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Pontian Society of Sydney donates Panagia Soumela icon to St Stephanos church

The Greek Herald
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Pontian Society of Sydney donates Panagia Soumela icon to St Stephanos church

In a heartfelt display of community spirit and cultural heritage preservation to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Pontian Society of Sydney Panagia Soumela has presented a cherished gift to the church of St Stephanos at Hurlstone Park.

The Society has donated an icon of Panagia Soumela to the church. The stunning silver-gold-plated replica icon meticulously painted with egg tempera on carefully selected plane tree wood, serves as a profound testament to the unwavering dedication and impeccable artistry of its creators.

The icon of Panagia Soumela is deeply intertwined with the history and identity of the Pontian Greeks. Following the Greek Genocide and population exchange of the early 20th century, many Pontian Greeks were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in the Pontos region of modern-day Turkey. This traumatic event resulted in a dispersal of the Pontian Greek community across various parts of the world, with many finding refuge in Greece and other countries such as Australia.

Throughout their displacement and exile, the Pontian Greeks held onto their cultural and religious heritage. The icon of Panagia Soumela, originally housed in the ancient Monastery of Soumela in Trabzon, present-day Turkey, became a beacon of hope and resilience for the Pontian diaspora. The image of the Virgin Mary depicted in the icon was seen as a protector and guide, offering solace and strength to the displaced community.

Many Pontian Greeks held representations of Panagia Soumela with them as they navigated the challenges of displacement as they sought to preserve their traditions and identity. The icon served as a reminder of their connection to their homeland and a symbol of their enduring faith in the face of adversity.

Today, the veneration of Panagia Soumela remains a central aspect of Pontian Greek culture and spirituality. The icon is commemorated in religious services, cultural events, and communal gatherings, serving as a unifying force for the Pontian diaspora. Its presence continues to inspire a sense of solidarity and resilience among the Pontian Hellenic community, reinforcing their shared history and legacy.

In times of hardship and uncertainty, the icon of Panagia Soumela serves as a source of comfort and reassurance for the Pontian Greeks, reminding them of their enduring heritage and the enduring power of faith. The icon represents not only a religious symbol but also a cultural touchstone that connects the Pontian diaspora to their roots and provides a sense of belonging and strength in the face of adversity.

By offering this exquisite icon to the church, the Society symbolises its commitment to preserving and honouring Pontian culture in Sydney. It is a pledge of support for the community and the church ensuring that the spirit of Pontos, its sacred traditions and beliefs, remain and thrive for years to come.

Sunday, 19th of May 2024, at St Stephanos Church, 650 New Canterbury Road, Hurlstone Park, after the Divine Liturgy, will be the first unveiling and procession of the sacred icon, along with a memorial service for the souls of the victims of the Genocide of the Hellenes of Pontos. All are welcome to attend.

Australia’s first Greek Orthodox church to reopen

The Greek Herald
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Australia’s first Greek Orthodox church to reopen

The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church (Aghia Triada) in Surry Hills, Sydney is set to reopen on Sunday, June 2 following the completion of some restorations.

The Thyranixia (reopening) ceremony will be held in the presence of Archbishop Makarios of Australia.

The church is known as the first Greek Orthodox church established in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, and it has been given State Heritage Status by the New South Wales Government. It is managed by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW).

holy trinity1
Official opening of the Holy Trinity church in 1899.

Built in 1898 and consecrated on 16 April 1899, the Holy Trinity church originally served the Syrian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox communities in Sydney through Father Seraphim Phocas who was fluent in both the Greek and Arabic languages.

Over time, the condition of the church has deteriorated due to water entry and major tree root damage underground.

In response, the Board of the GOCNSW in conjunction with the Holy Trinity Restoration Committee, launched the 125th Anniversary Restoration Appeal in June 2023 with the aim of restoring the church to its former glory.

holy-trinity-committee
Some members of the Holy Trinity Restoration Committee with the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis (second from left). Photo supplied.

According to a pamphlet issued by the Restoration Committee, the restoration works commenced in May 2023 and would take place over a period of three years and in four stages. The total cost is estimated at more than $1.1 million.

The fourth and final stage is set to be completed in 2024/2025 at a cost of $304,537.00 to be fundraised through cash, in-kind Donations and Fundraising from the Greek Community and Government Sources.

Stage four will include: concrete repairs to Bell Tower side returns, replacement of eight elevation side windows and coating works, the provision of a disabled entry ramp off Bourke Street, the replacement of side and main entry doors off Bourke Street, the restoration and cleaning of eroded windows and surrounds, the preparation and affixing of the Honour and Donors Boards, and the preparation and affixing of a marble plaque.

New committee elected to lead Victoria’s Greek National Day Council

The Greek Herald
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New committee elected to lead Victoria’s Greek National Day Council

A new executive committee to lead Victoria’s Greek National Day Council was elected at a meeting on Monday, May 13.

The Victorian Council for Greek National Day is made up of representatives from all of Victoria’s major Greek organisations and was established to organise commemoration events for Greece’s Independence Day on March 25 each year.

An election was called after outgoing Council Chairman Tony Tsourdalakis and Secretary Natasha Spanos announced at a February 6 Council meeting that they would step down from their roles at the end of this year’s Greek Independence Day parade.

Executive positions filled at the recent election were:

  • Chairman: Sophia Siachos
  • Secretary: Kristian Rapsas
  • Assistant Secretary: Katerina Drougas
  • Master of Ceremonies (Greek): Maria Bakalidou
  • Master of Ceremonies (English): Leonidas Vlahakis
  • Parade Manager: Jim Grivokostopoulos (Grivas)
Tony Tsourdalakis Victorian Council for Greek National Day
Outgoing chairman of the Victorian Council for Greek National Day, Tony Tsourdalakis at the Greek Independence Day parade in 2023. Photo: Con Deves.

The Treasurer position had already been accepted by Arthur Andronas following a meeting on April 22, 2024.

As reported by The Greek Herald, the Treasurer position was vacated by Jim Grivokostopoulos (Grivas) in December 2023.

Mr Grivas resigned at a general meeting of the Council on December 11, 2024, and said he felt unable to do his job properly as Treasurer because he was never provided access to the Council’s financial records or invoices in order to verify the P&L statement. Mr Grivas’ access was restricted despite requesting to see the financials.

While Mr Grivas stipulated in his resignation that he believed “nothing untoward” was behind the restricted access to the financials, he did put forward a motion calling for an independent audit committee to review the last three years of financial statements.

This motion was passed by the committee members present and it was agreed that the audit committee would be made up of three people: Mr Grivas himself, Father John and Mr Andronas.

In recent months, some members of the Council have also raised concerns around its constitution, as well as the recent Greek Independence Day parade on April 14 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne.

Two Greek Australian women named in U-23 Four Nations Tournament squad

The Greek Herald
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Two Greek Australian women named in U-23 Four Nations Tournament squad

Australia’s U-23 Women’s National Team Head Coach Melissa Andreatta has finalised the 24-player squad who will participate in the Four Nations Tournament in Växjö, Sweden later this month. 

To be held during the May/June FIFA Women’s International Window at Visma Arena and Värendsvallen, Australia will feature in three friendly fixtures against the U-23 women’s national teams of Sweden (29 May), Germany (1 June) and Poland (4 June).

The squad for the tournament features a heavy Liberty A-League Women’s flavour with 21 of the 24 players having played their football in the recent season representing ten different clubs. Premiership Winners’ Melbourne City FC lead the contingent with five representatives including the 2023-24 A-League Women Young Footballer of the Year, Daniela Galic. 

Named among the squad are two Greek Australians including defender Alexia Apostolakis (Western Sydney Wanderers FC / Football NSW) and forward Peta Trimis (Central Coast Mariners FC / Football NSW).

2023-24 A-League Women Goalkeeper of the Year, Morgan Aquino earns her first call up at U-23 level, while 11 members of the CommBank Young Matildas AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2024™ bronze medal winning squad also feature in the final selections. 

Fresh from assisting Crystal Palace FC Women in earning promotion for next year’s Women’s Super League season, defender Polly Doran heads up the overseas-based cohort alongside Tottenham Hotspur FC Women forward Milly Boughton and Sporting De Huelva forward, Anna Margraf. 

Head Coach Melissa Andreatta stated that the selections reflected the efforts of the players during the recent Australian and European season. 

alexia apostolakis
Alexia Apostolakis

“This is a squad of players that have put their hand up for this fantastic opportunity to play high quality nations through their performances in the recent A-League Women and European football seasons,” Andreatta explained.

“That 10 of the 12 A-League clubs are represented speaks to the evenness of the competition this season and is recognition of the developmental work that is being undertaken week in and week out.

“Excitingly, with this roster there are a significant number of players that are in-form and showing high potential to be a future CommBank Matilda. Now it is about taking this opportunity to challenge and test themselves against some of the best in Europe, which has been at the global forefront of women’s football development in recent years.”

Several players eligible for the age group have not been brought into selection contention with Sarah Hunter, Charlie Rule and Amy Sayer all unavailable through injury. A number of other players are in contention for various other women’s national team activity across the age groups resulting in their absence. 

“With Sharn Freier and Kaitlyn Torpey making their debuts in the last two FIFA international windows, recently we have seen the U-23 program demonstrating its purpose in developing players and giving them the skills physically mentally, technically and tactically to step into the senior team environment,” Andreatta said. 

“To bring the group together as we prepare for three strong matches will be brilliant experience for the players and will expose them to what is required to push on in their careers. 

“We hope through the hard work of the staff and the players themselves, we can give more players the opportunity to perform at a high level and to earn future senior national team recognition down the track.”

Players and staff of the U-23 Women’s National Team squad will commence their camp in Sweden on Thursday, 23 May 2024.

Australian chain Lukumades makes US debut

The Greek Herald
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Australian chain Lukumades makes US debut

Melbourne-based doughnut and coffee chain Lukumades has opened its first US outlet in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. 

Founded as a food truck business by Exarhos Sourligas in 2016, Lukumades now operates nine stores in Australia and 13 international sites across six markets.

The chain sells Greek-inspired loukoumades – bite-sized deep-fried dough balls – alongside espresso-based beverages, iced drinks, milkshakes and ice cream. 

“Our journey to the US marks an exciting new chapter for Lukumades. We are proud to introduce our irresistible vegan-friendly Greek doughnuts, homemade gelato and freshly ground coffees to Americans,” Mr Sourligas said.

“The US market’s vibrant culture and diverse culinary scene presents an incredible opportunity to share our delicious little doughnut balls with a completely new audience.”

Lukumades has selected Florida-based St. John as its US agency of record to support outlet growth and is expected to launch a US franchise programme later this year. 

Source: worldcoffeeportal.com

Philip Thalis awarded Gold Medal by Australian Institute of Architects

Andriana Simos
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Philip Thalis awarded Gold Medal by Australian Institute of Architects

The Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) unveiled on Monday, May 13, the distinguished recipients of the 2024 National Prizes, recognising outstanding contributions to the field of architecture across Australia.

Among the award recipients was architect Philip Thalis from New South Wales, who received the prestigious Gold Medal for 2024.

The Gold Medal is the RAIA’s highest honour. It recognises distinguished service by architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction resulting in the advancement of architecture, or endowed the profession of architecture in a distinguished manner.

Mr Thalis is the founding principal of Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects. His work demonstrates the value of research to not only built projects but also their underpinnings, such as precinct planning, urban design, typology, heritage and advocacy.

A vocal and public figure, Mr Thalis has combined excellence in design through leadership of his practice, Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects, with policy and advocacy for the built environment, as an elected independent councillor with City of Sydney (2016–2021). It is this capacity to span both private and public arenas that places Mr Thalis in a pivotal position within the practice of architecture.

His contribution to research on Sydney’s architectural history and his ongoing commitment to teaching also consolidates his all-round exceptional leadership in the field.

Other prize recipients include:

  • National Presidents Prize, Naomi Milgrom (VIC)
  • Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize, Monica Edwards (NSW)
  • Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize, Simon Anderson (WA)
  • Leadership in Sustainability Prize, Abbie Galvin and Paulo Macchia (NSW)
  • Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture, Hudson Smith (QLD)

National President of the RAIA, Stuart Tanner, said the breadth of experience and excellence showcased by this year’s award recipients filled him “with immense pride.”

“Each honoree exemplifies the highest architectural innovation, leadership, and dedication standards, leaving an indelible mark on the profession. Their collective contributions not only shape our built environment but inspire future architects to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in architecture,” Mr Tanner said.

Cumberland City Council reverses library ban on same-sex parenting book

The Greek Herald
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Cumberland City Council reverses library ban on same-sex parenting book

Cumberland City Council has overturned its controversial library ban on a children’s book about same-sex parents after fiery debate at a meeting on Wednesday night.

The book, titled Same-Sex Parents by Holly Duhig, is part of a series depicting diverse family structures for a younger audience. It features two men and a child on the front cover.

A motion put forward by Cumberland City Councillor and former mayor Steve Christou to ban the same-sex parenting book from Council libraries passed last week. The decision received mixed reviews from across the political spectrum.

In response, Council voted on Wednesday, May 15 to reverse the ban after four hours of debate and numerous failed attempts at amendments.

same sex parenting book
The same-sex parenting book at the centre of the ban.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, councillors voted for a motion to reinstate the book into its library collections, but to move it from the children’s section to the junior non-fiction section in line with Australian library guidelines.

That motion, put forward by Labor’s Kun Huang, was passed 12-2 just before 10.45pm. The only councillor to support Christou was Eddy Sarkis. Christou was abandoned by two party colleagues, who voted in favour of the motion.

Speaking outside the meeting after the vote, Christou said he was “disappointed by some colleagues that held a firm position and… with pressure put on by the media, that they changed their position.”

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Merrylands council chambers on Wednesday night, chanting and yelling amid a heavy police presence.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Alexandropoulis marks liberation day with largest Greek flag

The Greek Herald
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Alexandropoulis marks liberation day with largest Greek flag

The Greek city of Alexandroupolis celebrated its liberation day on Tuesday, May 14 by raising what is believed to be Greece’s largest flag.

According to hellasjournal.com, the flag has an area of ​​618 square meters and measures 21 X 28.5 metres.

A special crane was needed to raise the flag at the Archaeological Museum of Alexandroupolis, as part of the city’s “FREEDOM 2024” celebrations.

The flag raising was the highlight of the historic city’s liberation day celebrations.

Alexandroupolis also held a military and student parade to mark the 104th anniversary of its union with Greece. The parade was attended by government and local officials as well as representatives of the Orthodox Church.

Source: hellasjournal.com

Greek PM expresses shock at ‘heinous attack’ on Slovak leader

The Greek Herald
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Greek PM expresses shock at ‘heinous attack’ on Slovak leader

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed his shock at the “heinous attack” on his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico on Wednesday.

Slovakia’s Prime Minister was shot five times after a government meeting in the city of Handlova, in what the country’s Interior Ministry called an “assassination” attempt.

“Shocked by the heinous attack against the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico. Such acts of violence have no place in our societies. I wish him a speedy recovery,” Mitsotakis said in a message posted on X.

According to Slovakia’s Interior Ministry, Fico is in a “life-threatening” condition following the attack. A government spokesperson said the PM had to be airlifted to a hospital in the city of Banská Bystrica. Fico has been undergoing surgery there.

Witnesses reported seeing security services detaining a man after the incident.

Other world leaders have also condemned the attack including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Fico is Slovakia’s longest-serving prime minister and was elected for a fourth term in 2023.

During a three-decade career, Fico has moved between the pro-European mainstream and nationalistic positions opposed to European Union and US policies. He has also shown a willingness to change course depending on public opinion or changed political realities.

Source: ABC News.

Charmian Clift’s Kalymnos: A new workshop for readers and writers

The Greek Herald
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Charmian Clift’s Kalymnos: A new workshop for readers and writers

It was standing room only at Gleebooks on Sunday, May 12 when Charmian Clift fans and Kalymnian Australians gathered to hear biographer Nadia Wheatley talk about the connections between the Dodecanese island and Australian author Charmian Clift, who wrote her first solo book, Mermaid Singing, while living on Kalymnos in 1955.

In recent years, Kalymnians have been given back Clift’s account of their island and their culture through the book’s Greek translation — To Tragoudi tis Gorgonas (published by Metaichmio).

Crowd at Charmian Clift's Kalymnos. Gleebooks, (Effy Alexakis)
Crowd at Charmian Clift’s Kalymnos, Gleebooks. Photo: Effy Alexakis.

The title comes from the answer Clift gave to the islanders when they asked her why she and her family had come to Kalymnos. She told them that she was ‘looking for a mermaid.’  

“We were civilisation sick, asphalt and television sick,” she wrote in Mermaid Singing. “We had lost our beginnings and felt a sort of hollow that we had not been able to fill with material success. We had come to Kalymnos to seek a source, or a wonder, or a sign, to be reassured in our humanity.”

Kalymnos in 1955 was certainly a place to escape from the pressures of city life.

In that era, the island was still dependent on the sponge industry. Traditionally, the men went to sea in the week after Easter and were away for nine months, engaged in the perilous task of gathering sponges from the sea bed. Meanwhile the Kalymnian women ran the households.

Nadia Wheatley speaks at Charmian Clift's Kalymnos.Gleebooks, (Yannis Dramitinos)
Nadia Wheatley speaks at Charmian Clift’s Kalymnos, Gleebooks. Photo: Yannis Dramitinos.

Wheatley explained how Clift’s experience of the powerful matriarchal culture of the island gave her a model for her individual philosophy of feminism.

Clift’s mentor and friend on the island was an indomitable woman named Sevasti Taktikou.

Charmian Clift, George Johnston and Sevasti Taktikou, on Kalymnos, 1955. (Cedric Flower)
Charmian Clift, George Johnston and Sevasti Taktikou, on Kalymnos, 1955. Photo: Cedric Flower.

“As well as being what Charmian called “the household prop and stay,” the older Kalymnian woman taught the younger Australian woman to shop and cook and keep house in the local manner,” Nadia said. “And most importantly, Sevasti was the author’s cultural adviser.”

Fans of Clift are very keen to make cultural connections with Greece, so audience members were thrilled that the Consul General for Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis, attended the event, and were deeply moved to hear him pay tribute to the significance of Charmian Clift’s story of Kalymnos as a way of connecting younger Greek Australians with their heritage. The Consul General spoke too of the role that Clift had played after her return to Australia, championing Greek democracy during the years of the Junta.

The Consul General for Greece, Yannis Mallikourtis, speaks at Charmian Clift's Kalymnos.Gleebooks, (Effy Alexakis)
The Consul General for Greece, Yannis Mallikourtis, speaks at Charmian Clift’s Kalymnos, Gleebooks. Photo: Effy Alexakis.

The event concluded with the launch of the program for Charmian Clift’s Kalymnos — A Workshop for Readers and Writers, which Wheatley will be conducting on the island of Kalymnos in April 2025. Over the course of a week, a small group of Clift readers will be visiting the places that inspired Charmian Clift’s travel memoir Mermaid Singing, and will be writing and publishing their own responses as a communal blog.

“I hope that this workshop will further the conversation between Kalymnos and the wider Australian community that Charmian Clift started so many years ago, with Mermaid Singing,” Wheatley said.

For more information contact: charmiancliftauthor@gmail.com

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