Dr. AlexVardouniotis ( 3rd from left) with parents Prof. Spiro (2nd from left), Mother Maria (3rd from left) , and family at his wedding

The Arcadian tradition was spoken in Plato’s Symposium. It is the basic love of creation that evolves into the human mind’s pursuit of truth, beauty and good. These lessons have shaped the Arcadian Mission. Dr. John P. Anton’s 2009 book “Arcadika: Speeches and Studies” states that two thousand years of misfortunes and suffering, did not pollute the minds of Arcadian ancestors. Nothing touched the Soul of Arcadia. The philosopher believes the Arcadian people proved that the love of freedom is as strong as the magic song of Pan (god of shepherds and flocks, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music).

Wedding blessing

Dr. Alexios Vardouniotis and his family are examples of the Arcadian’s pursuit of truth, beauty and good. Dr. Alexios has spent his life studying medicine and practicing in his city of Tripolis. Where is Arcadia, Greece?  Arcadia is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan. In European Renaissance arts, Arcadia was celebrated as an unspoiled, harmonious wilderness. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia).

Wedding with wife Kanella

Dr. Alexios Vardouniotis was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family immigrated back to Greece when he was five years old. His father, Spyridon Vardouniotis is an educator, who immigrated to the United States to acquire two graduate degrees from the Chicago University. Professor Spyridon Vardouniotis returned to Tripolis, Arcadia, as a Professor of Education, training undergraduate students to become teachers.  He has two daughters, one involved in medicine and another in business.  His wife, Maria Vardouniotis, is the backbone behind the family’s unique achievements. Currently Mr. Spyridon Vardouniotis is retired and involved in the Greek Theater in Tripolis.

Dr. Despina Siolas visited Dr. Vardouniotis during the August 15^th celebration in Arcadia. “We could not find a hotel room,” she said. “Dr. Vardouniotis was able to make reservations for us at the Hotel Mainalon.  Greece celebrates the Kimisis (Assumption) of the Virgin Mary as a national holiday. Kanella, his wife, is a school psychologist who travels to schools all over Arcadia. They are like many American professionals who use their bikes for transportation. The Vardouniotis’ family invited us into their home and office to enjoy their company with their son Spyridon (Clint).  Photos of their wedding and family in traditional Arcadian dress were shown to us.”

The tourist explained, “the fair at Tegea is the main culture attraction in Arcadia. Dr. Alex took us, showing us the booths.  Country style sausages, pigs and lambs on spits were cooked. A main attraction was the milk from donkeys. They were bottled for consumer purchase.”

office

Dr. Vardouniotis described himself as an “an ENT-Surgeon.  I completed my specialist training certified with an ENT Diploma in 2010. Since then I am working as an ENT specialist at my own Private Practice in Tripolis, Arcadia, and as an ENT Surgeon at Athinaiki Medical Clinic in Athens, Greece. I was trained at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete. It is a tertiary hospital in a city of about 300,000 citizens. It has about 600 beds including:  Pediatric Dept.; an Obstetrics and Gynecology Dept.; Neonatal Dept. with an Intensive Care Unit for newborns; Cardiologic Dept. with a Cardiologic Intensive Care, an Oncology Dept.; Diabetology and Nephrology Dept.; Urology Dept., two Surgical Departments and a Pediatric Surgery Dept.; Intensive Care Unit; Radiology Dept. (CT and MRI); an Ophthalmic Dept.; Dermatology Dept. and the Otorhinolaryngology Department. Finally, it has its own laboratory and research facilities and there are ten operating rooms and one landing pad for helicopters.  The Otolaryngology Dept. in particular has 25 beds, its own operating room and covers most of the subspecialties of Otorhinolaryngology: Neuro-Otology and Balance Disorders; ENT-Allergiology; Swallowing and Voice Disorders, Head and Neck e.t.c.  The number of operations performed per year varies between 900-1200 including both local and general anesthesia.”

office

Dr. Vardouniotis explained that “During my residency (from September 15, 2005 until September 18, 2009), I was working five days a week following the resident-training rotation program including wards, outpatient clinics, on calls and theatres. The program was divided in to 2.5 years (30 months) of general ENT at the aforementioned departments, and 6 months of special training in otology at the Neuro-Otology Dept. (including audiometry, tympanometry, ENG and newborn auditory screening). Furthermore, it included 6 months of additional training in plastic surgery at the ENT Plastic Surgery Dept. of the Oncology Hospital “Agios Savas” in Athens, and another 6 months of neurosurgery at the Neurosurgery Dept. of the University Hospital of Heraklion.  During the full length of my residency program I had on call duties on a 24 hour basis approximately 8-10 days per month. Most of the minor surgical procedures I performed were during the 2 first years of my residency whereas most of the major procedures were performed during the last 2 years. During 2009 (my last year of residency) approximately 1100 ENT operations were performed under local and general anesthesia, in more than half of which I participated.”

He described his “fellowship in Allergiology at the KNO (ENT) Clinic at the Academic Medical Center University of Amsterdam (January 14, 2010 to April 302010), I attended outpatient offices and assisted in skin prick tests and immunotherapy injections, participated in the research that was being done at the time in the ENT-Allergiology laboratory and obtained expert knowledge in the field of allergic respiratory diseases, diagnostic procedures and treatments including immunotherapy. Moreover, I was trained in the field of insect venom allergy, including diagnostic procedures and immunotherapy. Since May 2010 and until the present day besides working in my own private practice, I have been operating (approximately 6 sessions per month) on ENT patients at Athinaiki Mediclinic in Athens, Greece. The spectrum of my surgery includes tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, tympanostomy tubes insertion (glue ear), septoplasty, FESS, turbinate RF surgery, uvuloplasty, microlaryngoscopy, biopsies e.t.c.”  His website is at http://www.vardouniotis.gr/

Dr. Alex (2nd from left) and family dressed in Arcadian dress

Dr. John P. Anton believes “the Arcadian tradition gives one strength to make life worth living in a culture where noble ideas count as much as material wealth. The measure of real success lies in what we are able to give back to society in quality.” Dr. Alexander Vardouniotis and his family are holding on to Arcadian ideas. The Arcadian tradition is part of their way of life.

Links:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gw-i8CrTdPq2UeRbKYUV99MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0-  online business card

http://www.vardouniotis.gr/ – website

https://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/otolaryngologist.cfm-definition

St. Nicholas icon

The Lamentations and processions of the Epitaphios at St. Nicholas Church in Flushing is always special to Eastern Queens residents.  Rev. Protopresbyter Paul C., Palesty Rev. Presbyter Aristidis Garinis and Rev. Presbyter Joakim Valasiadis, performed the liturgy to a standing room of only parishioners in the Main Sanctuary and Sarantakos Hall on Good Friday.

“The Epitaphios is an icon, today most often found as a large cloth, embroidered and often richly adorned, which is used during the services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday in the Eastern Orthodox Churches and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite. It also exists in painted or mosaic form, on wall or panel. The Epitaphios is also a common short form of the Epitáphios Thrēnos, the “Lamentation upon the Grave” in Greek, which is the main part of the service of the Matins of Holy Saturday, served in Good Friday evening,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epitaphios_(liturgical).

Ascension Banner in honor of Rev. Anastasios ,Diakovasilis

“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” –Plutarch, ancient Greek biographer (c. 46 – 120 CE). At St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the middle class is in the majority. They worked diligently to keep the church open during Holy Week. Maria Bakogiannis, a dedicated person, prepared her special fasolada (bean soup) recipe as part of a Lenten fundraiser on Holy Tuesday, April 15^th. She is part of the silent majority. She is not seen or heard. Mrs. Bakogiannis works in the shadows to help St. Nicholas Church achieve its position as the largest Greek Orthodox community outside of Greece.

On March 9^th, 2014 , “Patriarchs of the world’s 250 million Orthodox Christians ended a rare summit in Istanbul on Sunday calling for a peaceful end to the crisis in Ukraine and denouncing violence driving Christians out of the Middle East — according Huffington Post, Religion section, April 15, 2014.

“Twelve heads of autonomous Orthodox churches, the second-largest family of Christian churches, also agreed to hold a summit of bishops, or ecumenical council in 2016, which will be the first in over 1,200 years.(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/10/orthodox-church-council_n_4931391.html). Hopefully, Orthodox Christians will have a better year in 2014.

Lavaro during Easter procession. Photo by Mrs. Theodora “Dora” Lagos

“No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.” So said Plato.

The old sage’s words doubtless apply to the late Reverend Anastasios Diakovasilis, Presbyter Economos of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Flushing, New York – a priest was unique in his generation. He came from the school of hard knocks, raised during WWII and amid the devastation and poverty of 1950s civil-war-torn Greece, and took refuge in religion and poetry.

Rev. Paul Palesty with Banner of Ascension in memory of Rev. Anastasios Diakovasilis. Photo by Despina Siolas, MD/PH.D.

His legacy extends beyond his mortal life, it seems, as Mrs. Theodora (Dora) Lagos was so moved by the January memorial service two years after his 2012 death that she commissioned a banner in his honour.

“I wanted to do something special in his memory,” she explained in a telephone interview. “I asked Father Paul Palesty for guidance. He was most supportive, instructing me in the right choice of buying a Banner of the Ascension in memory of Father Anastasios. With Father Paul’s support, we ordered a banner from the Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Australia. I mentioned my idea to all. Persons and organizations from his island of Nysiros and his friends from the community were happy to support me. I was honored and happy to work with these persons. Their donations made this banner possible, to see something special in Father Anastasios’ name in St. Nicholas Church.”

Mrs. Lagos continued saying “the banner cost $5,000 and was hand-delivered on Good Friday, April 18^th. The banner is hand-embroidered with gold thread.

We raised $13,375. The remainder of the funds will be used to place the banner in a frame in front of the church with a twenty-four-hour burning candili (votive lamp).”

The community of St. Nicholas had the honor of viewing the richly embroidered tapestry displayed prominently in front of the altar during the Easter liturgies. Mrs. Theodora Lagos was the motivating force behind this unique memorial in memory of a humble presbyter. She believes “he gave warmth to the sick and lonely person.” (http://usa.greekreporter.com/2013/01/24/rev-anastasios-diakovasilis-one-year-memorial-service)

His wife, Presvitera Maria, shared in the success of his ministry. Knowing a Greek-born priest with old-fashioned values evoked memories of lost youth with parents or grandparents. The late Rev. Anastasios Diakovasilis’ sympathy, compassion and positive attitude will remain with all who had the honor of knowing him.

Aris Melissaratos(3rd from left) at 2014 Hermes Expo International. All photos by Stavroula Raia.

“My family comes from the village of Troianatta near Argostoli, Cephalonia,” said Aris Melissaratos. Pride in one’s Greek roots and devotion to the success of Hermes International Expo for ten years, are some of the many Projects Mr. Melissaratos has been devoted to in his life’s mission.

“Hermes International Expo brings people together,” he continued. Paul Kotrotsios networks and sees the value of advertising. Pan Gregorian Enterprises is supported by the Hermes International Expo, enabling them to use collective power in helping their members. Since the early days of my sharing with Paul the writing of my book, “INNOVATION: the Key to Prosperity-Technology and America’s Role in the 21^st Century Global Economy,” he has been a consistent and committed supporter offering personal advice, encouragement and the resources of his extensive network of publication and trade show associates. Mr. Kotrotsios’ encouragement and the interest shown by the Greek-American community and my co-author N.J. Slabbert, has inspired another book, “THE SWORD OF ZEUS: THE HIDDEN STORY OF HOW GREECE SHAPED WORLD WAR II.” We will need Paul Kotrotsios‘ Greek-American connections when we embark on the fundraising activity to produce a full length movie that sets Greece’s role in the Second World War and Western Civilization in proper perspective.”

Mr. Melissaratos, the backbone of Hermes Expo International explained: I had the opportunity to participate in the seminar portion of the Hermes Expo for six years. You (Paul Kotrotsios) and seminar coordinator Aris Chrisatakis have allowed this seminar to grow. The inclusion of the Hellenic Medical societies and the annual presentation from the European Union fulfills a cultural and intellectual path to the future. The Hellenic New is a platform for informing and communicating to the Greek-American population and their trading partners in the Mid-Atlantic.

When I was in Greece, I read “30,000 Leagues under the Sea” by Jules Verne. I was born in Romania to Cephalonian and Chian parents. The communist regime confiscated our property. We fled to Greece. I immigrated at the age of thirteen years old to the U.S.A. I studied at John Hopkins College, working eight days a week. Later, I worked for Westinghouse, seeing all of Jules Verne’s dreams become a reality. My job is basically managing people. Listening to what they want to be. I pay close attention to a person’s goals, advise and redirect them.

As Aris Melissaratos revealed “I work seven days a week helping our youth. Every person must network. If you start in McDonald’s, start at the bottom and move ahead. Earn a job. Do not wait for it to be handed to you. Impress your peers.” His viewpoint describes a thought from Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) that states “It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confident knowledge that they will help us.”

“ATLAS was one of the second-generation Titans. He personified the quality of endurance (atlaô). In one tradition, Atlas led the Titanes in a rebellion against Zeus and was condemned to bear the heavens upon his shoulders. In another, he was said to have been appointed guardian of the pillars which held earth and sky asunder. He was also the god who instructed mankind in the art of astronomy, a tool which was used by sailors in navigation and farmers in measuring the seasons,” http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanAtlas.html.

Endurance and strength in holding the heavens or world is the logo of Atlas Purchasing. “Providing profitable solutions for independent restaurants is our purpose,” explained Pete Sassos, Vice-President of Sales. “We obtain national rebates, purchasing incentives and ancillary (additional) Service Providers for members. A membership in the Atlas Purchasing Group can lower food costs and increase profits. In today’s economy, independent restaurant owners often find themselves at a major disadvantage when competing with major franchises and corporate chains. Our combined purchasing power influences the pricing we pay.”

The Vice-President of Sales believes “a membership in Atlas Purchasing Group gives these advantages now to the smaller independent owner. Combined purchasing as a whole gives the group the ability to negotiate preferred pricing and rebates with distributors and major manufacturers.” Participating manufacturers include: Westminster; Stratas; ConAgra; Tyson; Ken’s; Kellogg’s; Smuckers; Simplot; Pierce; Packer; Pineland Farms; Mission; ACH Foods; Nestle; LaChoy; Kettle Cuisine; Kronos; Hatfield; Farmland; Equal; Dominic; Carlas; Dutch Quality; Burger Maker; Patriot Pickle; Olympia; Lamb Weston; Cabot Creamery and Father Sam’s Bakery.

“Atlas Purchasing has fifteen thousand owners all over the country,” explained Mr. Sassos. “Restaurants are the biggest employer of our country. Americans eat out.”  Unique menu items and increased spending among older consumers are the two trends that will impact the Hospitality Industry in 2014. Atlas Purchasing Group is in tune with these trends. Mr. Sassos shared his vision with all by his booth in the 2014 Hermes Expo International Expo at The Concordville Inn on April 1 and 2, 2014.

“I used to be part of Pan Gregorian Enterprises (PGE) of Upper New York for eighteen years,” said the businessman. “I decided to leave….I opened my company two years ago in 2011. I did not go against Pan Gregorian Enterprises… I opened my company in a new geographic area in New England, Boston, Philadelphia, Maryland and the rest of our country.” His administrator is Alexandra Doxey.

Mr. Peter Tsagarakis, President of Pan Gregorian Upper New York, in an interview with this writer at the Hermes Expo International April 1^st Gala in the Best Western Hotel of the Concordville Inn, in Concordville, Pennsylvania, praised Mr. Sassos business expertise. “We are all friends with Pete Sassos, a great man, who worked many years for Pan Gregorian. We all wish him the best in his projects and family life.”

Pete (Panagiotis) Sassos is from Macedonia, Greece. A land destroyed by the Balkan Wars of the 1900’s, it was transformed by the Greek enterprising spirit into a commercial center. He was born in 1951 at Iraklitsa, Kavala in an Asia Minor settlement of former refugees. His town was named after Palea Iraklitsa in Asia Minor. In July 1969, he opened Texas Lunch restaurant in Poughkeepsie, New York with his father, Demetrios. “I was eighteen years old when I began in restaurants,” he said. “I have founded over fourteen restaurants, during the years in the Poughkeepsie area.” Nicole, Pete’s wife, who he married in 1971, is an instructor of Modern Greek at Poughkeepsie Greek Afternoon School for over fourteen years. His children are Alexandra Doxey, a businesswoman who operates Pete’s Famous Restaurant with her husband, Connie Martha Isaakides, an educator, Demetrios Sassos, a pharmacist and five grandchildren.

“I did it all: mop floors, wash dishes, every aspect of restaurant work,” he said. “Hard work! All honest work is good. I was President of the parish council of Kimisis Church in Poughkeepsie for many years. Over twenty years ago when Pan Gregorian Enterprises (PGE) was formed in Upper New York, restaurant owners called me to become Chairman of the Board.”

Peter Sassos (4th from left) honored at 2010 Hermes Expo

I was innovative through the years,” Pete points out. “I created new ideas and services to aid our independent restaurant owners and food service providers who offer quality food products and services to their customers. I am continuing this mission in Atlas Purchasing Group. All multi-ethnic owners are part of us, united under a central organization.

“Our goal is to provide quality food products and services to our customers, while maintaining a profitable bottom line,” said Sassos. “As a single, independent operator, one cannot have the leveraged pricing benefits with suppliers as the corporate chains.

What we do is save money. We are not in this to make a profit from you. Today, every penny counts.” Mr. Sassos was honored for his unique work as a businessman by Mr. Paul Kotrotsios, Hellenic News of America publisher, former President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad and founder of Hermes Expo International on April 24, 2010 at the Hermes Expo in Atlantic City. “We thank Pete Sassos…….. For their tremendous work …… “They accomplished a unique effort in bringing all to our events.”

“Give us a call,” said Pete Sassos. “There is no obligation consultation. Let us show you how to start lowering costs and increasing profits today!”  Pete Sassos can be contacted at Pete.Sassos@Atlas Purchasing.com, telephone 917-340-3232, ext. 150 and cell phone 914 489-2173.

CEO Kastanis (4th from left) with Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis (left to right), Paul Kotrotsios and Aris Melissaratos. Photo by Aphrodite Kotrotsios.

John N. Kastanis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Temple University Hospital presented a cutting edge speech on Obama Care when he was honored at the Hermes International Gala. The event was held April 1^st evening at the Concordville Inn, in Concordville, Pennsylvania.

“I have devoted my professional life to healthcare administration,” explained the speaker. “And believe me, this is truly an ‘exciting’ time to be a healthcare professional! The healthcare industry is undergoing a lot of change. It has also become a primary focus of the Obama administration and legislators in Washington. We are faced with a national dilemma. America has grown accustomed to the luxury of high quality care…to healthcare that is readily available, is innovative and that continually offers new hope.”

CEO Kastanis said “the real challenge is to bring quality medical care and sick people together in the most positive and appropriate fashion-without destroying society’s fiscal integrity. This was recently evidenced by the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of Obama Care. All hospitals are under the microscope right now in the face of healthcare reform. They are expected to deliver higher-quality and better patient experience, at a lower cost. Medical technology, innovative thinking and planning are moving along a line of near geometric progression. At the same time, regulations have tightened. The entire nation is clamoring for a reduction in the rise of health care costs. This is a collision course. It will take innovative thinking, planning and hard choices to produce a positive outcome.”

John N. Kastanis and Joy with his Hermes International Expo award. Photo by Stavroula Raia.

He believes “it can be done – with a combination of ingenuity, flexibility and willingness to think along new lines. We continue to meet human needs in a system of fiscal limits and fierce competition. As President and CEO of Temple University, I have the privilege of carrying forward the legacy of our institution’s long history of Philadelphia’s crown jewels. I have learned the institution’s history in rendering outpatient and specialized inpatient services to the greater Philadelphia region and beyond.”

“Temple University Hospital is an academic medical institution with a vital mission,” Mr. Kastanis explained. “As the main teaching hospital of the Temple University School of Medicine, we provide high quality care, train future physicians and support clinical research. We treat a large number of patients, providing advanced care in specialties such as Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Orthopedics, GI, Neurosurgery, Cancer Care and others. We have recently recruited physicians who are regionally and nationally-renowned for being at the top of their game in their respective fields. We continue to grow strategically in key areas and services, adapting to the competitive healthcare landscape in this era of rapid change…..These are features that make Temple University Hospital a major destination point for specialty care in the Delaware Valley and Mid-Atlantic region.”

Harris Meyer and Melanie Evans in their article, “Outlook 2014: The year ahead in healthcare business,” Modern Health Care, January 4, 2014, believe  “while the coming year in healthcare will be strongly shaped by the sweeping provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 2014 also will be notable for a continuation of trends that predated President Barack Obama’s landmark law…It’s uncertain whether hospitals will continue to see stagnation in the volume of patients in 2014, forcing them to find other ways to increase revenue and maintain operating margins. But they hope the expansion of coverage under Obamacare will encourage newly insured Americans to seek out needed elective care. They also hope the coverage expansion will reduce levels of uncompensated care, though the degree will vary depending on whether a hospital is in a state that chose to expand Medicaid to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level.”

The April 2014 AARP Bulletin states Health Insurance costs depends on “Location, Location, Location….In rural areas, where the number of health care providers has shrunk, insurers make business decisions not to offer robust networks, which reduces competition  and increases costs. Rates listed in the online insurance marketplaces and research by nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation shows ….Upstate New York counties, Minneapolis-St. Paul and 10 surrounding counties, 14 western Pennsylvania counties… have the lowest in the country.” CEO Kastanis is saying the truth that “Temple is the place to go for hospital care.”

In conclusion, the CEO “takes humble pride in the fact that a Greek-American is manning the ship at temple University Hospital… and even more pride knowing that so many Greek-Americans have been supportive of Temple for so many years…As Greek-Americans, we exercise our cultural heritage every day: through our close connection to spiritual and religious life, sharp focus on family, strong sense of moral obligations and solid work ethic. We embrace that heritage when we bring our talents and abilities to work with us every day, whatever profession we are in.”  John N. Kastanis, the son of Greek immigrants, embodies a commitment to traditional Hellenic values of Honor, Friendship, Hospitality and a passion for Public Relationships.

Links:
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140104/MAGAZINE/301049990 – Harris Meyer and Melanie Evans, “Outlook 2014: The year ahead in healthcare business”.
http://tuh.templehealth.org/content/john_kastanis.htm- official biography

Athena Peters (left to right)) with Senator Frank Padavan and AlekaTsinias at the St. Nicholas, Flushing Festival.

You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor” – Aristotle.

Athena Peters of Bayside, New York was a courageous person who gave everyone a big smile. She passed away on Monday May 26, 2014 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. “Athena was born in New York City,” according to her obituary. “She completed both her Baccalaureate and Master’s work at Columbia University. She was employed for many years at the career counseling office at Columbia University, eventually becoming Director of Career Services. During her time there, she helped to guide and launch the careers of New York City’s best and brightest scholars. Throughout her life, and into her retirement, she was a tireless volunteer for many charitable causes; most especially North Shore University Hospital and her beloved St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY.”

For her entire life, Athena served as an inspiration to those around her.

“She always encouraged stepping out, trying new adventures, and taking the path that may have been less traveled, but always held the promise of fabulous destinations. Always present through all of Athena’s adventures were her love of and faith in Christ and her steadfast dedication to her family. She is survived by her sister, Chrissie Arlis and her brother-in-law Anthony Arlis, of Port Washington, NY, as well as by her niece Stephanie Arlis-Mayor and godson Rowland Mayor, and their children Michael, Chrysanthi and Athena Mayor. She was pre-deceased by her loving nephew Harry Arlis. .Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 29 at 11:30 AM at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY.Interment at Nassau Knolls Cemetery, Port Washington, NY. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Athena’s memory to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, www.lustgarten.org.”

I lived down the block from Athena. One day in the late 1960’s, my grandmother, Despina, came home very happy. “I met a wonderful Greek lady,” she said. “I have a friend who speaks Greek with two wonderful daughters.” She was referring to Athena’s mother and her sister Chris Arlis. Through the years, Athena and Chris would tell me about their memories of my “Yiayia”. They made me feel good that someone remembered her.

Athena was an elegant person seen around our neighborhood. My husband, John, was always happy to have conversations with her. “I saw Athena,” he would say with feeling. She had a special quality of making persons feel good. Her presence in organizing St. Nicholas Church’ flea markets contributed to its outstanding success. Athena and her fellow workers would actually wash donated items.

Mrs. Peters worked diligently on behalf of the William Spyropoulos School of St. Nicholas Church, when our daughter Despina attended. One day I saw her at the post office preparing a mass mailing for an alumnus project. Despina’s 8^th grade class had a picnic at Principal Chris Arlis’ home. Athena helped organize the picnic and recreation activities. We were all impressed by their hospitality. Mrs. Arlis’ outstanding job at William Spyropoulos’ School, steering our daughter to become a physician, was encouraged by her husband Tony and Athena. They worked as a team, helping their mother, family, friends and community.

Athena Peters would greet local political leaders and the public at the St. Nicholas Festival. In 2013, she was not present. I saw her a few weeks later at the Bayside Lemon Tree beauty parlor. She had her beautiful smile on. She expressed her regret of not attending my daughter’s bridal festivities, never letting on what was happening in her personal life.  Community work with Rev. Paul Palesty was part of her life. She knew how to say a kind word to uplift a person, giving of herself to others. We have all lost in Aristotle’s words a friend who is wishing us well wishes for our own sake (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/aristotle164315.html).

Businessman Paul Kotrotsios

Greece has a competitive economy in the European Union. Its access to the sea and gateway to Europe is ideal for businesses looking to expand in this geographical region. On July 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Trade and Investment Seminar hosted by Hermes Expo International, in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia and the U.S. Commercial Service of Philadelphia, will be held at the Fox Board Room on the 3^rd floor of the Temple University’s Fox School of Business (1801 Liacouras Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6038).

Thessaloniki, Greece and Philadelphia share a Memorandum of Understanding since 2000, resulting in a free exchange of ideas and goods between the two cities. Exports totaled 64 million dollars in 2008 from Philadelphia to Greece.

Mr. Paul Kotrotsios, a dynamic international businessman and philanthropist, together with his network of family and friends, catapulted Hermes Expo International into a catalyst role in building these business relationships.

Hermes International Expo has another unique goal: building the ‘American Pavilion’ at the HELEXPO in the 79th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), September 6-14, 2014. Mr. Andreas Daroudis, Director of Exhibitions, stated “TIF is a trade and consumer exhibition with more than eight hundred exhibitors and 200,000 visitors which gives each country the opportunity to have a coherent presentation through its products and commercial capacities to the business world, as well as to make its culture and civilization known to the public.”

Thessaloniki is the unofficial capital of the Balkans with a significant outward trade flow. A jewel coveted by all nations for centuries, Thessaloniki has trade relations with Europe, Asia and America.

The July 10 Seminar’s aim is to discuss trade opportunities and Hermes Expo International’s participation in the September 2014 International Fair. Panelists include: The Honorable Christos Panagopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to the USA; Tony Ceballos, Director, Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center; Carol Brooks-Bryant, Manager of Business Services, Dept. of Commerce, Philadelphia.

To learn more visit: Hermesexpo.com.

Food is a reflection of a country’s geography, history and culture. Enjoy Greece by tasting its diverse cuisine.

One can understand mainland Greece and the islands through its gastronomy. Eating is about understanding the country’s local customs. Despina Siolas Md. /Ph.D. and her friend Susan kept a diary of a two week tour of Thessaloniki, Veria, Lesvos, Chios, Arcadia and Athens. Research on food by educated Greeks added to their appreciation of Greece.  They enjoyed the local cuisine of each area, gaining an insight of whom and where the local Greeks came from.

Thessaloniki! The unofficial capital of the Balkans. Macedonian cuisine was influenced by the arrival of the Asia Minor refugees. “These are the things I ate in Greece,” said Despina. “We will learn to make them when I come back to New York.” Soutzoukakia are Greek meatballs from Smyrna. The word soutzoukakia (soo-tzoo-KAH-kyah) comes from the Turkish “soutzouk” meaning “sausage”. These meatballs are shaped like little kebabs. They are lightly fried and then bathed in a wine-sweetened tomato sauce. Other dishes that made an impression on us included Marathopita (fennel pie), Rebythada (chickpeas), Pantzarosalata (beetroot salad) and Anthopita (zucchini flowers).”

“When you find a good restaurant, you must keep going to it,” said the tourist. “To Ellinikon is an ouzomezedopolio (ouzo and appetizers restaurant). According to the menu, Thessaloniki is the second largest city of Greece and the capital of Central Macedonia, as well as the de facto administrative capital of the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace. Its honorific title is ‘Symprotevousa’, literally co-capital, a reference to its historical status as ‘Symvasilevousa’, the co-reigning city of the Byzantine Empire, alongside Constantinople. Thessaloniki is full of Byzantine monuments and is a UNESCO heritage site. Visitors have a unique opportunity to taste and learn about…what else…food! Everyone will be impressed by the history and the tastes dating back to the Byzantine times. Walk along the paved alleys of the open air markets of the city center. Visit the ouzeris (ouzo cafes) where you will drink ouzo or tsipouro and taste ouzomezedes (ouzo appetizers) that will stay in your memory forever!” Quite an informative historical lesson from a restaurant.

“Thessaloniki’s traditional dishes include beets and yogurt salad, dill onions, marathopita and stuffed squid,” said Despina. “We visited ‘To Ellinikon’ and its sister restaurant ‘Tiganies and Schares’ to eat meat with coriander, eggplants with feta, chick peas, frappe, tzatziki, goat, pork, cheese salad, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, beefsteak with potatoes.” These dishes were the basic diet in Veria, Chios and Lesvos.

Mezzes, according to the “To Elliniko” menu, has its roots in the ancient symposiums. The word comes from the Persian word “maza”, meaning taste. Greek traditional cheese dates back millenniums. The fact that many forms of cheese are copied without success, confirms the dominance of Greek cheese all over the world.

In the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, the cuisine is explained in a historical context. “Soutzoukakia ….just because it has a Turkish name does not mean it has Turkish origins. Naturally, after five hundred years of slavery, Turkish words entered the vocabulary. Soutzoukakia are called Smyrneika because they cooked them in Smyrna. At the beginning of the 20^th century, Smyrna was a cosmopolitan city with the majority of the population being Greek. They were involved in business, mostly tobacco, and were known for their famous cuisine…The tragic wave of refugees reached its peak in 1922. The uprooted ancient Greek communities of Asia Minor reached Thessaloniki, tortured from the hardships of war and settled in shacks…. The displaced Smyrnaioi Mikrasiates brought not only their ethics and customs with them, but also their delicious cuisine. Soutzoukakia is one of the many unique foods that are well liked by the community and cooked in their homes and taverns.”

“We met a wonderful couple from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” said tourists Despina and Susan. “Antonios and Thalia Parisiou are from Veria.  We will meet up with them there, following in the footsteps of St. Paul.” Their day in Veria began with a visit to the Bema, where St. Paul preached. Veria is part of the “11 Footsteps of St. Paul” from 50-53 A.D.

The Bereans stood out to the apostles because of the eagerness with which they received the Gospel. Berea, which is now called Veria, was a Greek city located approximately 73 km from Thessaloniki.

A colorful Verian personality was a local merchant called “O Manolis o Veriotis” (Manolis the Verian). He was selling watermelons and cantaloupes, calling to everyone “Elate pedia, o Manolis o Veriotis” (Come to me friends, Manolis the Verian). An amazing array of cigarettes for 3.7 euros was displayed to a public that has a positive attitude about this recreational pastime.

Their enjoyable day ended at a lavish luncheon in “Elaias Gi” restaurant at the corner of Anoixeos and Kountourioti streets. The cuisine included green salad with potatoes, wild pig with rice and carrots, gemista (stuffed peppers and tomatoes), soutzoukakia and chocolate desserts with masticha (mastic) ice cream. They enjoyed their luncheon inside the main room, next to the wooden oven, where daily bread roasts and even some of our desserts are baked.

“Everything was made of the finest seasonal ingredients so that the nature itself can dine with you,” according to their website. “We proudly offer you Greece at your plate. Through a delicate travel in time, the Greek land and its products, the customs and its habits, but also through creative interventions in our traditional cuisine, which have as a priority to freshen, underline and highlight even more our taste references to the Greek traditional cooking, we serve you dishes with the finest seasonal ingredients available combined with a variety of excellent flavors so that you can enjoy nothing but the very best.”

The website explains that “At Eleas Gi everything is cooked only with olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is always added at the end, so we can offer you the authenticity of the Greek cuisine where indisputably, the leafy-green spirit of our honored olive tree has the leading role.”

Their trip continued to Lesvos, where olive trees number 12,000. They enjoyed ladotyri (cheese from olive oil) and ouzo Barbayanni, in addition to the basic cuisine of Thessaloniki’s restaurants. Ouzo is known as “Plomari’s treasure”. The “Ouzo Barbayanni Brochure Since 1860” explains “this fertile land with its exquisite climate, gives forth a superior variety of anise, from the seed of which the basic flavoring ingredient of ouzo is distilled.” Lesvos became the refuge of displaced people from Aivali and Mosconisi in 1922. The northeastern Aegean islands and Macedonia have been influenced by the upholders of these ancient Greek cultures. In “Karini” tavern, they enjoyed kolokythakia (stuffed zucchini), mpourekakia me tyri (ham and cheese), kolokythoanthi (stuffed blossoms of zucchini) and melitsa (honey dessert). Rural, close to nature, Lesvos is a natural paradise.

Lesvos and Chios were dotted with ouzeris, a reflection of the island drink. Masticha (mastic), only cultivated uniquely in Chios, is made into ouzo, mastic desserts and ice creams. Masticha ouzo was often served to the tourists with calamaris (squids), octapodi (octopus) and grilled fish. They had the unique honor of visiting the Ieron Parthenon of St. Constantine and St. Helen monastery on the hills of Kambos. Unforgettable Byzantine architecture and iconography depicting island religious customs. Many islanders have a personal chapel on their lands for religious services. “The nuns made loucoumathes,” said Despina. “They were the best loucoumathes.” The monastery must have a secret recipe made from natural grain and local honey.

Their trip through Arcadia was a footstep into a beauty celebrated by the poets. The famous Latin phrase “Et in Arcadia ego” refers to the beauty of the Arcadian landscape that makes one feel that he too was born in Arcadia. The Arcadian tradition was spoken in Plato’s Symposium. It is the basic love of creation that evolves into the human mind’s pursuit of truth, beauty and good. These lessons have shaped the Arcadian Mission. Nothing touched the Soul of Arcadia. The Arcadian people proved that the love of freedom is as strong as the magic song of Pan (god of shepherds and flocks, mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music).

Arcadia has a special boutique liqueur called “Tipota”, meaning “Nothing”. For more than a half a century, Tipota is produced by the Biris family business using an old recipe which began in 1947, in Tripolis. The liqueur is mixed in cocktails or served with crushed ice. They toured Arcadia with Dr. Vardouniotis, Pitsa and Christo Macarounis, sharing dinners in the local diet. “Times Café” in the heart of the central square of Tripoli, is a local gathering place to meet people. Coffees, fruit drinks, sodas, beers, wines, alcohol and snacks are served while one has an outdoor conversation. Organic vegetables and fruits are the basis of their diet. The tourists sampled the finest feta, cheesecroquets, loukaniko (sausage), traditional chicken, beef and pork souvlaki with fried potatoes and natural honey. At the Tegea Fair, they saw pigs roasted on the spit, fried loucoumathes as in New York City and donkey’s milk. The garden vegetables and fruits of Arcadia are known throughout Greece.

Athenian cuisine represents universal foods such as souvlaki, gyro, pastitsio and Greek salad, well known in the global community. An evening dinner with the Tsakonas family at Kessariani, Athens, gave them an insight of how Athenian middle class families entertain their guests. Pitsa Tsakonas prepared tiropites, horiatiki salad (traditional Greek salad), patates (fried potatoes), kima with macaronia (chop meat with pasta), souvlaki and other Greek dishes. A multi course dinner that everyone was expected to finish. No chemicals, just natural food. Their final evening was with our old friends Erica Haralambithou, Doris and Dr. Ioli Christopoulou. They had an exceptional dinner at “Strofi“, overlooking the Acropolis. The menu had a food representative from all Greek regions. Trying to please the tourists with Athenian cuisine shaped the hospitality, graciousness and cheerfulness of their hosts.

“In hospitality, the chief thing is good will,” says a Greek proverb. Hospitality came from the Gods, according to the Ancient Greeks. The host was expected to make sure the needs of his guests were satisfied. In Greek society, a person’s ability to offer hospitality, determined nobility and social standing.  This concept has been woven into Greek culture for thousands of years. Hospitality is shown by offering the finest cuisine to one’s guests. The public’s imagination is captured by the Mediterranean Diet. The tourists experienced the cuisine of the Greek mainland and the islands. They took many photos of their culinary dishes so they could prepare them in their kitchens. Enjoy Greece this summer. Enjoy cuisine that helps the tourist understand the culture.

All photos by Despina Siolas M.D./Ph.D.

The film “300: Rise of an Empire” mesmerized many Americans. The Chinese community of Queens, New York  was fascinated by Greece’s heroic fight for freedom and Democracy against the Persian super power. The young and old I communicated with, respected people who preferred death to slavery. Two thousand years later, Greece fought once again for freedom in WWII.

“Greece in WWII” was presented by Dr. Andre Gerolymatos at the 2014 Sophocles N. & Louiza Zoullas Memorial Hellenic Lecture series which took place at the Nicholas S. Zoullas Hellenic Center of the Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons on Saturday evening, July 19. Members of the business, professional, diplomatic and mainstream American community of all ages attended the lecture.

Dr. Gerolymatos is Professor of History at the Chair of Hellenic Studies and Director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby BC, Canada. Participants exchanged memories of family and friends who lived during WWII. The event coincided with the one hundred centennial of WWI in 1914 that changed the world history forever. A photo gallery from John Mindala’s lecture is available at the church website.

Nicholas Zoullas created the lecture series in memory of his parents, Socrates and Louisa. The Zoullas’, who are now deceased, were philanthropists in Athens during the German occupation of WWII and helped save their starving compatriots. They worked behind the scenes in their Southampton community, helping the hospital and Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church. Nick Zoullas sponsors lectures twice a year, during Lent and the summer.”

Dr. Peter Michalos, who introduces the Zoullas Lecture series, said “It is always an academic and religious event held twice a year,” adding that “We have heard from prominent speakers such as: Supreme Court Justice Kennedy; leading space scientist Prof. Krimigis, who sent spaceships to Mars and Saturn, and Dr. Col. Neimyer who spoke of America’s foreign war in 1805 with the Barbary pirates and the major role that Greeks played as the first Marines for the United States.” Mr. Zoullas funded this exceptional event and made it free to the community, for persons of all background. His generosity is enabling mainstream America to meet the top religious thinkers and prominent personalities shaping the image of the twenty-first century in the global community.

“Civil Wars are not very civil,” explained Presbyter Rev. Constantine Lazarakis of the Kimisis Tis Theotokou Orthodox Church. “Director Gerolymatos chairs the largest Hellenic Studies Center in North America,” said Mr. Zoullas. Dr. Michalos indicated that “four thousand persons are taking online Greek courses under Dr. Gerolymatos’ directorship.” Protopresbyter Rev. Alexander Karloutsos concluded the program’s introduction by saying “the Greek-Italian War, German Invasion and Resistance will be explored by a unique scholar.”

Dr. Gerolymatos began his presentation by stating the Athenians reply to Xerxes in the Second Persian Wars, Herodotus, Book 8: Urania (144). “There is the bond of Hellenic race, by which we are of one blood and of one speech, the common temples of the Gods and the common sacrifices, the manners of life which are the same for all; to these it would not be well that the Athenians should become traitors. And be assured of this, if by any chance ye were not assured of it before, that so long as one of the Athenians remains alive, we will never make an agreement with Xerxes,” quoted the speaker. He was comparing Greece’s 1940 struggle against the Axis powers to the Athenian fight for freedom. Many in 2014 saw this struggle in the movie sequel to “300”.

“In 1940, the Greeks were united when the Italian army invaded from Albania,” said the speaker. “Benito Mussolini took on Greece, because it would be an easy conquest. He believed the Greeks would not fight for the autocratic leader Ioannis Metaxas. The Greek army stopped the invasion at the Pindus mountains and the Italians were pushed back into Albania. They won the first victory for the Allies. The Greek successes and the inability of the Italians to reverse the situation, forced Germany to begin a diversion in the Balkans. Greece never wanted to go to war. When the battleship ‘Elli’ was sunk on August 15 by Italy, Greece was restrained. On October 28, 1940, they were forced into war. The Athenians and all Greeks cheered to fight for freedom. Adolph Hitler was very upset, calling Mussolini an idiot to go to war in the fall,” said Dr. Gerolymatos.

“Germany invaded and captured Greece,” he explained. “They invaded Crete from the air, meeting stubborn resistance. They won the island, securing any attack of their oil resources in Romania. Their campaign in Greece delayed the invasion of the Soviet Union by a month.  This was disastrous, resulting in the German army failing to take Moscow. The Greek navy was effective. They suffered casualties and became the second largest Allied Navy after Britain. The Greeks had British arms and Metaxas tried to keep Germany out of Greece. His death was a major loss. There was no one to continue his diplomacy.”

Dr. Gerolymatos gave quotes from leaders that inspired all. “On the 28^th of October 1940, Greece was given a deadline of three hours to decide on war or peace but even if a three day or three week or three year were given, the response would have been the same,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt. “The Greeks taught dignity throughout the centuries. When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the German monster, raising the proud spirit of freedom against it…The heroic struggle of the Greek people. Against Germany’s attack, after they so thunderously defeated the Italians in their attempt to invade the Greek soil, filled the hearts of the American people with enthusiasm and moved their compassion.”

Field Marshal Georgy Constantinovich Zhoukov of the Soviet army said “Regardless of what future historians shall say, what we can say now is that Greece gave Mussolini an unforgettable lesson, they were the motive for the revolution in Yugoslavia, they held the Germans in the mainland and Crete for six weeks, they upset the chronological order of all German High Command’s plans and thus brought a general reversal of the entire course of the war, and we won.”

Dr. Gerolymatos explained “Adolph Hitler said to the Reichstag on May 4, 1941 that ‘for the sake of historical truth I must verify that only the Greeks, of all the adversaries who confronted us, fought with bold courage and highest disregard of death.’ Only in Greece was the army allowed to go home.” My father-in-law, George Siolas, was one of the soldiers who returned home to Paleopyrgo, Arcadia from Yugoslavia.

“The price of resistance was starvation,” said Dr. Gerolymatos. “Greece was raped. There was nothing left.” Wikipedia describes “the “Great Famine” as “a period of mass starvation during the Axis occupation of Greece, World War II (1941–1944). The local population suffered greatly during this period, while the Axis Powers initiated a policy of large scale plunder. Moreover, requisitions together with the Allied blockade of Greece, the ruined state of the country’s infrastructure and the emergence of a powerful and well-connected black market, resulted in the Great Famine, with the mortality rate reaching a peak during the winter of 1941–1942. The great suffering and the pressure of the Greek Diaspora eventually forced the British to partially lift the blockade, and from the summer of 1942, the International Red Cross was able to distribute supplies in sufficient quantities; however, the situation remained grim until the end of the occupation.”

The article continues saying “In general, the Axis powers viewed conquered nations as sources of raw materials, food and labor. As a matter of policy, subjugated nations were to provide material support to Germany and Italy. According to this principle, already from the outset of the occupation, German and Italian troops initiated a policy of wide-scale plunder of everything of value. Moreover, pillage, torture, executions, and civilian massacres throughout Greece were also part of the Axis agenda during the years of occupation….”

Dr. Gerolymatos believes “Greece is still paying the price of the Greek Civil War. Few people know about Greece’s sacrifice.” To this day, families who lost loved ones on both sides, refuse to discuss the subject. Revisionist materials on the Greek Civil War describe the guerilla fighters in patriotic terms. This material is widely distributed in 2014 Greece. Isn’t the 1860 American Civil War a subject that hurts the southern part of the United States to this day?

Many now in hindsight say Greece should have never fought the Axis powers because of the high loss of civilian population, alienation of left-wing guerrilla fighters resulting in the Greek Civil War. My opinion on this subject can be summarized by the inspiring words of Themistocles at the Battle of Salamina as seen in the dramatic movie “300: Rise of an Empire.” “Today is a privilege to call our own,” said Themistocles. “A story that will be told for a thousand years. Let our final stand be recorded to the histories and let it be shown that we chose to die on our feet rather than live on our knees.” I am honored to be part of this extraordinary heritage of freedom that repeated itself two thousand years later in WWII.

Links:

Life during occupation.

Profile of an average Greek during WWII.

Life during occupation.

Revisionist view of the Greek Civil war.

Greece’s entry.

Greeks in Uzbekistan.

The best of the season was celebrated in Mattituck, on the North Fork of Long Island, New York. Extraordinary Greek menus, flea market, vendors and rides were at the Transfiguration Church Festival from Friday, July 25^th to Sunday, July 27^th. The community cooked up a Greek feast that was attended by persons from New York State. Cars were parked for blocks, resulting in local parishioners walking to the Church grounds on Breakwater Road in Mattituck. The Co-Chairpersons were Barbara Thermos, Irene Kalogeras, Manny Constantine and Emily Kavourias.

Generous donations to cover expenses were given by the following persons: Mr. & Mrs. Spiro Flossos; Mr. & Mrs. Richard Rivera; Mr. & Mrs. Peter Zannikos; Mrs. Eleni Tsunis; Mrs. Irene Halkias; Mr. & Mrs. Savas Millineos; Mr. & Mrs. George Gabriel; Mr. & Mrs. Jim Stavrinos; Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Stagias; Mrs. Helen Raptis; Mr. & Mrs. Teddy Baktidy; Mr. Christos Verveniotis; Dr. George & Mrs. Alexandra Kolaros; Mr. & Mrs. Nick Lambrianides; Katherine Kamposalis; Mr. & Mrs. Reno Georgiou; Mrs. Helen Stratigos; Mrs. Tibas and Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Malaxianos.

The problems this rural Greek Orthodox Church is facing: without schools and  a young middle class business group. It is covering its major expenses in setting up and operating a festival of this magnitude. In 2012, the festival expenses were close to forty percent. The generous donations by the listed donors, massive volunteer effort and record-breaking crowds will play a major role in reducing expenditures. Bringing in persons who never helped before is the key to making a community grow. The feeling of working for a good cause and succeeding was seen on the faces of all volunteers the final day of the festival. Epicurus said, “Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.”

Niko and Nitsa Economou, who have a summer home in Riverhead said “this was well-organized. The best festival in years! Nicos Nicolaides Orchestra played non-stop music Saturday night.” Mersina and Demetrios Stagias, festival donors, “we are enjoying the festival for several days.” Erasmia Theodorou, artist and her husband businessman Kosta Theodorou enjoyed Greek frappe coffee and “Yiayia’s Treasures”. “We found a book on John Chrysostom dated 1967,” Erasmia explained. They have wonderful Greek books on Greek Orthodoxy.” Eleni and Bill Condos said they “never saw so many flowers on the church grounds.” Mrs. Amal Constantine landscaped the church front grounds and back entrance. “Every year I enjoy decorating with perennials,” she explained.

Tony Coutsouros, 2013 Parish Council President, initiated a new festival format with mass advertizing along the North Fork, Greek newspapers, radio and local community papers. Protopresbyter Rev. Constantine Makrinos said “this is the second year in a row that we have a fantastic festival. Volunteers, participating young persons and their families, church tours and new vendors, added to our success.”

Manny Constantine, Festival Chairperson, explained “We have a Greek market for the first time. We set up four additional 30×30 tents with a Southold Town permit. Police barricades were placed. Vendors read our ads and sign posts. They asked to participate. We had a refrigerated truck on premises to keep all foods fresh. Byzantine music was played and we had mystical church tours. Food was served from outdoor barbecue to plate.”

A visit by Protopresbyter Alexander Karloutsos cemented unity among Orthodox Churches of Eastern Long Island. Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons had a unique Festival two weeks prior, attracting thousands. Their Greek music was the best in the United States today. Presbyter Constantine Lazarakis said at their Festival “You’ll taste our food…You’ll watch our dancing…You’ll see our craftwork… We’d like to share something about our faith as well.” This theme was repeated at the Transfiguration Church Festival inspired by her sister church in the Hamptons.

The Transfiguration Church of Mattituck is the only parish after Astoria, New York with a large Geek Orthodox community in walking distance. The Church built a Greek Orthodox community. It is a magnet for new residents who want to walk to the beach and local house of worship. The Transfiguration Church is the best thing that ever happened to Breakwater Road. A Greek Orthodox Church presence in the town of Southold keeps the neighborhood safe, with a high quality of life for Middle America.

The 2014 Parish Council Board Committee Members and staff include: Rev. Constantine Makrinos, Protopresbyter; Pantelis Syriodis, President; George Giannoukakis, First Vice President; Irene Kalogeras, Second Vice President; Mary Kavourias, Treasurer; Emmanuel Constantine,  Assistant Treasurer: Sophia Lahana, Assistant Treasurer; Argyro Mavrikos, Recording Secretary; Anthi Gatanas, Assistant Recording Secretary;  Parish Council Members, Anthony Coutsouros, Nick Lambrianidis; Andreas Markakis, Alex Mavrikos, Nick Neocleous, Calliope Orfanidis, Charlie Pafitis, Elias Tripolitis, Harriet Zanikos, Church Secretary; Festival Co-chairpersons Manny Constantine, , Barbara Thermos, Emily Kavourias, Irene Kalogeras; altar boys, Anastasios Kassapidis, George Zachariadis, George and Emmanuel Moustakos.
The 2014 Philoptohos Board are the following: Virginia Tripolitis, President; Honorary President Cynthia Pylarinos; Sophia Lahana, First Vice President; Second Vice President; Chrystalla Stamatis, Treasurer; Katina Mihaltses, Corresponding Secretary; Lucretia Kratsios, Recording Secretary; Harriet Zannikos, Assistant Treasurer and Voula Anastasiades, Raffles. This is an incomplete list taken from the February, 2014 letter to the community. If any name has been omitted, please contact the Transfiguration Church at 631-298-9652 or e-mail transgochurch@optonline.net.

Link: https://picasaweb.google.com/113119187466714282240/2014Transfiguration_Festival- photo album

The Vespers and Feast Day of the Transfiguration of Christ Church on Breakwater Road, Mattituck, New York  were well attended. On the August 5^th evening Vespers, Rev. Sarantis Loulakis, St. Markella Church, Wantaugh; Rev. Elias Nikolaou, St. Paraskevi Church, Greenlawn: Rev.Vasilios Govits, All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery of Calverton; Rev. Demetrios Calogredes, Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church, Port Jefferson; Rev. Andrew David Cadieux,  St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church, Blue Point and Rev. Constantine Lazarakis of Kimisis tis Theotokou Church, Southampton, assisted by John Galifianakis and seminarian Michael Lazarakis joined parish priest Rev. Constantine Makrinos to perform a memorable celebrated liturgy.

Guest Minister Rev. Demetrios Calogredes, gave the inspiring Vespers sermon in Greek and English. His message can be summarized in this quote from St. Paul:

“For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12” ― Saint Paul, The Epistles of Paul and Acts of the Apostles.

Rev. Calogredes believes “a metamorphosis of mankind is needed. Our churches are empty…We walk with strength and light in our life in Jesus Christ.” We were all honored to hear Rev. Calogredes sermon.

Rev.Constantine Makrinos was bestowed the honor of Protopresbyter (Very Reverend) by His Eminence on August 6^th, 2010. This is the highest rank for a married priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. The honor is bestowed upon a Greek Orthodox clergyman after twenty-five years of service. Very Rev. Makrinos is from Kardamyla, Chios.

“It was a great honor to receive this title from His Eminence’s hands,” he explained.

“I prayed to receive this honor from his hands. On August 6^th, 2014, I completed twenty-nine years of my ministry, performing all church services and sacraments.”

A Journal is being prepared for the annual dance on October 4^th,  that will honor Pete Demetriou, founder, and Peter Pappas, former president and chanter. Pete Demetriou is a quiet, low key person, who worked to establish Greek-American religious institutions over the past sixty years. He emigrated from Cyprus in the 1950’s to Astoria, New York.

“I gave a donation to form St. Demetrios Greek-American parochial school in 1956,” he said.

“My late wife, Helen, believed in philanthropic activities. When we moved to Mattituck, we continued our philanthropy. We donated the first marble altar screen (iconostasis) of the original Transfiguration of Christ Church on Breakwater Road. Other donations included hooking up the Church to the Suffolk County Water Authority and numerous items the Church needed.  We worked together in all our philanthropic projects to help the Transfiguration of Christ Church. For forty years, I assisted priest in the clergy committee, from 1970 up to the time I retired. I enjoyed working with Stelios Nanos in the altar, harmoniously.”

He is a founder of the All Saints Monastery in Calverton, Long Island. He lives in walking distance to the Transfiguration Church with his second wife, Iza.

Mr. Peter Pappas served as chanter for free at the Transfiguration Church in Mattituck. His late wife Andrea worked with him to rebuild the Church when it was burnt in 1984.

“We welcome young people,” said Rev. Makrinos.

“Since I have been here, I have been trying to bring youth in church and on the parish council board. I try to add English in my service when I see younger people in church. I hold a Masters of Divinity in Theology from Holy Cross Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts. St.Theona, St. Iakovos the Monk and St. Anastasia are our relics. They were given to our church in 1976 when Archbishop Iakovos consecrated the Transfiguration of Christ Church.”

“I come from the Katexomena (Occupied Cyprus from the Turkish invasion of 1974),” said His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, an Archimandrite then. His pain in explaining his lost homeland, at an education event in 2008, made an impression. Images of my despondent Mattituck neighbors from Kyrenia, persons who lost their homes, came to my mind. Members of the New York metropolitan region had the unique opportunity to participate in a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy by His Grace, Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, on August 15, at the Kimisis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons. His Grace was accompanied by Deacon George Kolios. A unique service was performed with Rev. Alexander Karloutsos, Protopresbyter and Presbyter Rev. Constantine Lazarakis, Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church of Southampton;  Rev. Milton Efthimiou;  Rev. Basil Summer of the Orthodox Church in America and members of the clergy. A Feast day Building Fund Luncheon followed in “The Muses” church hall, hosted by Nammos Estiatorio and the Themistocles Makkos Family.

On the evening of the August 14 Vespers, residents of the tri-state area attended the liturgy. The Greek Orthodox clergy who performed the liturgy included: Protopresbyter Rev. Alexander Karloutsos and Presbyter Constantine Lazarakis, Rev. Dennis Strouzas, Archangel Michael Church; Archimandrite Rev.Gerasimos Makris, Holy Cross Church, Brooklyn; Rev. Elias Nicholas, St. Paraskevi Church; Rev. Panagiotis Zougras, Cathedral of St. Paul, Hempstead; Rev. Father Agapitos, St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church, New York and Sisters of the All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery, Calverton, New York. Fr. Panagiotis Zougras was the keynote speaker. “Panagia gives peace and love to all,” he said. “She experienced the true life, free from corruption and death. We are guided by the example of Panagia.”

A filled church attended the August 15 Feast Day celebration to participate in a moving church service. “This is the first time I am here,” said His Grace, Bishop Sevastianos of Zela. “I have heard wonderful things about this community. The church wall and architecture are beautiful. The moment we left our car and entered the church, I understood the culture of the community. I felt the presence of God and peace in celebrating the sacraments. This is a blessing to be able to pray in such a way. ‘In peace, let us pray for the lord,’ said Jesus. If we come to church and are preoccupied, we will not meet God or listen to him.”

His Grace believes it was “a great blessing for me to put away worldly cases and see the King of God. There are times when we can do it and times when we cannot. Panagia is at the right hand of God. Why honor a woman? She is our representative: collaboration between God and man…. August 15 is known as summer Easter. This is important to the life of our church. Her example should be followed.”

His Grace continued saying “Presidents and important persons know us because of Father Alexander Karloutsos’ work. It is he they know. He lays the groundwork for us to meet and then retreats into the shadows, unseen, but his presence is reflected in the smoothness of our encounter. Father Alex makes everyone happy. Presidents know that Father Alex is the organizer and front man, always behind the scenes. This is a tribute to you, Father Alex. Your beautiful church with its atmosphere of peace is a challenge to every community.” Many share His Grace’s feeling of peace and spirituality at Kimisis tis Theotokou Church.

Rev. Alexander Karloutsos’ response was expressing the sentiment that “His Grace is an inspiration to all. He is the first Bishop of Cypriot origin. We present to you an icon from our community, hand-painted by Paul Maus.”

“Man can feel no religious awe more genuine and profound, I believe, than the awe he feels when treading the ground where his ancestors – his roots – repose. Your own feet sprout roots which descend into the earth and search, seeking to mingle with the great, immortal roots of the dead,” from Report to Greco, transl. Peter Bien, pp. 497-98 from the preface of Thanasis Maskaleris book The Terrestrial Gospel by Nikos Kazantzakis. Persons expressed views on their roots at the Feast day luncheon while the Faith and Culture Camp sang hymns.

Vasilis Livanos, member of the Transfiguration Church in Mattituck since 1980, came with his friends to support the building fund luncheon. “Vasilis Livanos has been helping us,” said Father Constantine. Residents of the North Fork have been assisting the South Fork Orthodox community of the Hamptons since the mid 1970s. Mrs. Kay Halikias and her late husband Dr. Robert Halikias, Dr. John Halikias and family are community activists aiding the church. Mr. Basilios Theodosakis described his roots in Asia Minor. “My father, Constantinos Theodosakis, joined the United States army in 1917. He fought at the Battle of the Argonne Forest that helped bring about the Armistice.”  His father was one of many valorous Greek-Americans who are remembered during the WWI Centennial. Listening to Mr. Theodosakis’ roots has inspired persons such as former parish council president Dimitrios  Hatgistavrou.

In the 2014 Festival booklet, Father Alexander Karloutsos and Father Constantine Lazarakis explained “Orthodoxy has existed as an unbroken chain, linking past to present and uniting believers to the faith of the Apostles. Many of the churches founded in the Book of Acts – in Greece, Palestine and Asia Minor – are alive and well in the twenty-first century…Centuries of oppression and persecution have taken their toll on the Orthodox Christian church….Orthodoxy has not only managed to survive, it has marched resolutely forward, against the very gates of hell itself.” Presvitera Xanthi and Presvitera Anastasia are dedicated in their ministry.

I noticed several green columns, such as those in Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) in Constantinople. Hagia Sophia is considered one of the eight wonders of the world.

“Our columns and chandeliers are replicas of Hagia Sophia,” explained Father Alexander Karloutsos. Mrs. Anna Paganopoulou Barbatsoulis, who was born in Constantinople and raised in Thessaloniki, explained, “We have a replica of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki. It is known as the second Hagia Sophia.” Now, Long Island, New York has a church with similarities to the great wonder of the Byzantine world. I am totally amazed with the architecture of the Kimisis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) Church. The community did not build a rural church or cathedral. The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church can be an archdiocese or patriarchal center. All photos for this article were contributed by Stavroula Nicolas Raia.

Links:
Hagia Sophia
August 14 Vespers photos by Mrs. Stavroula Nicholas Raia
August 15 Feast Day photos by Mrs. Stavroula Nicholas Raia
August 15 Kimisis tis Theotokou Church website photos by Mr. John Mindala
August 15 Luncheon

“Has a philosopher like you failed to discover that our country is more to be valued and higher and holier far than mother or father or any ancestor, and more to be regarded in the eyes of the gods and of men of understanding?”, said Socrates (469-391 B.C.) in “Crito,” dialogue by Plato. The summer of 2014 is the 100 year centennial of the start of WWI that encompassed soldiers, civilians and industries. Greek-Americans have patriotism ingrained in their culture.

Americans woke up on the morning of September 11, 2014, hearing news of a counter-terror operation in Syria and Iraq against ISIS. This gives another meaning to the WWI Centennial: our armed forces sacrifice to protect our way of life and the international community from extremists. Andrew T. Kopan Ph.D. in “Defenders of the Democracy: Greek Americans in the Military”, Greek-American Review, September 1998, pp. 5-10, wrote “This ancient injunction that one’s country is to be revered above one’s parents and ancestors has been an ideal which Greek immigrants kept close to their hearts. The Greeks, founders of democracy 2,500 years ago, have been imbued with its defense during their long and glorious history. Defense of country and democracy was a trait of Greek immigrants to whatever country they immigrated to. This is especially true in the United States, where despite their small number in the total population, served in practically all of America’s wars.”

Kopan said “Indeed, the fire of patriotism of Greek-Americans was exemplified in deeds of unequivocal meaning. Early historical accounts and newspapers in the United States extolled Greek-American patriotism. There was not a more loyal and patriotic class of people in this country than were the American-Greeks. A great percentage of them served in the armed forces of America (a proportion believed to be greater than that of any ethnic group in the United States). The great majority of them who came within the draft ages, flatly refused to claim exemption… Among them was George Dilboy in World War I…”

“George Dilboy was born in the town of Alatsata in Asia Minor on February 5, 1896.” Alatsata is located on the coast of Western Anatolia, Turkey, opposite the northeastern Aegean Greek islands. Kopan explained “After the Balkan War of 1912-13, his family fled to America to avoid persecution from the Turks… On July 25, 1917, he was assigned to company H. 103^rd Infantry, 26^th Division. He was sent with his company to France and took part in the Champagne-Marne defense and the Aisne-Marne counter offensive. He was killed on the battlefield near Belleau, France, July 18, 1918, and was posthumously awarded the congressional medal for bravery, the highest medal of the Republic. The official citation read: …Private Dilboy, accompanying his platoon leader to reconnoiter the ground beyond, was suddenly fired upon an enemy machine gun, rushed forward with his bayonet fixed through a wheat field toward the gun emplacement, falling within twenty-five yards of the gun with his right leg nearly severed and with several bullet holes in his body. With courage undaunted, he continued to fire into the emplacement from a prone  position, killing two of the enemy and dispersing the rest of the crew.”

The Medal of Honor ceremony on the Boston commons, presented to his father Antonios Dilboy, is detailed as follows by Kopan: “Your boy was born in a foreign land and, like you, he spoke the Greek language and with you came to his adopted country. You taught him of Flag and what American citizenship means. You made him appreciate blessings afforded to all aliens. You told him it was the greatest honor on earth to be chosen to defend with his life the freedom that you enjoy, and you so developed his character and instilled into him this pride in your adopted country that no American boy excelled this boy in the supreme sacrifice he made. He was almost superhuman, he achieved things supposed above the limit of mental and physical endurance. His act cleared the way for his platoon to break through; that he died a splendid example.” WWII Greek-Americans, many who were the children of Western Anatolian Christian refugees, carried Dilboy’s image as they fought overseas. General John Pershing listed George Dilboy as “one of the ten great heroes” who “died in the battlefield of France with super-human heroism and valor.”

Vasilios Theodosakis described his roots in Asia Minor to us at the August 15 Luncheon at the Kimisis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) Greek Orthodox Church, Southampton. “My father, Konstantinos Theodosakis joined the United States army in 1917. He fought at the Battle of the Argonne Forest that helped bring about the Armistice.” His father was one of many valorous Greek-Americans who are remembered during the WWI Centennial. Listening to Theodosakis’ roots has inspired people, such as former parish council President Dimitrios Hatzistavrou.

“The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also known as the Maas-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of the Argonne Forest,” was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice on November 11, a total of 47 days. The battle was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers, and was one of a series of Allied attacks known as the Hundred Days Offensive, which brought the war to an end. The Meuse-Argonne was the principal engagement of the American Expeditionary Forces, during the First World War,” according to Wikipedia.

Vlassios Tsounis, a Greek immigrant from the village of Panagia, Limnos, that was part of the Ottoman Empire, immigrated to the U.S.A. in the 1900’s. He was drafted in the U. S. army during WWI. He served with valor in France and was wounded in action, attempting to save his fellow officers. Tsounis was decorated with the Purple Heart. He was one of nearly five million Americans who fought in WWI. The Greek-American soldier was the recipient of the Victory Medal, 1914-15 Star for action in France and the British War Medal for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the U.S.A., not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor. He became a disabled American Veteran, who continued working full time in a steel mill at Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.

“The Victory Medal handed out to American, French, British and Allied soldiers bears the phrase: The Great War for Civilization, yet the awful irony is that the children of ‘the war to end all wars’ went on to fight and die in much larger numbers in the Second World War 20 years later – yet another calamity that eclipsed the First World War,” according to “Centennial of a Calamity”, Scientific American, p. 93, July 2014. Tsounis’ son, George, carried on this tradition of patriotism. His son was wounded in action and was interned as a WWII POW in Germany. Vlassios and George Tsounis, father and son, established two generations of disabled American War heroes, with his son giving the sacrifice of foreign captivity under the hands of a hostile power. Congressman Timothy H. Bishop summarized American heroism in a proclamation honoring WWII Greek immigrant from Imvros, George Aneson, a hero of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen (the gateway to Germany) at the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Mattituck, May 3, 2005. “All of the men and women in our armed services are heroes of the moment when they dress in the military uniforms of our country. The strength of our nation and the rights we hold dear to us are secure because of individuals such as you. It gives me joy knowing that your courage did not merely save the lives of the American engineers in Remagen, but it allowed these young men to return home to create families of their own. Your heroism is infinite, as your story will be retold by each generation surviving the men you saved in 1945. Each time a child is born to these families, they will thank you, in thought and by word… You represent the finest of Americans that have served this country. Our nation will always be grateful to you and all of our young military men and women at arms and in peace.” Greek Americans in 2014 continue this unique patriotism in the counter-terror offensive against ISIS.

Thalassemia originated in the Mediterranean region. A genetic illness, it is a disorder characterized by the weakening and destruction of red blood cells caused by missing genes that hinder the body from making hemoglobin. The Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, is a strong partner for families living with Thalassemia. Maria Hadjidemetriou, a member of the Board of Directors for Cooley’s Anemia Foundation and Executive Committee Member and Patient of Thalassemia, presented information on the genetic disorder at the recent 2014 Hermes Expo International at the Concordville Inn in Concordville, Pennsylvania.

Ms. Hadjidemetriou said that she heard about 2014 Hermes Expo International “on the professional social media site Linked In……  I called you that day to find out more if this will be a good avenue for me to advertise my professional services in real estate.  When you mentioned the number of Greek Americans participating in this event, I realized the importance of having a presence for the nonprofit foundation I am Board of Directors, the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation that advocates for the genetic blood disease, Thalassemia.”

She recalled the response of Mr. Paul Kotrotsios, founder of Hermes Expo International and Hellenic News of America newspaper: “I know Cooley’s Anemia” which led me to saying “I have Thalassemia”. “Then Mr. Kotrotsios you offered us to exhibit for free. You knew how this disease has affected our Greek Community and the importance of educating and bringing awareness on what it is to be a carrier of Thalassemia.”

Ms. Hadjidemetriou thanked him for mentioning the “foundation’s name during the meeting sessions. You have introduced to us other prominent Greek Americans who are part of AHEPA. They embraced our foundation and the disease. There is no cure for Thalassemia. But for me what is a source of cure is awareness and love.  You have given us both. We thank you Mr. Kotrotsios for your kindness and empathy.  This is what it is to be Greek. I am honored to know you as it lives within you.”

The professional blessed his “initiatives for Hermes Expo International to grow in many other industries led by Greek Americans. May prominent Greek Americans give back to the youth who will carry this torch to another generation.”

Mr. Kotrotsios believes that “It is our duty to build awareness in our community for the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation. We are happy that we were able to connect Ms. Hadjidemetriou with organizations, such as AHEPA, that want to help. We will promote your mission, in joint community events.”

For more information, contact Paul Kotrotsios, MBA, Founder & Publisher, Hellenic News of America,
Founder & President, Hermes Expo International, P.O. Box 465   (780 Baltimore Pike #100 Bestwestern Hotel for UPS &Fedex), Concordville, PA, 19331-0465, Tel: (001) – 610.446.1463, Fax: 610-356-4877, www.hermesexpo.com  & www.hellenicnews.com

Links:

http://www.thalassemia.org/about-the-foundation/- Cooley’s Anemia foundation

“Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat,” George Santayana (1863-1952). We are celebrating the 92^nd Anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe at the time of a counter terror operation in Syria and Iraq against ISIS in September 2014. Why remember?

“Even today, Greeks call it ‘The Catastrophe,’ referring to the eradication of the Greek presence in Asia Minor at the hands of the Turks,” said Christos Papoutsy in his groundbreaking masterpiece ‘Ships of Mercy,’ chapter 2, p. 15. “This wholesale ‘cleansing,’ which also removed Armenians, took place in the fall of 1922 as Turkish forces swept across the land, driving mass numbers of Greek Christians and the remaining Armenians before them. The horde wound up with their backs to the sea at Smyrna.”

Papoutsy reminds the reader that “for thousands of years, Greek settlements had thrived along the coast of Asia Minor, but this heritage was wiped out in a period of roughly one month-  September 1922. During these last days of the Greco-Turkish conflict, hundreds of thousands of people were killed, imprisoned or driven out as part of a nationalistic fanaticism that proclaimed ‘Turkey for the Turks.’ Mustafa Kemal, leader of the Turkish army and father of the Nationalist movement, trained his troops well. They would leave no Greek, Armenian or Christian behind.”

Every family has stories that have been handed down from 1914, the First Expulsion and 1922. One hundred years later, literary books are making their appearance in Greece, showing there was harmony between the communities. The Greek flag was flying in Tseme. Andreas Mpoutsikas, in his book “Thimises ke Nostalgia apo ti Smyrni: O Adelfos mou o Ismael” (Memories and Nostalgia from Smyrna: My brother Ismael), wrote “Greek Turks, Armenians, Jews and Europeans lived in peace. They pursued their occupations in an affluent city comparable to European cities….they did not believe WWI would reach their shores,” pp. 15-16. The story is about two Turkish orphans, Ismael and Aise, who were unofficially adopted by the Leonidas Chrysopoulos family, merchant magnates of Smyrna. The book is in the Greek section of the East Flushing library at 196^th and Northern Blvd., next to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

Elias Venezis from Aivali, who was a refugee in Mytilini, wrote about his experiences in the article “Elias Venezis: Sti Galini tis Aiolikis Gis” (Elias Venezis: In The Serenity of the Aiolian Land), Greek News, September 10, 2012, p. 31. Stratis Mirivilis, a literary giant, urged Venezis to write about his experiences. The result was the book “Noumero” (Number). “The refugees attempted to settle in Attiki (Athens area) and the natives did not want them. Leave! said the leader of native Greeks. The Phocaians from Phocaia replied ‘We will not leave. We were given this land. We will remain here, even if we die! The reply from the Elder of the Greek shepherds was “Stay! …We will destroy your labor…and vanquish you.” An unforgettable welcome.

“George Seferis: Ta Spitia pou iha mou ta piran” (George Seferis: My houses were seized), Greek News, September 10, 2012, p. 30, wrote a scathing condemnation of the Greek government in a letter,  upon hearing Smyrna was destroyed and possibly his mother and sister lost, as a student in Paris, France. “Write to me about the conditions of Greece, the liar, who showed no heroism…without complaining in the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of its children,” Noble Prize winner Seferis said on September 17, 1922. Visit the archives of Greeknewsonline.com to read the articles in the Greek language.

Captain Stelios Tatsis, a businessman and journalist, emailed to many a bilingual English/Greek account of Ernest Hemingway’s article “On the Quai at Smyrna”. Hemingway wrote “The worst, he said, were the women with dead babies. You couldn’t get the women to give up their dead babies. They’d have babies dead for six days. Wouldn’t give them up. Nothing you could do about it. Had to take them away finally.”

Theo Kalaitzis described his ancestral home next to the Cathedral of St. Charalambos. “My grandfather in the Frourio neighborhood of Chora, in Chios island, would tell me about our church of St. Charalambos. I have an actual photo taken about 100 years ago,” he explained.

St. Charalambos, the metropolitan cathedral, was used as horse stables after the 1922 Catastrophe. Today, it is a civic center used for holidays and theatrical productions. St. Charalambos Cathedral was the place of worship of 10,000 Greeks prior to the first expulsion of 1914. The cathedral was constructed to hold three thousand parishioners under a sultan’s decree. A St. Charalambos Church was erected in Varvasi, Chios.

Official documents uncovered by Papoutsy reveal that Asa Jennings, a former Methodist pastor for ten years, was the real hero. In 1922, he was secretary for boy’s work at the YMCA in Smyrna. According to the 1923 Saturday Post, Jennings was “an average person risen to extraordinary heights by circumstance.” Papoutsy believes “Jennings knew he was facing the greatest challenge of his life. Could he, one man, work a miracle and save hundreds of thousands of innocent people?”

Jennings began the coordination of removing Smyrna refugees from the quay, by paying an Italian Captain to land them in Mytilene. The Greek government commissioned Jennings as an Admiral. They placed all the ships in the Aegean at his disposal. He even evacuated refugees from Aivali and Tseme. “It was the greatest rescue in the history of mankind,” said Roger Jennings, his grandson. “He believed that indoor to do good in the world and be effective, you have to get others on board. He was quite the community organizer,” (http://www.helleniccomserve.com/contents.html, Posting date 18 September 2012. Source: “Man with ties to Oswego County helped save Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians after World War I,” by Debra J. Groom, in the Cleveland [NY] Post-Standar, 15 September 2012.)

Admiral James G. Stavridis, USN, former Commander U.S. European Command, (USEUCOM) and NATOʼs Supreme Allied Commander Europe, (SACEUR) was the 2012 recipient of the 33rd Homeric Award of the Chian Federation. ” Wherever Greek-Americans go, they have pride, because of their many centuries of civilization,” he explained. “Freedom to worship came from ancient Greece. My father fought in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam, instilling in me love for one’s country and patriotism. What defines a true leader? Every day and every moment, you must inspire your command, serve them. All you accomplish in life is by helping persons accomplish their goals, acting as a leader and a servant.” (http://www.qgazette.com/news/2012-10-31/Front_Page/The_33rd_Homeric_Award_Honors_Admiral_James_G_Stav.html).

“His paternal grandparents were Pontic Greeks, born and raised in northeastern Anatolia, that is modern Turkey, who emigrated to the United States,” according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Stavridis.

“His 2008 book, Destroyer Captain: Lessons of a First Command, goes into more detail about his Greek refugee origins. He wrote, ‘In the early 1920’s, my grandfather, a short, stocky Greek schoolteacher named Dimitrios Stavridis, was expelled from Turkey as part of ‘ethnic cleansing‘ (read pogrom) directed against Greeks living in the remains of the Ottoman Empire. He barely escaped with his life in a small boat crossing the Aegean Sea to Athens and thence to Ellis Island. His brother was not so lucky and was killed by the Turks as part of the violence directed at the Greek minority. A NATO exercise off the coast of modern Turkey was the ‘most amazing historical irony [he] could imagine,’ and prompted Stavridis to write of his grandfather: ‘His grandson, who speaks barely a few words of Greek, returns in command of a billion-dollar destroyer to the very city – Smyrna, now called İzmir – from which he sailed in a refugee craft all those years ago.'”^[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Stavridis).

According to Dimitrios Hatzistavrou, president of the Parish Council of the Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church in Southampton, New York, his great uncle was Chrysostomos Hatzistavrou, the Metropolitan of Ephesus. His eyewitness account describes the massacre of every Christian in Ionia (Western Asia Minor). According to a report prepared for the Patriarch of Constantinople by Metropolitan of Ephesus Chrystosomos Hatzistavrou, the churchman says “While from afar one could hear the firing of Greek cannons at Tseme, protecting the fleet sailing out of Smyrna Bay with its cargo of exhausted and demoralized remnants of our heroic Greek troops. These laurel-crowned heroes were led to defeat, dishonor and betrayal by inept and cowardly leadership.” This is the view held by many descendants. http://umdearborn.edu/dept/armenian/bts/voices/Appendix.pdf. His Eminence later became the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece between 1962-1967, a peacemaker.

Mrs. Argyro Linaris and her daughter, Georgia, a soloist of Archdiocesan Metropolitan Choir, explained their Western Anatolian history in an interview at a university social, November 10^th, 2012. “Sister Marianthi and Abbot Paraskevi of Sts. Constantine and Helen Monastery in Cambos, Chios, knew my grandmother, explained Mrs. Linaris. They treated us as their own.”

Georgia Linaris explained “She gave us a handmade komposkini, a religious bracelet, each knot is made with nine crosses, with a total of 40 crosses. This is my mother’s favorite monastery. My mother’s grandmother, Kalomira (my great-grandmother) took my mother’s mother, Paraskevi (our grandmother), to the monastery as a child.” The fifth generation remembers the comfort given to ancestors by the nuns. Watching ancestral homes, with lights from the coast of Chios, keeps the loss alive.

Argyro said “Our Family started to live in Varvasi, Chios, and then the Frourio (Fortress) in Chora. My grandmother Kalomira said ‘every family from Asia Minor has a story. In 1922 were the final expulsions. They were rich. They had livestock, flocks in Kato Panagia and had a summer home as well. My grandmother’s name was Kalomira. My mother’s name was Paraskevi Bitados. My grandmother Kalomira’s parents had five children. In 1922, the Turks in Kato Panagia took grandmother Kalomira’s father and shot him in front of his wife and children. Kalomira’s mother begged them not to kill her husband. With a rifle, a Turk broke her spine. She died 40 days later, leaving 5 children as orphans. My grandmother Kalomira, was one of these orphans. They were raised by aunts and uncles along the coast of Chios. Paraskevi Bitados’ grandparents left in 1913 during the first expulsion. They escaped to Chios with their gold. They went back in 1919 with the Greek Army during their conquest of Asia Minor. The first time they left with money. The second time they were killed.”

Argyro continued saying “In their summer home, they dug a hole and buried gold liras. Paraskevi’s grandfather told them to go back and get it. They had no deeds and no papers 99 years ago. Their claim will expire now, in 2 or 3 years. To prove the land is theirs, they must have deeds and living relatives. Aunt Katina still lives in the Frourio.” Katina was a popular name among Asia Minor families. Everyone had an Aunt Katina. Varvarsi is a center for Asia Minor food.

“My father, Constantine Kazanas, was sailing to the United States in 1916, during World War I,” said Mrs. Daisy Lainis, in the article “Where Did We Come From?,” Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, January/February, 2011, p. 8. “On the way, the ship was captured by a German ship. A bit later, the Germans were captured by the British, and the Greek ship, after spending some time in London, was allowed to continue the voyage to the United States. Constantine Kazanas, 14 years old, therefore arrived in New York. He had lied about his age and had been hired to work on the railroad out West, where his father, Demosthenes Kazanas, was also working.”

She continues saying “as a matter of fact, many Greeks worked there together. Many of them lived in one room and shared living conditions. In 1921, conditions were very strained in their homeland, in Asia Minor. Demosthenes decided to return to his family and return to his own veterinary business. Constantine begged his father not to go, but me!’ In 1922, the Turks invaded Asia Minor and their town Kato Panagia (lower Saint Mary’s) was completely destroyed. There was time for them to put their families in boats and send them away, but every man and boy over 14 years ago was sent on a death march from which no one ever returned.”

It is 92 years since then. The memory remains. The pain is transmitted from one generation to the next. Although they were unwelcomed by the local population, the Western Anatolian refugees were aggressive, educated or achieved education. They transformed the areas they settled into the affluent communities they left behind.  History is repeating itself in 2014. We need leaders, such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, to provide leadership with the right focus and conscience.

Links:
Site of Hellenic scholarship

Music

Music

Book on Jennings rescue

St. Charalambos Church

Scholar Errikos Skouloudis

Greek-American Margaret Skourlis won the title of 2014 Ms. Supermodel USA-Petite in Fargo, North Dakota, in September and plans to participate in the Hermes Young Professionals Initiative (HYPI) on March 24, 2015, in Pennsylvania and March 26 in NYC.

A gathering of all age groups to create a dynamic “synergy,” in the words of Hermes Expo founder Paul Kotrotsios.

“Hermes Young Professionals Initiative’s purpose is to provide a forum to young Greek-Americans who are aspiring to meet the professional demands of the 21st century, to connect, interface, and learn. Seasoned Greek-American leaders from various fields including Business, Medicine, Law and Government are mentors,” said Aphrodite Kotrotsios.

“In order for this paramount effort to rise to the next level and reach even more young professionals, we need to combine efforts and work together to move forward,” Kotrotsios added. “We are the next generation. It is up to us to keep the flame alive; we will pass on the torch to the next generations. It is our duty to promote our Hellenic heritage. HYPI serves as a networking and educational platform for our youth and young professionals. This year, we are honored to have Ms. Margaret Skourlis with us. We are very excited to have her as part of the HYPI mission.”

Skourlis’ passion for Hellenism and the Greek community is evident: Vice President of the Intercollegiate Hellenic Society; former President of the Maids of Athena, Flushing Chapter #126; participation in the 2011 AHIF Foreign Policy Program to Greece and Cyprus; completion twice of the D.I.A.S. International Academic Studies program in Crete; aiding and making appearances at Greek charities and organizations. Her life’s goal is to bring people, worldwide, closer together.

Skourlis attributes her success to her parents. Their mottos are “Never Give Up” and “Pursue Your Goals.” Skourlis is a company owner, model, published poet, published writer and actress.  Her free time is spent scrapbooking, traveling, scuba diving, skiing, swimming, playing the piano, and Greek dancing.

Skourlis has won a number of titles in the past:  Ms. New Jersey United States 2010; Ms. New Jersey United States 2009; Ms. Kalamata 2003; Ms. Kato Melpia 2002; Ms. Messinia 2001. Her Ms. Supermodel USA-Petite duties during the year will include: national queen making appearances; performing signings; participating in photo-shoots and giving speeches to aid charities and inspire youth. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and science.

“The secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom, Courage.” - Thucydides (460 BC – 395 BC), Greek Historian. Nikos Douroudakis and Stavros Katsoulakis from Queens, New York, immigrants from Sfakia, Crete, related incredible stories of heroism and perseverance in peace and war. Crete has untold stories of heroism rarely discussed.

Douroudakis holds a Certificate and the National Resistance Hero Medal given to his late father, Sifis Douroudakis, prominently displayed in his living room. The National Resistance medal “was in support of the government against powers who wanted to destroy Greece,” said Douroudakis. “There was no Civil War in Sfakia, Crete. Action was only in Athens and the big cities. We had Vendetta.” In the blockbuster mini-series “Tis Agapis Maheria” (The Knifing of Love), a police officer said to a Cretan “we must follow Greece’s laws.” The protagonist replied, “This is not Greece. This is Sfakia”. See the miniseries at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KINuTAxqZS0

The Certificate and the National Resistance Hero Medal were given by Minister Stilianos Koundouros, Department of Defense of the Hellenic Republic on June 2, 1962. The Certificate reads: “This Commemorative Medal as a National Resistance Fighter is awarded to Iosif (Joseph) Douroundou (Douroudakis) for his exceptional service in this struggle and in the organization of EAO (Ethnikes Antistasiakes Omades or National Resistance Groups) in Sfakia under the leadership of Mayor John Katsias.”

Nikos’ brother, George Douroudakis, described the unique history of their father in an internet interview from Athens, Greece. “Sifis Douroudakis or Douroundous (or Ndoutoundous, Katsoulos, curly-haired, or Katsoulosifis) was born in 1897 in Sfakia, Crete. These were the Black Years of Greece’s participation in the Greco-Turkish War.” According to Wikipedia, “The Greco-Turkish War of 1897, also called the Thirty Days’ War and known in Greece as the Black ’97 or the Unfortunate War… Its immediate cause was the question over the status of the Ottoman province of Crete whose Greek majority long desired union with Greece. Despite a decisive Ottoman military victory, as a result of the intervention of the Great Powers, after the war, an autonomous Cretan State under Ottoman suzerainty was established the following year, with Prince George as its first High Commissioner.  This was the first war effort in which the military and political personnel of Greece were put to test after the Greek War of Independence in 1821,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Turkish_War_(1897).

George continued by saying “Many children of agricultural families had difficult childhood. From young children, they were instilled in the Sfakia heroic ethics and loyalty to family. His generation had a deep respect for education that was acquired in the military where they became proficient in writing and reading.”  At http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfakians, “The Sfakians are the inhabitants of the region of  Sfakia located in Western Crete. The Sfakians hold themselves to be the direct descendants of the Dorians who invaded the island around 1100 B.C. The inhabitants of Sfakia have faced numerous foreign invaders, to which fact they owe their reputation as courageous warriors that they have had for centuries as cousins of the Maniots and Souliots.”

http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-west/EN-Sfakia-people.html states “The Sfakians (Sfakianoi)…look different from other Cretans. Here you will find many taller, fair-haired men and women with light eyes and skin… Many major Cretan risings against the Venetians and later the Turks began in Sfakia. The conquerors never lived here, not only because it was a tough life in the mountains, but mainly because they were afraid of the inhabitants, who were used to living free. Today the Sfakians remain genuine, fine specimens of Cretan manhood, always warlike. There are guns, military or ‘civilian’, in almost every house. They come out at weddings, christenings and every other celebration. Shots are fired to express joy or just for target practice using road signs. As the Sfakians like to say, ‘If we had this level of armament in 1940, the Germans would never have taken Crete…’ This excessive sense of honor is the reason that the vendetta, the custom of revenge and taking the law into one’s own hands, has marked Sfakia more than any other part of Crete, plunging families into mourning and emptying whole villages… Mass tourism has not come to Sfakia and probably never will, thanks to its mountainous terrain and inaccessibility.” To understand the spirit of the Cretan, listen to the music in the bibliography at the end.

George Douroudakis explains that his father fought in two wars: “the Asia Minor Campaign from 1919 to 1922 and the Battle of Crete, a period of six years. We found his rifle in the Benaki Museum with his name inscribed on it,” said George. “On August 31, 1922, the Cretan Division left Asia Minor from Cesme, or Krini as the Greeks called their city before the Asia Minor Catastrophe, for Chios.” Nikos added that “my father and the Cretan division helped to evacuate civilians to Chios from Cesme. This was the first time my father experienced war. When Kemal was at the Battle of Afyonkarahisar-Eskişehir on August 13, 1922, Sifis Douroudakis was at the line, five kilometers from his brother Manoussos, who was wounded in action. From September 1921 to August 1922, he fought at various points along the 600 kilometer line. Manoussos was in Asia Minor from September 13, 1921, to August 1922.”

The Douroudakis brothers participated in the battle that sealed the destiny of Hellenism in Asia Minor. “Between June 27 and July 20, 1921, a reinforced Greek army of nine divisions launched a major offensive, the greatest thus far, against the Turkish troops commanded by Ismet Inonu on the line of Afyonkarahisar-Kutahya-Eskishehir. The Greeks’ plan was to cut Anatolia in two, as the above towns were on the main rail-lines connecting the hinterland with the coast. Eventually, after breaking the stiff Turkish defense, they occupied these strategically important centers. Instead of pursuing and decisively crippling the nationalists’ military capacity, the Greek Army halted. In consequence, and despite their defeat, the Turks managed to avoid encirclement and made a strategic retreat on the east of the Sakarya River, where they organized their last line of defense. This was the major decision that sealed the fate of the Greek campaign in Anatolia,” according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Turkish_War_(1919-22)

“Our father’s generation was born to fight,” explained Nikos, my Queens, New York, neighbor. “Our father, Sifis, was six feet tall. In those years everyone had to fight for their country. His first wife died in her youth. He married again on November 3, 1940. He was drafted in the army on his wedding night because of the German attack on Greece.”

Sifis Douroudakis was an active member of the National Resistance Movement against the Axis Powers, honored by this unique medal and certificate. His name is listed as a hero in the military record of Rouf in Athens with his fellow National Defense fighters from Sfakia, Crete. As a farmer in the Lefka Ori (“White Mountains” is a mountain range located in Western Crete in the Chania prefecture), he protected British, Australian and New Zealander soldiers hiding from the Germans in the spring of 1944. The Germans gathered 32 farmers from Sfakia to kill. Sifis and his brother George were included. By chance, Sifis escaped the massacre. But his brother George was killed. Sifis continued the rescue of British, Australians and New Zealanders to Egypt. Nikos said “on May 9, New Zealanders celebrate their escape to Egypt at the Church of Panagia Thymiani, near the village of Komitades. There is a monument in Sfakia commemorating the evacuation of British and ANZAC forces (Allied Naval Squadron).” 10,000 British and ANZAC forces were evacuated from Sfakia by British and Australian warships.

“The Battle of Crete was unprecedented in three respects: it was not only the first battle where German paratroops (Fallschirmjäger) were used on a massive scale, but also the first mainly airborne invasion in military history, the first time the Allies made significant use of intelligence from the deciphered German Enigma code, and the first time invading German troops encountered mass resistance from a civilian population. Because of the heavy casualties suffered by the paratroopers, Adolf Hitler forbade further large-scale airborne operations. However, the Allies were impressed by the potential of paratroopers and started to build their own airborne formations.

From the very first day of the battle, everywhere on the island, Cretan civilians – men, women, children, priests, monks, and even nuns, armed and otherwise – joined the battle with whatever weapons were at hand. In some cases, ancient matchlock rifles which had last been used against the Turks were dug up from their hiding places and pressed into action. In other cases, civilians went into action armed only with what they could gather from their kitchens or barns, and several German parachutists were knifed or clubbed to death in the olive groves that dotted the island.

This was the first occasion in the war that the Germans encountered widespread and unrestrained resistance from a civilian population, and for a period of time, it unbalanced them. However, once they had recovered from their shock, the German paratroopers reacted with equal ferocity, killing many Cretan civilians… The Holocaust of Viannos and the Massacre of Kondomari…. Most Cretan partisans wore no uniforms or identifying insignia such as armbands or headbands, the Germans felt free of all of the constraints implied by the Hague conventions and killed both armed and unarmed civilians indiscriminately,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Crete.

Now world wars do not exist. Sfakians such as George Douroudakis channel their energies in academic achievement and business. George is brilliant and proficient in seven languages. He was first in his class from the Kapodistrian University of Athens in 1976. He was told at Graduation that he was Valedictorian. George recited the Graduation Oath representing the Student Body. His son, Iosif Douroudakis is an Orthopedic Surgeon.

“The rest of his life, our father gave what he could for his country,” said Nikos. “Our Father did not talk about WWII. Our brother George asked questions and discovered his war record.  He died in 1984 at the age of 87, leaving behind a unique legacy in Sfakia.”

Stavros Katsoulakis of Queens, New York, related an amazing legacy of his grandfather and father from Sfagia. “In Sfagia, the main road is called Stavrou Katsouli Oplahirgos (Fighter for his Country) and is named after my grandfather,” he said. “Stavros, who was born in the 1880’s, organized a group of Sfagian Cretan fighters to free Epirus in the Balkan Wars of 1912. His 12-man volunteer Cretan group encircled a Hani (like a hotel). He went in through a back window, shooting all Turkish defenders, except for one wounded man. The wounded Turk shot him in the back and shot my grandfather Stavros. As he was dying, he gave his two pistols and silver sword to his companions to give to his three-month old son as his inheritance and a code of honor, courage and loyalty to one’s country. He died fighting the Turks at Driskos.”  Driskos is outside of Ioannina, Epirus.

My neighbor, Stavros’ father, also called Stavros, grew up in an orphanage. He learned a trade, an education and to play the trumpet and mandolin. “He followed the footsteps of his late father. He fought the Germans in WWII. He organized a group of Sfagian fighters on the side of the Allies. The Germans burnt an apple orchard to catch my father who was in the Greek Resistance.  A newspaper article in August 1950 stated “the Group Leader Stavros Katsoulis, 38 years of age, organized a group of two hundred volunteers to enter the Korean War, upon permission from the Greek government. Fought in the Albanian War (1939-1940) and the Battle of Crete. The Germans were persecuting him for three years. He is viewed by his contemporaries as one of the bravest Cretan Group Leaders. He is one of the organizers of the Resistance Movement against the Germans. He Fought with Group Leader Pavlos Gyparis. He is ready to fight on the American side against their enemy in Korea.”

The newspaper said that Group Leader Katsoulis believed “it is our obligation. The Americans under the Truman Doctrine helped us rebuild our lives and provide food. It is our obligation to help our Allies in Korea under the United Nations flag, fighting for Universal Justice and freedom.”

Captain Katsoulis described his motives. “Listen,” he said. “My father was a Group leader fighting in Epirus in 1912. In one of the major battles, he fell, fighting heroically. Before he died, he asked his fellow fighters to give me one last request: ‘Tell my son I died for my country. I leave him a blessing and curse to fight whenever it is necessary for our Greece, sacrificing for our great country, family life and wealth.”  The Greek government did not give the Sfagians permission to fight in the Korean War. Would anyone today volunteer to join the United Nations for freedom and justice?

“Captain Stavros Katsoulidakis was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Defense, Department of Greek Resistance,” explained his daughter-in law, Zoe Katsoulakis, former Director of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. “The Certificate recognized his service in the fight of National Resistance from 1-9-43 to 5-28-45 from the village of Filakis, province of Apokoronou of the city of Chania. He organized and led a group of over twenty men who were engaged in various armed battles.”

These Cretan leaders have given their descendants a legacy more valuable than wealth. A higher calling to do what is best for one’s country and family. Our youth are looking for mentors with an honor code such as the Sfagians and the “300 Spartans.”

Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwDomxyoFgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzSjGLAVQpY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s0q4YfScc0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GarTvUSrZTA
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.639481066066597.1073741918.123855294295846&type=1
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-battle-for-crete
http://www.greece.com/photos/destinations/Epirus/Ioannina/Mountain/Driskos/

“The Power of the Saints and Martyrs have saved Christianity,” said His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, in his historic speech before more than five hundred people on Friday evening, December 5, 2014, at the Feast Day Vespers of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Flushing, New York. “During the WWII Occupation of Greece, people believed in the Virgin Mary and the saints. Cyprus is living a drama, with part of the island called the Katehomena (Occupied) and thousands of refugees in their own country. This is chaos. People are living a difficult struggle each day. Cypriot leaders are asking for help from God. Ferocious Islamists are wiping out the ancient centers of Christianity in the Middle East from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and countries of North Africa. This is a terrible catastrophe with new martyrs each day. The Garner case is causing a terrible crisis in New York City and the cities of America. We need help from Jesus Christ, St. Nicholas, the Saints.”

A reception followed in Sarantakos Hall, hosted by the PTA’s of William Spyropoulos Day School and the “Stephen and Areti Cherpelis” Greek School.

Prominent personalities who attended included: Ms Andri Anastasiades, First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus and spouse of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, Consul General of Cyprus Mr. Vasilis Philippou and Mrs. Philippou, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and others. The real honored guests are the parishioners of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Flushing. All classes united to create a magnificent religious and education center. Their dedicated effort contributed in the greatness of Hellenism in New York City and the United States of America.

“Saints such as St. Seraphim were roasted on a spit like lambs during the Tourkocratia (Ottoman Empire),” continued the Archbishop. “St. Nicholas lived during the time of St. Constantine (Constantine the Great). He dedicated himself day and night to his ministry. These are the saints who lived in different time periods and created Christianity. St. Nicholas lived during the 4^th century who we remember 1700 years later. This remembrance makes him a live presence in our lives. St. Nicholas continues to be with us. Maritime workers pray to him. In war and illness, everyone believes in St. Nicholas.”

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas, “Nikolaos of Myra, was the Greek Bishop of Myra (Demre in modern Turkey). Because of the many Miracles, he is known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him…thus became the model for Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants…”

His Eminence explained that ”nothing remains of St. Nicholas Church in Manhattan after 9/11. The strength of God and St. Nicholas are bringing about a rebirth. God and saints are winning. We will build an American center of religious worship. St. Nicholas, who lived 1700 years ago, is present today as a fighter for us. Our faith in saints assists people in persevering in a positive way. I would like to thank Father Rev. Protopresbyter Paul Palesty, Father Rev. Presbyter Joakim Valasiades, Father Aristidis Garinis and the clergy of various churches, the choir and chanters that came tonight to participate in the liturgy. Tonight we also have the young scouts who are participating in the church service. You must stay in our church. When you become adults, you must keep our faith strong.”

The First Lady of Cyprus thanked His Eminence “for assisting in the creation of a College Scholarship Fund in Cyprus to aid students who lack economic means acquire a higher education. You are lucky to have such a unique religious leader.” On September 18, 1999, Archbishop Demetrios was enthroned as Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, in a time of turmoil. He has brought unity and overseen an expansion and prosperity of the Greek Orthodox Church across the country.

Rev. Protopresbyter Palesty said: “We are honored to have His Eminence. His sympathy for Cyprus and the Patriarchate has touched everyone’s heart. The First Lady of Cyprus, Mrs. Anastasiades, is familiar with our parish. We welcome her with warmth.” The topic of conversation was Pope Francis of the Catholic Church asking Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to bless him on November 30, 2014, in Istanbul, Turkey.

In a personal interview at the Vespers, Alexander Pritsos, Archon Hieromnimon (The Grand Overseer), Sergeant at Arms of the Patriarchal Advance, explained that he escorted Pope Francis of Rome to Patriarch Bartholomew. “Not only did Pope Francis ask Patriarch Bartholomew to bless him, but bowed and asked Patriarch Bartholomew to bless his church.” In my opinion, Pope Francis bowing to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew wrote HISTORY. The perspective of the Eastern Greek Orthodox to Papal Primacy can be read at http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith8523.

According to Huffington Post, “Pope Francis and the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians demanded an end to the persecution of religious minorities in Syria and Iraq on Sunday and called for dialogue with Muslims, capping Francis’ three-day visit to Turkey with a strong show of Christian unity. Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I issued a joint declaration, urging leaders in the region to intensify help to victims of the Islamic State group, and especially to allow Christians who have had a presence in the region for 2,000 years to remain on their native lands. ‘The terrible situation of Christians and all those who are suffering in the Middle East, calls not only for our constant prayer but also for an appropriate response on the part of the international community.'” This subject was explained in His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios’ Vespers’ sermon on December 5.

Journalists Nicole Winfield and Susan Frasier wrote “Francis, who represents the 1.2 billion-strong Catholic Church, and Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians, called for ‘constructive dialogue’ with Islam ‘based on mutual respect and friendship.’ Inspired by common values and strengthened by genuine fraternal sentiments, Muslims and Christians are called to work together for the sake of justice, peace and respect for the dignity and rights of every person, especially in those regions where they once lived for centuries in peaceful coexistence and now tragically suffer together the horrors of war… Bartholomew noted that Christians are being persecuted across the Mideast regardless of their particular confession. ‘The modern persecutors of Christians do not ask which church their victims belong to,’ he said. ‘The unity that concerns us is regrettably already occurring in certain regions of the world through the blood of martyrs.'”

Archbishop Demetrios spoke about issues that are touching everyone’s heart. The Clergy of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at 196-10 Northern Blvd., Flushing, are Rev. Protopresbyter Paul C. Palesty, Rev. Presbyter Aristidis Garinis and Rev. Presbyter Joakim Valasiadis. The Parish Council includes: Andrew Tsiolas – President, James Rosvoglou – 1st Vice President, Larry Hotzoglou – 2nd Vice President, Bill Kakoullis – Secretary, Constantine Vases – Treasurer, Michael Haralambous – Assistant Treasurer, Parish Council Members George Douveas, Steve Fegos, Christopher Fillos, Maria Gatanas, Soteris Georgiou, Nicholas Karacostas, Florence Koulouris, Manny Kratsios, Christos Nicolaou, Christina Siroky, Harris Stathopoulos, Christopher Triantafillou, Victoria Tsadilas, Tasos Tzallas and Nicholas Zolotas. All information is available at http://www.stnicholasflushing.org.

School principals are Mrs. Athena Kromidas, Principal of the William Spyropoulos Day School, and George Kanellopoulos of the Stephen and Areti Cherpelis Greek Afternoon School. More information at http://www.stnicholasflushing.org/schools.htm.

Seeing children perform a Christmas Pageant inspires and blesses all. Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Southampton presented a moving Pageant on Sunday, December 21, 2014. “Angels surround God and children are our angels around us,” explained Fr. Constantine Lazarakis, Presbyter. “Our children are vulnerable. They must be protected.” The Sunday School along with Language and Culture Institutes (LCI) in Greek, Russian and Romanian, performed a multilingual choir of Christmas songs. The Sunday School and LCI Teachers dedicated long hours in organizing this extraordinary Pageant.

Jim Hatgistavrou was the epistle reader. President Nikiteas explained that “we are a family. We work together. We make things happen with the help and guidance of Fr. Alex and Fr. Constantine. I feel blessed. Most of all, I want to thank God for guiding us.” For more information, visit http://kimisishamptons.org/.

A new, hand-carved iconostasis (altar) adorned the church. It reminds of Agia Triada Church altar of Myrina, Limnos, opposite the Dardanelles. “We are able to worship the Orthodox faith freely in America and not in the countries of Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia,” said Rev. Father Alexander Karloutsos, Protopresbyter. “The Greek nation endured four hundred years of the treatment Christians are enduring by ISIS in Syria and Iraq. We are rebuilding St. Nicholas Church at Ground Zero, as the only House of Worship.”

The subject among many on Long Island’s East End revolved over His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of over 300 million Orthodox faithful worldwide, receiving Pope Francis on November 29-30, 2014, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. The bowing of Pope Francis to Patriarch Bartholomew has not taken place since before the East-West Schism in 1054 A.D. Rev. Father Karloutsos explained their encounter was as “Equals.” “Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed a Joint Declaration with consequential importance for Christian unity and momentous impact on the suffering of Christians in the Middle East,” according to the Patriarchate’s official press release. “It even seems that the value of human life has been lost, that the human person no longer matters and may be sacrificed to other interests. And, tragically, all this is met by the indifference of many (http://www.patriarchate.org).”

A lavish reception followed the church service in the Muses catering hall. Sevi Chiotaki, Greek real estate businesswoman, described another view of the upcoming Greek elections. “If SYRIZA wins, the banks plan to unite into a bigger system,” said Chiotaki. “Greeks are proud. They overcome crisis. The economy is better than two years ago. Our tourism increased dramatically.” Panagiota Tsakmakopoulos described a mutual heritage she shares with Sevi in Asia Minor, the major center of Hellenism prior to the 1922 Catastrophe. For a positive outlook on Greece’s economic revival, you can email Chiotaki.

Inspiration and Christmas blessings with a warm communication of all, made Christmas 2014 unforgettable at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church in Southampton.

Links:
Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church
Iconostasis
Papal Visit