The Greek national team crushed Bulgaria 4-0 in its second friendly in Heraklion, Crete on Tuesday night.
Ivan Jovanovic’s team scored all their goals in the second half, receiving loud applause from the 18,000 fans present at the Pankritio Stadium. Pelkas (51′), Ioannidis (66′), Tzolis (74′) and Konstantelias (89′) formed the final score in the friendly.
The first half of the match was mediocre. With the entire lineup changed from the friendly against Slovakia, the national team was far from its best.
The internationals were unable to coordinate themselves on the field, and this resulted in them only getting close to Mitov’s goal twice. In the first (33′), Pelkas shot wide and in the second (45+2′), Ioannidis headed the ball over the Bulgarian goalkeeper.
In the second half, however, it was time for… showtime. In the 51st minute, the national team opened the scoring with a nice combination of energy. From Bakasetas’ shot, the ball bounced off Masouras and fell to Pelkas, who had no problem scoring the 1-0.
Fifteen minutes later, Pelkas passed an amazing assist to Ioannidis and the Panathinaikos forward scored an exemplary goal for 2-0.
In the 74th minute, Christos Tzolis scored the third Greek goal on his first touch with the ball after an assist from captain Bakasetas. Something similar happened in the 88th minute with Giannis Konstantelias scoring from close range, seconds after entering the field, making the final score 4-0.
The Subway Socceroos have officially qualified directly for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ following their decisive 2-1 performance against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday morning (AEST).
The result confirms Australia’s place on football’s biggest stage for a sixth consecutive and seventh overall appearance — a remarkable achievement that cements the national team’s standing in world football and continues to build a Forever Golden legacy for the game in Australia.
The qualification campaign included a memorable 1-0 victory over Japan in front of a sell-out crowd of 57,226 at Optus Stadium in Perth, where a sea of green and gold created one of the most electric atmospheres in Australian football history.
Playing in front of a vocal crowd at King Abdullah Sports City this morning, the Subway Socceroos delivered a composed and resilient performance to seal direct qualification. With the squad showing both maturity and hunger, this milestone reinforces the growing impact of Australian football on the global stage.
The Subway Socceroos successful qualification will see Australia come to life with excitement and celebration as Tony Popovic and his squad embark on more success in the historic 48 team FIFA World Cup 2026™.
With record enrolments and growing waiting lists at all levels, Alphington Grammar School is going from strength to strength. Over the past decade, the School has deservedly earnt its place as a destination school for families seeking a co-educational independent school education for their child.
The School is proud of its academic success coupled with its focus on the pastoral care and wellbeing of its students.
“The foundation of a strong education is for everyone to experience success,” Principal Dr Vivianne Nikou said. “Our students have the opportunity to live the values and culture of our School through real world experiences both in and out of the classroom.
“Students live our Hellenic values from 3-year-old Kindergarten where students are immersed in Greek language and cultural activities alongside their numeracy and literacy programs, Music, Physical Education, Art and our unique Bush Kinder program. Students participate in the Greek Band, Greek Choir and Greek Dancing throughout the year levels.
“In Secondary School the students all participate in the International Gateways program which this year sees 60 students and 8 staff visit Turkey, Gallipoli and Greece including our inter-school exchange with Voula High School in Athens and our School program with the children at the bilingual kindergarten in Ioannina.”
Chair of School Council, Michael Karamitos, added, “With the increase in student numbers, the School Council has undertaken to progress the staged strategic development of the site which will see us take possession of a purpose-built facility with six classrooms, additional staff areas, counsellors offices and the relocation of the Hellenic Heritage Centre by the start of the 2026 academic year.”
Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) President Bill Papastergiadis OAM said, “The new infrastructure and classrooms are critical to Alphington Grammar’s continued success. These modern classrooms equipped with updated furniture and technology contribute directly to student comfort, concentration and ultimately to academic performance.”
“Equally, Alphington is accommodating growing enrolment, a product of the School’s excellent standards and reputation… This development highlights the community growth of the School in meeting the needs of our community engagement and outreach. The GCM is proud of the Principal, the School Chair and the School Board in facilitating this,” Mr Papastergiadis added.
The GCM has endorsed the continued strategic development of Alphington Grammar. The Foundation members of the School are proud of the bold decision made 36 years ago to embark on building a visionary School that has embraced its cultural roots in such an innovative way.
The lagoon city of Venice in northern Italy once expanded into a powerful maritime empire, ruling territories across the Mediterranean, including parts of the Greek world. Yet the city itself became home to a vibrant and culturally significant Greek diaspora.
Hidden behind the grandeur of Saint Mark’s Basilica and the busy crowds of Saint Mark’s Square lies the Campo dei Greci (Greek Square), located in Venice’s Castello neighbourhood. This square, located beside the Rio dei Greci (Canal of the Greeks), formed the heart of the city’s Greek community. Today, the Greek flag proudly flies from the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies, housed in the former Flanginian School, which was once a beacon of Hellenic learning.
At the centre of this neighbourhood stands the Church of San Giorgio dei Greci (Saint George of the Greeks), with its distinctive leaning bell tower. During a two-week stay in the area a year ago, I came to appreciate more deeply the history of one of the earliest modern Greek diasporas, dating back to the 15th century. Here, language, culture, and faith have endured across centuries, telling a story of determination to preserve and advance Hellenism.
Icon of St George. Interior dome of the Church.
Greeks under Venetian Rule
Emerging as a maritime republic in the early Middle Ages, Venice grew into a major trading power linking East and West until its fall to Napoleon in 1797. It also played a significant role in shaping naval innovation, foreign relations, art, and culture throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. Following the Fourth Crusade and the sack of Constantinople in 1204, Venice’s involvement in the Greek world became prominent. From the early 13th century, it acquired Crete (1205), the Cyclades, Euboea, parts of the Peloponnese, and later the Ionian Islands. These dominions, which remained under Venetian control until the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, formed the core of the Stato da Mar and were instrumental in sustaining the Republic’s maritime empire and commercial prosperity. Cyprus also came under Venetian administration. These geopolitical shifts profoundly impacted not only territorial control but also the movement and self-expression of Greeks.
Crete, Venice’s most important overseas territory from 1205 to 1669, underwent administrative and religious reforms aimed at imposing Catholic structures and Venetian governance. Orthodox bishops were often replaced or overshadowed by Latin ones, and Orthodox clergy were marginalised. Venetian law took precedence over local customs, and church property was sometimes confiscated. These policies provoked uprisings, most notably the Revolt of Saint Titus in 1363. This rebellion, initially led by discontented Venetian nobles over tax impositions, was soon joined by members of the Greek population who attempted to establish an independent Cretan state.
Greek responses to Venetian rule varied widely. While some elites collaborated to retain privileges or relocated to Venice, others actively resisted foreign domination. Trade and development brought prosperity, cultural exchange, and infrastructural improvements. Though often motivated by strategic and commercial considerations, Venetian policies sometimes permitted coexistence and supported aspects of Greek cultural expression. Nevertheless, Venetian authorities maintained economic dominance, upheld legal hierarchies, and imposed religious control. They also periodically used force to assert their rule. These measures often led to tensions and episodes of resistance among local communities.
The struggle for St George of the Greeks
Amidst this complex political and religious setting, the Greek community in Venice sought to assert its spiritual identity, culminating in a long struggle for a church of their own. By the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Greek merchants, clergy, and intellectuals from both Venetian and Ottoman-controlled territories had formed a strong and influential community.
In 1498, the confraternity known as the Greek Brotherhood, or Scuola dei Greci (School of the Greeks), repeatedly appealed to the Venetian Senate for permission to build a dedicated Orthodox church. Despite demonstrating loyalty to the city and making substantial contributions, their appeals were consistently denied. This policy reflected Venice’s effort to maintain religious governance and uphold the primacy of the Catholic Church.
After decades of public petitions and diplomatic negotiations, permission was granted in 1539. The Church of San Giorgio dei Greci (St George of the Greeks) was completed in 1573, marking a significant moment of recognition. It became a lasting symbol not only of spiritual and cultural resilience but also of the careful compromises struck between Venetian political interests and Greek determination.
Iconostasis at St George Greek Orthodox Church.
Upon entering the church, one encounters a large icon of Saint George standing on the island of Venice. The interior dome features a fresco of Christ and the Last Judgement, painted between 1589 and 1593 by the Cypriot artist Giovanni Kyprios, influenced by renowned Venetian Renaissance artist Tintoretto. These features embody a synthesis of Orthodox tradition and Venetian Renaissance aesthetics.
Cretan artists such as the post-Byzantine painter Michael Damaskinos, who contributed eighteen icons to the church’s gilded iconostasis, along with Renaissance-era priests and painters Emmanuel Tzanes and Philotheos Skoufos, enriched the interior with devotional works that preserved a deep spiritual heritage.
The flourishing of Greek art and thought
The renowned Cretan artist El Greco (Doménikos Theotokópoulos) was trained in the post-Byzantine iconographic tradition in Venetian-ruled Candia (modern-day Heraklion). In 1567, he migrated to Venice, where he absorbed the influence of Italian Renaissance masters such as Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto, before later developing his mature style in Spain. His paintings reveal a noticeable integration of Orthodox iconography with Venetian artistic influences, reflecting the rich cultural exchanges within Venice’s Greek community.
The community upheld and nurtured its Hellenic identity through education and intellectual engagement. The School of the Greeks and the Flanginian School, a Greek educational institution supported by the merchant Thomas Flanginis of Corfu, operated from 1664 to 1905. These institutions became the cultural and educational heart of Venice’s Greek community. They cultivated a strong Hellenic identity through language, theology, philosophy, and classical studies, and contributed to the Diafotismos (Greek Enlightenment) of the eighteenth century. This intellectual and spiritual movement helped lay the groundwork for the Greek War of Independence in 1821. Venice also became a major centre of Greek-language printing. Liturgical, theological, and philosophical texts were produced in the city, helping preserve the Greek Orthodox faith and distribute Enlightenment ideas. The Greek diaspora in Venice helped shape the cultural and intellectual revival of Hellenism.
Greek mythology in the Venetian imagination
Venetian elites often viewed their republic as the heir of Rome and Byzantium, and they actively engaged with ancient Greek art and mythology. In the Palazzo Grimani, the Tribuna room features a sculpture of Zeus, depicted as an eagle, abducting the divine hero Ganymede. In the myth, Ganymede is taken by Zeus to serve as cupbearer to the gods, chosen for his exceptional qualities and elevated to divine status. Suspended mid-air and surrounded by replicas of over one hundred ancient Greek statues, the sculpture was installed in the mid-sixteenth century. It reflects the Renaissance revival of classical ideals, particularly the divine and the idealised human form.
The Tribuna Room at Palazzo Grimani.
During the neoclassical period, sculptor Antonio Canova reinterpreted Greek myths with deep emotional intensity. His statue of Orpheus and Eurydice at the Museo Correr (1775–76) portrays Orpheus’s doomed attempt to rescue his wife Eurydice from the underworld through the power of music, which moves the gods to grant her release on the condition that he does not look back until they reach the surface. Tragically, Orpheus’s premature glance leads to her permanent loss, and his intense expression of grief is powerfully conveyed in the sculpture. This myth reflects fundamental Hellenic themes such as love, loss, fate, destiny, and the human condition.
Zeus and Ganymede.Orpheus and Eurydice.
The Panagia Mesopantitissa: Icon of Survival
Venetian relations with the Ottoman Empire alternated between trade and military conflict. During the long siege of Candia (now Heraklion), from 1648 to 1669, Greek and Venetian forces resisted Ottoman attacks. When the city eventually fell, many Greek refugees fled to Venice. The Venetians brought the sacred icon of the Panagia Mesopantitissa (Virgin Mary, the Mediator) with them.
The icon was enshrined in the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of Our Lady of Health), a church built by the people of Venice in fulfilment of a vow to the Virgin Mary during the plague of 1630–31. They had pledged to honour her with a church if she granted them protection. The icon came to symbolise not only divine protection but also a shared sense of devotion. It served as a spiritual link to Byzantium and invoked a sense of sacred continuity. For the Cretans, it represented survival, a sacred connection to their homeland, and an enduring symbol of faith in the diaspora.
Panagia Mesopantitissa.
Today, the Greek community in Venice is far smaller but still active. At its peak in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, it consisted of approximately 5,000 people, making it the largest foreign population in the city. Even as the community diminished in numbers, its symbolic and spiritual legacy remained strong.
The Greeks of Venice demonstrate how diasporic communities embody resilience through adaptation and express devotion through cultural and artistic forms. In Venice, Hellenism evolved, leaving its mark on the city’s history, art, waterways, and spiritual life. It is a legacy that quietly endures.
Dr Themistocles Kritikakos is a Greek-Australian historian, philosopher and writer. He holds a PhD in History from the University of Melbourne. His forthcoming book explores intergenerational memories of violence in the late Ottoman Empire, identity, and communal efforts toward genocide recognition, focusing on the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian communities in Australia.
All photos in this article are credited to the author.
Next week: Don’t miss the launch of the Magna Graecia (Great Greece) series, an exclusive new collection of articles by Dr Themistocles Kritikakos in The Greek Herald, exploring the legacy of Hellenism in Southern Italy.
A self-described TikTok “healer” from Huntingdale with over 80,000 followers has had a warrant issued for his arrest after failing to appear in court on Friday, June 6 to face multiple sexual assault charges.
Christos Papathanasiou, 42, was due to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court but failed to attend, prompting Magistrate Angela Bolger to issue a warrant. He had previously been released on bail.
According to The Herald Sun, Papathanasiou is accused of sexually assaulting two women on a Pakenham train on April 1. Police allege he “firmly” groped the women’s buttocks as he moved past them and later made “kissing lips” toward one complainant after she confronted him. Bystanders reportedly intervened to assist the women and prevent Papathanasiou from fleeing the scene.
The court also heard that Papathanasiou is facing separate allegations from March involving an apartment cleaner.
In another incident, he allegedly chased a couple down a street in Huntingdale wielding a machete and shouting threats. He also faces accusations of assaulting his uncle for refusing to give him $200.
Papathanasiou had previously denied wrongdoing, telling the court in April: “I bumped into a lot of people” and suggesting the train incident may have been a misunderstanding.
During court proceedings, he also used the opportunity to promote his TikTok channel, where he shares content on natural remedies and cayenne pepper recipes.
The Pharos Alliance held its third Parent Seminar on Sunday, June 8, facilitated by Professor Emeritus Joe Lo Bianco at the Greek Centre on Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
Titled “Language in the Home: Raising Greek English Bilinguals in Melbourne,” about 20 people attended and learned about ways to increase children’s use of Greek in the home environment.
It is not enough for students to learn to read and write Greek at school, even though this is fundamentally important, of course. The future vitality of the language, however, depends on its active use in the community and this can be supported, initially, at home.
Pharos committee members met parents and grandparents who were eager to hear about the objectives of the Pharos Alliance. Participants shared their concerns and received invaluable advice, drawn from evidence-based research, to overcome obstacles. They were provided with a variety of resources for the acquisition of vocabulary to help create confident users of the language.
Vasso Zangalis, Treasurer of the Pharos Alliance, shared her family’s story. In a mixed marriage, Vasso insists on speaking Greek with her children. Her approach is that if they don’t explain to her in Greek what it is that they want, they will not get it.
“It’s as simple as that!” she said.
Vasso Zangalis.
A couple in the audience explained that they also are trying to follow the one parent-one language approach.
“We are learning Greek with Lucia and the Wiggles,” noted another couple, “and we’ve recently discovered Bluey in Greek on YouTube.”
Participants completed a language portrait exercise, aligning the various languages in their lives with specific parts of their body, associating one or more with their heart, head, stomach, hands and feet, as a way of exploring what role languages play in the formation of their identities. The exercise highlights the interplay between psychology and language use.
Finding ways to foster the desire for children to identify as speakers of Greek was a central goal of the seminar. Professor Lo Bianco emphasised the need to develop enjoyable activities making use of relevant vocabulary to give children the tools they require to speak Greek. The need to communicate with a relative who doesn’t understand English could be utilised for this purpose.
Professor Joe Lo Bianco.
Participants were also guided to create a language policy for the home along with their children and were encouraged by the numerous examples of successful language revitalisation projects around the world, including those of the Welsh and Hawaiian languages.
“With persistence, it is possible for us to reverse the decline of Greek language use in Melbourne and Australia. The Pharos Alliance looks forward to this challenge and we invite all interested members of the public to join our efforts,” Professor Lo Bianco said.
You can follow the activities of the Pharos Alliance here.
Melbourne accountant Jordan Arvanitakis has avoided jail after attempting to defraud the Victorian Government of $260,000 in small business Covid grants during the height of the pandemic.
According to The Herald Sun, the 59-year-old was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday, June 5 to a two-year community corrections order, including 220 hours of unpaid work, after pleading guilty to multiple counts of deception.
Between April and June 2020, Arvanitakis submitted 26 fraudulent applications for $10,000 grants on behalf of clients through the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. He admitted to amending BAS statements and falsifying documents using the ATO business portal.
Although he retained $47,758 to cover outstanding client fees, Arvanitakis later fully cooperated with investigators, citing “coercive pressure” from desperate clients trying to survive the economic downturn.
Judge Sarah Leighfield described his actions as “persistent and calculated,” but acknowledged a “Robin Hood-like quality” to the offending.
“It was not motivated by greed… but desire on your behalf to assist your clients to navigate their way through and survive the pandemic,” she said.
Arvanitakis was ordered to repay the $47,758 and was noted for showing “genuine remorse,” supported by character references from his wife, mother, and parish priest who described him as “selfless, kind, and compassionate.”
Bernice Miller, 91, was left devastated when Tsounakas, who had been paid $32,000 for the job, removed her spiral staircase and failed to replace it, leaving the top floor of her three-storey home without a fire escape.
“I told him I was worried. I told him if there was a fire I’d need that fire escape,” she told A Current Affair at the time. “He doesn’t care.”
After her story aired on national television, Lykourezos and his team from Final Touch Building stepped in to rebuild the staircase free of charge — just in time for Bernice’s 91st birthday.
“I don’t know what to say, you’re amazing – thank you,” an emotional Bernice said as she hugged the builders.
Lykourezos added, “She is safe and happy now and that’s what matters to us.”
Tsounakas initially refused to pay a court order in Bernice’s favour, but has since started paying her back.
The case marks another legal challenge for the former KPMG dealmaker, whose recent financial woes have involved debts in the millions.
The value of the alleged unpaid rates has not been disclosed, though the Local Court only handles civil matters up to $100,000 — a comparatively minor sum next to the wider financial drama that has engulfed Adgemis in recent years.
For many years now, St George Basketball Association (SGBA) has been much more than your local sporting club, it has become a vibrant reflection of the diverse community it represents.
Located in the heart of one of Sydney’s most multicultural regions, SGBA has a long history of bringing together players, coaches and supporters from all walks of life, all united by one cause: their love of basketball.
A community for everyone
At its core, SGBA is committed to creating a welcoming environment for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
From grassroots development programs to their senior representative teams, the organisation ensures that everyone has an opportunity to participate and thrive.
It doesn’t matter if you are a first-time player, experienced referee or just a passionate fan, St George Basketball is proud to hold diversity at the top of their core values.
All of SGBA’s grassroots programs are specially designed to remove modern barriers to participation and the organisation works tirelessly to ensure language, culture, gender and economic status don’t stand in the way of anyone wanting to play their favourite sport.
St George also houses a number of bilingual volunteers, demonstrates culturally aware coaching and showcases their various inclusion policies as a forefront of the club’s day-to-day approach.
Reflecting the diversity of the area
The St George region is one of Australia’s most culturally rich areas and SGBA reflects that on and off the court.
Every season, players from more than 30 countries lace up their sneakers to play for St George, with the courts echoing with a global mix of languages, traditions and styles of play.
At the forefront of this is the St George Senior Men’s White team featuring players from 19 different cultural backgrounds spanning all corners of the globe.
During the 2025 Waratah League season, the St George Men’s White team have featured players with heritage from Indigenous Australian, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Croatia, England, Germany, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Malta and Serbia, Isreal, USA, Uruguay, New Caledonia.
This multiculturalism isn’t just accepted – it’s celebrated, and has been a driving force for the clubs success this season.
Leading by example
The SGBA leadership team, coaching staff, and volunteers are as diverse as the players themselves, and this representation matters as it ensures that decisions are made with a deep understanding of the community’s needs and values.
This sends a powerful message to their young players – basketball is for everyone, regardless of where they come from.
SGBA is also in partnership with local and councils to promote inclusion in sport and currently runs programs specifically tailored to underrepresented groups, including programs specifically designed girls, refugees and youth from low-income families.
Building bridges through sport
Basketball at St George is more than just competition – it’s a way to build bridges between communities.
It creates friendships that cross cultural and linguistic boundaries and also teaches young players life skills such as teamwork, respect and perseverance.
For many families, SGBA is second home – a place where children grow, parents connect, and communities thrive.
Looking ahead
As St George Basketball continues to grow, its commitment to inclusivity and multiculturalism remains front and centre.
With plans to expand, deepen community partnerships, and elevate youth development pathways, the association is poised to be a model for how the sport can unite and uplift.
In a world that often feels divided, St George Basketball reminds us how people from people from various backgrounds can be brought together through the power of sport – one game, one team and one community at a time.
