A 4th-century BC funerary monument, originally relocated six decades ago to make way for the construction of Athens airport in the coastal Hellenikon district, has been successfully returned to its original location.
According to tovima.com, the restoration effort was financed and coordinated by Lamda Development, the company responsible for the landmark Ellinikon privatisation and property development project, which encompasses the site of the former airport.
Shaped like the Greek letter “π” (Pi), the stone monument was initially removed by a team led by archaeologist Vassilios Petrakos. Its return was managed by architect and engineer Dimitris Korres, who employed 3D imaging technology to ensure that the square stones comprising the monument were accurately aligned and undamaged during transport.
The meticulous operation, involving a team of specialists, spanned three months to complete.
Melbourne’s Greek music space has seen a resurgence of the rebetiko music genre. A style that emerged in the early 20th century and speaks to the love and pain of marginalised communities and the working class, rebetiko’s timeless lyrics and melodies make it easy to see why so many bands enjoy the genre.
With almost an event happening weekly from Melbourne-based rebetika bands, you’ll be able to step into the rebetiko culture and hear the next generation of talented musicians.
I sat down with young Greek Australian musicians Maria Dalamagas, 30, and Alex Petropoulos, 24, to hear about their experiences with and love for the genre.
Maria has been playing music from a young age. In the “pre-Spotify days” she was exploring different genres at CD stores and libraries, but it was through the Oakleigh Greek Orthodox College music band that she first played rebetika.
“The Greek dancing teacher wanted to start a Greek band at the school. He wanted someone to play around with the accordion. We did a rebetiko concert at school, this is 2011. And that’s when I started playing Greek music more,” she told The Greek Herald.
While Maria kept playing different genres, it was during the “recent resurgence [of rebetika] with people younger than me that I got the confidence to go jam with them.” Playing in different rebetika jams allowed Maria to establish herself as a talented female rebetiko player in a predominantly male occupied space.
Maria now plays in two Melbourne-based bands, Anatreptix and Estudiantina of Melbourne. She said the “last two years have been me coming back into rebetiko and playing it semi-professionally, probably have a gig every week now across different bands, so it’s become like a second job.”
Maria was ultimately drawn to the rebetiko style because it was a “part of Greek culture that was hidden for a while… the tracks are very playful and cheeky [and] it’s a different style of music. I’m used to very western music and rebetiko music has eastern influence.”
While Maria’s 13 years of experience with rebetika has made her an established player in Melbourne’s rebetika bands, Alex Petropoulos’ journey is fairly recent.
Alex’s life has always centered around music as his father is a professional musician and his passion for different genres has grown over the years. Having little to no exposure to Greek music until his 21st birthday when an uncle took over the music and played a zeibekiko tune, Alex shared how he was curious to learn about a music style which until that point was foreign to him.
In the 2021 Melbourne COVID-19 lockdown, Alex decided to go “down a Greek rebetika rabbit hole.” He “got into the music quickly because of the cultural connection” and his family’s love for the music. It didn’t take Alex long to find Melbourne’s rebetika community and join the weekly rebetika jam sessions at Triakosia in Fitzroy North.
Alex shared that what first drew him to the genre was how the “music was significant culturally, it sounds cool… and the people are friendly. It was more of a social outing. Go there, see your mates, and then play music.”
Regarding the future of Australia’s rebetiko music scene, Alex spoke passionately about “bands with young people” who are talented and interested in rebetika, which has the “potential to be relevant for a longer time.”
While acknowledging the tradition of the genre, Alex also noted that “people need to be creating new music [and] writing rebetika” to put a fresh spin on performances and hopefully engage new listeners.
Alex’s current music career is flourishing. Having performed in multiple bands, his passion for the rebetiko style and culture has grown with each interaction he’s had in the music scene. Alex currently plays with Estudiantina of Melbourne and encourages young people in Melbourne to “support live music… [and] see what [rebetika] is all about, culturally.”
Maria and Alex represent countless young Greek Australian musicians who have a deep love and passion for the rebetiko music scene and connecting with Greek culture. Maria has high hopes for the future: “It’s a cool genre, it’s music that’s a bit edgy and speaks a bit about darker themes, I think that’ll always be cool to people. I see it growing over the next 10 years.”
Keep an eye out for rebetika events happening in your area!
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) hosted its annual Vasilopita cutting ceremony on Thursday, January 2, at Olympic Hall in Adelaide.
This cherished tradition, which symbolises community, faith and hope for the year ahead, brought together members and guests for a joyous evening.
Attendees gathered to mark the beginning of the New Year in true Greek fashion, embracing the warmth and unity that the Vasilopita cutting represents.
The event was free and open to all, making it a welcoming space for families and individuals alike.
In a highlight of the evening, Katerina was delighted to find the gold coin hidden within her slice of the Vasilopita. She was presented with a golden cross, a symbol of good fortune and blessings for the year ahead.
GOCSA expressed gratitude to everyone who joined the event, sharing their heartfelt wishes of “Happy New Year” to all.
The independent Match Review Panel (MRP) for the Isuzu UTE A-League Men convened on Thursday, January 2, to assess an incident involving Western Sydney Wanderers FC player Dean Pelekanos.
Pelekanos was shown a direct red card in the 53rd minute of the match, prompting the MRP to evaluate the incident under the A-Leagues Disciplinary Regulations.
.@wswanderersfc go down to 10 🔴Via Live VAR Conmms, Casey Reibelt explains her decision to upgrade Dean Pelekanos’ yellow card to a red 👇
The panel determined that Pelekanos had committed the offence of “Denying the opposing team an obvious goal-scoring opportunity,” as outlined in Law 12 of the Laws of the Game.
The mandatory minimum sanction for this offence is a one-match suspension. Consequently, the MRP confirmed that Pelekanos will miss the Wanderers’ next Isuzu UTE A-League Men fixture.
Pelekanos will return for selection on Tuesday, January 14, when the Wanderers face Perth Glory FC.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Mr Gardiakos reflected on his eight years of service, which included four years as Treasurer and the last two as President.
“Thank you to all of you for your unwavering support during this time. It is this very support that has allowed me to foster a culture of collaboration and assemble a dedicated team that has become the driving force of our historic organisation,” he wrote.
Gardiakos shared that his decision came after careful consideration during the Christmas and New Year break.
“I believe now is the right time for me to take a step aside and hand over to the next generation, to build upon the strong foundation we have established,” he said.
Gardiakos further expressed gratitude to the community, volunteers, sponsors, and staff for their support, and conveyed his confidence in the organisation’s future.
“I am confident that the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia is in a strong position, and I look forward to supporting the next generation of community leaders as they steer our Community into the future,” he concluded.
Eligibility criteria require candidates to be financial members of the association for at least six months prior to the election call and to have their 2025 membership fees paid.
The current Vice President of GOCSA Peter Gonis is expected to lead a new ticket, which will be announced shortly.
A black Ferrari crashed into the former Watsons Bay home of Sydney businessman Mark Bouris on Thursday, leaving a 55-year-old woman trapped and the 56-year-old driver with minor head injuries.
Emergency services were called to Robertson Place at 1.15pm on Thursday. The car had veered off the road, hitting a fence before slamming into the house.
A crashed Ferrari on the back of a tow truck after hitting a wall in Watsons Bay. Photo: Damian Shaw.
The woman, who sustained chest injuries, was trapped in the wreckage and was eventually freed by NSW Fire and Rescue and paramedics shortly before 3pm. Both occupants were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital as a precaution.
Images from the scene show a heavy emergency services presence and the Ferrari’s rear visible above the curb. Crowds gathered to watch as authorities worked to clear the site.
Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Hollywood actor Rudy Youngblood, best known for his role in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto, is being detained at the Galatsi police station in Athens, Greece, facing potential deportation.
The 42-year-old arrived in Greece in August 2024 for a film shoot, but his visa expired at the end of November, as the law permits a stay of up to 90 days. Youngblood claims he stayed due to medical advice against travelling.
On December 27, 2024, Youngblood was stopped by police during a routine check. He alleges the officers were unidentifiable, did not explain his rights, and he struggled with the language barrier.
Rudy Youngblood is being detained at the Galatsi police station in Athens, Greece, facing potential deportation.
Youngblood was charged with resisting arrest, making threats, and carrying a weapon, as he had a pocketknife.
He was immediately sentenced to a 10-month prison term with a three-year suspension. Following his trial, his visa overstay was discovered, and an administrative deportation order was issued.
He remains detained and is expected to challenge his detention with the immigration authorities.
Sam Konstas, a 19-year-old Greek Australian cricketer, is set to break a 117-year-old record as the youngest Australian Test player at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The milestone will occur today during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
Sam Konstas raises the bat after making 50 in Melbourne. Photo: Michael Klein.
Today, Konstas will be 19 years and 93 days old, surpassing the record set by Gervys Hazlitt in 1907. He joins a rare group of young cricketers to play at the SCG, including legends like Sachin Tendulkar.
Teammates and coaches praise Konstas’ fearless approach and maturity. Captain Pat Cummins described him as a “kid in a candy shop,” while coach Andrew McDonald highlighted his proactive style and adaptability.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia led the official Vasilopita cutting ceremony at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Sydney on Thursday, January 2.
Addressing a packed congregation, the Archbishop encouraged Greek Orthodox Christians to begin each day in 2025 by making the sign of the cross before reaching for their mobile phones.
“Let our day begin with the sign of the cross. Simply, humbly, humanly and ecclesiastically,” he urged, describing it as a transformative and blessed habit.
The ceremony included numerous greetings for other distinguished guests, the traditional cutting of the Vasilopita, and heartfelt wishes for the New Year.
Archbishop Makarios dedicated specific pieces of the Vasilopita to various entities, with special focus on the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He recalled the recent visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Australia, describing it as a deeply spiritual moment for the Greek Orthodox community in Australia.
The Vasilopita coin was discovered by Father Dimitrios Kokkinos, Parish Priest of the Church of Saint Ioannis in Parramatta, Sydney.
The ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries, including His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevasteia; Their Graces, Bishops Iakovos of Miletoupolis and Christodoulos of Magnesia; Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA), Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Christophoros Krikelis; the Greek Consul General in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; and Greek criminologist Athanasios Kehagioglou.
In the Orthodox Church, the “Great Blessing of the Water” is an important ceremony with a distinct purpose.
The Great Blessing of the Water happens only twice a year during the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany):
January 5 (Theophany Eve): On this day, the blessing is part of the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil, which is typically held in the morning in places like Greece and Australia. The water blessed on January 5 is traditionally used for external blessings, such as sprinkling homes, gardens, and fields, and is not usually consumed. This is because January 5 is a strict fasting day, requiring no food or drink (or oil if it’s a weekday).
January 6 (Theophany Feast Day): On the actual feast day, the water is blessed again and intended for drinking. Since January 5 is a strict fasting day, Orthodox Christians are allowed to consume this holy water the next day. The holy water can be drunk before consuming antidoron or after receiving Holy Communion.
Many people keep some of this blessed water at home for use throughout the year. To drink it properly, one should have fasted the previous evening. This water is considered so spiritually powerful that those unable to take Holy Communion (due to a canonical reason) are encouraged to drink it as a substitute for its spiritual benefits.
