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.
Every year on January 6, Greeks in Australia and across the globe celebrate the day Jesus Christ was baptised.
A church service is usually held in the morning, followed by the Blessing of the Waters ceremony, during which a priest throws the Holy Cross into the water, and Orthodox faithful dive to retrieve it. The person who retrieves the Cross first is believed to be blessed with good fortune for the year.
If you are hoping to attend any Epiphany Day events (also known as Theophania) around Australia this year, The Greek Herald has you covered.
New South Wales:
At Carss Bush Park in Sydney, the Epiphany Greek Festival is returning on Sunday, January 12 from 11am to 8pm.
The festival will kick off with the Blessing of the Waters ceremony led by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. With more than 80 stalls, festival-goers can later indulge in delicious Greek food, enjoy unique handmade crafts, and explore services that celebrate Greek heritage.
Michael Solidakis retrieved the Holy Cross at last year’s Epiphany Festival at Carss Park. Photo supplied.
Elsewhere, at Wollongong, Orthodox faithful from the local Holy Cross Greek Orthodox church will be gathering at Wollongong Harbour from 12pm for the annual Blessing of the Waters ceremony. The service will be conducted by Archimandrite Sophronios Konidaris.
Victoria
In Victoria, the Blessing of the Waters will take place at the Rye Pier from 1pm on Monday, January 6. The service will be presided over by His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne.
There will also be a Blessing of the Waters service at the Promenade in Frankston from around 12pm on Monday, January 6. The service will be presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis.
Cosmo Nicolaidis holds up the cross as the lucky diver of 2024 at Port Melbourne. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
The Epiphany will also be celebrated on Sunday, January 12 at Princes Pier in Port Melbourne. The throwing of the Holy Cross will be held as part of the Blessing of the Waters Festival.
Held from 12 to 5pm, there will be plenty of entertainment for families and kids of all ages, as well as Greek food and market stalls.
Australian Capital Territory
In the ACT, a Divine Liturgy will take place on Sunday, January 12 at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church from 7.45 am to 10.30 am. To follow, the Blessing of the Waters will take place at 11.30 am at Casuarina Sands, where the youth will dive for the Holy Cross. Souvlakia, water and soft drinks will be provided to everyone in attendance.
Last year’s Epiphany in Canberra.
South Australia
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) is hosting a 2025 Henley Beach Greek Festival which incorporates the Blessing of the Waters (at 12 pm) on Sunday, January 12. Taking place from 11 am, the Henley Beach Foreshore will have events running all day for the festival. From traditional Greek food, music, dancing and dance performances, this day will be jam-packed with plenty of entertainment for kids and their families.
At Glenelg, there will also be a Greek Festival from Friday, January 10 to Sunday, January 12. The Blessing of the Waters will commence on Sunday at Glenelg Jetty from 12.30pm. The event is organised by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA).
Photi Karagiannis with his father and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas at last year’s Epiphany Festival in Glenelg. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Supplied.
Western Australia
In Western Australia, on Sunday, January 12, the Archdiocesan District of Perth is hosting a combined Epiphany celebration. Held at Matilda Bay Reserve from 11.30am, there will be plenty of souvlakia and a sausage sizzle, Greek sweets and refreshments available throughout the day, as well as entertainment provided by a live Greek band.
At 12.30pm, His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth will conduct the Blessing of the Waters. Children over the ages of 15 and adults will then be welcome to participate in the diving of the cross. They must be capable of swimming 300 metres.
Queensland
In Queensland, on Sunday, January 12, the Church of Saint Anna on the Gold Coast will be holding the official Blessing of the Waters event. Presided over by His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane, the dive for the Holy Cross will take place at 11.30am at Evandale Lake. Following this, an Epiphany Festival will take place at the St Anna Community Centre in Bundall.
Northern Territory
On Monday, January 6, there will be a Divine Liturgy from 7am at the Church of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos, followed by the Blessing of the Waters. The service will be presided over by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, The Greek Orthodox Church of St George The Martyr in Hobart will enjoy a Blessing of the Waters ceremony on Sunday, January 12 from 12.30pm at Sandown Beach, Sandy Bay.
The Pontian Brotherhood of South Australia has announced that it has been awarded a $48,040 grant from the South Australian Multicultural Affairs Department, a significant boost towards completing the second stage of its carpark upgrade next year.
The grant is a key step in the Pontian Brotherhood’s ongoing infrastructure improvements, which will help enhance the facility for the growing community of members and visitors.
Charalambos Tavlaridis, President of the Pontian Brotherhood, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the committee, members and friends.
“Next year will be a very busy year so we’re calling on all volunteers to help anyway they can,” Tavlaridis said in a Facebook post.
The grant marks a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the Pontian Brotherhood’s facilities, further cementing its role as a cornerstone of the local multicultural community in SA.
Darwin company Kassiou Constructions has been slapped with a record fine of $94,200 after admitting to invoicing customers for incomplete building work over a 15-year period.
The company, owned by Louis and Ilias Kassiou, was investigated by the Northern Territory’s Building Practitioners Board of Inquiry (BPBI) following an audit of five home construction projects between 2021 and 2023.
The audit revealed that Kassiou Constructions billed clients for the completion of the frame stage of the project, despite the work being unfinished. In four of the cases, the company invoiced customers prematurely for work that was not completed on time. The frame stage was never completed in two of these builds.
The BPBI concluded that Kassiou “failed to complete the building works in accordance with the due date of their contracts and caused significant financial loss to the owners.”
The company was also found to have completed work that did not align with building permits, and its practice of billing for unfinished stages violated regulations that prohibit payments before work is completed.
Photo: ABC News / Dane Hirst.
The inquiry highlighted that it is a standard expectation for the building frame to be fully completed—walls, floors, and roof—before payment is made for the frame stage. The BPBI noted that Kassiou Constructions appeared to have adopted unlawful shortcuts to building practices over time.
The audit also revealed that Kassiou Constructions did not apply for necessary changes to building permits before making structural amendments, a practice deemed unacceptable for a licensed building practitioner in the NT.
While Louis did not attend the hearings or respond to inquiries, co-director Ilias cooperated with the investigation, claiming the company only issued invoices after the block work was completed. Ilias also argued that the regulations do not specifically define when the frame stage is completed.
The BPBI has recommended that Ilias undergo supervision to ensure compliance with building regulations. Kassiou Constructions’ registration, along with Louis’, was suspended in June after failing to meet re-registration requirements. The company has since removed its website and is now listed as permanently closed.
NSW Fire and Rescue Station Officer Chris Stathis has been putting out fires and saving lives since his early 20’s in Sydney, Australia.
In an interview with The Greek Herald, the Greek Australian firefighter revealed how his journey began.
“I had a neighbour who was a firefighter, who told me all about the fire department and that I should look into becoming a firefighter if I wanted to,” Chris said.
“He took me to the fire station and showed me around. I also had a friend at school who was a few years older than me that had been to the fire station, and he showed me around the fire station as well and that’s how I got interested.”
Applying to the fire department
Chris first applied to the fire department in 1990, where he was required to do different types of tests, spanning across three years. They included both physical and mental tests, followed by many interviews.
“When we passed the exam, we then started training for 16 weeks,” he explained.
“When we passed the training, we were then each assigned to a fire station. I went to a fire station in early 1994 at the age of 23.”
In 2018, Chris was also part of the NSW Fire and Rescue team who was deployed to Greece to assist with recovery efforts following the wildfires. He was there for 15 days to help communities, alongside local fire authorities and other agencies.
The pros and cons of the job
As someone who’s been working for NSW Fire and Rescue for more than 20 years, Chris explained that there are both positives and negatives to doing what he loves each day.
“Some of the advantages of this job are that every day is different, and you don’t know what’s going to happen when you come to work. Another advantage is working with a team and having that camaraderie,” he said.
“The downsides are when you see people getting hurt or killed and working in shifts.”
Despite this, the 51-year-old said he loves “being able to help people during their crisis and knowing that I have saved lives and their most precious possessions.”
He also addressed the misconception that firefighters only rescue people, stating they do much more than what most people think.
“People think we only go to fires, but we do rescues, car accidents, storm damage, chemical spills and hazardous materials,” he said.
“We also help educate people about the dangers around their homes, we teach children in schools about the dangers of fires, and we are also very involved within the community.”
For more information on how to stay fire safe, visit your local RFS website.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intervened after a controversial social media post by the Victorian ALP targeting Peter Dutton and his wife, Kirilly, was deemed inappropriate.
The post, which featured a manipulated newspaper image from 2019 with a quote from Ms Dutton saying, “He is not a monster,” was criticised as a personal attack.
The post, shared by the Victorian ALP’s social media at around 11am on Monday, December 30, was accompanied by the caption, “We all know that one couple,” making light of Ms Dutton’s comments about her husband.
The post sparked outrage, with Mr Dutton calling on Albanese and the Labor Party to respect his family and avoid personal attacks.
“I can assure you: the Liberal Party I lead will not be targeting Jodie Haydon,” Mr Dutton said in a statement, referring to Albanese’s fiancée. “I respect and like Jodie, but she is not an elected official and will not be the subject of humiliation, attack ads or public smear by the Liberal Party.”
In response to the backlash, Albanese’s office quickly ordered the post to be removed, with a spokesperson stating, “When the tweet was drawn to his attention, the Prime Minister demanded it be taken down. Families should be off-limits.”
Victorian ALP secretary Steve Staikos defended the post, insisting it was “not a personal attack at all,” but rather a “comedic meme.” When questioned about whether the image had been altered, Staikos disagreed, saying he did not believe it had been doctored.
However, the post was widely criticised by opposition members. Senator James Paterson, the opposition’s home affairs spokesman, labelled the post as “grubby gutter politics from a desperate government slipping in the polls.”
The incident comes amid plummeting poll numbers for Labor in Victoria, where recent figures show the Coalition has drawn level with Labor for the first time. Labor’s primary vote in the state has fallen to 30%, reflecting a nearly 5% swing against the government since the 2022 federal election.
With tensions running high ahead of the 2025 federal election, the controversy highlights the increasingly personal nature of the campaign.
Dancing the Labyrinth author Karen Martin woke up on Tuesday, December 31, to a tag on Facebook. She clicked on the Eyeland Book Awards page to the news that she had won in her category.
“If it’s on Facebook then it must be true,” she joked during an interview with The Greek Herald, adding that she “had a flush of happiness” after realising that she had won the prestigious international prize.
“Being a finalist was fantastic, and it felt good just to be shortlisted. More importantly, I am so pleased to have been acknowledged by the Greek community because that is my inspiration.”
Karen was just 14 years old when she found out that you could actually live on a Greek island, and she did this 40 years later. She picked Crete after sampling raki at a Greek taverna in Echuca while cycling through rural Victoria. Later she met Cretan restaurateur John Rerakis, and her fate was sealed.
“I am a true Philhellene,” she said.
As a self-published author, she says the award vindicates her.
“Initially, I was stuck on the traditional perspective that it would not be good enough unless traditionally published,” she said.
After a meeting with English-born, Greek-inspired bestselling author Kathryn Gauci, she saw the benefits of independent publishing and self-published Dancing the Labyrinth. She has followed the same route with its recently-published sequel, Delphi.
“I invest in myself and answer to myself. I employ editors, proofreaders, and cover designers and follow the direction I want. Also, my projects take two to three years to complete. I don’t need to push myself and can enjoy the process,” she said, adding that she views herself as an “indy author.”
While self-publishing has changed, Karen says that government funding has yet to catch up with what is happening on the street and is discriminatory for self-published authors.
“I hope self-published authors winning international awards such as this one can help turn that around,” she said, looking forward to a hopeful and abundant 2025.
