The mystery of Allegra Byron, Lord Byron’s illegitimate daughter, who died at age five in an Italian monastery, is back in the news. Recent discoveries in the monastery’s archives, presented at the 48th International Byron Conference in Missolonghi, shed new light on her fate.
According to amna.gr, Allegra Byron died on April 20, 1822, likely from typhoid or malaria, at the Bagnacavallo nunnery near Ravenna. Her death led Byron to request that her remains be sent to England for burial at Harrow, his alma mater. Despite his wishes, the church refused to bury her in the cemetery due to her illegitimacy and Byron’s scandalous reputation, leaving her burial site unknown.
Allegra’s mother never stopped blaming Byron for his decision to send her daughter to the monastery. The two had separated, their relations were already nearly hostile, and Byron stubbornly refused to allow her to visit her daughter. As Daisy Hay informs us in her book “Young Romantics: The Shelleys, Byron and Other Tangled Lives”, Claire Clairmont later conceived the paranoid notion that “Allegra had not died in 1822, but that Byron, in the spirit of absolut villainy, decided to convince Clara of her demise by sending a goat in a child’s coffin to England.”
Photo: amna.gr
But here’s why, according to research presented at the International Association of Byron Societies conference by Fernando Valverde, associate professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Virginia and former journalist for the Spanish “El Pais”, it is very likely that Allegra was not buried in Britain, but is buried in a chapel of the Italian convent.
A nun’s letter claimed Allegra was buried under an altar in the chapel, while the abbess suggested her body left for England but was lost at sea. This contradiction adds to the enduring mystery of Allegra’s burial.
Byron’s reflections on his daughter’s death, expressed in letters, reveal his grief and philosophical resignation. Allegra’s tragic fate, intertwined with the tumultuous lives of Byron, Shelley, Mary Shelley, and Claire Clairmont, continues to intrigue scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Uber is launching a new range of summer travel services to offer tourists unique and luxurious experiences across Europe.
According to taxi-point.co.uk, this August, Uber introduces Uber Yacht in Ibiza, providing a lavish way to explore the island. For the first time, users can pre-book a private yacht through the Uber app.
Starting from €200 per person, groups of up to eight can enjoy an eight-hour journey on a Sunseeker yacht. The service, departing daily from Ibiza Town Marina at noon, includes a personal skipper, champagne, and artisan snacks. Transfers to and from the yacht are provided from anywhere on the island.
Photo: uber.com
In Greece, Uber Boat will extend its services from Mykonos to Athens, Corfu, and Santorini, allowing travelers to access beach clubs, scenic coves, and remote areas in style. Meanwhile, in Paris, Uber Cruise offers a free one-hour electric boat tour along the Seine, featuring views of Notre Dame, Le Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, complete with complimentary champagne.
These new services respond to the growing demand for Uber’s mobility solutions in Europe’s tourist hotspots. Data from summer 2023 shows a 55% increase in demand for Uber’s services in destinations like Greece and Spain, with over 6.5 million international customers using the Uber app in Europe’s most popular locations. Ibiza alone saw over 800,000 users in the past 12 months.
Find Me Falling (Greek title: Μπρος Γκρεμός) is a cute romantic comedy shot entirely on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus between Peyia and Nicosia.
The film stars Emmy and Grammy-winning actor and musician Harry Connick Jr. as rock star John Allman who decides to take a break from his career to reclaim his spark. His journey of rediscovery takes him to an “isolated cliffside home” on Cyprus.
Cypriot company Green Olive Films collaborated with Jupiter Peak Productions from the US to produce the film. It also received support from Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry of Culture, the Cyprus Film Advisory Committee (CFCC), and Invest Cyprus.
The woman behind this marvellous feat is South African Cypriot filmmaker, Stelana Kliris. The Greek Herald was fortunate to secure an exclusive sit down with Stelana to talk about her process of writing, directing and producing this Cypriot masterpiece.
Congratulations on directing Cyprus’ first Netflix film! How does it feel?
Thank you so much! It is a completely surreal experience but also very humbling and gratifying because my team and I worked so hard on this and now we get to share it with the world!
Tell us about the film.
The official description reads: ‘After a failed comeback album, rock star John Allman escapes to a dreamy Mediterranean island, only to discover that his new cliffside home has an unfortunate notoriety that attracts unwanted visitors and an old flame.’ I’ll add that it’s a feel-good film and an unexpected romantic comedy that shows off the beautiful island of Cyprus and an amazing cast lead by Harry Connick Jr.
How did it all come together? Were there any challenges?
I started writing the script in 2015 and we finally shot in 2022, so there were many challenges along the way, one of the major ones being the COVID-19 pandemic, as we originally planned to shoot this in 2020. Even in 2022, we still had very strict protocols in place during the shoot and it was a big effort on everyone’s part to get the film done on time and within budget, as we had a very little margin for error.
But it came together thanks to support from the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture which has funded this film from script stage right through to production, as well as the Cyprus Film Advisory Committee with their ground-breaking cash rebate scheme and our amazing US co-producer Jupiter Peak Productions. I was also privileged to have by my side US producers Keith Arnold and Steve Shapiro and here on the ground in Cyprus, Dionysios Manganis and Green Olive Films to run the production, plus my beloved cast and crew!
What was your idea behind this film?
I read a lovely article about a kind man in Australia who lived near a suicide hot-spot and saved many lives and I wondered what that would look like, if a misanthrope lived in a similar spot, and the story developed from there. Eventually, in the script, the character became a rock star in crisis and suddenly Harry Connick Jr became the perfect choice for the role. So, step by step, the film came together. I also wanted to look at the idea of legacy and what we leave behind when we go – is it our art, our work, our children or simply how we treated people?
What does this success mean for the Cypriot film community?
This is a very big step for our local film community. While Cypriot films have had some wonderful successes on the festival circuit, this is the first big break into the more commercial sphere and suddenly we have ‘proof of concept’ that we are capable of producing world-class films for an international audience, which is very important for our developing industry.
Our local crew and cast now has a Netflix film on their list of credits and as we try to attract foreign productions to our island, we have a great example to encourage them. I really hope that this opens doors for all of us.
What response do you expect from the audience when it airs on July 19?
I just hope that people embrace and enjoy the film! I think it’s the fun escape that we all need right now and I hope that the diaspora will enjoy watching this ‘love letter’ to Cyprus!
‘Find Me Falling’ will premiere on July 19 on Netflix.
Do you hope or plan to produce more films in the future in Cyprus?
Yes of course! Cyprus is my home and I want our local industry to go from strength to strength. I hope to shoot my next feature, a romantic drama called “Apart from Her” in November and I’m also producing local award-winning director Yianna Americanou’s next feature “My Name is Lily.”
Find Me Falling will be available on Netflix worldwide starting Friday, July 19. Cypriot audiences will have the opportunity to experience the film in cinema theatres for a limited time.
Nikos Stavropoulos – a young Greek from Sydney, specifically from the Greek-dominated suburb of Earlwood – is departing in the coming days for Greece, ready to spread his wings and showcase his athletic talent in his motherland, dedicating his passion to the goddess of all sports: football.
Tell us a bit about yourself, Nikos.
I am 18 years old. I used to go to the private school Christian Brothers at Lewisham. I finished Year 10 in 2022 because I then went to Italy with my football team, Apia Leichhardt, for the “Via Reggio” matches. After that, through an agency named “Target Sport,” I went to Greece for some trial matches at the OAKA (Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens) to be seen and tested for my football skills. I had sent the manager an Australian video of me playing football with Apia Leichhardt. I was successful, and the manager offered me a two-year contract with the agency. My mother, Ioanna, had come with me for the trials. Sometimes my mother and father Christos would come to support me with my endeavours. I was very happy!
Now, about my parents, my mother was born in South Africa with a South African mother (my maternal grandmother) and a Greek father from Kavala in Macedonia (my maternal grandfather). My father was born in Sydney, Australia, but his father (my paternal grandfather) is from the village of Ampelo near Akrata in the Peloponnese, and his mother (my paternal grandmother) is from Sitia in Crete. So, I’m a mix of everything: Macedonian, Peloponnesian, Cretan, South African, Australian, and, of course, very Greek! I have a brother, Dimitris, who is 16 years old, and a sister, Sofia, who is 13 years old.
Nikos Stavropoulos.
Nikos, when did your love for football start?
I started loving football when I was 6 years old. Back then, I played for the Earlwood Wanderers team. From then on, I loved football because I liked getting better and feeling good about improving in this sport. I always tried to be the best I could from a young age. I started taking it seriously, and when I was 9 years old, my parents took me to the Sydney Olympic football team for trials. I joined that team from ages 9 to 13 and had the opportunity to go to Europe three times for matches.
Is there anyone else in your family who is a footballer?
No, no, there’s no one else in my family or even any relative who is involved in football at a professional level. It’s just me, and with my love for the ball, I am trying to build a career in football.
Nikos Stavropoulos as a young boy.
How did it happen that the OFI Crete Under-19s team chose you to join them?
As I mentioned, the agency chose me last August for the OFI Crete U19 team after the trials, and I was only 17 years old then. I felt a great sense of pride because my hard work had a positive result. I called my father back in Australia and my relatives to share the good news because my mother was with me at that moment to hear the wonderful news!
How did your teammates at OFI receive you?
At first, it wasn’t so rosy because I had moved to Crete, I was alone, only 17 years old, and my mother had to return to Australia. Basically, I didn’t have my family with me. And my Greek wasn’t as good as it is now, as I’m trying my best. But later, I bonded with my teammates, though, as you understand, I had to prove myself as a worthy player. But my coach took care of me in everything I needed because he knew, and everyone knew, I was alone. They were all fantastic. I was a striker in the centre with the number “9” and have remained in that position ever since. I have to tell you that three times I was chosen as the best striker under 19 years old in all of Greece, and then I was only 17 years old! It was a big deal for me!
Nikos Stavropoulos now plays for OFI Crete Under-19s.
That’s really impressive, Nikos. Well done! What are your dreams for the future regarding your football career?
My dreams are to become a professional footballer, to join the first team of OFI, and, of course, to make a living from football. That is my dream, but also to represent Greece or Australia in major football matches.
Now, tell us… which Greek football team do you support?
Of course, I support OFI because my grandmother is from Crete, from Sitia! And I want and must support my roots, since I am also of Cretan descent.
And which Australian football team do you support, Nikos?
In Australia, I support the Western Sydney Wanderers team, which even invited me to play with them if I didn’t go to Europe. I would have played for this team, but my homeland, our Greece, and OFI won me over.
Which footballer do you look up to or idolise?
I love Neymar Jr. because when I was younger, my coaches were mainly from Brazil. He is amazing!
Nikos, tell us what it means to you to be a Greek Australian.
It is my identity. Having the Greek identity and Greek culture within me, born here in Australia, is the best thing. All the Greeks here are together, and the Greek community of Australia plays a big role in who I am.
Nikos Stavropoulos is proud to be a Greek Australian.
What things express your Greekness? What does Greece mean to you?
Greek music, Greek food, and Greek dance completely identify me. Also, the Greek family, which is always together. I have always been a proud Greek because my parents raised me that way. Everything we did was Greek, our way of life, and speaking with my grandmother and grandfather in Greek, all of these were important for me. Greece, for me, has a very rich history, and we have a great culture and beautiful traditions. Greece is unique.
Finally, Nikos, what is your message to other Greek Australian children about the Greek language, Greek culture, and sports in general?
First of all, I would tell children my age to embrace Greek culture and speak Greek, dance Greek dances, and other things because we are lucky to be Greek with such a history. I would say what Alexander the Great said: “Nothing is impossible to him who tries.” Chase your dream and have a goal in your life. Don’t listen too much to others and think you must do what others tell you. Do what your heart tells you!
Nikos, thank you very much for your time, and we all wish you the best experiences in your life with OFI over the next two years.
Thank you very much, Mr. Kametopoulos, and The Greek Herald for this opportunity that I will remember forever. I will try in Greece to make the Greeks here in Australia very proud!
If any reader wants to follow Nikos’s progress and successes, they can check out the young Greek Australian player’s Instagram at @Nicholas_Stavropoulos.
The Australian Olympic Team has been finalised with 460 athletes to represent Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 33 sports.
Among the 460 athletes are four Australians of Greek heritage. They are:
Peter Boukouvalas, Archery
NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Peter Boukouvalas is set to make his Olympic debut in archery at Paris’ famed Esplanade des Invalides. 25-year-old Boukouvalas has been selected for the men’s individual event.
A member of the Australian artistic swimming team, Zoe Poulis has developed a sideline as a real-life mermaid, with more than 165,000 followers for her underwater flow videos on Instagram. At the 2023 World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Zoe was part of the Australian team that qualified for the Paris Olympics with a top-10 finish in the Team Free.
Mark Nicolaidis and his teammate Izac Carracher headed overseas recently to compete in Beach Pro Tour events, highlighted by a remarkable ninth place at the 2022 World Championships in Rome. Mark continues to compete internationally with a sharp focus on the Paris Olympics.
Emmanouela Frroku, Gymnastics
The financial crisis that gripped Greece in 2009 began Greek-born Emmanouela Frroku’s journey to representing Australia at the Olympics. Emmanouela is now part of the Aspire Gymnastics group, which will compete in group rhythmic at the Paris Olympics.
Established in the late 1800s as the main thoroughfare from the Adelaide CBD to the seaside, Henley Beach Road has undergone significant change recently as a wave of gentrification continues to transform it.
Henley Beach Road was once a small strip of Anglo-owned grocers, butchers, and drapery shops in the 1800s.
During the waves of migration in the 1950s, the road’s surrounding suburbs, particularly Torrensville, became home to Greek and Italian immigrants. They introduced continental café culture and Mediterranean influences to the area.
From the 1970s, Asian migrants brought another burst of cultural change to Henley Beach Road, opening many speciality food stores and restaurants. More recently, the road has seen an influx of Middle Eastern, Indian and African food culture.
Peter Koulizos believes Henley Beach Road is at the halfway point of its gentrification journey. Photo: Mark Brake
Today, some of the most popular businesses along the Mile End and Torrensville stretch includes Little Canton Chinese, Singh Sweets & Punjabi Restaurant and Parwana Afghan Kitchen – arguably one of Adelaide’s most popular restaurants.
Master of Property at the University of Adelaide, Peter Koulizos told Real Commercial the 2km stretch of Henley Beach Road that runs through the suburbs of Mile End and Torrensville has experienced the most significant change in recent years.
“Once upon a time you knew a place was gentrifying if there were Greek and Italian restaurants popping up. Nowadays it’s Afghan and Japanese restaurants, hot yoga studios and tattoo parlours,” Mr Koulizos explained.
This change won’t stop any time soon with the City of West Torrens council announcing plans to once again reinvigorate Henley Beach Road, with Adelaide Mayor Michael Coxon citing its “huge potential for growth.”
Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou decorated Greek composer and conductor Stavros Xarchakos with the medal of the Grand Commander of the Order of Honour on Wednesday, July 10.
The award ceremony was held at the presidential mansion in Athens, Greece. Xarchakos was awarded in recognition of his extensive and varied artistic contribution.
Greece’s President decorated Greek composer Stavros Xarchakos with the medal of the Grand Commander of the Order of Honour.
In an address, President Sakellaropoulou stressed that Xarchakos had left his stamp on Greek music by drawing on its rich traditions, ranging from traditional and popular music to church hymns and love serenades, combined with western symphonic music and opera.
“Your songs are on the lips of every Greek,” Sakellaropoulou said.
“With this medal, the State honours a personality who has left an indelible mark on Greek music over many decades, making a significant contribution to the field of artistic creation.”
Greek police on the island of Mykonos are coming down heavily on rival gangs fighting for dominance in areas such as entertainment, catering and property sales.
This crackdown comes amid last week’s murder of 54-year-old engineer/surveyor Panagiotis Stathis in Athens, Greece.
A 44-year-old with links to organised crime on Mykonos was arrested on Wednesday for the murder of Stathis, who was professionally active on the island for decades. The suspect was later ordered to remain in police custody after his three hour testimony on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court prosecutor Georgia Adeilini also called for crimes by local mafias in Mykonos, other Cycladic islands, Attica and Thessaloniki to be fully scrutinised, assigning the investigation to a special prosecutor.
Crime in certain islands of the Cyclades, such as Mykonos, centered around building and illegal construction, has become entrenched in recent years, due to the lack of systematic crackdowns.
Saint Paisios the Athonite was credited for many miracles and prophecies, being proclaimed a Saint of the Orthodox Church in 2015.
Arsenios Eznepidis, as his secular name was, was born in Farasa, Cappadocia, on July 25, 1924.
On August 7, 1924, a week before the Christian Farasiotes left for Greece due to the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, he was baptised by Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, the priest of Farasas, whom the Orthodox Church recognised as a saint in 1988.
In 1945, Saint Paisios enlisted in the army and served as a radio operator during the Civil War. He was discharged from the army in 1949 and the following year entered Mount Athos to be a monk. There he met Father Cyril of the Koutloumousiou Monastery and followed him faithfully.
Saint Paisios left the Koutloumousiou Monastery and travelled across Mount Athos, later joining the Monastery of Esfigmenos, the Monastery of Filotheos, and the Holy Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin.
In 1962, Saint Paisios went to Mount Sinai and in 1964 he returned to Mount Athos, from where he never left again expect for a few trips to the outside world.
In 1977, Saint Paisios visited Australia with Father Vasileios of the Monastery of Iviron. Saint Paisios performed a miracle and treated a cancer patient while he was in Australia.
In 1979, he joined the fraternity of the Koutloumousiou Monastery and settled in the hermitage of Panagouda. From then on, he became known to the faithful who visited him and was asked advice on people’s personal matters. Despite his busy schedule, he continued his intense ascetic life.
In 1993, his health deteriorated and doctors diagnosed him with colon cancer. In the last days of his life, he decided not to take drugs or painkillers, despite the horrible pain he felt. Finally, he slept on July 12, 1994 and was buried in the Holy Hermitage of Agios Ioannis the Theologian in Souroti, Thessaloniki.
On January 13, 2015, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to classify the monk Paisios of Mount Athos in the Hagiology of the Orthodox Church.
On September 25, 2023, Archbishop Makarios of Australia declared Saint Paisios the Guardian and Protector of Australia and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
At a NATO summit, US President Joe Biden mistakenly introduced Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky as his Russian adversary, Vladimir Putin, just before his first solo press conference in eight months, which could significantly impact his reelection campaign.
Biden, 81, quickly corrected his mistake, and Zelensky humorously remarked that he was “better” than Putin. However, the slip-up fueled ongoing concerns about Biden’s age and mental sharpness, especially following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump two weeks prior.
“And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said while announcing a NATO-Ukraine compact at the summit in Washington.
After briefly turning away from the lectern, Biden returned, exclaiming: “President Putin! He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky – I’m so focused on beating Putin we got to worry about it. Anyway, Mr. President.”
Zelensky, a former television comedian turned Ukraine’s wartime leader against Russia’s 2022 invasion, responded, “I’m better.”
Biden’s Republican opponents quickly circulated the clip. The timing of the verbal error was particularly unfortunate, as a growing number of Democrats have called for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race.
Hollywood actor and influential Democratic supporter George Clooney has urged Biden to exit the race, and prominent party figure Nancy Pelosi has hesitated to fully endorse him.
Currently, around 14 Democratic members of the House of Representatives and one Democratic senator have publicly asked Biden to step aside. A recent poll revealed that more than half of Democrats believe Biden should end his bid for a second term, with two-thirds of Americans agreeing he should quit the race.
