Archaeologists have discovered two additional Doric-style temples at Paestum, an ancient Greek colony in southern Italy.
Experts unearthed two superimposed Greek temples of the Doric style near to its ancient walls, a few metres from the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to those already recognised, such as Hera’s or Poseidon’s, two of the finest preserved from antiquity.
According to Arkeonews, the first was discovered in 2019 but only analysed three years later, and is dated to the early decades of the fifth century BC, and, due to its qualities and size, constitutes “a unique example in Doric religious architecture.”
Nel @paestumparco sono stati portati alla luce due templi greci di stile dorico. Una scoperta che consente di ampliare la conoscenza della polis e di comprendere l’evoluzione dell’architettura dorica a Poseidonia e in Magna Grecia.#MiC#scoperte#archeologiapic.twitter.com/Qzw0FjIIhX
The temples were part of Magna Graecia (Great Greece), a prosperous collection of ancient Greek cities in southern Italy dating back to the eighth century BC. When the Romans seized the Greek colony of Poseidonia in 273 BC, they renamed it Paestum.
Director of the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia, Tiziana D’Angelo, praised the discovery as “extraordinary,” stating that they [temples] give important new information that will aid in reconstructing Poseidonia’s history.
Italy’s Ministry of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano added that the recent discovery contributes to our understanding of the ancient settlement and the growth of Doric architecture in Poseidonia, throughout Magna Graecia.
Sangiuliano identified that these discoveries demonstrate that “there is still more to unearth and explore” in Paestum, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998.
On Sunday, January 21, a significant milestone was reached for the Greek community in Port Macquarie as the Horton Street Chapel hosted its inaugural Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy on the NSW Mid-North Coast.
As previously reported in The Greek Herald, this development is thanks to the efforts of community activists Cathy Fotoulis Chantler and Costa Dantos as a result of their relentless advocacy to both their local community and to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
This coastal town, known for its scenic beauty and growing population, has become a home to over 250 Greek Orthodox residents, with more than 1000 across the mid-North Coast.
The need for a local spiritual home has been felt strongly, as the closest Greek Orthodox Church is a 2.5-hour drive away in Newcastle.
A significant milestone was reached for the Greek community in Port Macquarie as the Horton Street Chapel hosted its inaugural Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy on the NSW Mid-North Coast.
This occasion was made possible when Father George Liangas, the parish priest of St Nectarios Church in Burwood, Sydney, sought permission from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia to conduct the first Divine Liturgy during his stay in the area while visiting family.
The Liturgy took place at the historic Church on Horton Street, a former Methodist Church built in 1846, coincidentally the birth year of St Nectarios.
Over 70 attendees gathered, with Fr Liangas’s nieces and daughter serving as chanters, captivating the congregation with their voices. In his sermon, Fr George emphasized the importance of gratitude and a united community.
Over 70 attendees gathered for the first Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy in Port Macquarie. Fr Liangas’s nieces and daughter serving as chanters, captivating the congregation with their voices.
In attendance were, Member for Port Macquarie the Hon. Leslie Williams and Councillor Nik Lipovac, underscoring the unity within the local community.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a morning tea at the Town Green provided an opportunity for further connections and celebrations.
The morning tea was generously oragnised by Ms Fotoulis Chantler and her daughter. This was an opportunity to foster connections and celebrate with local members of the community of all backgrounds and faiths. The event undoubtedly marked a historic first for the Greeks of Port Macquarie.
A morning tea at the Town Green took place following the service.
Con Kittos is the Asuria Executive Chairman with a passion for helping people.
Born in the early 60s, Con grew up in Sydney with his brother, sister, and parents, who migrated from Cyprus in the early 1950s.
For the last 25 years, he has been working in the human capital space for governments around the world.
“My organisation (Asuria) assists governments to help those that are less fortunate than us, which includes people that are unemployed and people that may have health and medical issues,” Mr Kittos told The Greek Herald.
“We build community development programs to help in disadvantaged communities that have no opportunity, and we also assist entrepreneurs get their business ideas off the ground and up and running.”
Mr Kittos shared that he bought Asuria back in 2016, from UK shareholders who already had the business up and running here in Australia.
“Since acquiring the business, we’ve been on a massive turnaround,” he said.
Asuria Executive Chairman, Con Kittos.
“It was a small business when I bought it, with less than $7 million in revenue and about 100 people, and today, we have revenues of over $100 million a year, and we have thousands of people around the world.
“I feel quite fortunate to have been on this journey since 2016.”
Mr Kittos said prior to becoming the CEO of Asuria, he had undergone interviews for several different jobs and companies.
“I had an interview for the role of CEO of this company and I didn’t get it. They originally didn’t hire me for whatever reason,” he said.
“A year later, they called me saying, ‘look, we still don’t want you as CEO as we don’t think you’re the right CEO for the business,’ but then I was asked to take on board the role of the non- executive director for Asuria.
“From there, I decided to buy the company as I saw it had potential and it was an opportunity to turn it around.”
Since then, the Asuria Executive Chairman said his work has been life changing.
“The work we do helps disadvantaged people that have had misfortune in their life, or bad luck, or have been in families that have been dysfunctional,” Mr Kittos said.
“We aim to change people’s lives and we change tens of thousands of people’s lives every year, and that is such a rewarding feeling.
“That to me is not work. That’s joy. To wake up every morning feeling like I’m doing something that helps so many people every single day is truly a blessing, I just love doing it.”
Mr Kittos said he loves to support the Greek community where he can, while embracing his pride for his heritage.
(L-R) His Grace, Bishop-Christodoulos of Magnesia and Asuria Executive Chairman, Con Kittos.
“Every week, their parishioners create meals and distribute food to over 300 homeless people. They then distribute that food at Martin Place in Sydney, to young people in and around Potts Point and the Kings Cross area,” Mr Kittos said.
“Once I heard about this initiative, I thought ‘wow, I really want to get behind and support this.’ I then decided to provide some financial support to them, so they could do even more and feed more homeless people.
“I had six or seven staff assist with the packing and distribution of the meals recently too as I just wanted to help give back and it’s just such a pleasure to be able to do so.”
Mr Kittos said this was the first time he had donated to the St Elesa Food Initiative and he now aims to make annual contributions.
“I’m just lucky that I’ve got a business that can do this,” he said.
“There’s an old Greek saying that goes ‘you can’t take it with you when you die,’ so I intend to share as much as what we create, as far as I can, as I think it’s the right thing to do.”
As well as working with disadvantaged communities and local Greeks, Mr Kittos shared that he does a lot of work in supporting Indigenous communities across the country too.
Mr Kittos said he can’t wait to expand Asuria’s services to more countries around the world.
“We’re currently in South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, and I really want to expand to Greece and Cyprus, they need our help,” he said.
“I can’t wait to start working with and assisting people in those countries.”
He said he will be on the look out for more opportunities to support the community however he can.
Tahlia Kokkinis may have been knocked out of the Australian Open Junior Championships, but she takes away rich experiences from the 2024 tournament.
Kokkinis faced a 2-0 set defeat (6-4, 6-1) against the 16-year-old Bulgarian Iva Ivanova. Despite the outcome, she bids farewell to the tournament enriched with valuable experience, claiming her time in Melbourne was “like a dream.”
During the championship, she competed against two of the world’s best Junior tennis players, and although being a year younger, she made a significant impact.
Tahlia Kokkinis with fellow Greek Australian tennis player and friend, Eleni Makantasis. Photo: The Greek Herald / Bill Roumeliotis.
Following the match against Ivanova, Kokkinis told The Greek Herald, “Despite my defeat, I feel happy that I competed for the first time in one of the top tennis tournaments in the world and even advanced to the 2nd round. I feel great because I played in front of a big fan base, and for me, it was a great experience.”
When asked about her future aspirations, the young tennis star said, “As far as my goals and dreams are concerned, I will continue to work hard to one day compete in one of the most prestigious stadiums in the world, Rod Laver Arena, which is the dream of every Australian tennis player.”
A young Tahlia Kokkinis with Elise Mertens and Caroline Wozniacki at Australian Open 2018. Picture: Getty Images
Public Hospitality Group’s Jon Adgemis has added Sydney-based Greek restaurant, Alpha, to his burgeoning business portfolio, trumping competitors.
The Greek-Australian hospitality baron was recently in the limelight for his partnership split with the Love Tilly Group that led to a complex legal battle, where both parties made allegations of financial irregularities.
Chef, Peter Conistis at Alpha. Photo: The Sydney Morning Herald.
Despite recent hiccups for Adgemis, The Hellenic Club notified suppliers that “we have agreed terms with Alpha Brand Holdings Pty Limited (part of the Public Group) to take over the operation of Alpha and Beta”.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the new management deal would ensure the venue’s “cherished” culinary heritage is preserved, which involves keeping Chef, Peter Conistis onboard.
Conistis, who has been linked to a proposed Greek mega-restaurant in Brighton Le Sands is yet to comment, however, he has previously worked with outside locations, such as Ploos restaurant on Circular Quay, while remaining involved with Alpha.
Melbourne Airport’s chief of aviation, Jim Parashos says Turkish Airlines’ move to operate flights from Istanbul to Melbourne would be important for Australia.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Jim Parashos said that the services [flights] will connect Australia to one of the most important airports in the world – Istanbul Airport.
This development is expected to put downward pressure on airfares ahead of the European summer, with the carrier set to initially operate flights from Istanbul to Melbourne, including a stopover in Singapore, three times a week from March 16.
The federal government granted the application last month after being entangled in another bilateral air rights crisis centered on the government’s rejection of Qatar Airways’ request to expand its flights to Australia.
Parashos asserts that this development will be beneficial for Australia, as Istanbul has always been an important destination for Melbourne, with the city hosting Australia’s largest Turkish population.
“Istanbul is the only city to straddle two continents and has always been an important trading post. It is also now one of the most important transit hubs in the world,” Parashos said.
The sudden closure of Greek Storytime sessions at Richmond Library caught City of Yarra Councillor Michael Glynatsis off guard. In response, he expressed gratitude to The Greek Herald for alerting him to the issue and welcomed parents supporting a current change.org petition to reach out to him with the aim of preserving the beloved program as per our newspaper’s request.
“Things can change,” the Greek-Australian Councillor said, pointing to his own history of successful community advocacy. His own experiences include a successful nine-year battle to keep a laneway open, as well as a commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
Parents have launched a petition to save Greek Storytime following the sudden closure of sessions at Richmond Library. Photo: Supplied.
As owner of the Aegean Greek Restaurant in Fitzroy for four decades, Mr Glynatsis underscored his support for Greek cuisine and language. He shared that even his nearly-four-year-old granddaughter speaks the language. “We value learning the language of our heritage,” he highlighted.
The City of Yarra’s Annual Report reveals a diverse community, with 29% of residents born overseas and 20% speaking languages other than English, including Greek listed among the most popular. “I embrace multiculturalism,” the Councillor said, fresh from a visit to a Greek-Australian seniors club, “something the Vietnamese also have,” he added, emphasising the importance of fostering community connections.
City of Yarra Councillor Michael Glynatsis welcomes working with parents to save Greek Storytime. Photo: Supplied.
Greek community teacher Vicky Petala, who led the popular program, described the impact on families, noting that it went beyond language learning to create a sense of community. She points to low running costs, just the price of a teacher and a few art supplies, far outweighing the linguistic and social impact for participating children and the community.
They would sing together, and even non-Greek speakers would join. Youngsters who came regularly would learn language and parents – through their children – would renew their own familiarity with their language,” Ms Petala told The Greek Herald while stating that the Wednesday morning program sometimes gathered more than 20 children.
“It wasn’t just about language. We had built a lovely group of regulars who would come together and foster connections.”.
The Wednesday morning program of Greek Storytime sometimes gathered more than 20 children. Photo: Supplied.
Over the summer break, the library informed Ms Petalas of the program’s cancellation due to funding constraints. Despite scrapping the program, the library said the area would still be available for parents to use – but without the language learning.
Ms Petala first started teaching the program in 2021 after it had been shut down during COVID. She had been encouraged by language activist Vasso Zangalis to sign up for it.
Ms Zangalis and Evie Diamantis had pushed for Greek Storytime after long drives to Oakleigh Library for their weekly children’s sessions. The Oakleigh program was bursting at the seams so the mothers thought, “We can bring this to us.” A strategy formed during their long drives.
Vasso Zangalis and Evie Diamantis have been pivotal in getting more Storytime sessions around Australia. Photo: Supplied.
Soon, Greek Storytime began to sprout at local neighbourhoods, supported by the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria Education.
In an April 2023 petition which gathered 116 signatures, Ms Diamantis showcased the benefits of Greek Storytime sessions, “It is important to remember that countless studies have shown that people who speak more than one language are better problem solvers, have less of a chance at developing dementia in old age and overall make better global citizens.”
Maria Tsakakis, the mother and educator who started the fresh petition to save the Wednesday morning program at Richmond Library, was devastated upon learning of the closure. “The children sing, create friendships, and learn language in a fun way. It’s a way for us to stay connected. We don’t want to lose our language,” she told The Greek Herald, urging people to sign the petition that has garnered over 180 signatures. “It promotes literacy, fosters love for learning and is a valuable cultural resource.”
Richmond Library advised that the program was cancelled due to funding constraints. Photo: Supplied.
On Fridays, Ms Tsakakis runs a similar program at Glenroy Library and has seen its benefits first-hand as both mother and educator. The Glenroy program is funded for one day a month by State Government, and the cost of the rest of the sessions are covered by PRONIA.
Former Whittlesea mayor and current Chairperson of the Whittlesea Multicultural Community Council, Kris Pavlidis also reiterated the importance of language preservation in a multicultural program. Her interactive bilingual sessions at Lalor Library have been a huge success, spanning to include Lalor North Primary School students and parents and even the church playgroup. “The fun, music and dancing attracted other cultural groups and that was one of its highlights,” she said, adding that she is now looking at ways to invigorate the program with pop-up themed sessions and special guests.
Former Whittlesea mayor and current Chairperson of the Whittlesea Multicultural Community Council, Kris Pavlidis (top right) has emphasised the importance of language preservation in a multicultural program. Photo: Supplied.
“It is critical that we preserve our Hellenic heritage, and the maintenance of language is a key factor for this. Just as importantly we have to accept that we can’t operate in a silo given our multicultural society, and there are significant benefits to be had in cross-cultural sharing and learning, the development of children’s self-identity, and overall community of wellbeing.”
While Cr Glynatsis was initially unaware of the program’s closure, he welcomed The Greek Herald’s initiative of connecting with concerned parents to help save Greek Storytime. The community remains hopeful for a resolution to preserve this valuable cultural and educational resource.
The Orthodox bishops in Greece have collectively voted against the government’s proposed legislation for marriage equality, which includes provisions for same-sex couples to adopt children.
The decision was made during a meeting of the Holy Synod, where the bishops also resolved to communicate their objections to the legislation through an open letter addressed to all 300 members of the parliament.
The Holy Synod’s statement emphasised that while the responsibility for legislating rests with the state, it does not impede the church’s right to express its views, nor does it exempt the church from informing its followers.
The Synod stated, “The Church does not legislate and is not responsible for laws. But if she remains silent, she bears a heavy responsibility and destroys herself.”
According to Ekathimerini, as part of their protest, the Holy Synod plans to read the open letter in churches across the country on February 4.
The statement from the Synod outlined their concerns, asserting that the proponents of the bill are advocating for “the abolition of fatherhood and motherhood and their transformation into neutral parenthood,” along with “the disappearance of gender roles within the family.”
The bishops argued that the bill prioritises the “sexual choices of homosexual adults” over the well-being of future children.
This decision by the Holy Synod reflects the stance of the Greek Orthodox Church against the proposed legislation on marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Greek film-maker, Yorgos Lanthimos’ film, Poor Things, is set to contend with Oppenheimer, Barbie, and other notable films for the coveted title of Best Picture at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards [Oscars].
The list of Best Picture nominees for the Oscars also includes Killers of the Flower Moon, The Holdovers, Maestro, and American Fiction.
Lanthimos’ internationally-produced film, featuring Emma Stone as a woman brought back to life, has garnered an impressive 11 nominations, just two behind the leading film, Oppenheimer, which leads the pack with 13 nominations, including recognition for the performances of Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr.
‘Poor Things’ director Yorgos Lanthimos joined by his star, Emma Stone, on set. Photo: Vanity Fair / Atsushi Nishijima.
Poor Things has secured nominations for Best Picture, with Lanthimos receiving a nod for Best Director.
According to Ekathimerini, in addition to these nominations, Emma Stone is recognised in the Best Actress category, and Mark Ruffalo is nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
The film is also in contention for Best Cinematography (Robbie Ryan), Best Production Design (James Price, Heath, Zsuzsa Mikalek), Best Film Editing (Yorgos Mavropsaridis), Best Costume Design (Holly Waddington), Best Makeup and Hair (Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, Josh Weston), and Best Original Score (Jerskin Fendrix).
The much-anticipated award ceremony is scheduled for March 10 in Hollywood, with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel returning as the host for the evening.
A contentious debate unfolded in parliament between Greece’s government and the primary opposition party, SYRIZA, regarding a proposed bill aiming to introduce postal voting for Greek citizens residing abroad in both European and national elections.
Greece’s Minister of Interior, Niki Kerameus presented an amendment to the postal voting bill on Monday, suggesting the expansion of postal voting rights to Greeks living abroad for both European and national elections.
According to Ekathimerini, the successful passage of the amendment necessitates the support of at least 200 out of the 300 Members of Parliament.
Sokratis Famellou, the leader of SYRIZA’s parliamentary group, raised constitutional concerns about the bill, asserting that it faced challenges in implementation, appeared outdated, and did not permit Greek emigrants to run for office.
Famellou then urged the government to endorse SYRIZA’s proposal, mirroring the Italian model, allowing expatriates to be represented in parliament.
In response, Kerameus questioned the opposition, particularly SYRIZA, led by Stefanos Kasselakis, an expatriate himself, for opposing the bill.
PASOK expressed conditional support for the bill also, indicating that it would only back the legislation if the amendment extending postal voting to overseas citizens was withdrawn, and if the postal vote was exclusively offered to voters within Greece facing impediments to casting their votes.
