Turkish social media erupted in response to a Greek tourist’s bold action inside Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia.
Apostolos Papatheodoros, a Greek visitor, caused a stir when he proudly displayed the Greek flag within the historic site and captioned his Instagram post with the words, “My beloved city, forever Greek.”
The image quickly spread across Turkish media platforms, triggering a wave of reactions. Many Turks denounced the act as provocative, questioning how such an action could be permitted within a symbolically significant location.
The Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul. Photo: The Byzantine Legacy, X.
Some even directed their ire towards Turkish authorities for allegedly allowing the incident to occur unchecked.
Among the responses, some took a more aggressive tone, resorting to veiled threats and references to historical events. Comments such as “I hope you know how to swim” and “the sea is cold, my love” drew implicit parallels to the tragic Smyrna disaster, a dark chapter in Greek-Turkish relations.
As reactions continue to pour in on social media, the incident serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play in the region.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi solidified their countries’ partnership during a meeting held on Sunday. Government sources revealed Mitsotakis’ satisfaction with the elevation of European Union relations with Egypt to a Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership.
Central to the discussions was the decision to bolster the strategic alliance between Greece and Egypt, marked by the establishment of a High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC). Scheduled to convene in Athens shortly after the signing of a Joint Declaration by the two leaders, this council signifies a commitment to deepen collaboration across various sectors.
Η εφαρμογή της Συνολικής και Στρατηγικής Εταιρικής Σχέσης με την Αίγυπτο θέτει σαφείς στόχους όσον αφορά στην ενίσχυση της σχέσης ΕΕ και Αιγύπτου και αναγνωρίζει ένα πολύ απλό γεγονός: ότι η σταθερότητα και η ευημερία της Αιγύπτου είναι καίριας σημασίας για την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. pic.twitter.com/dAUGCnQdGw
Mitsotakis underscored Egypt’s crucial role in tackling illegal immigration, highlighting the importance of cooperation in managing this pressing issue. He further commended the robust bilateral relations and ongoing energy cooperation, with special mention of the Greece-Egypt GREGY Interconnector electricity project.
Moreover, Mitsotakis expressed gratitude to President al-Sisi for facilitating his private visit to the Siwa Oasis. This location holds significant cultural relevance for both Greece and Egypt, serving as the historical site of the Oracle of Amun Ra, famously visited by Alexander the Great in 331 BC.
Kathari Deftera, also known as ‘Clean Monday,’ is an annual feast that marks the beginning of Lent – the 40-day fasting period known as ‘Sarakosti’ in the Greek Orthodox Church. Every year it falls on the seventh week before Orthodox Easter Sunday.
This significant holiday combines both religious and cultural significance for Greeks around the world.
What is Clean Monday and why do we celebrate it annually?
In the Greek Orthodox calendar, Clean Monday commences on the Sunday night prior to the day where a liturgy takes place at the church and parishioners ask for forgiveness from each other. This is a way for people to cleanse their consciences and renew their love with one another and with God.
This evening also signifies the end of the Apokries or Carnival festivities which take place worldwide (especially in Greece) and urges people to steer away from any sinful behaviours and prepare for fasting for the upcoming weeks.
Traditional foods
Lagana. Photo: Vicki’s Greek Recipes
A key part of the Clean Monday celebration is eating a traditional feast of Greek foods. Typically, on this day, people will indulge in seafood or vegetarian dishes which reflect the upcoming fasting period.
One of the traditional foods consumed on this day is ‘lagana,’ which is a flatbread baked only on Clean Monday. It is paired with ‘taramosalata’ – a traditional Greek meze made from tarama, which is the salted and cured roe of the cod, carp, or grey mullet, mixed in with olive oil, lemon juice, and in some cases, bread or potatoes.
Taramosalata. Photo: Real Greek Recipes
Dolmades are another classic to add to the list of foods. They are vegetarian stuffed vine leaves filled with rice – in a non-fasting period, these are commonly made with minced meat too.
For those with a sweet tooth, ‘halva’ is a popular sweet many Greeks opt for on Clean Monday and throughout Great Lent as it is vegan and delicious. It is a no-bake semolina cake that consists of a texture between a moist cake and a pudding.
Traditional activities
Clean Monday is not only a day for abstaining from certain foods, but a time for families and friends to come together and take part in outdoor activities. In Greece in particular, families will go on picnics in nature and enjoy the spring weather, feast on food, listen to music and dance in the lead up to Easter. One popular tradition associated with this annual day is flying a kite. This symbolises the human spirit and its journey towards spiritual purification.
Kite. Photo: More Greece
The significance of Clean Monday
Clean Monday serves as a reminder of the significance of rejuvenating one’s spirit and engaging in self-reflection. As well as having its religious aspects, this holiday is an opportunity for Greeks to reconnect with their cultural heritage, foster a sense of community and pass down traditions through multiple generations.
Together with fasting, kite flying and enjoying family meals together, this special day in the Orthodox faith combines the timeless values of purity, forgiveness, and communal joy. It not only marks the beginning of Lent but welcomes the arrival of spring and the start of new beginnings.
Maria Sakkari added former coach of legend Venus Williams, David Witt, to her team, after Witt’s coaching came to an end with powerhouse Jessica Pegula two weeks ago.
Witt is the first new coach for the Greek champion since she announced the end of her professional partnership with Tom Hill after six years.
According to tennisuptodate.com, Sakkari and Witt’s alliance hopes to assist the former world No. 3 overcome her current troubles, which include several defeats in recent tournaments.
Witt’s first tournament with the Greek is now taking place at the Indian Wells Masters, played from March 6 to 17, with Sakkari set to face world no. 1 Iga Świątek in the final today.
Sakkari holds the No. 9 ranking for now, with a significant portion of her points coming from the end of the 2023 season.
Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Louvre Museum has announced a new exhibition delving into the rich history of the Olympics. “Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy” opens April 24, and will follow the founding of the Games, and show the influence of ancient Greece on them.
With a keen focus on the genesis of the modern Olympic Games, the exhibition aims to shed light on France’s pivotal role in their establishment, particularly in Paris. “Many may know Pierre de Coubertin as the father of the modern Olympics, but “Olympism” will also spotlight lesser-known figures, like Dimitrios Vikelas, Michel Bréal and Spyridon Lambros.
Photo: Stavros Niarchos Foundation
According to townandcountrymag.com, a centerpiece of the exhibition is “Bréal’s Cup,” the inaugural Olympic Cup crafted by French scholar Michel Bréal and awarded to the victor of the first marathon. The cup is on a special loan from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Other items on display will include ephemera from the first Olympic games, held in Athens in 1896. According to the museum, “as part of the programme of cultural events accompanying the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the exhibition will show how, in the name of sport, the disciplines of philology, history, art history and archaeology came together to create this global sporting event.”
“Olympism” is curated by Alexandre Farnoux, Professor of Greek Archaeology and Art History at Sorbonne University; Violaine Jeammet, Senior Curator in the Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Musée du Louvre; and Christina Mitsopoulou, Archaeologist at the University of Thessaly, French School at Athens.
At the 2024 World Travel Awards ceremony in Berlin on Wednesday, Athens was named Europe’s Leading City-break Destination. The prestigious award was received by Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of the Company of Development and Tourism Promotion of the Municipality of Athens (EATA).
According to amna.gr, Athens’ distinction at the 31st World Travel Awards seals the long-term strategy and efforts of the Municipality of Athens through the “This is Athens” program over the past decade for the city’s sustainable tourism development.
Photo: Alfie Sta
This is achieved through its promotion and recognition as a competitive city-break tourist destination, attracting visitors 12 months of the year. In 2023, Athens achieved a new record in international arrivals, surpassing 7 million visitors.
One of the top tourism expos in Europe, ITB Berlin, is being held his week (March 5-7), and Athens is participating with a dedicated space at the Greek National Tourism Organization’s booth.
Moonee Ponds’ legendary Greek restaurant, Philhellene, is embarking on an exciting new chapter under the stewardship of Paul Chatzis, the new owner who aims to spotlight the Epirus region of Greece.
According to The Herald Sun, Paul, who recently took the helm of Philhellene alongside his wife Anna, aims to bring to the people a taste of his home beginning with a distinctive olive oil. “My best friend is producing it, down the road from where I grew up, and we’re the only ones to have it in Australia,” he said.
Eight months into their new venture on Mount Alexander Road, the couple is close to revealing the restaurant’s renovated dining area, kitchen, and wine cellar.
Spiros Kassidis of The Strand in Williamstown taking has taken the role of the head chef. Kassidis is set to enrich the menu with a selection of Greek imports in the near future.
Photo: www.mooneeponds3039.com.au
“We’re moving forward while respecting tradition,” Paul said.
“We haven’t changed the menu, though, as people love Greek food and there are a lot of traditional dishes and crowd favourites.”
Instead he’ll test the waters by sharing Epirus regional dishes on the specials menu.
“(The region is known for) having a lot of meat spits, so chicken, lamb and pork. And we’re famous for filo pies and pastries,” he said.
Paul’s dad has been a long-time chef at Oakleigh’s famed Kalimera Souvlaki Art.
Philhellene also holds a special place in the couple’s hearts.
“We met at the restaurant – and even got married there. It has a sentimental background for us,” Paul said.
During this year’s Australian Open, Costeen Hatzi, partner of tennis player Nick Kyrgios, made a notable appearance. Kyrgios wasn’t playing because of an injury and she was fronting up to a glamorous event for a brand, showcasing her role as both an influencer and model.
In a recent interview withThe Daily Telegraph, Hatzi said that she embraces the term “WAG” (Wives and Girlfriends of athletes), wholeheartedly. She sees herself as an individual while proudly supporting her partner, emphasizing the mutual support they share.
“I don’t know why there are negative connotations; I don’t know where they came from. I’m my own person, but at the same time I’m supporting my partner, which I’m very happy to do. We support each other,” she said.
Hatzi’s journey into the world of influencing began while she was navigating a desk job and pursuing a degree in psychological science. A chance to encounter with Kyrgios on social media led her life to a significant shift.
Costeen Hatzi and Nick Kyrgios. Photo: instagram
“The only thing I knew about him was a media outlet saying he’s a brat,” she recalls. “I definitely had my walls up because his reputation kind of threw me off a bit, which is unfair. In hindsight, I should have just been a bit less judgmental,” she said.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the two eventually met up for a dinner date, and Hatzi quickly discovered that the man sitting with her was a far cry from his reputation in the media.
“He was the complete opposite,” she told The Daily Telegraph mentioning that the fall in love really fast.
Their bond has stood despite the difficulties, including Kyrgios’s public struggles with injuries and mental health. “Honestly, I think it’s because we truly, really love each other,” Hatzi added.
“We know we’re in it for the right reason so we’re very strong in that way. We just have each other’s backs. We’re a team.”
From April 1, Turkish citizens will be eligible for fast-track visas for travel to Lesvos, as revealed by Mytilini Mayor Panagiotis Taktikos.
This move is part of a reinvigorated Schengen Express Visa program and follows an agreement between Athens and Ankara to bring back the special Schengen Express Visa program for Turkish citizens who want to visit certain eastern Aegean islands, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
According to schengenvisainfo.com, this agreement was announced last December after a meeting between the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Greek PM Mitsotakis stated back then that his government had previously received the approval of the EU Commission to introduce such a program.
Photo: Porapak Apichodilok
He further expressed his support for Türkiye’s request to enter the Schengen Area visa-free.
Greece will issue visas on arrival for visits up to seven days to Turkish nationals. Turkish citizens will be able to obtain them at 10 Greek islands. Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi, Kastelorizo.
Last week, a conference was held by Greek authorities in Mytilini to discuss the anticipated inflow of Turkish tourists, as reported by Ekathimerini. The meeting was attended, among others, by the police chief of the North Aegean Region, the Mytilini Coast Guard, and the island’s customs officials.
Additionally, it was reported that upgrades are being carried out at the port to better accommodate incoming tourists and their vehicles.
Greek freddo espresso and the freddo cappuccino made in Greece are considered superior to the Italian hot cappuccino, according to the Taste Atlas list of the 27 best European coffees.
Protothema.gr, has reported that the well-known website, which deals with food and drink rankings published a list of the coffees that have received the best ratings from the public.
The most popular coffee in Greece seems to have a wide appeal in other countries as well, since the freddo espresso is ranked at number 3, while freddo cappuccino, is not far behind. However, the Greek presence in the coffee rankings does not stop there, as the frappe is at number 9.
At the top of the list is the Cuban espresso, the big surprise, however, is in second place, where the Indian filter coffee is found. It’s a brewing technique in which the coffee is made using a special filter.
