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Your guide to Holy Thursday

The Greek Herald
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Your guide to Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday, four events are commemorated: the washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal of Christ by Judas.

Holy Thursday is when many Orthodox Easter preparations begin. Most significantly, Holy Thursday is the traditional day when tsoureki is baked, and eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ.

From ancient times, the red eggs have been a symbol of the renewal of life, carrying the message of victory over death. Many Greeks carry on the ancient tradition of placing the first red egg at the home’s iconostasis (the place where icons are displayed) to ward off evil.

While Tsoureki is prepared on Easter Thursday, it is not eaten until Easter Sunday. The most common shape for the sweet bread is the braid, yet other shapes can be formed.

Tsoureki with red eggs

According to tradition, tsoureki is baked to symbolise the Resurrection of Christ and his rebirth. The rising of the bread is set to symbolise Christ’s Resurrection, with the red eggs, usually placed on top of the braid, symbolising the blood of Jesus.

Several unique services mark the Orthodox celebration of Holy Thursday. The main service of the day is the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil that is conducted on Holy Thursday morning.

The commemorations of Holy Friday begin on Thursday evening with the Matins service of the day. The service is a very unique Matins service with twelve Gospel readings that begin with Christ’s discourse at the Last Supper and end with the account of His burial.

‘Little Maximos’ clears sea of jellyfish to help Greek autistic boy swim without difficulty

The Greek Herald
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‘Little Maximos’ clears sea of jellyfish to help Greek autistic boy swim without difficulty

In a time of self preservation and struggle, it’s rare to see people go out of their way to help the less fortunate or people in need. Maximos, a fan of Yianni from ‘My life with Yianni’ Facebook page, decided to do exactly this by going to Yianni’s swimming spot and clearing all of the jellyfish.

The Facebook page ‘My life with Yianni’, translated to English from ‘Η ζωή μου με τον Γιάννη’, presents stories from the life of a mother, Ada Stamatatou, with her adult autistic son Yianni.

Ada shares almost daily updates of Yianni’s struggles as he moves through life with autism. Ada shared yesterday that a young boy by the name of Maximos, a fan of Yianni, decided to help clean the sea of jellyfish where Yianni would swim.

In fact, when Ada arrived at the beach with her autistic son, Maximos was sitting on a tree and watching if any of them had escaped him.

Αυτός είναι ο Μάξιμος.Φανατικός θαυμαστής του Γιάννη και αναγνώστης των περιπετειών του!Σήμερα πέρασε όλο το πρωινό του…

Posted by Η ζωή μου με τον Γιάννη on Tuesday, 14 April 2020

Facebook Post:

“This is Maximos. A fanatical admirer of Giannis and a reader of his adventures! Today he spent his whole morning cleaning the place where we swim with Giannis from the jellyfish. “So that the jellyfish don’t bother Giannis anymore”, he said to Ada. No one has done anything as touching for my John as this gesture of Maximos’ offering. A child raised with empathy. When we got to the sea he was sitting on a tree at the edge of the bay as a bass guard and saw from above no one got away! Thank you Maximos from the bottom of my heart.”

Melbourne Greek woman left ‘heartbroken’ as armed police interrupt father’s funeral

The Greek Herald
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Melbourne Greek woman left ‘heartbroken’ as armed police interrupt father’s funeral

A woman in Victoria has been left “heartbroken” after armed uniformed police officers interrupted her Greek father’s funeral over the Easter long weekend, The Guardian reports.

Helen Kolovos, who buried her father on Saturday, says she was “inconsolable” after two police officers entered the church and began counting the number of people attending the funeral as her father’s coffin was carried down the aisle.

As part of the social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia, funerals have been strictly limited to 10 guests since March.

“Being from a Greek family it was already mission impossible to do that, but we did, we literally had to pick and choose our own family and say you can come, you can’t come,” Kolovos told the Guardian.

 Police were out over the Easter long weekend enforcing coronavirus social distancing laws, including interrupting a funeral in Victoria and moving on people at Bondi. Photograph: Joel Carrett/EPA

The Victorian police were out enforcing social distancing rules, after the state police force rapidly escalated the number of people fined for breaching public health orders.

“To see the police come in at that moment, it broke my heart into a million pieces,” Kolovos said.

While the Kolovos family were living in the same house, her family sat in separate pews during the service. Ms Kolovos added that she found it “totally disrespectful” for the two armed police officers to entered the church, just as her father’s coffin was being carried out.

“It was just totally disrespectful, to carry a gun in a Greek church, it’s totally against our religion. But the way they came in, they didn’t bow their heads or anything. They just started speaking to some of the people who were working in the church and taking notes as we’re carrying out my dad.

“Just pause what you’re doing for one moment, bow your head, just give that man a little shred of respect. I was inconsolable. That whole moment of farewelling my dad, that moment was taken away from me.”

 NSW police issued 155 breaches of public health orders over the Easter weekend. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Ms Kolovos says that she plans to give her father the send off he deserves at a later date, with all their family and friends present.

Helen’s daughter Benita Kolovos wrote on Tuesday that her papou was “a true gentleman and deserved better”.

“He worked hard, played fair, loved deeply and was incredibly kind to all people.”

Many people have expressed their outrage towards the fines, claiming they are being distributed for “unnecessary reasons”. Despite the fine being overruled, a $1600 fine was previously issued to a 17-year-old learner driver who was caught driving with her mum during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Mr Scott Morrison says this rule was “not an easy decision”.

“Sadly, also, and I know this will be very difficult, funerals to no more than 10 persons observing the rules around the four-square-metre rule and the social distancing practices,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison releases hopeful Easter message to Australians (Greek attached)

The Greek Herald
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison releases hopeful Easter message to Australians (Greek attached)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has released a message to all Christians during this Easter period, expressing that this holy period is a time of reflection and renewal.

Mr Morrison says in his message that while we celebrate Easter differently this year, people are to reflect and draw strength from their faith as we face the challenges of our times.

“During a time of great challenge for the world, we will celebrate Easter not in our churches, but in our homes away from our congregations.

“This Easter has a poignancy with families separated and our traditions interrupted. We are distancing ourselves from each other this year, so that next year and beyond, our families and congregations can gather again.”

The Prime Minister stressed that this is a “once in one hundred year event”, and times like this is when Christ’s story of sacrifice and resurrection “serves as a source of strength and hope.”

“Every day our faith speaks to us about lives that puts others first. It answers the question put to Jesus: Who is my neighbour? This Easter we will live that out. This Easter we are asking Australians to stay home. To celebrate Easter online and to enjoy your Easter only with those you live with. This is how we can care for each other this Easter.”

Below is Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Easter message in Greek:

ΠΑΣΧΑ 2020

Για τους Χριστιανούς, το Πάσχα είναι περίοδος περισυλλογής και αναζωογόνησης καθώς θυμόμαστε την θυσία του Χριστού, την Ανάστασή Του και την Θεία ιστορία της λύτρωσης.

Αυτή τη χρονιά θα εορτάσουμε το Πάσχα διαφορετικά.

Σε μια εποχή μεγάλης πρόκλησης για τον κόσμο, θα γιορτάσουμε το Πάσχα όχι στις εκκλησίες μας, αλλά στα σπίτια μας μακριά από τις συναθροίσεις στις εκκλησίες.

Αυτό το Πάσχα περιέχει τη θλίψη με τον χωρισμό των οικογενειών και με την διακοπή των παραδόσεών μας.

Αποστασιοποιούμεθα ο ένας από τον άλλον φέτος, ούτως ώστε το επόμενο έτος και μετά, οι οικογένειές μας και οι εκκλησίες μας να σμίξουν και πάλι.

Αυτή η παγκόσμια υγειονομική κρίση είναι ένα γεγονός που συμβαίνει κάθε εκατό χρόνια.

Σε μια εποχή όπως η σημερινή, που τόσα πολλά απαιτούνται από εμάς, η ιστορία της θυσίας του Χριστού και η Ανάσταση αποτελούν μια πηγή δύναμης και ελπίδας.

Η ζωή έχει αλλάξει και θα συνεχίσει να αλλάζει στους επόμενους μήνες. Παρόλο που είμαστε χωρισμένοι ο ένας από τον άλλο, η πίστη μας διδάσκει ότι μπορούμε να είμαστε μαζί στο πνεύμα, ακόμη και αν είμαστε χωριστά σωματικά.

Κάθε μέρα η πίστη μας μιλάει σχετικά με τη ζωή μας που τοποθετεί τους άλλους πρώτους. Απαντά στο ερώτημα που τέθηκε στον Ιησού: Ποιος είναι ο γείτονάς μου; Αυτό θα ζήσουμε φέτος το Πάσχα. Αυτό το Πάσχα ζητούμε από τους Αυστραλούς να παραμείνουν στο σπίτι. Να γιορτάσουν το Πάσχα διαδικτυακά και να χαρούν το Πάσχα με εκείνους που μένουν μόνο στο σπίτι. Έτσι μπορούμε να φροντίσουμε ο ένας για τον άλλον αυτό το Πάσχα.

Έχουμε ένα μακρύ ακόμη δρόμο αλλά είμαστε μέρος μιας καταπληκτικής χώρας και εργαζόμαστε μαζί σε ένα τεράστιο στόχο ενότητας και συνεργασίας.

Οπότε, αυτό το Πάσχα κάνουμε μια περισυλλογή και αντλούμε από την πίστη μας ώστε να αντιμετωπίσουμε τις προκλήσεις των καιρών μας.

Ο Εντιμότατος Scott Morrison, Βουλευτής Πρωθυπουργός της Αυστραλίας

Απρίλιος 2020

Rita Wilson opens up on ‘extreme side effects’ from coronavirus treatment

The Greek Herald
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Rita Wilson opens up on ‘extreme side effects’ from coronavirus treatment

In her first TV interview since contracting the virus, Rita Wilson shared new details about battling coronavirus, alongside her husband Tom Hanks, with CBS This Morning’s Gayle King.

While the 63-year-old actress and singer said she’s now feeling “great”, more than a month after testing positive in early March, she explains that the treatment process was a gruelling experience.

Read More: Tom Hanks attempts an Aussie accent as he hosts ‘Saturday Night Live at Home’

The actress revealed she was given chloroquine, a drug that has been used to prevent and treat malaria that is being studied as a possible COVID-19 treatment.

“I know people have been talking about this drug, but I can only tell you that I don’t know if the drug worked or it was just time for the fever to break,” she said. “My fever did break, but the chloroquine had such extreme side effects. I was completely nauseous. I had vertigo. I could not walk and my muscles felt very weak.”

The now healthy couple returned home last month. Photo: AP

Rita Wilson later cautioned that people need to be considerate with the drug, saying, “we don’t really know if it’s helpful in this case.”

Speaking with Gayle King, the Greek American actress says that she suffered worse symptoms than her husband, yet both recovered around the same time.

Read More: American actor Tom Hanks says Greek life is “just the best life one can have”

“I was very tired. I felt extremely achy,” Wilson told King.

“Uncomfortable, didn’t want to be touched and then the fever started. Chills like I’ve never had before. Looking back, I realise I was also losing my sense of taste and smell which I didn’t realise at the time.”

“He (Tom Hanks) didn’t have as high of a fever. He did not lose his sense of taste or smell, but it still took us the same time to get through it,” she said.

In a Saturday Night Live performance last week, Hanks thanked healthcare, delivery, grocery and other frontline workers who have been working tirelessly amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Guardian praises Greece for “beating coronavirus” despite decade of debt

The Greek Herald
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The Guardian praises Greece for “beating coronavirus” despite decade of debt

Officials from The Guardian have praised Greece for its great handling of the coronavirus crisis, particularly with a recovering health system. According to the British newspaper, Greece, despite ten years of economic crisis, has managed to keep the number of cases low compared to other European countries.

“The country’s ability to meet public health emergencies was not a given,” the report said, adding that “after almost a decade of economic crisis, Greece’s health system is far from recovering.”

Read More: Mitsotakis: The war has not been won yet

“State hospitals have lifted the weight of the cuts required in exchange for help from lenders. With the arrival of the pandemic in Europe, authorities knew, 18 months after the exit from the memoranda, that they had only 560 units of intensive care,” The Guardian writes.

Syntagma Square. Photo: AP

In a statement to the British newspaper, Dr. Andreas Mentis, head of the Pasteur Institute, said: “There were weaknesses that worried us. Before diagnosing the first case, we started looking at people and isolating them. The incoming flights, especially from China, they were being monitored. Later, when they started repatriating from Spain, for example, we immediately put them in quarantine in hotels.”

Read More: Greek Community of Melbourne at the forefront of initiatives to support Greeks during COVID-19 pandemic

While the strict measures weren’t immediately accepted, the Guardian adds, health authorities made the decision to close impose strict public measures from early on. This included shutting beaches and ski resorts, banning public gatherings of more than 10 people, banning travel to the islands, and closing the churches.

Alexis Patelis, the prime minister’s economic adviser, says “it was very clear that we needed experts we needed to listen to. However, the Greeks have gone through a crisis, they know what it is. And that has allowed them to adapt.”

Read The Guardian’s full report here.

Archdiocese of Athens distributes parcels for 10,000 families in need

The Greek Herald
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Archdiocese of Athens distributes parcels for 10,000 families in need

The Archdiocese of Athens distributed thousands of parcels containing food and basic necessities yesterday to families in need.

Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens blessed the parcels blessed that parcels as they were given out to approximately 10,000 families. The charitable act followed an initiative of the General Philoptochos Fund and the Apostoli charity of the Archdiocese of Athens.

Speaking to reporters, Archbishop Ieronymos said the Church and the state have a good relationship.

When asked to comment about people receiving Holy Communion at the weekend at a church on the island of Corfu and one in Athens, despite the ban on people gathering at churches, Ieronymos said, “Holy Communion is not being discussed.”

“It is different to people congregating,” he said, without further elaborating.

Read More: Priests under investigation in Greece after offering Holy Communion to the faithful amid lockdown

Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, said the actions of the priests were a clear violation of the coronavirus lockdown.

“What happened today in churches in Koukaki and Corfu is a violation of the law and of the Holy Synod’s orders, and put the lives of citizens and public health in great danger,” Mr Hardalias said in a statement.

The move comes after the Greek government banned the public from church, with only a maximum of five people allowed inside to conduct religious services. This includes the priest, chanters and assistants.

Greek Community of Melbourne at the forefront of initiatives to support Greeks during COVID-19 pandemic

The Greek Herald
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Greek Community of Melbourne at the forefront of initiatives to support Greeks during COVID-19 pandemic

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) has recently released a coordinated response over the past few weeks focussed on developing a coordinated response for Greek citizens without Australian rights navigating the COVID19 pandemic alongside the response to its own affairs.

In doing so, the GCM has been in close consultation with the Victorian and Australian Governments, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, professional groups and various community organisations and community advocates.

Meeting with the Hon Alan Tudge

GCM President Bill Papastergiadis OAM and Hon Secretary Costas Markos met with the Acting Federal Minister for Immigration, the Hon Alan Tudge.

The meeting discussed many matters affecting the broader Greek community but in particular focussed on the plight of Greek temporary residents in Australia who fall outside of the various Government programs being introduced to support the broader Australian population.

Appeal to the Greek State

The GCM has written to the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raising the issue of Greek citizens in Australia on short term visas.

Further, the GCM President wrote to the Greek Minster of the Interior, Mr Theodorikakos with whom he also raised the plight of these people noting that they have fallen through the cracks of Australia’s efforts to support its citizens.

Mr Theodorikakos said that he was very concerned with the plight of any Greek citizen and whilst thanking the Greek Australian community for its efforts, noted that anyone who required assistance should make immediate contact with the Foreign Ministry of Greece.

Community Support

The GCM applauded the efforts of a number of community organisations, who as a result of the pandemic, have come together to prepare care packages for families affected by the pandemic in our community.

Specifically, the GCM highlighted the efforts of Pontiaki Estia, Merimna Pontian Ladies Association, the Pancretan Federation, and the Pallaconian Brotherhood. These organisations are calling for the donation of food, clothing, and hygiene products.

Any individual or organisation seeking to help can contact Litsa Athansiadis (0421 804 968) and or Tony Tsourdalakis (0419 856 736).

Helpline

In the meeting with Minister Tudge, the GCM proposed the establishment of a helpline to help service and direct members of the community and in particular Greek citizens who don’t qualify for Australian programs. The Minister supported the establishment of such a service an encouraged the GCM to take the initiative and see it through.

The GCM further announced that as of Thursday 16 April, they will be offering a free HELPLINE service from its HQ, with the aim of directing community members, but in particular Greek citizens, accordingly during this crisis.

The service will operate from 9AM to 5PM offering a conduit for all the various programs to be accordingly promoted to the people who will be most in need.

Simply call on 03 9662 2722 or via email at info@greekcommunity.com.au.

The Archdiocese’s Northcote District COVID-19 Relief Program

After communication with the Archdiocese over the community response to the pandemic, the GCM President spoke in person with the Greek Orthodox Primate of Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and with the Northcote District’s Archiepiscopal Reverend Evmenios.

The GCM announced that they support the Archdiocese actions at this time, including its social relief program in the Northcote District. Specifically, the GCM supports the call for donations of goods (food, clothing and hygiene products) at the following locations:

  • Holy Monastery of Action (“Axion Estin”) – 7 Hartington St, Northcote.
  • St. Paraskevi Parish – 22 Marsden Crescent, St Albans
  • Parish of visitation of the Lord – 23-29 Victoria St, Coburg
  • Transfiguration Parish of the Savior – 45 Poplar St, Thomastown

Holy Wednesday and the Sacrament of Holy Unction

The Greek Herald
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Holy Wednesday and the Sacrament of Holy Unction

The ceremonial traditions which Greek Orthodox people carry out during Holy Wednesday are drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, which tells the story of what took place two days before Jesus Christ was crucified.

The first sacrament which is conducted is that of the Holy Unction.

Holy Unction:

On the afternoon or evening of Holy Wednesday, the Sacrament of Holy Unction is conducted in Orthodox parishes. The Sacrament is performed by a gathering of priests, ideally seven in number. However, it can be performed by a lesser number and even by a single priest.

After the reading of seven Epistle lessons, seven Gospel lessons and the offering of seven prayers, which are all devoted to healing, the priest anoints the faithful with the Holy Oil. He makes the sign of the cross on the forehead, top and palms of hands, saying ‘For the healing of soul and body.’

The sacrament is offered for healing and for the forgiveness of sins.

Painting of the ‘sinful’ woman who anointed the head of Jesus shortly before the Passion. Source: Unknown.

The Bridegroom Service continues:

On Holy Wednesday, the Orthodox Church also invites the faithful to focus their attention on two figures: the sinful woman who anointed the head of Jesus shortly before the Passion (Matthew 26:6-13), and Judas, the disciple who betrayed the Lord. The former acknowledged Jesus as Lord, while the latter severed himself from the Master. The one was set free, while the other became a slave.

The juxtaposition of these two biblical figures on Holy Wednesday is particularly significant as it teaches people the difference between freedom, sin, hell and repentance.

Mourners claim they have been banned from visiting Melbourne cemeteries

Andriana Simos
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Mourners claim they have been banned from visiting Melbourne cemeteries

Mourners have been been left confused by restrictions around visiting cemeteries in Victoria, with police saying people are allowed to mourn as long as they keep to social distancing rules.

Father Lykopandis said he was banned from a Melbourne cemetery. Source: Facebook.

But that wasn’t the case for Father Emmanuel Lykopandis who claimed on Facebook that he was shut out from visiting Keilor Cemetery on Good Friday.

“I was informed by the Greater Metropolitan Cemetery Trust that visiting grave sites to place fresh flowers and lighting the oil lamps is regarded as non-essential,” Father Lykopandis wrote.

“We hope the state government of Victoria can see there is need for people to visit the cemetery.”

And he’s not the only one who claims to have had a brush with the law when visiting a cemetery. Some distraught families jumped online to say they had even been fined for putting flowers down on gravesites.

When asked on Monday about these reports, Victoria Police said in a statement that officers had been given “clear instructions” to exercise discretion if people were in cemeteries to pay their respects.

People claim to have been refused entry to Keilor Cemetery. Source: Find A Grave.

“At this stage we are unable to confirm whether any fines have been issued,” a Victoria Police statement read.

“However, as per our process, all fines in relation to the Chief Health Officer directions will be reviewed to determine whether they should be withdrawn or whether it was more appropriate to issue a warning.

“In the case of people visiting cemeteries, in the absence of any other factors which may have led to an infringement being issued, these fines will be withdrawn.”

Currently, social and physical distancing restrictions still apply during cemetery visits but if possible, the Victorian Government is urging people to “delay” their visit.

Funerals are still limited to no more than 10 people.

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