrite Kirill emphasised.

In the case of Mt. Athos, which only accepts male pilgrims as visitors, this is indeed a rare chance for females to view the stunning monastic buildings constructed atop the mountainous crags of the peninsula.

Moreover, there are about 30 VR films where monks share their cooking recipes which have been kept secret for centuries. Interviewers’ stories and voice-over text in English, Greek, Russian and soon in Chinese, also lets everyone find out many interesting facts that have never been published anywhere before.

The Meteora monasteries, located northwest of the town of Kalabaka, were built atop the rocks of Meteora, rising more than 600 meters into the sky. With their spectacular setting and magnificent views, the monasteries are also listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

The VR Pilgrim app is available for download on Google Play and the App Store.

Greeks appeal to Nicosia lawmakers for return of 300 million euros

Andriana Simos
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Greeks appeal to Nicosia lawmakers for return of 300 million euros

Nearly 1,000 Greeks are seeking the return of 300 million euros, which were confiscated from uninsured bank deposits by the Republic of Cyprus in 2013.

Greek depositors delivered a letter to lawmakers in Nicosia on Friday, asking for pressure to be placed on Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis to return their money before it goes to international mediation.

In the letter, containing 956 Greek plaintiffs, it was noted that the World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has agreed to hear their claim, and will likely rule in their favor.

They further said that in February, the ICSID ruled that they have jurisdiction over Greek claims to recover 300 million euros in bonds and deposits that were confiscated by Cyprus as part of the 2013 financial bailout by European institutions.

The ICSID has announced they will hear the case in November 2021.

Greece condemns Muslim prayers at Hagia Sophia

Andriana Simos
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Greece condemns Muslim prayers at Hagia Sophia

The Greek Foreign Ministry has condemned Turkey for allowing the reading of the Koran inside Hagia Sophia on the anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople.

In a statement, the Ministry said the move was “an unacceptable attempt to alter the monumental character of Hagia Sophia,” as well as a challenge to the religious sentiment of Christians everywhere. 

“This action is an insult to the international community and once again exposes Turkey, which has an obligation to respect both the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and UNESCO, of which it is a member,” the statement reads.

“We once again call on Turkey to respect its international obligations and stop putting domestic expediencies ahead of its very privileged role as guardian of a monument as important as Hagia Sophia, which belongs to all of humanity.”

Hagia Sophia’s walls were also covered in Turkish motifs on the anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople. Source: SKAI.TV.

Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO world heritage site, was built as a Greek Orthodox church in 535 AD. Following the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. The conquest of Istanbul is celebrated on May 29 every year.

Powerful message from His Eminence Archbishop Makarios to mark National Reconciliation Week

The Greek Herald
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Powerful message from His Eminence Archbishop Makarios to mark National Reconciliation Week

As we are in National Reconciliation Week, I feel the need to join my voice with the voices of all those who struggled throughout the decades to achieve reconciliation in this Australian nation.

I feel the need to direct my steps towards the path taken by those who crossed Sydney’s Harbour Bridge 20 years ago, as well as all those who – in the past but also in the years to come – “built” small or large bridges of solidarity, mutual respect, trust and reconciliation between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

I strongly believe that the faithful of our holy Archdiocese present a good testimony and walk this blessed path with dedication. Besides, respect and unconditional love for one’s neighbour are basic tenets of our Christian teaching.

For the future, it is the duty and responsibility of all of us to preserve what Australian society has achieved to date and to contribute, with perseverance and without complacency, in the utter attainment of the concept of reconciliation. To attain this presupposes that we look at history with respect and honesty in order to recognise and acknowledge the mistakes of the past and to turn with loving eyes towards our neighbour and to strive daily for new inroads that will allow us to come even closer together. Steps that will allow us to say with one voice – “In this together!”

TGH Exclusive: Meet Kayla Grigoriou. The Greek Australian distiller turning gin into hand sanitiser

The Greek Herald
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TGH Exclusive: Meet Kayla Grigoriou. The Greek Australian distiller turning gin into hand sanitiser

By Argyro Vourdoumpa

Kayla Grigoriou is a South Australian gin distiller, coming from a family of passionate winemakers of Spartan heritage. When the coronavirus pandemic hit her community, she knew she had to help. So, she pivoted her Port Road distillery’s production line, to produce hand sanitiser.

“One night over dinner my parents, sister and I were discussing the effects COVID-19 was having not only globally, but more importantly on us, locally. We realised that we could make a small difference to our community by turning our still from making gin and start making ethanol for sanitiser. 

“By running the still 24 hours a day, bottling, labeling and blending our unique ingredients we could not only diminish the shortage of sanitiser but we could also bring back a couple of our staff members who had their hours considerably reduced due to the effects COVID-19 was having on our company,” Grigoriou told The Greek Herald.

Kayla’s brand, ‘Needle & Pin’ is currently producing more than 2,000 bottles of hand sanitiser per day. She says, “we will continue making it, for as long as there is a need for it.”

Kayla Grigoriou turned gin into sanitiser to assist the local community. Photo: Supplied

Local winemakers hit hard

Kayla’s family has been operating their brand, Portia Valley Wines, for more than 40 years but this one, has been extremely hard especially for local winemakers.

The Australian wine industry has had a challenging start to the year, between bushfires, the coronavirus pandemic and trade wars in US and China markets.

“Covid-19, has just been another obstacle we have had to overcome this year,” Grigoriou said.

“We initially felt the effects of Covid-19 back in January when China was at it’s most vulnerable and shut down all sales. For us majority of our wine is distributed overseas – especially Asia. Locally, we have seen that people are buying more.”

The Grigoriou family resilience

Sustaining a family business for four generations comes at a cost but for the Grigoriou family, it’s a matter of drawing knowledge from their ancestors’ knowledge.

“Over four generations we have had different roles. Our family has taken the skills and knowledge of past generations to build upon what seems to be our family destiny!

“My father found that export was exceptionally important to the wine industry of Australia. We continue to move with our industry and as anyone tries to predict future trends, the ability to be fluid and willing to adapt is important for future growth,” Grigoriou said.

The Grigoriou family. Photo: Supplied

Although a fourth generation Greek Australian, Kayla keeps her Spartan heritage close to her heart.

“I will always remember the emotional power of storytelling left behind by my great grandfather growing up in Monemvasia and his stories of growing the Malvasia grape and the art of wine making has defiantly shaped us and me in particular. We are who we are today because of Pappou Christos. He certainly left a legacy”.

Asking what her advice to the future female gin distillers is, this is what she replied:

“It is fair to say that in the distilling business majority are men, but that’s not to say there aren’t amazing women distillers around the world. We have to fight a bit harder to be recognized and considered. My advice to the future female distillers is to go forward with it, guns blazing!

NBA scout recounts trips to Greece to watch young Giannis Antetokounmpo shine

The Greek Herald
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NBA scout recounts trips to Greece to watch young Giannis Antetokounmpo shine

While no one could have predicted the champion that Giannis Antetokounmpo could have become, scouts always seem to locate that ‘special gift’ in some of the world’s greatest talents.

Giannis was selected 15th overall by the Bucks as a little known 16-year-old Greek boy, raising the eyebrows of most NBA coaches back in 2013.

Yet no one could have predicted that the same player would achieve the title of NBA MVP and the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all ‘big five’ statistics.

Milwaukee Bucks scout Kornél Dávid saw potential in Giannis during his pre-NBA days in Greece, where Giannis and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo played in near empty Greek gyms.

Speaking to CloseUp360, Kornél details making a trip to Athens back in 2012 to run the rule over Antetokounmpo, which was necessary considering how difficult it was to gather real intel due to Giannis’ absence from traditional European competitions:

“Everybody was wondering, ‘Okay, this kid, I heard about him. He’s from Greece, but he’s not really from Greece. He doesn’t have a Greek passport,’” Kornel says. “He did not play at that time in any European competitions, in any youth system—not under 16, under 18, nowhere. So seeing him competing against the same age group, it was impossible to see him because he never competed against those guys.”

Kornél describes Giannis as “head and shoulders better than the other ones” on his trips to Greece, but also noted how by his second visit word seemed to have gotten out with multiple NBA scouts in attendance.

“I thought he could be special, but the timeframe to when and how long he needs to be that special, it just was a guess,” Kornel says. “And the ceiling where he can be, nobody I think can say that, ‘Okay, this guy going to be an MVP in the league and that good.’”

Vasili’s Taxidi: After 50 Years, The Passion Behind Angela’s Hairdressing Salon’s Shop Window

The Greek Herald
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Vasili’s Taxidi: After 50 Years, The Passion Behind Angela’s Hairdressing Salon’s Shop Window

By Vasilis Vasilas 

What is often impressive about shop-owners is how passionate they are about their work… even after so many years. Whether it is their eye for detail in perfecting their work or simply providing their customers with the best service, everything comes so natural to them. And they are amazing to watch…these maestros beyond the shop windows and counters. 

And one of these maestros is definitely Angela Giokas of ‘Angela’s Hairdressing Salon’ at Rosebery and you cannot help being in awe of her love and care for her work, salon and customers. And what is amazing about Angela is she has running hairdressing salons- her first at Dalmeny Ave and her current salon- in Rosebery for 50 years!  

As a teenager, Angela attended the Konstantokopoulos School for hairdressing in Tripolis; when her parents sent her money for daily expenses, she would not spend her money on ice-cream and sweets but saved up to buy her first pair of scissors (for cutting hair) and curlers! And so the passion began…

When Angela migrated to Sydney, Australia, her first jobs may have been in factories but she never ceased working as a hairdresser, whether going to people’s homes, working in Giannis and Soula’s hairdressing salon in St Peters, or working from home. 

Angela provides invaluable insight into the busy life of Greek migrant women in the late 1960s, “Working from home had some very odd hours; working women, with children, could not come for a haircut or style at normal hours- as they were at work. So many customers would come early hours in the morning, get her haircut or styled and then go to work. Or they would come after dinner and putting their children to sleep… This was the migrant experience seen through women’s eyes…” 

Gaining invaluable experience and confidence, Angela opened her own hairdressing salon on Dalmeny Avenue, Rosebery, in 1971. As business continued to grow, she moved the business to larger premises on Gardeners Road, Rosebery, and she has been here ever since. 

Balancing motherhood and running such a successful hairdressing salon was not easy and Angela thanks her understanding customers, “When my young son, Kosta, was at the salon, they would keep him amused and even read to him! When I was so busy, all I would politely say to my (waiting) customers, ‘I will be with you as soon as I can.’ They were very supportive!” 

Dealing with so many people over six decades, Angela has realised so much about human nature, “One of customers used to come into the salon and ask me to cut only a little bit off her hair. She would then come in the following week again and the week after that… for that same snip. When I was younger, I did not understand why she did this; only much later in life did I understand what this snip really meant. No matter what she experienced, how difficult life may have been, that snip made her feel better.”

Having practically grown up in his mother’s hairdressing salon, Angela’s son, Kostas, also followed this career path and works alongside her. Once Kosta married his wife, Anne, she also joined this dynamic team… All three are part of this dynamic team!

After 50 years in her salon(s), how does Angela maintain her passion for her work, “I still love working at our salon. I love my work and I love my customers. I enjoy seeing people happy after their hair has been styled; I love the ‘wow’ factor. Hairdressing is very social too. I enjoy all the company at the shop; we have our coffees and enjoyable conversations. It is like a café…!” 

In all the time I was in the hairdressing salon, Angela, Kosta and Anne simply did not stop working in this very busy shop and what impressed me was the close rapport, with their customers, they have developed over the years, As Kosta explains, “Everyone was on first-name basis and there was such a friendly environment, with lots of laughter and smiles. This joy only comes after years and years of customer satisfaction.” 

But it is Kosta who pays Angela a fitting tribute, “Mum is a great mentor for me and offers great advice. For instance, if we experience a tough day, she just assures everyone to do their work and, ‘Tomorrow is a new day.’ She has never complained about work; I have never heard my mother say she needs a break!’”

And yes, when I entered ‘Angela’s Hairdressing Salon’, one of the first things she noticed how much my hair had grown since the last time I visited her and I could not leave the salon without a reminder for a trim…

Maria Kavallaris co-designs award-winning 3D bioprinter

The Greek Herald
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Maria Kavallaris co-designs award-winning 3D bioprinter

UNSW Professor’s Maria Kavallaris and Justin Gooding recently won the prestigious Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Award having co-designed a 3D bioprinter that can print replicas of tumours.

The 3D printer gives biomedical researchers and tissue engineers a fast way to create 3D cell structures, proteins and tumour models, UNSW Science reports.

The prize was awarded to Inventia Rastrum, a biomedical company working in collaboration with Professor Justin Gooding and Professor Maria Kavallaris, co-directors of UNSW Sydney’s Australian Centre for Nanomedicine (ACN).

Professor Kavallaris in her element as she does research for children’s cancer. Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Professor Kavallaris, developed the cell biology behind the printer, analysed the viabilities of cells, how quickly they divide and developed accurate tumour like environments.

“It has been an absolute privilege to have been part of the team at the Children’s Cancer Institute and UNSW Sydney involved in developing the 3D bioprinter that has wide reaching applications in cancer and other diseases as well as tissue engineering,” Professor Kavallaris said.

Read More: TGH Exclusive: Professor Maria Kavallaris’ cancer battle at age 21 has inspired her childhood cancer research

Read More: Cancer researcher Maria Kavallaris AM named NSW Premier’s woman of the year

Scientia Professor Gooding from UNSW’s School of Chemistry said: “The type of ink developed for the printer means cell biologists for the first time have the capability to precisely deposit multiple cell types in a single 3D cell culture. They will also be able to control the proteins that binds cells together. This is critical because it allows cancer researchers to better understand the variables in cancer formation.”

“With the first printers having been sold, we are seeing the promise of this technology being able to revolutionise how cell biology is done, beginning to be realised. Initial biomedical studies are showing that the control the bioprinter brings is being pivotal to researchers acquiring new fundamental understanding in cancer biology,” Professor Gooding continued.

The next generation of talented young scientists being guided by the knowledgeable Professor Kavallaris. Source: The Kids’ Cancer Project.

Professor Kavallaris has dedicated her life to Children’s Cancer Research, being diagnosed with cancer herself at the tender age of 21.

“I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21 and I had to undergo surgery and high dose chemotherapy that made me very sick,” Professor Kavallaris said to The Greek Herald.

“During the same period, I took up a lab technician role in the new research laboratories at the Children’s Cancer Institute and met many children going through chemotherapy and experiencing toxic side effects from their treatment. I knew then that I needed to make a difference.”

This year the Children’s Cancer Institute received funding through a Cancer Australia grant to study the 3D bioprinting technology towards the development and identification of effective therapies for aggressive childhood cancers.

Greek Australian fitness instructor named Fitness Australia’s educator of the year

The Greek Herald
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Greek Australian fitness instructor named Fitness Australia’s educator of the year

Greek Australian fitness instructor Jono Petrohilos has been named the national winner of Fitness Australia’s Educator of the Year award, the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reports.

The founder of Fitness Education Online, Mr Petrohilos has worked in the fitness industry for seven years.

Mr Petrohilos created Fitness Education Online as a global “go-to” for all fitness up-skilling and training needs.

“My business partner Travis and I strive to deliver high-quality and cost-effective courses that are as streamlined as possible to help trainers upskill in the most convenient way,” he said to The Leader.

“I am honoured to be recognised by the peak body for fitness in Australia and I am determined to continue to provide the industry with the highest quality training and services.”

The Blakehurst fitness instructor said he was committed to upholding the highest professional development standards through Fitness Education Online.

He said he had seen first-hand how a career in the fitness industry could flourish when you invested in professional development and education.

“Education and commitment to self-improvement was the key to my success. The more I learned, the more determined I became to deliver the best services to my clients and help others in the industry be the best trainers they could be,” he said.

The Australian Fitness Awards are held each year by Fitness Australia, with this year’s virtual event attracting a record 2000 nominations across 11 categories.

Australian Senator Larissa Waters joins Joint justice Initiative for recognition of Armenian, Greek and Assyrian genocides

The Greek Herald
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Australian Senator Larissa Waters joins Joint justice Initiative for recognition of Armenian, Greek and Assyrian genocides

Senator Larissa Waters has signed an Affirmation of Support that confirms her backing for national recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, reported the Joint Justice Initiative.

The Australian Greens Senator has been a strong and vocal advocate for social issues and refugees, among other causes during her time in public office.

Read More: Australia’s Greek community join initiative to recognise Turkish-committed genocide against the Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian citizens

“On behalf of Armenian-Australians, Assyrian-Australians and Greek-Australians, we thank Senator Larissa Waters for standing on the side of truth and justice in joining our growing calls for Australian recognition of the 1915 Genocides committed by Ottoman Turkey,” said Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian.

The Joint Justice Initiative was launched in Canberra last month with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC).

Read More: Australian MP John Alexander joins Armenian-Assyrian-Greek ‘Joint Justice Initiative’

It calls for national recognition of the 1915 Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire against its Christian Armenian, Assyrian and Greek populations.

The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Waters, Senator Pat Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP.

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