French President Emmanuel Macron has cancelled a visit to Greece where he was expected to attend celebrations on March 25 commemorating the bicentennial of the beginning of the country’s War of Independence in 1821.
The President’s decision was influenced by the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in France, wth the government imposing a month-long lockdown on Paris and parts of northern France.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall confirmed on the same day that they will be attending Greece’s bicentennial celebrations.
The visit comes at the request of the British Government and follows an invitation from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Clarence House said in a press release.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (PA)
“The Royal Household will take all necessary measures to comply with COVID-19 regulations and guidance in Athens during the course of this event,” Clarence House said in a statement.
According to Ekatherimini, the two royals will attend a reception at the newly re-opened National Gallery of Greece on the evening of March 24 hosted by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square and a traditional military parade on the March 25.
Charles and Camilla last visited Greece in May 2018. The prince’s very first visit to Greece was in 1998.
Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Misustin and the President of Cyprus Republic Nicos Anastasiades are also expected to attend the celebration.
Greek archaeologists have unearthed by chance a more than 2,500-year-old bronze bull idol at the archaeological site of Olympia, the culture ministry said on Friday.
An observant archaeologist came across the mini-statue during work at the site, one of the most celebrated sanctuaries in ancient Greece, the ministry said in a statement.
With one of its horns sticking out of the ground after heavy rainfall, the statuette was found intact, close to the temple of ancient Greek god Zeus at Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games.
An archaeologist works on a 2,500-year-old bronze bull idol that was unearthed at the archaeological site of Olympia, Greece, February 26, 2021. Greek Ministry of Culture/Handout via REUTERS
It was transferred to a laboratory for conservation.
Archaeologists believe that it was part of thousands of gifts offered to Zeus in the 1,050-700 B.C. period. Bulls and horses played an important role in the lives of ancient Greeks and so were frequently dedicated to the gods.
Thousands of votive offerings are believed to have been made at the altar of Zeus. Many have been found in a thick layer of ash and are exhibited at the archaeological museum in Olympia.
As we talk about Greece’s war for independence, it is important to highlight the critical role that multiple intellectuals played in prompting the revolution and making sure Greece was able to prosper following their freedom. Who were some of the intellectuals who played a strong role during this time?
In the spirit of national uprising, which highlighted the path to the birth of the new Greek state, it is important to highlight all the revolutionary ideas and intellectuals’ aspiration through their voice and writings that prompt the Greeks to rebel for their religion, for their country, for their values, for their very own independence. Greeks were inspired and motivated both from ideas that were created during the 18th century, such as the Modern Greek Enlightenment, Romanticism, the French Revolution and from many intellectuals that were constantly motivating for a new modern Greece that would be free. There were innumerable intellectuals that played significant role in prompting the Greek Revolution in 1821. Few of the most influential ones are highlighted below.
Rigas Feraios was considered to be the forerunner of the Greek Revolution as he was the most influential writer and intellectual that actually invested in the unity among Greeks. Feraios wrote Greek articles for the newspaper ‘Efimeris’ in Vienna and he brought up the Greek nationalism after his death, through creating a war-song (poem), ‘Thourios’, which touched the hearts and souls of the Greeks, as it was a rallying cry for them against the Ottomans:
For how long, o brave young men, shall we live in fastnesses,
Alone, like lions, on the ridges in the mountains?
Shall we dwell in caves, looking out on branches,
Fleeing from the world on account of bitter serfdom?
Abandoning brothers, sisters, parents, homeland
Friends, children, and all of our kin?
[…]
Better one hour of free life,
Than forty years of slavery and prison.
Rigas Velestinlis and Adamantios Korais support Greece. Painting by Theophilos, 19th century. Macedonian Museum Waiting system Art.
Anthimos Gazis was an important Greek scholar, a true revolutionary and a politician. Gazis promoted education in Greece and he created the ‘Filomousos Etairia’ aiming at propagating the education as a whole, as an idea, in Greece. He provided funds for poor students, published works of classical literature and preserved antiquities. The organization influenced the spread of the ideas of the Modern Greek Enlightenment and indirectly promoted nationalism to all Greeks. Also, among his efforts to develop the Greek Enlightenment, was a lot of translations of different writings from foreign languages into Greek, and contributions to the first Greek philological periodical, ‘Hermes o Logios’, which played critical role during that time. In 1817, he joined the Filiki Etairia and returned to his homeland, where he recruited others in order to be prepared against the Ottomans.
Theoklitos Farmakidis was a Greek scholar and a journalist. He was a memorable intellectual of the Modern Greek Enlightenment that played major role in the motivation of Greeks as well. After Anthimos Gazis he continued the publishing of the Greek philological periodical, ‘Hermes o Logios’ together with his partner Konstantinos Kokkinakis. He joined the ‘Philiki Etaireia’. In August 1821, he started publishing the Greek newspaper ‘Elliniki Salpinx’ in Kalamata, he participated in the National Assemblies of the territories of Epidaurus and Astros and he went to Corfu during the period of 1823-1825 and taught in the Ionian Academy, which was the first Greek academic institution of that period.
Theophilos Kairis was a Greek Orthodox priest (from the theological school of Smyrna), a philosopher and a revolutionary. He is considered an important figure in the History of Modern Greece and one of the leading intellectuals of the Greek Revolution. From 1811 he led the teaching of the Greek language in high schools in Asia Minor and he took an active part in the Greek War of Independence. On May 10, 1821, Theophilos Kairis, declared the War of Independence by raising the Greek flag at the church of St. George of Andros. He inspired and motivated wealthy people to contribute funds and ships for the Greek War of Independence.
Adamantios Korais was a Greek intellectual who had a large focus on preserving the roots of the Greek language, even contributing to the emergence of Katharevousa; a language still used by the Church of Greece and other Greek Orthodox Churches. Why was Adamantios Korais so important in regaining a new appreciation of Hellenistic culture and for the Greek language?
Adamantios Korais was a Greek humanist scholar, who was constantly reviving classicism that laid the intellectual foundations of the Greek War of Independence. His influence on the Modern Greek language and culture was so strong that he managed to aspire everyone. Korais was convinced that contemporary Greeks could find strength and unity only through a revival of their classical heritage. For that reason, he used his writings as a means of strengthening the feeling of Greeks towards the significance of their Greek heritage, their national aspirations and the value of education. Korais believed that the battle over language in French revolution was vital to fashioning a new vision of national identity. The language and the education of the nation became his preoccupations. He writes, “I learnt that the increase and spread of education in the French nation gave birth to the love of liberty.” Back to date, the Greek language was a discussion among the ‘archaists’ and supporters of a simpler language. Korais managed to create and publish the first Modern Greek dictionary, the ‘Atakta’. Korais’ inspiration led the way to the creation and adoption of the ‘Katharevousa’, as the official language of the state, by future scholars and the Greek state. Unlike many paternalistic Europeans, he wished to make Greece ready to receive. He dreamed of a new nation on a European model.
Demetrios Chalkokondyles was one of the first to call for the liberation of Greece. How important can the voice or writings of intellectuals be in sparking change?
Under the Ottoman rule, Orthodox Christians were granted with some political rights but still would be considered as ‘inferiors’ to the Ottomans. Through the voice of all intellectuals and their motivational writings, all Greeks were inspired for fighting for their own independence and this was the beginning for the establishment of a new era. Demetrios Chalkokondyles was one of the most esteemed Greek scholars in the West, born in Athens and was one of the first to call for the liberation of the Greeks through composing orations and treatises. Specifically, in 1463, he called on Venice and ‘all the Latins’ to aid the Greeks against the Ottomans for the liberation of Greece. A great example of showing how intellectuals ‘raised’ a change is the foundation of the ‘Filiki Etairia’ in 1814. After Feraios’ martyrdom and his great influence to Greeks, three young Greek merchants, Nikolaos Skoufas, Emmanouil Xanthos and Athanasios Tsakalov, who were also inspired by the Italian organisation ‘Carbonari’, they founded the secret association ‘Filiki Etairia’, in which they planned the Revolution together with the support of wealthy Greek communities in Britain and U.S.A., and the aid of those who were sympathising Western Europe.
Intellectuals during the War for Independence provided the history and described the emotions of Greeks during their struggle. These thoughts have been passed down and analysed by modern scholars. What is the role of modern scholars as we celebrate and look back at Greece’s liberation?
Greeks were clearly fighting for freedom, known as the Greek Movement for Independence. Women, men, children, everyone were fighting for their values, for their religion, for their country, for their families, for their freedom of expression, for their right to be independent.
Greek scholars were educated and influential members of the large Greek diaspora. Examples that we mentioned prior, such as Adamantios Korais, played a vital role in the Greek War of Independence. They tried to transmit classical ideas and values in a modern way to Greeks with the aim of both raising their educational level and also strengthening their national identity. This was achieved clearly through the dissemination of books and other writings in the Greek language. The intellectuals during the War for Independenceno longer appealed to reflection alone but were, above all else, calls for action. These intellectuals were the harbingers of new visions, of novel and this-worldly utopias, which became encapsulated in the Greek National Idea. The movement of the Modern Greek Enlightenment and its ideas of freedom and equality among the Greek-speaking populations living under the Ottoman rule and in communities abroad, was the pivotal beginning of everything. It is known that the Greek Revolution was the only one that had a successful end from all the liberal revolutions that took place during the time period of 1820-1822. Thus, during the 1820s, Greece became the starting point for international liberalism and inspired the ‘Philhellenism’ movement, which has infinite followers.
As we celebrate this year the 200 years since the Greek War of Independence we conclude that the Greek War of Independence was not only a fight against the Ottoman Empire but it was an agonas (αγώνας) for the preservation of diachronic values (αξίες) of freedom (ελευθερία), faith (πίστη), history (ιστορία), family (οικογένεια), education (μόρφωση), fame (δόξα). The role of modern contemporary scholars is not to revive scholarly and political interest in culture but to inspire (έμπνευση) the new generation to re-value the aforementioned diachronic values of human society. And this can happen only when modern scholars will become role models such as Rigas Feraios and Adamantios Korais, according to them, the solution to the Greek Independence was education. Slavery was caused by ignorance!
Amrick Roy, 26, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with assaulting Penelope Katsavos outside the South Yarra Greek Orthodox Church last Saturday morning.
Reported by The Age, Mr Roy wore a face mask as he appeared before court on Friday, via a video link from custody.
Penelope was opening the church in South Yarra at about 6am on March 13 when she was viciously attacked. A man grabbed the 78-year-old’s shopping trolley, punched her in the face, pushed her over and kicked her while she was on the ground.
The grandmother-of-six suffered bleeding on the brain in two spots, a fractured wrist and pelvis, as well as some severe bruising.
Penelope was viciously attacked outside Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church in South Yarra.
Mr Roy is charged with intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, robbery and theft.
Charge sheets also allege he assaulted another person in Prahran last Saturday. He faces charges of intentionally and recklessly causing injury over that incident.
His laywer Ellen Murphy said the accused man has never been in custody before. He did not apply for bail.
Penelope reunites with her husband, Thomas. Photo: 3AW.
Magistrate Phillip Goldberg remanded him to next face court on June 16.
In recent days, the family have launch a gofundme page which will help purchase “the disability aids that the hospital has loaned her for 6 weeks or things that she may need to alter around her house to allow her to live as independently as possible with her injuries,” the page reads.
“Any money above that will be donated to charities that she chooses.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas has advanced to the semi-final of the Mexican Open after defeating seventh seed Felix Auger Aliassime this afternoon.
The Greek first seed came off the back of two safe wins against American John Isner and Frenchman Benoit Paire. The Greek had a great run in the ATP Rotterdam Cup only a few weeks ago, yet was knocked out in the semi-finals by Russian Andrey Rublev.
This time, Tsitsipas is looking to go all the way to the finals and claim his first Mexican Open.
It was a tough battle in the first set as Tsitsipas looked full of energy, delivering powerful serves. Auger Aliassime, however, held out well and challenged the Greek on every light shot. On the Canadians final service game, Tsitsipas earned a desperate break point, preventing a decider game and winning the first set 7-5.
Auger Aliassime improved his slightly lacklustre service game in the first set to absolutely dominate Tsitsipas in the second set. The Greek was unable to hold off a break point and went 4-2 down. Tsitsipas was unable to recover, with Auger Aliassime boasting a return rating 175, according to the ATP.
De esta manera, Stefanos Tsitsipas 🇬🇷 cerraba un game perfecto para llevarse el primer parcial por 7-5.#AMT2021pic.twitter.com/YTQALpmORE
In the third set, it was again a close dual to see who would come on top and proceed through the next round of the Mexican Open. Looking to head into a decider game, Tsitsipas came from nowhere and dominated the Canadian on his service game, returning 40-0 and putting himself at a 5-3 lead. The Greek went on to win the match 6-3.
Tsitsipas will face Dominik Koepfer or the winner of today’s match between Musetti and Dimitrov.
More than 1,000 General Practices, including those in Reid will join the COVID-19 vaccination program from next week, further strengthening the Commonwealth’s capacity, and ensuring an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country.
Federal Member for Reid, Dr. Fiona Martin MP, said services will come online from 22 March.
“We all know the invaluable work our local GP’s do for our community,” Dr Martin said. “Now we will see them play a vital role the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.”
“Phase 1B of the rollout will see 1,000 GP’s across Australia delivering COVID-19 vaccines for our elderly and immunocompromised, progressively increasing in number to more than 4,000 by the end of April.”
“Australians eligible for Phase 1B will be able to find a vaccination provider through the new national vaccination information and location service, at the Department of Health website.”
Photo: ABC News
“This will enable people to locate their nearest general practice providing General Practice Respiratory Clinic vaccinations and link through to their online booking system or phone number to make the appointment.”
“Vaccines are the game changer in our fight against the COVID-19 virus and I urge everyone in Australia to come forward and get vaccinated when they are able to. It will protect themselves, their family, and their community.”
In making the announcement, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt MP, said the rollout would continue to grow in the coming weeks.
Photo: West Australian.
“This staged scale up will align with the supply of the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine, and as more vaccine becomes available more services will come online,” Minister Hunt said.
“General practices will play a major role in ensuring all Australians who seek to be vaccinated have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.”
“We are committed to making sure that every Australian that wants a vaccine will be able to be vaccinated,” Minister Hunt said.
Phase 1B includes vulnerable groups, such as older people and people with certain underlying medical conditions. No-one is better placed to support these people than our general practices.
There will be six million Australians in Phase 1B, and not all will be able to be vaccinated immediately.
As the first in a series of digital webinars commemorating the bicentennial (1821 – 2021) of the Greek War of Independence, the Pallaconian Brotherhood invited Miltiadis Paikopoulos to give a lecture on the 17th of March 2021 titled ‘Laconians in the Epanastasi‘.
There was a special significance with the lecture, because on the 17th of March 200 years ago, the Laconians assembled at Areopolis in the Mani peninsula, at the behest of Petrobey Mavromichalis and declared war on the Ottoman Turks.
“As the first lecture in the series, I was aware of the significance that it would hold, and whilst I can’t comment on my own lecture, the feedback and support from the community was positive, and for that I am grateful,” Paikopoulos said to The Greek Herald.
“We were joined by around 50 live viewers across platforms, and the lecture is on track to hit 1000 views! It is truly beautiful that I am able to in some way share the struggles of the Laconians, which were key to the independence of the Greek people.”
Miltiadis’ lecture aims to be accessible for newcomers to Greek history, but also interesting and exciting for those familiar with the subject.
The lecture covered (among other things): The Laconian Revolts from 1453 – 1770 (Εξεγέρσεις από 1453 έως 1770), The Orlov Revolt (τα Ορλωφικά), The Ottoman Invasions of Mani (Οθωμανικές εισβολές στη Μάνη), Kapetan Zacharias Barbitsiotis (Καπετάν Ζαχαριάς Μπαρμπιτσιώτης), The Laconian Origins of 1821 (Λακωνική καταγωγή του 1821) and The Laconian impact on the War (Λακωνική συμβολή στον πόλεμο).
“It was my privelege and honour to discuss the contributions of my ancestors, the Laconians, to our Greek national effort, especially on the 17th of March, when the Laconians declared independence at Areopolis in Mani 200 years ago,” Paikopoulos added.
“From 1453 – 1821, we Laconians were at the forefront of the liberation movement and made many attempts prototypical of 1821. Unfortunately, this history is not widely discussed or promoted, so my greatest wish is that what I have discussed in this lecture helps make it accessible to the widest audience possible”
Miltiadis completed his BA from the University of Melbourne in 2020, double majoring in Classics and Ancient World Studies. He is currently a Juris Doctorate student at the University of Melbourne.
He has served as the Pallaconian Youth President from 2018 and has an interest in Classical Sparta, the Hellenistic East, Byzantine Greek and the history of modern Greece from the War of Independence to the 20th C.
Recently, he has also published his first book ἔργᾰ ἀκμαῖα (2021), which is a collection made up of his select undergraduate essays, covering many topics from his interests, as varied as Aristoteleian Ideology, Spartan hegemony and the 1974 invasion of Cyprus.
The Pallaconian Brotherhood thanked Miltiadis for presenting the lecture on their Laconian ancestors, bringing attention and provoking thought on a much-deserving topic.
Buildings will be illuminated blue and white while Greek and Australian flags will stretch across Canberra’s longest streets as Canberra Greeks celebrate 200 years since the Greek War of Independence.
In a press release by the the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, President John Loukadellis said the community has worked with various departments of Government in Canberra (both Federal and Territory) to assist in commemorating this occasion and, “ensure that our Hellenic heritage, culture, and history is able to be shared with all Canberrans.”
“This year on Thursday 25 March 2021 Greeks around the world commemorate and celebrate 200 years since the heroes of the Greek War of Independence won their freedom and allowed us to live our best lives today as a free people across the world,” Loukadellis said.
With the assistance and approval received from these various government departments, Loukadellis confirmed with much delight and gratitude that the following will be in place to help celebrate and signify this historic milestone
Greek and Australian flags will fly in various locations across Canberra including:
Vernon Circle
Allara Street (across the foot bridge)
Nangari Street
Petrie Plaza
Gold Creek Village
Canberra Shopping Centre
A number of buildings will be illuminated in Blue and White on the night of 25 March 2021 including:
The National Carillon Bell Tower
Black Mountain (Telstra Tower)
Questacon
Ian Potter House
The National Museum of Australia
The Hellenic Club of Canberra
The Greek Embassy in Australia
“As the proud President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, on behalf of my Community, the Hellenic Club of Canberra, the National Committee under the auspices of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, we thank everyone involved in making this possible and assisting making this 200- year milestones of Hellenic Independence a special and memorable occasion here in Canberra for all to enjoy.”
Χαίρε, ω χαίρε, ελευθεριά! “Hail, O Hail, Liberty”
A 1-0 Olympiakos victory against Arsenal wasn’t enough for the Greeks to advance through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
In a two-legged fixture, Arsenal ended up grateful for their 3-1 victory in Greece last week. Greece needed to score at least 4 goals to have a chance against the Gunners, yet devastatingly only squeezed one past veteran keeper Leno.
Nevertheless, there were some panicked fans at the Emirates Stadium this morning after Youssef El-Arabi’s shot found the net via a deflection off Gabriel. Arsenal were clearly weak in defence, with El-Arabi having another close opportunity that was denied by Leno, yet their attacking push helped them hold the game’s momentum.
Youssef El-Arabi’s 20th goal of the season briefly gave Olympiakos hope of a shock at the Emirates. Photo: BBC Sport
A red card was shown to Olympiakos’ Ousseynou Ba for dissent late on, wrapping up the match for the Gunners.
Over one year ago, Olympiakos pulled off a stunning last minute equaliser against Arsenal to proceed through the next stage of the Europa League.
The two-legged matchup was the first time Olympiakos defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos played against his friend Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who he spent many years with at Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal before his move to Greece.
Arsenal will discover their quarter-final opponents when the draw is made in Switzerland at 12:00 GMT on Friday.
Greeks are taught from a young age to finish every bit of food on their plates. However, a new report by the United Nations Environment Program has found that Greeks are the worst food wasters in Europe.
The Environmental Program released its first-ever Food Waste Index Report. Inside it details Greece’s thrown out food per capita per year, which totals 174 kilograms. This is over twice the global average of food wastage, which comes to 74 kilos.
In Europe, Greece ranked first in the biggest food wasters, followed by the Maltese with 129 kg and the Hungarians with 94 kg.
Photo: Getty Images
Overall, 1.48 million tons of food ends up on the trash heap in Greece every year, almost as much as in Romania, which has twice the population. Portugal, which has a similar population to Greece, throws out 860,000 tons of a food a year.
Food waste takes a heavy toll on the environment. Almost 10 percent of the global carbon emissions are associated with dumped or lost food in the food supply chain, an amount equivalent to the emissions of road transports.
“If we want to get serious about tackling climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution and waste, businesses, governments and citizens around the world have to do their part to reduce food waste,” Inger Andersen, executive director of the UNEP, said.
Andersen urged for more to be done at the state but also at the consumer level, encouraging households to “shop carefully, cook creatively and make wasting food anywhere socially unacceptable.”
