Many Greeks were surprised when they viewed the recent Netflix documentary titled “World War II: From the Frontlines”.
The documentary, which includes enhanced archival footage and incorporates perspectives from all sides involved in the conflict, characterizes the Greek resistance to the WWII Italian invasion as weak.
The documentary implies that Greece only showed weak resistance to Italy while there is no reference to the resilient defense mounted by the Greek military, which fought hard against the odds to repel Mussolini’s forces back into Albania.
In a time of rapid production of documentaries and dramas, there is a growing concern among historians and enthusiasts regarding the accuracy of the content being produced.
Photo: netflix
According to thearchaeologist.org, Greek soldiers, fought hard with the Italian forces, despite of being outnumbered and facing firepower disadvantages. Noteworthy among these battles was the Battle of Pindus, where Greek troops successfully repelled Italian advances.
Greece held its ground for 219 days, from October 1940 to April 1941, until Nazi Germany initiated a big attack. Throughout this period, Greece endured 13,325 deaths, 62,663 injuries and 1,290 individuals listed as missing. The world acknowledged the Greeks for their bravery and resistance during these invasions and the years of Axis occupation.
Winston Churchill famously praised the Greek people for their heroism, and leaders from across the globe lauded Greece for its courage.
The Board of the Cyprus Community of New South Wales has issued the following Year in Review for 2023.
Full review in English:
As we approach the final days of 2023 it’s opportune to review the past 12 months at the Cyprus Community of NSW.
2023 has been another challenging and eventful year.
It was a time to reconnect with members who were once able to contribute so much in their younger years, now their memories spark that smile of how much the Club and Cyprus means to them.
It was also a year we welcomed many new members, some in their youth slowly changing the fabric of our Club.
It has always been difficult for a group of volunteers to operate such a large diverse Community with many competing interests and demands, as well as with decades long financial issues. Despite these challenges, 2023 has been a year of historic milestones, a truly rewarding year.
For the first time outside Cyprus and the UK, our veterans and their families were recognised for their sacrifice.
Many members asked to know more about their family’s involvement in World War one, two and the Balkan wars.
Cypriots served with the Greek and Australian military side-by-side in virtually every theatre of war. Cyprus had the highest number of volunteers per capital to serve in World War two than any other territory/ country.
Cypriots were invited to join this year’s Anzac Day parade in Sydney
The Cyprus Community is proud to have led the campaign for the recognition of our veterans and in recent months our newly formed Cypriots for Anzac will be announcing the unveiling of a major monument in honour of our veterans.
2023 was also a year when archaeological heritage artefacts were returned from Australia back to Cyprus. The Cyprus Community hosted Dr Marina Solomidou Ieronymidou, the Head of the Cyprus Department of Antiquities and her team of investigators, preservers and curators to officially receive the artefacts and carry them back to Cyprus.
The Community’s newly formed Heritage Committee is hard at work to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian government to formalise the process to repatriate and preserve other items from our heritage.
In 2023, we also hosted the Cambridge University Museum Director of Greek-Cypriot artefacts.
The Community’s social and cultural activities were the most diverse and largest we have had for a very long time.
Our Tuesday members lunch continues to grow and provide traditional “laika” fare. With affordable food and beverage, live entertainment and the famous meat raffle, it’s the perfect get together for members, friends and family.
Our soccer club attracted nearly 2,000 applications, it’s amongst the fastest growing vibrant sporting club in the state.
But perhaps for many the greatest achievement which has alluded boards, Presidents and Club supporters for over two decades, is the milestone of the year – the rezoning of the Stanmore property. It’s no small feat.
What does it mean?
The bulk of the land once zoned “open space” means nothing could be built on it. For the first time, the entire Stanmore property can be redeveloped into mixed use residential commercial precinct. This has significantly raised the value of the land.
With a decrease in the Cyprus Club’s debt to asset ratio, roll out of necessary repairs and upgrades, the Club has achieved unenviable benchmarks to offer range of services, events, functions, cultural and education activities and recognition from our neighbours, RSL, government, public and private institutions.
We are a volunteer-based organisation.
In a time-poor age, it’s comforting to see that there are people with views, ideas, something to say, who also have something to contribute and make the effort to help their community.
Helping with repairs to help organise events, it’s the volunteers who quietly, without fanfare or glory, turn up and lend a hand.
The Cyprus Community is the last of the great Greek organisations which offer full set of services from Greek language and dancing schools, to a soccer club and kafenia. We should all be proud that we have kept our pioneer’s vision alive, even in such challenging times.
The Community’s traditional Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 16 was bigger this year with over 30 stalls, music rides and much more, plus Santa Clause arrived with the compliments of Marrickville Fire Brigade – an event that should not be missed.
Cypriot community visited the annual Christmas Markets
Members, children and grandchildren were photographed with Santa and his helper and received gifts, Santa’s blessing and a word of advice for the coming year.
Our famous New Year’s Eve Dance is also bigger than ever. Bookings are essential.
As we review 2023, we must not forget the coming year commemorates 50 long years of foreign occupation. For 50 years, refugees have been waiting to go home, over 1,000 waiting to find out the fate of their missing relatives and friends.
The region has become even more volatile, challenges Cyprus faces can only motivate us to rededicate our efforts to support a just outcome for Cyprus.
We wish all our members, their families, supporters, volunteers, teachers, coaches, managers parents and directors of our Soccer Club, to the members of Justice for Cyprus Committee (SEKA), the Heritage and ANZAC Subcommittees, and to our members, friends, patrons, sponsors, financial supporters, all the best for the festive season and a healthy, happy, peaceful and progressive 2024.
The University is considering steering away from a discipline of Languages and Cultures and wants to instead form a Discipline of Global Studies. This means language programs for Modern Greek, Croatian, German, Italian and Russian could be discontinued.
Since then, the Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation (MGSF) confirmed in December that it continues to hold discussions with the University over its proposal to discontinue the language course. The President of the MGSF, Theo Premetis, said a final decision on whether the Modern Greek Studies Program would be discontinued is expected to be made by the middle of 2024. New enrolments are currently taking place for the 2024 academic year.
In the meantime, The Greek Herald has decided to speak to some alumni and current students of Macquarie University to hear their thoughts on any potential changes to the Modern Greek Studies Program.
Olivia Tzakos
Olivia Tzakos.
Olivia Tzakos, a 23-year-old who’s currently studying a Master of Speech and Language Pathology at Macquarie University, said having the opportunity to study the Greek language was so important to her.
“It allowed me to strengthen the connection to my cultural roots and continue keeping our beautiful language alive as a third generation Greek Australian,” Olivia said.
She had the pleasure of being taught Modern Greek by Dr Patricia Koromvokis, who she said is “one of the most inspirational academics I have come across” in her tertiary education.
“Having a lecturer who is extremely passionate about teaching the Greek language enhanced my desire and dedication towards immersing myself in the Modern Greek Studies Program,” she said.
Olivia said she’d encourage more people to do the program as “learning a second language provides significant employment opportunities and improves one’s ability to converse within cultural contexts.”
“Having learnt Greek as a second language is advantageous for me professionally as I intend to enter the field of speech pathology after I finish my studies,” she added.
Olivia Tzakos.
She was devastated to hear that the Modern Greek Studies Program at Macquarie may be in jeopardy.
“To think that the future of the Greek language could be at stake is even more upsetting as it greatly affects learning and employment opportunities for students, as well as future generations within the Greek community,” she said.
The 23-year-old said it was important to her to keep the Greek language alive in Australia.
“I hope that everyone rallies behind the continuation of Modern Greek Studies at Macquarie University as I believe it is of utmost importance to spread and maintain one of the world’s oldest languages in order to preserve and celebrate our Greek identity and culture,” she concluded.
Samuel Giovas
Samuel Giovas.
Samuel Giovas, a 22-year-old graduate who just completed his Bachelor of International Studies last year, said he specialised in Modern Greek.
“One of the highlights of my time at Macquarie includes being involved in MUGA and just being involved with the Greek community,” he said.
“I also had a great teacher, Dr Koromvokis and she made the course really enjoyable. To be able to learn the Greek language and understand it better was also a great outcome of the course.”
Samuel said after finding out the Greek course may be discontinued, many students emailed MUGA, outlining how they want to study Greek and how they’re really sad to hear the course might be discontinuing.
“I think learning language, especially one with a long history such as Greek, is really important and we need the ability to be able to do it,” he said.
“Also, with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the current and very sudden future, it won’t be able to replicate language, and so it’s something with so many benefits that needs to be taught and continue to be taught in institutions such as universities.”
Alexia Nastatos
Alexia Nastatos.
Alexia Nastatos is another former student who “absolutely LOVED” the course.
“I didn’t elect to study Greek until my last year, as I had a few spare electives, and oh my goodness, I wished I’d done it sooner,” she said.
The 24-year-old Macquarie University graduate said she loved being able to reconnect with her culture through language.
“It gave me the opportunity to be taught by Patricia Koromvokis! Not only is she an amazing lecturer and teacher, but I had actually been wanting to be taught by her for years. I also got the chance to meet some amazing people,” Alexia said.
“It’s a way of connecting with your culture through the language and keeping it alive within Australia. Past generations have fought so vigorously to keep the Greek language and culture alive for future generations, so I see studying the course as a way of honouring that.
Alexia Nastatos with her friends and Dr Patricia Koromvokis (second from left).
“For those who don’t have a Greek background, it doesn’t matter! Give yourself a challenge, meet some amazing people, and learn a beautiful language.”
The 24-year-old said she was quite saddened to hear the course may not be offered anymore.
“As a language with such a long history, from a culture with deep roots, I struggle to understand why this language should be discontinued,” she said.
“Why shouldn’t the interested mind, or the person with Greek heritage, be given the chance to study Greek? Learning a language can open so many doors for people, and why shouldn’t Greek be one of those languages for university students?”
Doris Damoulakis
Doris Damoulakis.
Doris Damoulakis, a Clinical Psychologist of 20 years and former Macquarie student who studied the course, said she had an excellent experience.
“My first teacher was Vasilis who was followed by Dr Elizabeth. They were both passionate, knowledgeable, invested and relentless in their goal to make the Greek language something that was accessible to all students who wanted to learn and connect with the Greek language,” she said.
“I got to learn about the Greats of Greek literature, poetry, philosophy, psychology as well as the historical events that have shaped Greece and their impact on the world.
“It also enabled me to cruise through aspects of my psychology degree because names of certain conditions and medical terms are actually Greek words and so it made my studies easier.”
She said as Australia is such a multicultural country built on a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, foods, identities, and ways of life, discontinuing Greek studies “goes against and denies our way of life.”
“This is not acceptable for Greek studies or any language for that matter. Students should be able to have the choice to study their language in tertiary settings,” she said.
“If we start pulling Greek out of one university, which will be next? When will it end?”
Parisa Marathos (Marathocabitis)
(L-R) Dr Patricia Koromvokis with Parissa Marathos.
Parisa Marathocabitis, a 25-year-old Bachelor of Arts (major in music) /Bachelor of Education (Primary) graduate of Macquarie University, said speaking Greek has always been incredibly important to her.
“It became instrumental throughout my degree when I was asked to represent MUGA and the Combined University Greek Association (CUGA) by reciting poems in Greek for the commemoration of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising in 1973 (Το Πολητεχνειο) in both 2019 and 2020,” Parisa said.
Parisa said studying modern Greek at Macquarie reminded her of her passion to uphold the Greek culture and language, “as well as its values, its history, its richness.”
“Sitting in the tutorial rooms being taught by the outstanding Dr Patricia Koromvokis, truly gave me a sense of inspiration and a feeling of privilege knowing that by choosing to study modern Greek made a huge impact in the course being still available to continue to study in the 21st century at a tertiary level,” she said.
She said undertaking the course was also “an incredibly fulfilling cultural experience.”
“You’re able to learn a new skill in learning a new language at a tertiary level, especially if you haven’t had the opportunity to experience this before,” Parisa explained.
“Studying Modern Greek at a tertiary level at Macquarie truly was a highlight of my entire degree.”
Parisa said if the course is not saved, “tertiary programs truly are going backwards in not offering to learn languages in the 21stcentury in the Faculty of Arts.”
“People who value and cherish what Modern Greek means to them like myself, would go to no end in making the course available for the next generation to study, to continue the passion, the history, the richness and love for one of the most incredible languages in the world,” she said.
James Adonopoulos
James Adonopoulos.
James Adonopoulos, a 44-year-old Academic Dean of Kaplan Business School, said he chose to study Modern Greek at Macquarie, “not only because it’s one of the very few universities at which it’s still taught, but also because of Macquarie’s world-class online delivery.”
He said as a “profoundly proud Hellenophile” his entire adult life, it was special for James to study Modern Greek at Macquarie as “it’s so much more than just the deeper learning of a beautiful language.”
“It’s everything else I’ve additionally learnt as a by-product of this process – the culture, the history, the music, the country, the people, the customs, the food, the politics – all of it thanks to the engaging curriculum,” he said.
James said if you’re of Greek ancestry, nothing prepares you for how fulfilling and life-enriching it is to learn the Greek language.
“It will instil in you, just like it did in me, an even stronger appreciation of our ancestors’ unparalleled contribution to the world we know today,” he explained.
“But there are benefits even to people of other cultures because it simultaneously engenders a greater understanding of science, philosophy, ethics, linguistics – and that’s in addition to how much easier it becomes to travel around one of the most breathtaking countries on this planet – a place tourists rarely visit only once.”
James said saving the Greek language course at Macquarie was about more than just the Greek diaspora and preserving the opportunity for second and third generations of Greek Australians to study it.
“This is also fundamentally about the need for Macquarie University to continue delivering with its renowned excellence a course that by its very existence recognises the influence of Greece on the Australian way of life, with architecture, business, sport, festivals, government and cuisine a few of the sectors that have been most positively influenced,” he said.
The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) proudly hosted its inaugural Appreciation Ceremony to recognise and honour the dedication and selfless contributions of exemplary volunteers with more than 10 years of community contribution.
This heartwarming ceremony brought together community members, devoted volunteers, and priests from the Holy Church of “Annunciation of our Lady,” “Holy Trinity” Church, “St. George” Church, Holy Church of “St. Eleftherios” and Holy Church of “St. Dimitrios.”
The ceremony began with a warm welcome from Nick Koukouvitakis, GCM Secretary, expressing gratitude for the invaluable contributions of volunteers who have made a significant impact on the community.
All photos supplied by Kostas Deves.
Mr Koukouvitakis started his speech with a famous quote from Helen Dyer, “Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mould the present into a future of which we can all be proud.”
“Your compassion and kindness towards others are an inspiration to all, and your efforts have not gone unnoticed,” he added.
The GCM President, Bill Papastergiadis OAM also gave a speech and took people on a retrospective journey through the history of the community and its churches.
Mr Papastergiadis put together the threads of the community’s past, highlighting key milestones, challenges, and triumphs, created a powerful narrative that resonated with everyone present.
By delving into the history, Mr Papastergiadis not only honoured the sacrifices and contributions of those who came before us but also provided a context for our present identity and aspirations.
The key points of this narrative were that in 1898,an eight-member ecclesiastical committee consisting of Greeks and Syrians was appointed with the goal of bringing a permanent priest to Melbourne. On December 6, 1900, the foundation ceremony of the first Orthodox church took place, marking the official beginning of Orthodox doctrine in Victoria.
For almost 60 years, the Holy Church of “Annunciation of our Lady” was the sole church meeting the religious needs of Orthodox Greeks. Today, it is considered one of the most significant buildings representing the historical Greek presence in Melbourne.
In the 1950s, the Community responded to the increasing needs resulting from post-war mass migration by establishing two additional Orthodox churches.
Throughout these years, the members of the Community volunteered their contributions to the operation of Orthodox churches, covering administration, financial obligations, fundraising, and everything necessary for their smooth functioning.
Mr Papastergiadis stated, “The GCM is built on the foundation of unity and shared values. Our volunteers embody these principles, and it is only fitting that we come together as a community to honour their commitment, passion, and generosity.”
“This event serves as a platform to shine a spotlight on their selfless acts and express our heartfelt gratitude for the positive change they bring to the lives of others and our community,” he added.
Father Phillip Papagiannopoulos, a representative from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, expressed his gratitude to the volunteers.
“Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our community, and their unwavering dedication deserves to be recognised. You are our light. You are our faith. You are the backbone of our churches. Your exemplary service echoes the spirit of love, compassion, and unity,” Father Phillip said.
The Consul General of Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, also spoke and fostered a sense of unity and continuity, reminding us that our shared history is a source of strength and resilience.
He remarked, “Volunteerism is not imposed; it is inspired. It is grounded in Love, the kind that is written with a capital ‘L’ and resides deep within us. This humility is a path of greatness. The power of volunteering is unifying, is transformative. Your dedication is a source of inspiration for us all.”
The Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Vivienne Nguyen, by sharing her personal story being a refugee herself, expressed profound appreciation for the volunteers, “This ceremony is a testament to the profound impact you had on the wider community.”
“You set a strong foundation for all the communities that came after you here in this city. We followed your footsteps. You have created a sense of belonging for all of us. It was very healing founding this reminder of the home we left behind. We are immensely grateful for their tireless efforts and selfless service,” Ms Nguyen added.
Following the moving speeches, Associate Prof. Marinis Pirpiris, Treasurer of the GCM, and Helene Hiotis, GCM board member and principal of Bentleigh Secondary College, presented certificates of recognition to over 40 of the GCM longstanding volunteers.
Photo: Kostas Deves.
Four certificates were also given to the families of volunteers who are deceased. Among the volunteers was Costas Kolokythas, who has been the chanter of “St. George” Church for 58 years. With his selfless contributions and humble commitment, he was an inspiration for all the attendees.
The success of the inaugural ceremony has set a positive tone for future endeavours aimed at recognising and appreciating the unsung heroes within the GCM.
2023 has been a year of victory and accomplishment for Greek and Greek Australian athletes. From Australian Open records to membership in Australia’s National Second Tier, this year, Greeks have made their mark in sport.
Now, as the 2023 chapter comes to an end, The Greek Herald has shared its seven best Greek sporting moments of the year.
#6 –Eleftherios Petrounias secures spot in 2024 Olympic Games after silver medal win
Eleftherios Petrounias will be going to the Summer Olympics in 2024. Photo: Agona Sport.
Talented Greek gymnast Eleftherios Petrounias won a silver medal at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp. Also known as ‘Lord of the Rings,’ Petrounias displayed great skill and strength during his performance.
His win means he has secured a spot at the Summer Olympics in Paris next year.
#5 –Stefanos Tsitsipas becomes first Greek to reach Australian Open final
Stefanos Tsitsipas becomes first Greek to reach Australian Open final.
Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first ever Greek to reach an Australian Open final after defeating Russian Karen Khachanov at Melbourne Park in January 2023. He was ultimately defeated by Novak Djokovic in the final.
#4 –Greek men’s water polo team claim spot in first-ever world championship grand final
Greek men’s water polo team claim spot in first-ever world championship grand final.
The team’s result also secured their presence in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This will be the 17th overall time in Greece’s water polo history that it will play in an Olympic Games and the 12th in a row, since Moscow in 1980.
#3 – Sakkari beats Dolehide to win WTA Guadalajara title
Greece’s Maria Sakkari ended a lengthy WTA title drought in winning the Guadalajara Open. Photo: EPA.
Maria Sakkari ended American Caroline Dolehide’s incredible run in the Guadalajara Open final to win her maiden WTA 1000 championship and snap a four-year title drought.
Second-seed Sakkari defeated Dolehide, ranked 111th in the world, 7-5 6-3, to win her second career championship and go through the week without dropping a set.
#2 – Ange Postecoglou confirmed as manager of Premier League side Spurs
Ange Postecoglou. Photo: SNS.
Ange Postecoglou made history as the first Australian of Greek heritage to manage a Premier League club after Tottenham Hotspur confirmed his appointment as head coach in June.
Postecoglou arrived at the English Premier League after a successful spell at Celtic FC, which saw him lead the club to the eighth treble in its history.
#1 –Two Greek football clubs to play in Australia’s inaugural National Second Tier competition
South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic FC are in Australia’s inaugural National Second Tier. Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
Two Greek football clubs were officially confirmed among the eight foundation clubs to take part in Australia’s National Second Tier (NST) competition, set to commence in March / April 2025.
The two Greek clubs are Sydney Olympic FC and South Melbourne FC. They will be joined by APIA Leichhardt FC, Avondale FC, Marconi Stallions FC, Preston Lions FC, Sydney United 58 FC, and Wollongong Wolves FC.
The clubs were announced at a Football Australia press conference after a rigorous and comprehensive application process.
Former KPMG dealmaker turned hospitality investor, Jon Adgemis, is being sued by Richard Gazal, the late Joe Gazal’s son, for alleged debts, according to The Australian Financial Review.
This case is the latest in a series of legal cases against Adgemis, as his Public Hospitality Group owns around 20 hotels and has been beset by significant debt and cash flow issues.
“This is a commercial matter which is close to being resolved,” Adgemis told the Australian Financial Review on Friday about the latest legal case.
Some of Jon Artemis’ debt is being passed on to new hands. Photo: The Australian Financial Review.
Legal issues are nothing new to Adgemis. The private investment vehicle of billionaire Bruce Gordon filed a lawsuit against Adgemis’ company in 2021, claiming he was due more than $6.4 million.
In 2020, Adgemis was also sued by the Chinese-owned firm Aqualand Developments for a debt exceeding $9 million. Since then, however, both situations have been resolved.
The next hearing in the NSW Supreme Court concerning Gazal’s lawsuit against Adgemis is scheduled for February 2024.
Adgemis has made no further comment on the upcoming case.
Perth Mayor, Basil Zempilas has publicly slammed the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) crowd for a “poorly-attended” Boxing Day Test on Tuesday, December 26.
Zempilas witnessed thousands of empty seats at the MCG yesterday and resorted to X, formerly known as Twitter, to criticise Melbourne’s fans.
“Hmmmm. What’s their excuse? Not like you can go to the beach?” Zempilas wrote.
Hmmmm. What's their excuse? Not like you can go to the beach?
Fans were quick to hit back at Zempilas following his post.
“Probably get more on Day 1 with rain forecast for half the day than the entire crowd for 4 days of the Perth test,” one fan wrote.
“You should have gone to the beach instead of posting your tweet,” another fan commented.
According to Daily Mail, the official attendance number for the first day of the Test was 62,167, which is the second highest for the first day of an Australian-Pakistan Test at the stadium.
It also outnumbers the combined attendance in Perth, which was just more than 59,000 across four days of activity.
Despite missing nearly three hours owing to inclement weather on Tuesday, Pakistan managed to deliver 66 overs against Australia in front of 62,167 fans at the MCG.
Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos has demanded compensation for the substantial cleaning cost left behind by a raucous Christmas beachside party in Sydney’s inner-east.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Masselos revealed the annual Bronte beach Christmas party drew approximately 10,000 people — 20% more than prior years — who trashed the historic site.
Thousands of predominantly backpackers and travellers celebrate Christmas Day at Bronte Beach this year. Photo: Jane Dempster.Local resident of Bronte Beach Robert Kokolich is seen helping the Council workers clean up the enormous amount of rubbish. Photo: Gaye Gerard.
Ms Masselos stated that the Waverley region was widely highlighted in tourism advertising and material, but the council received no additional cash to manage the “consequences” of the summer visitor rush.
“If the state and federal governments are going to be promoting these tourist spots, councils need support to manage the consequences of that,” she said.
Sydney’s Bronte beach after partygoers left masses of trash following their Christmas Day celebrations in 2022. Photo: NewsWire.
“As always I am appalled that people show such little response for such a beautiful environment. It’s a huge issue,” Masselos told The Daily Telegraph.
A Waverly Council spokesman expressed in a statement that while they were pleased with the overall behaviour at the event on Monday, the amount of trash was “disappointing.”
No comments have been made by State or Federal Government on providing councils with compensation.
Leader of Greece’s main opposition party SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Stefanos Kasselakis embarked on a meaningful Christmas Eve outreach initiative accompanied by Greek Australian, Christos Alefantis, editor of the street magazine Schedia, and Michalis, a homeless individual.
Kasselakis joins Schedia in Christmas outreach to Athens’ homeless.Kasselakis joins Schedia in Christmas outreach to Athens’ homeless.
According to amna.gr, they walked the “invisible paths” of Athens together, engaging with the city’s homeless population, and later shared a festive dinner at the Shedia house.
In a social media post accompanied by a video, Kasselakis expressed his commitment to understanding the experiences of the homeless and emphasised the national goal of eradicating homelessness if SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance was elected to power.
Ημέρες γιορτής στην Αθήνα. Θέλησα να κάνω τις αόρατες διαδρομές στην πόλη. Τις διαδρομές των αστέγων.
Με τον κύριο Μιχάλη, που γνώρισε πώς είναι να είσαι άστεγος στην πρωτεύουσα. Και τον εκδότη του περιοδικού δρόμου «Σχεδία», Χρήστο Αλεφάντη.
— Stefanos Kasselakis – Στέφανος Κασσελάκης (@skasselakis) December 26, 2023
The video captures Kasselakis engaging in heartfelt conversations with Michalis and expressing gratitude to Alefantis for Shedia’s impactful 11-year journey.
Mr Michalis shared his personal journey from homelessness to finding support and cultural reintegration through Shedia, underlining the magazine’s holistic impact on those who have experienced homelessness.
The Greek city of Thessaloniki on Tuesday, December 26 was gripped by grief as it bid a poignant farewell to the legendary folk singer Vasilis Karras.
Karras, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 70 after battling both the illness and a recent bout of COVID-19, leaves behind an indelible mark on Greek music.
As early as 8 am, a multitude of friends and devoted fans gathered at the Holy Church of Agia Sophia in Thessaloniki.
Crowds paid their last respects on December 26 to popular Greek singer Vasilis Karras who passed away at age 70 on December 24 after a long battle with cancer. Photo: KONSTANTINOS TSAKITZIS / EUROKINISSI.
The crowd, eager to pay their respects, pre-emptively secured a place in the popular pilgrimage. Applause and cries of “Immortal Vasilara!” filled the air as the beloved artist’s body was honoured by the people.
Images captured the emotional arrival of Vasilis Karras’ body, drawing crowds bidding their final farewells. The folk singer’s family, visibly united in grief, embraced at the holy temple, with his wife, daughter, and brother providing mutual support.
Karras’ daughter at her father’s funeral service. Photo: iefimerida.
Many in attendance clutched bouquets of white flowers, intending to place them in the coffin as a gesture of love and respect. The courtyard and surrounding public spaces overflowed with thousands of fans, patiently waiting to bid farewell to their cherished singer.
Karras’ funeral will fulfill his last wish by taking place in his hometown, Kokkinohori Kavala. In lieu of wreaths, the family requests contributions to the “Floga” Association of Parents of Children with Neoplastic Diseases.
Vasilis Karras, who passed away at 70 after a long battle with cancer, was given his last goodbye at the Church of God Sophia in Thessaloniki. Photo: KONSTANTINOS TSAKITZIS / EUROKINISSI.
Thessaloniki, the city where Karras’ musical journey began, declared a three-day mourning period. The Association of Restaurants, Grills, Cafes, Bars of Thessaloniki decided to exclusively play Vasilis Karras’ music for three days as a tribute to the iconic artist.
Artists who shared the stage with Karras on the night of his passing also bid him a heartfelt adieu, dedicating words and songs to the beloved “lord” of the dance floor.
