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Greek Museum of Adelaide to honour Greek Revolution bicentenary with upcoming exhibitions

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Greek Museum of Adelaide to honour Greek Revolution bicentenary with upcoming exhibitions

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence the Greek Museum of Adelaide is launching two exhibitions. 

The first exhibition, is set to be held at the South Australian Parliamentary Library from March 22 to April 15, 2021 and the second in July at the West Torrens Auditorium. 

“The Museum’s first exhibition is an initiative of the South Australian Parliamentary Friends of Greece and Cyprus in collaboration with the South Australian Parliament Library.

“To Greek people, the Parliament is a state institution which functions as a temple of learning and culture. This is what the Greek Museum of Adelaide is aiming to do as well. To maintain, promote and preserve the culture and encourage younger generations of Greeks and non-Greeks alike and to help them engage with this part of Australia’s cultural heritage,” Greek Museum of Adelaide President, Chrysoula Melissinakis, told The Greek Herald. 

Within the first two years of its establishment, the Museum has already organised four exhibitions, in West Torrens and Flambouro Hall in 2019 and at Semaphore Greek Festival and Flambouro Hall in 2020, with a vision to expand its operations in the near future. 

The exhibits consist of family heirlooms from first- and second-generation Greek migrants in Australia kindly donated to the museum as well as pieces of art from artists in Greece.  

“One of our goals is to pass-on the love for our roots and culture to future generations and this is the reason we encourage schools to visit the exhibitions,” said Mrs Melissinaki noting the problems faced by the Museum.

“The fact is that as non-for-profit organisation the Museum has no state or other funding and we only rely on the support of members and donors. Although our financial resources are limited and the lack of a dedicated building is a very important issue that is yet to be solved, we will continue to support this important cultural project we initiated,” said the Museum’s President. 

*The Exhibition at the South Australian Parliamentary Library will be held from Monday, March 22 until Thursday, April 15. Public tours are available at 10am and 2pm on non-sitting weekdays for walk in visitors. For more information and details on tours contact the Greek Museum of Adelaide on FB: Greek Museum of Adelaide or text/call Chrysoula on 0457 456 339.

READ MORE: Why Helen Kari donated her artwork and family heirlooms to the Greek Museum of Adelaide

Dodecanesians in Victoria hold dinner dance to celebrate ‘ensomatosi’ and 1821 bicentenary

The Greek Herald
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Dodecanesians in Victoria hold dinner dance to celebrate ‘ensomatosi’ and 1821 bicentenary

The 73rd commemoration of the Dodecanese islands reunification to Greece (Mitera Ellada), along with celebrating 200 years of Hellenism, took place on Saturday, March 13 at Diagoras – The Rhodian Brotherhood’s newly renovated space in Straker Street, North Melbourne.

It was evident on the night that attention to detail had gone into creating an atmosphere of Greek symbolism and pride, from the olive branches resting on each dinner plate, tied with rustic twine and a small toothpick Greek flag, to the table centrepieces which proudly displayed each island’s flag.

L: Maria Vamvakinou MP attended the event. R: Michael Panormitis Pakakis AM was awarded by new Consul General in Melbourne, Mr Emmanuel Kakavelakis. Photos supplied.

The Dodecanesian Federation of Australia Inc. (DFA) celebrated this special binary event by welcoming the newly appointed Consul General, Mr Emmanuel Kakavelakis, along with Maria Vamvakinou MP and one of their own, Michael Panormitis Pakakis (born in Rhodes), who in January, received the AM Award – Order Of Australia for his ongoing brilliant work in the field of STEM education.

READ MORE: Michael Panormitis Pakakis AM: The Greek migrant who aimed for the stars.

The 200 years of struggle for Greek Independence and the role of the Dodecanese over the centuries, formed part of the Consul General’s speech along with Mr John Pandazopoulos, Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP and the President of the DFA, Monique Angelides.

(L) Messages from the Dodecanese islands. (R) Christos Attipa received the annual VCE award. Photos supplied.

However, it wasn’t all about speeches. This was an evening filled with genuine Greek hospitality, warmth and the embrace from the Dodecanese was truly felt.

As a surprise for their members, the DFA had contacted all 12 islands and well wishes poured in from seven which surprised all 130 guests. Applause and laughter could be heard as Mayors and Deputy Mayors sent their love and heartfelt blessings from Chalki, Karpathos, Nisyros, Kos, Leros, Castellorizo and Rhodes. At a time where travelling back to their roots is impossible, the DFA made an amazing effort to bridge the distance, even if it was for only a few minutes.

READ MORE: Greek Australians mark 74th anniversary of the Dodecanesian islands’ reunification to Greece.

The Consul General’s children were warmly welcomed on the night. Photo supplied.

It was a night for the children as well, as the Consul General’s children were warmly welcomed by two of Dodecanese’s own from Kos and Rhodes, and presented with welcome packages filled with school supplies, the customary fluffy koala, boomerang and of course, Teddy Bear biscuits and Tim Tams. The children were thrilled. The annual VCE award was also presented to Christos Attipa by Father Emmanuel from St. Dimitrios in Moonee Ponds.

The Pegasus Dancing Academy performed, ‘O Mihanikos’ from Kalymnos and ‘H Roditiki Sousta’ from Rhodes, in traditional costumes and as the evening continued, dancing took centre stage and overall the vibe was extremely festive.

This was a fantastic evening enjoyed by all. It seemed that the DFA set out to commemorate two historically important events in history with style and grace – indeed, they succeeded.

Greek school students from Coburg hold assembly to mark bicentenary of Greek Revolution

The Greek Herald
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Greek school students from Coburg hold assembly to mark bicentenary of Greek Revolution

The Greek School “Presentation of Our Lord” in Coburg held a school assembly on Monday, March 15 to celebrate the 200 years of Greece’s independence.

Over 60 students, ranging from our Prep class through to the High Schoolers, did activities to celebrate the day.

There were over 60 students in attendance. Photos supplied.

This included the making of flags and national costumes, through to poems and a small sketch by the older students. All activities highlighted the importance of Greece’s independence and recognised the “heroes” that provided us the freedom we have now.

Students recited poems during the school assembly. Photos supplied.

The students were well supported by their teachers and with their parents present, it was a great way to celebrate Greece’s Independence.

The Assembly was hosted by the Parish Priest at the Church, Father Leonidas, and the teachers from the school. 

Remembering popular Greek author, Kosmas Politis

The Greek Herald
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Remembering popular Greek author, Kosmas Politis

Kosmas Politis was one of the most popular Greek authors of the 1930’s, with a number of well-known novels including Eroica (1938) and Stou Hadjifrangos (1962). Politis was also an important translator as he contributed to the Greek works of William Shakespeare, Henry Miller, Edgar Allan Poe and James Joyce, among others.

The Greek Herald looks back at some of his incredible life achievements.

Early and Personal Life:

Kosmas Politis (literary pseudonym of Paraskeva), son of the merchant Leonidas Taveloudi from Lesvos and Kalliopi Hatzimarkou from Ayvalik, was born in Athens in March 1888.

In 1890, at the age of just two, he moved with his family to Smyrna.

A descendant of a middle-class family, Kosmas attended the famous Evangelical School and the American College of Smyrna, without ever getting a diploma. He left his studies and started working at the Bank of the East and later, at the “Wiener Bank.” 

Kosmas Politis as a young man.

In 1918, he fell in love and married Clara Crespi, a noblewoman of Austro-Hungarian descent. A year later they had a daughter, Phoebe.

After the Asia Minor Catastrophe, Kosmas left Smyrna and settled in Paris (1922 – 1923), then in London, where he worked in the Ionian Bank branch, and finally in 1924 in Athens, where he became deputy director of the Bank, a year later.

Literary Work:

Kosmas’ first appearance in the field of literature was marked with the publication of “Lemon Forest” in 1930.

In 1934, he moved to Patras, where he wrote the novel Eroica, which was honored with the State Prize for Prose in 1939 and was transferred to the cinema by Michalis Kakogiannis in 1960.

Kosmas was honored with the First State Prize for Short Story in 1960 for his work I koromilia, as well as the First State Prize for Fiction in 1964 for his work Stou Hadjifrangos.

Kosmas Politis was one of the most popular Greek authors of the 1930’s.

His prose works, permeated by the experiences of his childhood, are distinguished primarily for their anxious search for the absolute ideal, their expressive subtlety and their lyrical outbursts.

His latest completely surviving work, the novel Stou Hadjifrangos, has as its occasion the author’s childhood in Smyrna and somehow summarises the whole of his creation.

Death and Legacy:

In 1967, on the day of the coup in Greece, Kosmas’ wife died and he was arrested and interrogated as a leftist. He was finally released after the intervention of Tatiana Gritsi-Miliex. 

The shock from his wife’s death was great, but it did not stop him from writing a new work Terma, which was not completed in writing but was published after his death.

In 1973, Kosmas was admitted to Evangelismos Hospital with respiratory and heart failure, and then transferred to a nursing home. In 1974, he was hospitalised again in Evangelismos, where he died on February 23.

Exterior of shrine at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to be ready by September 11

The Greek Herald
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Exterior of shrine at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to be ready by September 11

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America expressed on Monday confidence that the exterior of the National Shrine at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be completed before September 11 this year.

“The Saint Nicholas Shrine takes on a role of cenotaph for those who perished on 9/11, much as the Woman in the Hymn of Kassiani took on the role of a myrrh-bearer,” Elpidophoros said in a letter informing on developments with the construction of the new church.

The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine still under construction as part of the World Trade Center redevelopment. Photo: Stefan Jeremiah/The New York Post.

“It is an awesome responsibility and privilege to the Greek Orthodox Community, that our National Shrine would serve as a cenotaph for those who would engage it as such,” he added.

In a separate letter, Chairman Dennis Mehiel and Vice-Chairman Michael Psaros said that, despite the challenges of COVID-19, the rebuilding of the Church has continued unabated since the restart on site in August 2020, noting that the Shrine’s exterior will be finished in time.

“The complexity of this building cannot be overstated. The combination of light, stone (Pentelic Marble), and glass will result in an extraordinary glow on the exterior at night, and an ethereal translucence on the interior during the day,” they said.

“Combined with a full scale program of traditional Byzantine Iconography executed by one of the masters of Mount Athos, the Saint Nicholas Shrine will be a national and indeed, international, focal point for our Orthodox Christian Faith.”

Source: Ekathimerini.

Turkey slams Mediterranean undersea cable deal between Greece, Cyprus and Israel

The Greek Herald
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Turkey slams Mediterranean undersea cable deal between Greece, Cyprus and Israel

Turkey has formally protested against a new deal which plans to build a 2,000-megawatt undersea electricity cable connecting Cyprus, Greece and Israel.

Turkey formally protested against the agreement, arguing that the route of the planned cable, expected to be funded by the EU, transgressed Turkish territorial waters, the state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

In diplomatic protest notes presented to Greek, Israeli and EU diplomats in Ankara, Turkish officials also stated that the three countries needed to seek Turkey’s approval before conducting feasibility studies.

Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, attend the signing of a deal by their respective Energy Ministers to build the EastMed subsea pipeline. January 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters / Alkis Konstantinidis.

The three countries reached an agreement last week to expedite permits and approvals to conduct feasibility studies for the undersea cable and to coordinate with their respective national electricity regulators on how best to proceed.

RELATED: Greece, Israel, Cyprus sign deal to link electricity in world’s longest undersea power cable.

Previously, the three countries had teamed up for a planned $6 billion undersea pipeline to carry gas from new offshore deposits in the southeastern Mediterranean to continental Europe, by bypassing Turkey.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus have also conducted a joint naval exercise last week in the latest example of increased cooperation between the three, which increasingly view Turkey as a rival in the Mediterranean Sea.

RELATED: Israel, Greece, Cyprus hold naval drill as they deepen ties.

Greece and Cyprus are embroiled in a dispute with Turkey, which has sent gas prospecting vessels into waters claimed by Greece and drilling ships into an area where Cyprus claims exclusive rights. The tension brought NATO allies Greece and Turkey close to open conflict last year, but tensions have eased since then.

Israel and Turkey were once close allies but had a major falling-out in 2010, when 10 Turkish citizens were killed by Israeli forces as a Turkish-led flotilla tried to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip.

READ MORE: Greece and Israel complete historic $1.68 billion defence agreement.

Source: AP News.

Greeks fly kites for Clean Monday holiday despite COVID-19 pandemic

The Greek Herald
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Greeks fly kites for Clean Monday holiday despite COVID-19 pandemic

Colorful kites danced in the skies above the hilltops and seafront promenades of Athens on Clean Monday, as Greeks turned out to celebrate the Eastern Christian holiday in their traditional fashion after being hit hard by the pandemic during the winter.

The country is still in lockdown, with most retail businesses shut and people allowed out of their homes only for essential purposes and generally within walking distance. But over the weekend, street vendors pulled out colorful displays of kites and on Monday, many families came out to fly them while wearing masks and minding social distancing guidelines.

A street vendor sells balloons at Filopapous hill Athens, on Clean Monday, March 15, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris.

“I’ve been flying kites for the last 40 years,” said Panagiotis Velopoulos, 65, who unfurled an octagonal kite on a hill across from the Acropolis and launched it on his first try into the sunny spring air. “There are not as many people as in previous years, but I feel very good today.”

Clean Monday marks the transition from Carnival to the beginning of Lent, a period of spiritual purification in preparation for the solemnity of Orthodox Easter, and kites have been an essential part of celebrations for more than a century in Greece.

READ MORE: Clean Monday: Five traditions you need to know.

A man flies a kite as in the background stands the ancient Parthenon temple in Athens, on Clean Monday, March 15, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris.

Scholars have found evidence of Easter-season kite-flying in Europe as far back as the 17th century, likely symbolising raising one’s soul to God or Jesus’ resurrection. For many religious Greeks, it also signifies a desire to reach for the divine.

“I wake up every day and… cross myself and thank God for what we have, because unfortunately there are many fellow human beings who have nothing,” said Eleftheria Zissi, who was also flying a kite on the hill. “For everyone enduring the pandemic, this is making us all think about all the positive things in our lives.”

People fly kites in Filopapou hill of Athens, on Clean Monday, March 15, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris.

Many immigrants from countries with their own deeply rooted kite-flying traditions, such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, have enthusiastically joined locals in the Clean Monday custom.

For the families celebrating on Monday, it was also a moment of hopefulness after many public religious rituals were canceled or curtailed by the pandemic, which has killed more than 7,000 people in the country of about 11 million.

“After all that has happened, we have fresh air and joy around,” Zissi said. “It’s an optimistic message for the future.”

Source: AP News.

Penelope Katsavos recovers in hospital after attack outside South Yarra Greek Orthodox church

Andriana Simos
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Penelope Katsavos recovers in hospital after attack outside South Yarra Greek Orthodox church

Melbourne grandmother, Penelope Katsavos, is recovering in hospital after being left with horrific injuries from a brutal bashing outside Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church in South Yarra.

Penelope was opening the church in South Yarra at about 6am on Saturday morning when she was viciously attacked.

Penelope was viciously attacked outside Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church in South Yarra.

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. 

She is now in a stable condition in hospital recovering from her injuries, but there are fears she may never fully recover from the brutal attack. 

Penelope flashes a brave smile as she reads her bible in hospital. Photo: 7 News.

A photo taken in hospital shows the brave elderly Greek woman flashing a smile as she reads from a bible, her reading glasses shielding a swollen black eye.

“It saddens me to talk about… to think about the pain that she actually went through,” her son, Evri, told 7NEWS.

“(It’s) just real gutless to hit anyone, let alone an elderly person… defenceless.”

Penelope is a full-time carer for her husband Thomas, who has dementia. Photo: 7 News.

Penelope is a full-time carer for her husband Thomas, who has dementia. The couple has devoted themselves to voluntary work for the church for more than 30 years.

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia sent his well wishes to Penelope and her family after hearing of the attack and said in a media release that the Archdiocese would be “strongly on the side of our hospitalised parishioner for whatever is required in this recovery process.”

“I express my deepest sorrow, as well as my strong disapproval, for this violent act towards a beloved member of our Church,” His Eminence continued.

Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church in South Yarra. Photo: Google.

**UPDATE**

CCTV of a man Victoria police wish to speak to over the bashing of Penelope has been released.

He has been described as Caucasian in appearance, with a thin build, dark coloured hair, moustache and was wearing a brown t-shirt, dark coloured pants and shoes.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information have been urged to contact police.

Ali Kitinas: The Greek-Australian proving age isn’t a barrier to make change

The Greek Herald
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Ali Kitinas: The Greek-Australian proving age isn’t a barrier to make change

At ten-years-old, I’m sure many of us were still trying to figure out how money and businesses even worked. Meanwhile, Alessandra Kitinas was working towards becoming Australia’s youngest CEO, launching ‘Freedom Scrub’ at 15 years old.

Alessandra, who goes by Ali, has a background in performing arts, acting in commercials since she was five. Once she hit ten years old, however, she realised she didn’t want to fall into the “trap” of struggling to make it into the acting world.

“My mom was an entrepreneur at the time and I was helping her out with some things and just learning about it,” Ali said to The Greek Herald.

“I thought it would be a really great way to learn how to financially support myself if I were to start my own business. And yeah, it just kind of evolved from there.”

Photo: Instagram

Alessandra started her first business, a social media marketing agency, at age 11. From there, she gained essential business experience as she worked beside her mother.

At age 15, she launched ‘Freedom Scrub’, a social enterprise that ethically recycles coffee grounds and uses them in a sugar body scrub. Ali worked closely with The Hope Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting the protection of street and slum children and the most underprivileged in India. 

Freedom Scrub now raises funds and awareness for Freedom Hub, an organisation which provides rehabilitation to women rescued from human trafficking in Australia. An organisation close to Ali’s heart, her company recycles the coffee grounds that Freedom Hub use in their café to create the body scrubs.

“When I learned that it was happening in my home country and in a place that’s meant to be developed and have so many opportunities for young women and girls, it definitely raised something in me and it was something that I really wanted to make a difference with,” Ali said.

Freedom Scrub coffee beans

Doing all this while still in school, Ali finally graduated in 2019. She said entering the world without a “security blanket” was a scary moment, but one that made her realise the large path that lay ahead of her.

“I do still have my whole life ahead of me and you learn the biggest lessons from the mistakes you make in life.”

“My first year out of high school was also a pandemic, and so it was very different from what I had imagined my first year out of school would be.

“It did really open my eyes to the different ways we communicate as people, the different ways we interact and what other opportunities are out there that I haven’t necessarily thought of before.”

Photo: Instagram

Ali is recognised as a best-selling author for her chapter in Better Business, Better Life, Better World: The Movement. The young Greek Australian was also in an editorial that was published in an international magazine last year, helping open her eyes to the world of fashion.

“It is actually something that I’m studying now and something that I’d like to perhaps work on in the future.”

Ali said the most gratifying part of her career path so far is having the opportunity to meet and be mentored by English business magnate Richard Branson. She was invited to Necker Island in the British Virgin Isles, along with 33 other global entrepreneurs and business leaders, to speak about her business.

“It was really funny because the first day, we went sailing and I happened to be on the sailboat with Richard. And he said, ‘Why are you here with your mom?’ And I replied, ‘no, actually my mom’s here with me.’”

Ali Kitinas with her mother and Richard Branson. Photo: Supplied

“He actually left school when he was 15 and I was 15 when I met him. So we kind of bonded over that and doing really crazy things at a young age.

“It was really cool to talk to someone who had accomplished so much and know that my idealism, I guess, doesn’t go to waste and that it can pay off one day.”

Ali’s connection with her Greek heritage remains more important than ever. Ali’s papou, who came from Lemnos to Australia, played a critical role in her life growing up, living with her until his unfortunate passing when she was 11-years-old, not long before she started her first business.

“I’m very close with my family and I always want to make them proud and do something that they can be proud of.”

“But also, I want to make him proud and I want to know that wherever he is, he can see what I’m doing and be proud of me.”

Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney amaze Greek community with preview of costume exhibition

Andriana Simos
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Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney amaze Greek community with preview of costume exhibition

Traditional Greek costumes from regions as widespread as Crete, Macedonia, Epirus and Kastellorizo were visible as far as the eye could see at the preview of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney’s costume exhibition, which commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

Held at the Hermes Lounge in Kogarah on Sunday, March 14, attendees could be heard exclaiming in amazement as they took in the Greek garments around them, many of which had been donated by the local Greek community and were in perfect embellished condition.

Traditional Greek costumes from regions as widespread as Crete, Macedonia and Kastellorizo were visible at the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney’s costume exhibition. Photo: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald.

“It’s amazing! A lot of time, effort and background research went into this exhibit and we commend the people who put it together,” Christine, and her friend Rose, told The Greek Herald on the night.

Official proceedings kicked-off after the arrival of Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, as well as other prominent members of the Greek community, including Kogarah Parish priests, Father Kyriakos and Father Dimitris, President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias, representative of the Greek Consul General in Sydney, Costas Giannakodimos, President of the Kogarah Church Committee, Nickolas Varvaris, and Lecturer of Modern Greek Studies at Macquarie University, Patricia Koromvokis.

Members of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney with Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Kogarah Parish Priest, Father Kyriakos, and President of the Kogarah Church Committee, Nickolas Varvaris.

Everyone was first treated to a rousing rendition of the Greek and Australian national anthems by The National Metropolitan Choir of Australia, which made its first public appearance with Themos Mexis as musical director.

“A lot of us used to sing in the Millennium Choir which performed during the Sydney Olympic Games. So it’s nice to get back together again and have the privilege of working with such special people. It’s uplifting,” Katerina Mavrolefteros, a member of the choir, told The Greek Herald.

READ MORE: Themos Mexis to musically direct the new National Metropolitan Choir of Australia.

The National Metropolitan Choir of Australia made its first public appearance. Photo: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald.

This uplifting performance was followed by a number of speeches from Bishop Iakovos, Mr Giannakodimos and Ms Vertzayias. In her speech, Ms Vertzayias gave a short summary of the costumes in the exhibition, and thanked everyone for attending the preview.

“If you would like to donate to the Lyceum, please do and we will duly acknowledge you,” Ms Vertzayias concluded.

President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney (left), Liana Vertzayias, and Costas Giannakodimos (right), representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney gave speeches.

The exhibition will be at the Hermes Lounge in Kogarah for the next 10 weeks, with people invited to attend on Saturday between 1pm-3pm, Sunday 11pm-1pm and Monday to Friday by appointment.

The National Metropolitan Choir of Australia is also calling for more applicants (male or female). If you would like to apply, please visit: www.nmca.org.au or contact Father Steven Scoutas on 0417 771 113 or Ellie Mexis on 0404 378 745.

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