NOVEMBER 2017 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: vema@bigpond.net.au

THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN

VEMADISCIPLINE IN THE HOME

The oldestcirculating

Greeknewspaper

outsideGreece

Patmos - Simply a revelationIt seems paradoxical that St John experi-

enced his vision of the Apocalypse on thisbeautiful and enchanting Dodecanese island.

PAGE 16/32

How an American Philhellenecaptured the Acropolisin the 19th century

William James Stillman an American journal-ist, diplomat, author, historian, and photogra-pher captured the magic of Acropolis in 1870in a series of carbon prints.

Athens’s first kiosk opened in 1911 onPanepistimiou Street. It’s quite possible that itwould still be operating today had it not beenswallowed up when the ground beneath it col-lapsed in 1997 during construction of themetro line that now runs beneath the centralthoroughfare.

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Obedience and Discipline - Characteristics of the FaithfulOUR ARCHBISHOP’S VIEW

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The kiosk, an urban Greek mainstay since 1911

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FULL REPORT ON PAGE 15/31

AUSTRALIA’S HELLENIC INITIATIVE

CAMPAIGNRAISES

$1.1 MILLIONThe Hellenic Initiative Australia’s One Greece 2017

national philanthropic endeavour has raised more than$1.1 million in a spectacular show of support for Greeceduring successful events in five cities across Australia.

The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA2/18 NOVEMBER 2017

The Olympic flame arrived in South Korea on Wednes-day November 1 where it will be passed throughout thecountry by thousands of torchbearers on a 100-dayjourney to the opening ceremony of the 2018 WinterOlympics in Pyeongchang.

South Korean figure skating prospect You Young kicked off the 1,253-mile trip from Incheon on Wednesday.

Pyeongchang's organisers have designated 7,500torchbearers to carry the Olympic flame, which arrivedat the Incheon International Airport after a handoverceremony in Athens.

Retired Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yuna,who is one of the country's most popular sports per-sonalities, joined South Korean Prime Minster Lee Nak-yon in igniting the flame to a ceremonial cauldron atthe airport to mark the start of the Olympic torch relay.The Olympic Flame began its long trip from Ancient

Olympia to the 23rd Winter Olympics in South Korea.The ceremony for the lighting of the Olympic Flame

took place in the presence of the President of the Hel-lenic Republic Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos and the Presi-dent of the International Olympic Committee Mr.Thomas Bach, who both stressed the role of theOlympic Games as a symbol of hope and peace.

The ceremony began with students from the localschools forming the five Olympic circles, and paradingholding the flags of all countries belonging to theOlympic family.

The Olympic flag was raised under the sounds of theOlympic anthem, followed by the national anthems ofthe Republic of South Korea and Greece and the raisingof the flags of the two countries. The ritual of the light-ing of the Olympic Flame took place at the temple ofHera.

Ms Jodi McKay MP, Member for Strathfield, visited the Greek Orthodox Parish andCommunity of Burwood and District (NSW) to inspect the new commercial gradekitchen installed in the Cottage, thanks to a Community Building Partnership Grantwhich contributed $18,847 towards the total project budget.

The new kitchen will support the Ladies Philoptochos and volunteers to deliverservices, fundraising and hospitality to the members of the community and those inneed. Ms McKay enjoyed morning tea with members of the Board, Ladies Philopto-chos, Father George Liangas and members of the seniors group.

MORNING TEA CELEBRATING NEW KITCHEN

2018 Winter Olympic flame arrives in South Korea

Greeks save less than all

of their EU peers

Greece has the lowest savings rate among the 28European Union member-states, as householdsand corporations are struggling under the burdenof salary reductions, excessive taxation and vari-ous other heavy financial demands.

Households in particular have a negative savingsbalance of 11.6 billion euros, meaning they areconsuming more than their disposable income,Hellenic Statistical Authority figures processed byEurobank show.

The savings rate in Greece comes to just 9 per-cent of the country’s gross domestic product,against an average of 22.6 percent in the EU and23.9 percent in the eurozone.

Although consumption levels were also aboveearnings before the outbreak of the crisis, the lowsavings rate is not due to an extravagant lifestylebut rather because Greeks are using their savingsto cover daily expenses and meet their ever-grow-ing direct and indirect tax obligations. At the sametime Spain had a 22.5 percent rate and Portugal 16percent.

The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/19NOVEMBER 2017

By Alekos Lidorikis - Kathimerini, Athens

Vassilis was born in Aghios Ioannis andis one of about 10 permanent residentswho remain in the village. Aghios Ioannisis part of the Thermo municipality, in theAitoloakarnania region of westernGreece. The municipality has a total pop-ulation of 9,299. Aghios Ioannis is 15 kilo-meters from Thermo, the area’s maintown. Vassilis lived in Aghios Ioannis un-til the age of 20, when he left for Athensto find work. Four decades later, he hasretired and returned to the place wherehe grew up.

At an elevation of 1,000 meters, AghiosIoannis is set in an idyllic mountain land-scape. Vassilis gets emotional when talk-ing about his youth. “In the 1960s, whenI was in first grade, the village school hadmore than 70 students. Among those,nine were my siblings. All the families inthe village back then were big. Theschool was right across the street frommy home. After school we would all helpwith the housework. Then the schoolclosed during the 1970s because thereweren’t any children left due to familiesmigrating to cities or larger villages.Aghios Ioannis and the neighboring vil-lages started to become deserted,” hetold me.

I joined Vassilis on his daily walk to theneighboring village of Koniska and wechatted about his life in Aghios Ioannisnow and what it was like when he was

growing up. “The loneliness is hard. Mostof the time when I take this walk, the on-ly companions I have are four dogs thatlike to come with me. You can count thepermanent residents here on your twohands. If this continues, maybe I’ll go andlive in Agrinio,” he said, referring to thelargest city in Aitoloakarnania.

What was life like in the 1960swhen you were growing up here?

Things we now take for granted simplydid not exist. We grew up without elec-

tricity. We would study and read underthe light of an oil lamp. Our motherswould use an iron heated by coals topress our clothes. The village had onephone. My father was in charge of it. Thelonger the distance of the call, the hard-er it was for it to go through. You could-n’t simply make a direct phone call. Thevillage phone was in operation until asrecently as 1990. Of course there was noTV, but we did have a radio. I rememberlistening to the announcements aboutpeople who’d gone missing that wereput out by the Hellenic Red Cross.

Were your parents also fromAghios Ioannis?

No, they were born and raised in Sello,a village that’s about a 45-minute walkfrom here. In the 1950s and 60s morethan 80 people lived there, but nobodylives in Sello now. Its residents movedaway and by 1989 it had vanished fromthe map.

Wherever there was arable land, theygrew fir trees. Abandoned homes thatare still standing are now covered ingreenery and a sign on one indicatesthere was life there as recently as 30years ago. Those who grew up in thesevillages walked a lot. Even when electric-ity arrived in the area, it only did sothrough their own hard work.

How do you see things now?

The village I live in is kept alive by agrandmother with 16 great-grandchil-dren who visit at certain times of theyear, such as Christmas and Easter. She’sone of the many grandmothers whokeep many small villages across Greecealive.

Overall, though, unless somethingchanges, many more villages will com-pletely die out, just like Sello. As far aswe’re concerned today, things continueto get harder. We’ve worked all our livesand managed to get a taste of a dignifiedretirement. Now all we have to look for-ward to is more pension cuts.

Another totem pole...By Alexis Papachelas - Kathimerini, Athens

The most useful thing about this government is thatit has torn down all the totem poles we held so highlyin the period following the 1967-74 military dictator-ship. The left was instrumental in erecting them in thefirst place and now it is proving catalytic in tearingthem down.

Among them are privatizations and the need topush forward major investments: concepts that wereanathema even for a part of the right.

Now, however, they are part of the government’sofficial agenda of goals – in words at least.At theWhite House yesterday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsiprastore down yet another totem pole, that representinganti-American sentiment.

If someone were to tell the average Greek 20 yearsago that a left-wing prime minister would speak asTsipras did about Greek-American ties, he or shewould have said they were mad.

Yet Tsipras said that Greek-American ties are at thebest they have been since World War II – an impor-tant statement given how much history there is in thisrelationship. So much for the maturing process.

But what will the visit ultimately mean in practicalterms?

US President Donald Trump was reserved aboutmaking any promises and kept expectations low. En-couraging words for investments in Greece are cer-tainly important, but the market in the US works onits own terms.

Decisions are made not because of a phone callfrom the White House, but on the basis of a cost-ben-efit analysis.

In the area of security, is it clear that the US hasplans to upgrade the role of the Souda base on Crete,though this is still unofficial.

We also know that a deal to upgrade Greece’s fleetof F-16 fighter jets will also go through. And that’sabout all we know.

The good thing is that channels of communicationhave been opened that may appear useful at a crucialjuncture. We shouldn’t expect too much, however,

particularly in regard to influencing European leaders.The prime minister will return from the red carpets

to the thorns of reality back home. The visit lookedgood, but did not lead to much and all of the crucialdilemmas Tsipras will have to face are right here wait-ing for him.

Greeks like to see their leaders standing beside theworld’s most powerful forces; but that is not what’stopmost on their minds right now.

Greek villages are vanishing

AghiosIoannis, part of

the Thermomunicipality.

The villageschool closed

in the mid-1970s because

all the childrenhad left.

TO BHMA4/20 NOVEMBER 2017

Look it’s Christ!

He was now working by himself in the parish. Whenhe first came as a young deacon, there was an olderpriest. He has now passed away. There was no re-placement and he remained as the sole priest for thisvery large district.

One person to conduct all the services, to maintainthe parish office, to organise the charity services, tolook after the Scripture classes and the weekly meet-ings of the fellowships. One person…

There was no complaint, however, as God hadgranted him many good and able co-workers. Theywere always willing to offer help. Without their assis-tance, it was not humanly possible to undertake such

a large task. How could he as a modest cleric not begrateful to God.

No. He did not have a complaint. Even if he was theonly priest, he was not alone. He had the support ofso many others. And above all, he had consolationfrom God. He felt God’s all-powerful Grace give himstrength.

Today it was Saturday morning and he had just cel-ebrated the Divine Liturgy. He sat for a moment in thechurch office and looked in his diary. This was the daythat he would visit a housebound parishioner whohad requested confession. He would complete theservice of Holy Unction and then would go to theblessing of the new shop of a parishioner.

He took a deep breath, made the sign of the Crossand set out. There were many people on the streetthat day. He thought, “Truly, how many people re-main complete strangers to the Church… Why arethey so distant, so remote?...”

As he walked along, he prayed for all the people.Some greeted him with respect. Most, however,passed by oblivious. A group of teenagers found achance to make fun of him. He was upset.

He hurried to justify them: “What fault is it oftheirs? Has anyone ever spoken to them about whatit means to be a priest?” He turned towards a sidestreet to avoid the crowds.

Deep in thought, it was then that he just noticedthe stroller that was coming out of the doorway of ahouse. He stopped to let the young mother pass andthen he heard the surprising cry of the young child:“Mum, look… it’s Christ!”

“Your blessing father,” said the young mother withrespect. She bent to kiss his hand.

“Kostaki… you too should kiss Father’s hand... it isthe hand of Christ!”

He smiled as the young child leaned forward to kisshis hand and he blessed him. He greeted the motherand child graciously and went on his way. What animpression this scene made on him.

The voice of the child continued to echo within him.What a great truth that young child had expressed.Truly, Christ is hidden behind the hand of the priest.Even if the priest is a weak and sinful person. Even ifthere are many difficulties and the daily obligationsare endless.

The LORD is with him. His all-powerful grace curesweaknesses and makes up for what is lacking.

He recalled the Bishop who on the day of his ordi-nation had pointed out the words of St John Chrysos-tom: When you see the priest conducting the Sacra-ments, don’t stop at appearances. The priest is mere-ly lending his voice and offering his hand. The faithfulshould respect priests, because to respect them is torespect “the LORD of all”.

It is truly comforting that there are parents whoprovide such guidance to their children and teachthem to respect the priest from a young age. They in-struct them to address the priest properly and togreet them respectfully.

Although adults - either from ignorance or indiffer-ence – might address the priest by their first name orspeak to them casually, then how encouraging andcomforting is it to hear from children’s lips the words:“Your blessing father”.

And how, even more touching is it to hear childrenpray for their parents, their siblings and at the sametime not to omit the priests they know and love…

I wish that all parents would give such an upbring-ing to their children, so that our priests can continuetheir work feeling the Grace of God by their side to-gether with the support of people to strengthen themand to give them solace.

Adapted from “Μιλούν τα παιδιά μας: Κοίτα ο Χρι-στός”, Sotir, No. 2162, October 2017, pp. 399-400.

Erratum: A better translation of the Paraclesis vers-es that appeared last month has been provided kindlyat my request by Andrew Psarommatis:

Save the Australian people, o Bride of God, who are dreadfully and enviously embattled,from those who hold positions of power.Be joyous Australia, take strength and pow-er, and place your hope with great faith in the Bride of God and Virgin, protector of marriage.O Daughter Bride of God, the world has you as a shelter, a helper in times of need and persecution, defender of the Australian peo-ple in all sorrows.

Letterfrom

Maroubra

The Greek Australian VEMA

letterfrommaroubra@gmail.com

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Katerina + Kyriacos Mavrolefteros

The University of Crete’s Department of Philology will award an honorarydoctorate to the 65-year-old Turkish author Orhan Pamuk.

University officials said they made the decision in order to honor Pamuk –winner of the Nobel prize for literature in 2006 – whom they described as aworld-renowned author and a champion of democracy and human rights.

The award ceremony will take place on May 4 next year in the PantelisPrevelakis Hall at Rethymno Conservatory.

Pamuk to be awarded honorarydoctorate by University of Crete

TO BHMA 5/21NOVEMBER 2017 The Greek Australian VEMA

Our Primate’s ViewObedience and Discipline -

Characteristics of the FaithfulIt frequently happens that the fundamental truths of thefaithful appear foolish to faithless people. Such are thoseconspicuous cases which the Gospel characterises with thesimplicity of an impasse: “And they thought that what thewomen said was nonesense, and they did not believethem”. (Luke 24, 11 ).

The difference between the faithful and the faith-less is not always simply that the former believe and thelatter do not. Such a division is too simplistic and naive. Forthere is not, nor was there, nor will there be any one whodoes not have any basic faith in a certain way, no matterhow sceptical or agnostic one is. At least in matters of jus-tice, in which one takes this or that attitude to life, eventhe most faithless person surely showed faith. Thereforefaithlessness is a kind of faith, an attitude and a viewpointbased on certain convictions. Thus we must say that thedifference between one person who has faith and one whohas no faith is that the former accepts a criterion for alltruth outside and beyond himself, whereas the latter ac-cepts himself as the final and infallible criterion for everyevaluation. Therefore the faithlessness of the faith less per-son does not consist in the fact that one is indif ferent ornegative in life, but the fact that one “worshipped the cre-ation rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1, 25) This is the in-solence and blasphemy, this is fait hlessness and impiety. Itis a kind of faith that is reversed, distorted and demonic.

In characterising thus the difference between thefaithful and the faithless, we must confess that recenttimes have given great occasion for faithlessness, whilefaithlessness found it possible to show all its sides. Thus inthe moral and religious field authorities and principles areopenly questioned even by the most ignorant person inthe name of his intelligence! Again, in social and public life,on the one hand the single-reigning power of the imper-sonal State revels and on the other the violence on thestate within the State controlled by many persons skillfullymasqueraded.

Therefore, in the midst of this confusion, in whichour people so expressly say that “the mother loses herchild, and the child his mother”, the faithful person todayis called to exercise two of his most characteristic qualities,namely obedience and discipline. Exactly at the pointwhere others are led astray or deride as a result of corrup- tion, he obeys and shows discipline to principles and triedvalues out of self-respect. He may become a scandal formany others, but he knows that “It is better to obey Godrather than people”. (Acts 5, 29).

However let us analyse a little more the deeperspirit ual quality betrayed by obedience and discipline. Firstof all we must clarify that obedience and discipline as no-tions are neither the identical nor synonymous of coursethey are related notions, but they do not absolutely co-in-cide. Discipline is the exact preservation of an establishedorder in general, while obedience is listening and accept-ing the voice of one superior. Further, if we remember thatthe word discipline in Latin and other related languages iscalled disciplina (discipline) and that it derives from theword discipulus (student), then we know again that disci-pline and obedience basically characterise the conduct of apupil, namely of the person who places himself in the po-

sition of learning, in order to experience the benefits of aneducation that transcends him. But in this way, we meetwith a noble ambition, the ambitious effort for upliftingand even a deeper quality, that is discernment, which en-ables one to distinguish “a” from “b” and to choose thebetter option, according to its value. Again, analysing a lit-tle more carefully the Greek term “discipline”, we see thatthe main root of the verb is “to persuade”, which meansthat one addresses oneself to more intelligent persons,whose intelligence one honours with “persuasion” anddoes not dishonour with deceipt, force or necessity. There-fore in the case of discipline, I am persuaded to followthese or those principles, and to the degree that I am per-suaded and ‘do not follow blindly, “I rule”, “I am not ruledby others, that is I am the lord and not the servant”.

From what we said so far, it appears clearly that disciplineand obedience, as characteristic qualities of the faithfuland not the faithless person, show not only piety andgoodness of character, which are moral qualifications, butalso intelligence and high understanding.

Yet the masses of people in our contemporary so-ciety offer think that discipline and obedience are charac-teris tics of a weak and servile person. For this reason wemust uncover also this gross error, not only to the shameof those who deny truth, but mainly for the enlightenmentof their victims. It is very simple to prove that obedienceand discipline are characteristics of the strong, not theweak person; of the vigilant, not the dormant one; of thebrave, not the coward or servile person. Let us think verysimply the meaning of the verbs discipline and obey: pri-marily it means to gather, to enlist all my powers (intellec-tual, moral, spiritual and generally psychosomatic), in or-der to put them under a concrete programme with somedefinite aim in mind. Therefore I draw up all my powers inorder to be able to supervise them, to have them undermy control. Further, I must put into an order all these pow-ers, which sometimes may be opposing or contradictory,assessing them according to their value. Thus I arrange mypowers in order to get to know them well and to subjectthem. After this arrangement and assessment, after be-coming conscious of my various powers, I am in a positionto control them. Thus I subject my powers and my finaland supreme achievement is that I am in a position, as“lord of myself”, - as our wise people characteristically say- to direct my powers to whatever direction and in what-ever manner I want. Then I can command my powers toserve this or that purpose and programme.

These four significant and essential verbs (to gath-er together, to arrange, to subject and to command) of ourmother tongue create such vigilance and such strength forthe faithful that people who lack faith would not only nev-er be able to exercise, but also not even suspect it. Be-cause it is of course easier to shout and to destroy as an ir-responsible crowd, whose ambition is only to fill the stom-ach, than to silently work out your perfection in the fear ofGod, as a responsible person, on the foundations of the sa-cred values of our forefathers and of the Church; valuesthat unite all people as brothers and offer them deliver-ance.

Source: “Voice Of Orthodoxy” Vol 34 October 1982.

By ARCHBISHOPSTYLIANOSOF AUSTRALIA

The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA6/22 NOVEMBER 2017

In April of this year, Ukraine-born artist, musician anddancer Anton Kats raised the curtain on Documenta 14in Athens with his “A-Letheia” project, in which heturned abandoned street kiosks in the downtown areasof Psyrri and Kypseli into interactive installations. At thetime Kats stated that he saw the kiosk, or “periptero,”as representing an important part of modern Greek his-tory since the beginning of the 20th century as it servedas a common point of social interaction.

Athens’s first kiosk opened in 1911 on PanepistimiouStreet. It’s quite possible that it would still be operatingtoday had it not been swallowed up when the groundbeneath it collapsed in 1997 during construction of themetro line that now runs beneath the central thorough-fare. Thankfully the woman who was working inside theperiptero managed to get out just in time.

What kiosks look like has changed a lot since 1911, ashas the legal framework governing them. They wereonce gifted by the state to wounded war veterans inlieu of a pension. Their value grew over time and theybecame property to be passed down from the originalholder to his children or grandchildren. In 2012, kioskswere on the way to being liberalized, but in 2015 thecoalition government of leftist SYRIZA and right-wing In-

dependent Greeks (ANEL) reversed this, keeping theownership and operating rights to kiosks closed off toall but those who inherit them.

In the 100-plus years they have existed in Greece,kiosks have not only grown in number but also in size.At first, the kiosk operator, or “peripteras,” had tosqueeze into a space of just half a square meter. Todaythey’re a lot roomier, while they’ve gone from just sell-

ing cigarettes, candy and newspapers to books, sou-venirs and all manner of other items.

What does the periptero mean to those who runthese businesses today? What does the new generationof peripterades, who’ve inherited their livelihoods fromtheir fathers and grandfathers, think about kiosks?

Spyros is 29 years old and works at a kiosk managedby his father and uncle on busy central Patission Street.“Looking at my grandfather, my father, my uncle, andthen comparing them with myself, I don’t think there’smuch of a difference in the way we operate,” he says.“What makes it worthwhile for me is the game with thecustomers, otherwise it would be an insufferable job.I’m waiting for my cousins to grow up so we can sharethe work.” He starts smiling as soon as I ask him whathe means when he says “the game.”

“Well, besides the ribbing from older customers,there’s the opportunity to make new friends, chattingwith shopkeepers in the neighborhood, interacting withcustomers and the tricks of the trade that have beenpassed down from generation to generation,” he sayswith a laugh.

“What tricks?” I inquire. “If someone asks for a busticket, unless he buys something else, I tell him I’ve runout. We do that because we don’t make any profit off oftickets. We save them for our regulars. We do the samewith matches, because they cost next to nothing andthe profit from selling them for us is pretty much zero,so I often say we’re out of matches while trying to sellthem a lighter, on which we do make a profit. If theirchange is 10 or 20 cents, I’ll ask them if they’ll take apiece of gum in order to round it out,” he says.

Fanis, 26, has worked in a centrally located kiosk inGyzi for years and says he knows what a customer is go-ing to buy before they even reach the kiosk. “You cantell from a distance which guy will buy one or two par-ticular newspapers along with some cigarettes that gowith their image. What’s fascinating about those whobuy newspapers is the way they address you dependingon which paper they buy,” he says.

“It’s funny how to this day people that buy condomslower their voice when asking for them, as if they’reembarrassed. Hardly anybody buys them without buy-ing two or three other things; then they discreetly askfor a box. Maybe they want to hide them among theother things that they buy. Who knows?” says Fanis.

“Some even try to steal them. It’s hard to catch a thiefso we have different tricks: For example, when they askus for help finding a magazine we just say that we don’thave the one they’re looking for, because they’d proba-bly strip the kiosk of everything out front by the timewe stepped outside to the magazine racks,” he adds.

Kiosk operators have honed their craft and are con-stantly trying to find ways to keep up with the competi-tion. “For years, the shop right behind us was empty,”says Spyros on Patission Street.

“Maybe potential tenants were scared off by the factthat there was a kiosk - and a big one too - right in frontof it. I heard that someone was thinking of renting itand starting a business selling discount tobacco prod-ucts, so we called the landlord and asked him howmuch this guy was willing to pay him in rent and madehim a better offer. Today we just use it as storage spacefor items we sell. We might be out of pocket, but wewould have been in a worse position otherwise.”

Fanis says the kiosk he operates also works as an in-formation center. “I always remember my father tellingme the kiosk must also function as a hub in order tostay alive. University students come to leave their con-tact cards for those interested in private tuition. Poten-tial buyers or renters ask me to keep an eye out for anyreal estate in the area. Unemployed people ask if Iknow of anywhere they can get work. We’ve alwaysserved some sort of advisory role. I love the crazy peo-ple who come asking for coffee or souvlakia, thenthere’s those who ask me if I’ve seen someone or other,those who ask me to keep an eye on their shop whenthey go on holiday. The kiosk was and still is the heart ofthe neighborhood,” he says.

“To sin and not repent is blasphemy

against the Lord”, Anonymous

Issue 9

Portion 9.1 On rudeness The last of the Seven Basic Crimes that we will cover is rudeness. Rudeness is a crime that manifests as words, countenance, or behavior that dishonors our neighbor. The apostle Peter taught us to “Honor all people” (1 Peter 2:17), and so we are forbidden to dishonor anyone, whether a friend or an enemy. Remember that we must “love our enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return” (Luke 6:35). A rude person offends others easily, and induces rancor in them. How much punishment did the kings and officials of old mete out to people who dishonored them by rudeness? In the modern day how offensive is it to show contempt, in particular contempt of Court? Dishonoring parents and elders is a rudeness that the Lord prohibits. (See Ex. 20:12). In a list of basic ethics we find the precepts: Do not overeat. Do not steal. Do not dishonor. Do not practice lust misdeeds. We see therefore that dishonoring others and rudeness are strictly forbidden.

Portion 9.2 On kindness The antidote to rudeness is kindness. The Lord is kind to all. In the gospel of Luke, verse 6:35, it says: “For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” In the description of spiritual love (1 Cor. 13:1-8), it says: “Love is kind. Love does not behave rudely.” In Romans 12:10 it says: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Kind people are always loved by others and are the exemplars of virtue. Portion 9.3 Scripture quotes on kindness (Prov. 31:26): “On her tongue is the law of kindness.” (2 Cor. 6:6): “By purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness.” (Gal. 5:22): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, continence.” (2 Peter 1:7): “Add to godliness brotherly kindness.” Written by Metaphrastis

The kiosk, an urban Greek mainstay since 1911

The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 7/23NOVEMBER 2017

Australian Defence

Force Commemorates Remembrance

DayAustralian Defence Force personnel at

home and abroad paused on the 99thanniversary of the Armistice on SaturdayNovember 11, in memory of all thosewho have died in all wars.

Chief of the Defence Force, Air ChiefMarshal Mark Binskin attended the Re-membrance Day National Ceremony atthe Australian War Memorial where Aus-tralia’s Federation Guard and the RoyalMilitary College Duntroon Band were onparade along with members of the localveterans’ community.

The 11th day of November also signalsthe start of the final year of the AnzacCentenary.

“Throughout 2017 we have commem-orated the 100th anniversary of signifi-cant World War One battles and the ter-rible losses on the Western Front. Wehave also marked 75 years since majorWorld War Two battles in the Pacific.

“On Remembrance Day, we rememberthe sacrifice of more than 102,000 Aus-tralians whose names are recorded onAustralia’s Roll of Honour and we ac-knowledge the ongoing suffering ofthose who returned.

“It is also a day to recognise all thosewho have served in historic and contem-porary conflicts as well as those on oper-ations today.

“Almost 2,300 Australian DefenceForce personnel are currently deployedon operations around the world. They re-mind us that service and sacrifice are notconfined to past generations, but contin-ue with the current generation of servicepersonnel.

“Over the next year we will continue tohonour our World War One servicemenand women, but Australians can also beproud of the work our sailors, soldiers,airmen and women conduct on behalf ofour nation today.

“Like those before them, this genera-tion is widely respected for its skill andprofessionalism, even in the most diffi-cult circumstances,” Air Chief MarshalBinskin said.

TO BHMA8/24 NOVEMBER 2017The Greek Australian VEMA

The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 9/25NOVEMBER 2017

Scholarships for new and existing students for 2019:

Academic Scholarships offered for entry to Year 7 and Year 11 in 2019 on the basis of ACER exam results.

Year 12 students who achieve an ATAR of 97.0 or above, will receive a scholarship to assist with

payment of fees for their first year of University study.

Entries close on Monday 5th February 2018.

Exams will be held at the College on Saturday 24th February 2018.

Applications and information are available via our website under the “Scholarships and Awards” icon.

For further information please call Angela Kringas on (02) 9311 3340

or online at www.stspyridon.nsw.edu.au

For enrolment information please contact the Enrolment Officer: Angela Kringas by email at enrolments@stspyridon.nsw.edu.au

S T S P Y R I D O N C O L L E G E

The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA10/26 NOVEMBER 2017

Photos by a Genius: How an American philhellene captured the Acropolis in the 19th century

By Tasos Kokkinidis – Kathimerini, Athens

William James Stillman an American journalist, diplo-mat, author, historian, and photographer captured themagic of Acropolis in 1870 in a series of carbon prints.

Relatively unknown in Greece, Stillman was a greatPhilhellene who served as the United States ambassa-dor in Crete during the Cretan insurrections of the 19thCentury and later married a Greek artist in London.

During his tenure in Crete he was an avowed champi-on of the Christians in the island and of Cretan inde-pendence. Consequently, he was regarded with hostili-ty both by the Muslim population and by the Turkishauthorities.

In September 1868 he resigned and went to Athenswhere he tried to depict his love of the country and itsancient civilization in print.

The Acropolis and the Parthenon were the ideal set-tings for his photography. Critics have argued that Still-man’s album of views of the Athenian Acropolis, dis-played an artistic sensibility and a genius of a higher or-der.

The volume, bound in red leather and measuring 530by 340 mm, contained 25 carbon prints on paper, withsimple captions opposite.

Imposing in size and striking in style and execution,Stillman’s book has since been recognised as among themore important photographic publications of its period.

Stillman left Greece for London where in 1871 hemarried artist Marie Spartali, a daughter of the Greekconsul-general Michael Spartali; although without hispermission.

Spartali was a Pre-Raphaelite painter; arguably thegreatest female artist of that movement. During a sixty-year career, she produced over one hundred works,contributing regularly to exhibitions in Great Britain andthe United States.

Stillman’s love for Greece led him back to Athenswhere he served as the correspondent of The Times in1877-1883.

After his retirement he lived in Surrey, England,where he died on July 6, 1901.

Sources:1. MacManus, D., & Campbell, H. (2015). ‘Illustrated Pic-

turesquely and Architecturally in Photography’: William J. Still-man and the Acropolis in Word and Image. Architectural Histo-ries, 3(1), Art. 22. DOI: http://doi.org/ 10.5334/ah.cw

2. WikipediaDivision of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University

Library

The Acropolis of Athens: Illustrated Picturesquely and Architecturally in Photography was published in London in 1870.

The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 11/27NOVEMBER 2017

The decision by Australian Prime Minister, MalcolmTurnbbull, to ask parliamentarians to provide docu-ments proving they have renounced their potential dualcitizenship, is putting pressure on numerous Greek-Australian MPs.

The PM said it would be better for politicians to makea declaration considered sacrosanct and stand by it.Turnbull made the extraordinary admission he suspectsfurther dual citizens are currently sitting in Parliament.

According to media and parliament sources, the Aus-tralian government is most concerned about theprospect of MPs with Italian and Greek descent beingruled ineligible and then losing by-elections.

Liberal MP Julia Banks’ father was born in Greece andcitizenship may have been conferred to her by descent.Ms Banks did not respond to questions about whetherher siblings hold Greek citizenship.

Liberals Alex Hawke and Arthur Sinodinos and OneNation senator Peter Georgiou also have parents fromGreece and could be entitled to dual citizenship, al-though Hawke publicly renounced his Greek citizenshipover the weekend.

Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou was born in Greece buthas said she renounced her citizenship formally in 2000.

Turnbull’s plan is for all MPs to disclose details oftheir parents and grandparents’ birth, and to publish re-nunciation documents if they held foreign citizenship. Itwas an idea Mr Turnbull developed himself and pre-sented to Cabinet.

Politicians will have 21 days after the resolution pass-es to make the necessary declarations. If MPs lie theycould face prison for six months.

Alex Hawke is latest MP to deny dual Greek Citizenship

“I am an Australian citizen only and have never heldor acquired or sought Greek or any other citizenship,”Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke told NewsCorp Australia.

The Liberal MP is the latest to deny he has dual citi-zenship, saying he was born in Wollongong and has ne-ver held Greek citizenship through his mother, whomoved to Australia in the 1950s.

Greek citizenship is automatically passed down if aperson is born to a parent of Greek nationality, even ifit wasn’t activated. However, dual citizens have to be‘duly registered in the Records of a Municipality of theHellenic Republic’.

Hawke has spoken in Parliament about his Greek her-itage and how his family settled in Australia after WorldWar II.

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Greek-Australian MPs under pressure over

dual citizenship issue

Fulbright Foundation boosting Greek-American academic tiesThe academic relationship between Greece and the

United States has grown stronger over the past fewyears, surpassing expectations.

Increasing numbers of students are developing an in-terest in Greece and travelling here on short-term studyabroad programs, but equally impressive is also that,despite the crisis, more Greeks are opting to study inthe US.

A number of American universities organize seminarsand/or classes in Greece. Courses range in length froma couple of weeks to six months and the number ofAmerican students and academics coming to Greece forsuch programs has grown impressively over the last fewyears, rising by 51.5 percent between 2013 and 2015.

According to the Fulbright Foundation in Greece, datafrom the New York-based Institute of International Edu-cation (IIE) published in the Open Doors Report show

that 3,628 US university students travelled to Greecefor short-term study abroad programs in the 2015-16period.

The benefits for Greece from such exchanges are sig-nificant.

Aside from the much-needed revenues they bring,these visitors act as ambassadors for the country whenthey return to the United States and may even repre-sent potential future partners for Greek companies, or-ganizations and universities. They are also more likelyto return to Greece, with friends and family, for vaca-tions.

“The Fulbright Foundation acts as a source of infor-mation for American educators, scientists and studentswho are considering Greece as a study destination. TheUnited States’ broader education policy provides edu-cators with the opportunity to familiarize themselves

with foreign countries and their culture through train-ing programs,” stated Artemis Zenetou, executive direc-tor of the Fulbright Foundation in Greece.

“Additionally, the goal is to double the number ofAmerican students who visit other countries througheducational programs by 2020 through the GenerationStudy Abroad program.”

Moreover, IIE data show that over the last eight yearsGreek interest in an American education has been onthe rise and the number of Greek students in the USgrew by 17.3 percent in 2010-16. In the 2015-16 aca-demic year the total number of Greek students in theUS reached 2,199. Over 700 are undergraduates, whileapproximately 1,100 are in graduate or PhD programs.Roughly 400 are in practical training or short-term pro-grams.

NOVEMBER 201712/28 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

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describing briefly your case.

The Jews of Greece Exhibition opens in Sydney

Dr Stavros Kyrimis, Consul General of Greece in Syd-ney, has opened The Jews of Greece Exhibition at theSydney Jewish Museum.

“We are proud to support this historic exhibition ofone of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. TheJewish community has been an integral part of Hel-lenism and its history as far back as antiquity. We ap-plaud the organisers, curators and the Sydney JewishMuseum for bringing to the Australian public this cul-tural treasure.” said Kyrimis to a group of 150 guests.

Developed by filmmaker Carol Gordon, Natalie Cun-ningham; the co-director and editor of the documen-tary, and photographer Emmanuel Santos, shed light on

the little known-history of one of the oldest Jewishcommunities in the world.

Through photography and a documentary, this exhibi-tion brings to life the story of Greece’s once vibrant2,500-year-old Jewish community and shows us the his-tory, tradition and present-day existence of the Jews ofGreece.

The Jewish community of Greece; one of the largestancient communities in the world, was nearly wiped outduring the Holocaust, which saw 87% of the Jewish pop-ulation murdered.

The Jews of Greece exhibition provides an insight intothe life of Romaniote Jews, Sephardim (Jews of Spain)

and the smaller groups of Ashkenazi Jews of Europethat constitute the Greek-Jewish community. This com-munity witnessed and experienced the beginnings ofChristianity; the rise and fall of empires, and the cre-ation of the modern state. The exhibition also tells thestory of Greece during the Second World War and theHolocaust, and of nearly 13,000 Greek Jews who servedin the Greek army during the war and in the Greek re-sistance to the Nazi occupation.

The Jews of Greece exhibition - until February 2018 -celebrates this ancient community, who despite facingalmost total decimation in the Holocaust, have contin-ued to survive.

The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 13/29NOVEMBER 2017

On the occasion of the Feast ofArchangel Michael this year, the Parishof Taxiarchis Michael “O Panormitis” atCrows Nest in Sydney celebrated theHoly Event with a Vespers Service, gra-ced by his Eminence, Archbishop Stylia-nos and over 15 Parish Priests who, withParish Priest, the Very Reverend FatherJohn Daskalakis filled the Church withChanting and Prayers, honouring his HolyName.

His Eminence spoke passionatelyabout the role of Angels as Protectors ofthe human race in his Homily and theirrole in Creation.

The following morning, the Divine Li-turgy was celebrated by His Grace, Bish-op Serafim, who was assisted by Father

John and the Parish Priest Father Stavrosfrom Saint Therapon Parish at PennantHills.

His Grace was also able to officiatewith the Parish again on the Sunday withthe support from Father Panayiotis fromBlacktown and Father John. Once againthe Church was filled with Parishionersand from other congregations eager toworship the Taxiarchis.

A very festive lunch followed the Pro-cession of The Icon and it was pleasing tonote the number of people who stayedto join the food and festivities.

As every year the Parish was proud tohost such a respectful and happy eventfor the Parishioners and wider Communi-ty.

SUNDAY17th DECEMBER, 7.00 P.M.

2017

The Feast of Archangel Michael at Crows Nest, NSW

The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA14/30 NOVEMBER 2017

Arts, Food & WineEditor: Imogen Coward

Concert EtiquetteBy Taliesin Coward

I recently attended a performance of a musical aboutsinger-songwriter Carole King (see review this page),and, sitting at the back of the stalls, I was well placed toobserve not only what was going on, onstage, but alsoto witness the audience’s behaviour. It prompted me toreflect on how, today, we often see very different styles

of solo performances in music, and corresponding audi-ence responses.

Let us consider two very different performances. InPerformance ‘A’ the performer greets his audience bythe door, warmly welcoming them, guiding them totheir seats, and engaging in small talk. The audience isrelaxed and chatting amongst themselves whilst theperformer makes his way on stage. To get the audi-ence’s attention, the performer simply launches intothe music with a few bars introduction to get attention.The audience is quite relaxed, and applauds wheneversomething strikes them as being particularly good –even in the middle of an item (which may occasionallyprompt a repeat of the applaud-winning section). In-be-tween the items on the programme, the performer ca-sually talks to audience members, sometimes evencoming down off stage, and only returning when hewants to. At the end of the show, the performer asksthe audience which popular tunes and melodies theywould like to hear him improvise on, giving scope forhumourous banter with the audience.

Now to Performance ‘B’. In contrast to the above, theperformer does not greet the audience. Rather, hewaits backstage for them to find their seats. Once theyare assembled, the performer makes his entrance –perhaps foreshadowed by a stern emissary who cau-tions the audience to remain silent and unobtrusive lestthey disrupt the great artist’s precision. The performerwaits for the audience to be totally silent before play-ing. There is no talking between items on the pro-gramme, and displays of audience appreciation are on-ly welcomed at the ‘correct’ moments (both by the per-former and the audience, who actively censure thosewho dare to clap in the ‘wrong’ place). Should the audi-ence show enough appreciation at the end of the per-formance, they may be granted one or several encores– carefully chosen by the performer to fit with the over-all programme.

If asked to guess what type of performance these are,you would be forgiven for believing ‘A’ was a jazz or popperformance, and ‘B’ a classical recital. In reality, bothare classical recitals. In fact, Performance ‘A’ describes atypical recital by none other than Franz Liszt, the super-star pianist who induced the public to go into a frenzy(called ‘Lisztomania’, the 19th century equivalent ofBeatlemania) and who coined the term ‘recital’ in thefirst place. Performance ‘B’ describes a not uncommonmode of giving classical music recitals today, where theaudience is regarded more of as an unwelcome distrac-tion and barrier to communing with great music, includ-ing, ironically, that of Liszt’s. These performances areseparated by only a few generations, but as far as con-cert etiquette goes they may as well come from differ-ent planets.

So where did the change from relaxed, social atmos-phere, to stiff, formal and frankly over-precious behav-iour (called by the modern virtuoso pianist Rosenthal“concert-hall snobbery”) come from? Like most ques-tions of this kind, while there is no simple answer thereare a few prime suspects. Chief amongst them, andhighlighted by modern scholars Hamilton and Goehr intheir respective studies,* is an idealised form of listen-ing which gained increasing popularity form the 19thcentury onwards, combined with the erroneous beliefthat music is solely an auditory art-form (indeed, thereare numerous studies showing how what you see, actu-ally effects what you think you hear). This ideal saw theaudience listening with rapt attention, their focus sole-ly on the music, understanding (or at least vividly feel-ing) what they heard, undistracted by mundane mat-ters.

Wagner, in his 19th century pursuit of this ideal,dressed his orchestra in black and hid them out of sight

in an orchestra pit (the origins of this tradition), andeven banned applause. Similarly, the Society for PrivateMusic Performances in Vienna banned all displays ofaudience approval or disapproval, while the pianistGlenn Gould famously wished for the removal of the‘corrupting’ influence of the audience (believing thebest performances would be recorded). The composerSchoenberg printed tickets informing the audience thatthey had the right to quietly listen, but not comment onhis music (although less lofty motives can be suspected,given that performances of his music had been metwith jeering, whistling, and at least one fight in the au-dience – in the court case which followed, a doctor tes-tified that audience members showed definite signs ofneurosis induced by Schoenberg’s compositions). To allof this can be added the rise, particularly in our owntimes and the preceding generation, of ‘recording cul-ture’, where performers try to mimic the artificial ‘per-fection’ of the recording studio in front of a live audi-ence.

Interestingly, the gulf between an espoused ideal andactually reality are shown by the fact that the majorityof 19th- early 20th century composers and performersactively disliked audience silence: Beethoven statedthat silence “was not what we artists wish – we wantapplause”. Similarly, virtuoso pianists Mark Hambourgand Harold Bauer particularly disliked performing forthe Dutch due to their excessively cool behaviour(where a smattering of applause constituted a greatsuccess) which made it difficult to summon the energyto give a good performance.* Even Wagner, who initial-ly banned applause during his operas, changed his mindas he missed the sound. As the saying goes, be carefulwhat you wish for. It’s a sobering thought that jazz con-certs of today could, given a generation or two, turn ascold and stuffy as your average classical performance.

*Kenneth Hamilton, After the Golden Age (Oxford: Oxford Uni-versity Press, 2008).

Lydia Goehr, ‘The Perfect Performance of Music and the Per-fect Musical Performance’, New Formations, No. 27 (Winter1995-1996), pp. 1-22.

The Greek Australian Vema

The oldest circulating

Greek newspaper

outside Greece

Tel: (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033

Email: vema@bigpond.net.au

Écoutez!Arts Review

Beautiful: The CaroleKing Musical

At: Sydney Lyric TheatreUntil: 21 January 2018

This musical tells the story of the prolific song-writer and singer, Carole King, from her starting as asongwriter at 1650 Broadway, at age 16, to herCarnegie Hall debut as a singer-songwriter. Lovers ofrock’n’roll and the hits of the ‘60s onwards will findmuch to like here, as his show is literally filled withclassic after classic song, such as King’s and Goffin’s‘Take Good Care of My Baby’ (originally sung byBobby Vee), ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’(recorded by the Shirelles) and ‘I feel the EarthMove Under My Feet’ (appearing on King’s own al-bum Tapestry – one of the top selling albums of alltime). These are performed with ease and flair bythe cast and ensemble, and it was easy to see audi-ence members getting emotionally ‘caught up’ inthe music, or simply starting to sway in time. Com-plimenting the excellent music and performances,the show is laced throughout with humour, keepingthe show light for the most part (and helping keepthe less happy episodes in King’s life from being tooheavy). A particularly nice touch, unlike most musi-cals where the characters spontaneously burst intosong for no other reason then “it’s a musical”, isthat the songs always make sense in context and areperformed to other characters on stage (for exam-ple, in a recording session). This is undoubtedly oneof the best, slickest and most enjoyable productionsI’ve had the pleasure of attending and rest of theaudience evidently thought the same, giving thecast a standing ovation. A fantastic production foranybody who likes good music, musicals, or simplyan enjoyable evening out.

T.C.

OCTOBER 2017 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: vema@bigpond.net.au

THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN

VEMAThe oldestcirculating

Greeknewspaper

outsideGreece

Parnassos villagesEasily accessible from Athens, this group of

small communities offers opportunities for hik-ing or just sitting back and admiring nature.

PAGE 16/32

US ambassador: Greecea pillar of stability

US ambassador to Athens, Geoffrey R. Pyatt,believes that Greece is a pillar of stability in itsregion ans states that Washington cooperatesclosely in advancing freedom and security inthe Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean andthe broader region.

More than 40 teachers congregated at StNicholas Church, Marrickville (NSW), on Mon-day October 9. The occasion was the AdvancedCourse for Scripture Teachers in New SouthWales.

PAGE 5/21

ORTHODOX AND HETERODOX (F’)OUR ARCHBISHOP’S VIEW

PAGE 7/23

PAGE 3/19

Science and Religioncome to St Nicholas

PAGE 6/22

FULL REPORT ON PAGE 12/28

AT ST NICHOLAS CHURCH, MARRICKVILLE (NSW)

Greek Orthodox church lost in 9/11rises again at ground zero

PRAYER SERVICEFOR NATIONALPOSTAL VOTE

On Sunday 17th September, more than 1,300 people gathered together for a Paraclesis service

to the Theotokos as the Protector of Marriage and pray for the national postal vote

The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 15/31NOVEMBER 2017

The Hellenic Initiative Australia’s OneGreece 2017 national philanthropic en-deavour has raised more than $1.1 mil-lion in a spectacular show of support forGreece during successful events in fivecities across Australia.

More than 1,300 people attendedevents held over 10 days as part of OneGreece 2017, which for the first timebrought together Greek and philhellenecommunities in five major cities to har-ness the strength and resources of theHellenic diaspora in Australia for thebenefit of Greece and its people.

The premier event of the series wasthe sold-out Sydney Gala Dinner on Fri-day, 6 October at the magnificent SydneyTown Hall, where more than 650 guestswere treated to a special performance byGreece’s renowned songstress AlkistisProtopsalti in her only Australian show.

Special international guest speakersPrincess Tatiana, The Hellenic Initiative’sinaugural International Ambassador, andAlexander Theodoridis, the inspirationalco-Founder of the innovative food savingand donating non-profit organisation,Boroume (We Can) powerfully broughthome the current issues facing Greeceand plight of those affected by the cur-rent social and economic situation.

One Greece 2017 has been a fantasticrepresentation of how the Greek-Aus-tralian community across the countrygalvanises in support of the people ofGreece.

The series raised more than $1.1 mil-lion nationally, which will fund THI pro-grams over the next five years, focusingon crisis relief, entrepreneurship andsustainable economic development ini-tiatives.

The Hellenic Initiative Australia will al-so be boosting its pioneering Internship

Program following strong support frombusinesses and corporate Australia, withseveral new fully-funded internship posi-tions offered across Australia to promis-ing Greek graduates. Fourteen internsfrom Greece have already participated inthe program since it was launched in2015.

The Hellenic Initiative Australia will al-so be supporting initiatives that have apositive impact on Greek society and in-creasing Australian involvement in pro-grams that promote entrepreneurshipand encourage investment and longer-term economic renewal for Greece, suchas Venture Fair, Venture Garden and theHellenic Entrepreneurship Awards.

One Greece 2017 was a unique oppor-tunity to highlight the great work beingdone in Greece by organisations such asBoroume, with support of The HellenicInitiative Australia, which are making areal difference.

One Greece 2017 events included aprivate dinner in Melbourne hosted byThe Hellenic Initiative Australia Board Di-rector, Mr Harry Stamoulis, on Tuesday,3 October.

In Western Australia, 200 people at-tended the Perth Gala Dinner on Sunday,8 October at Government House.

In South Australia, an intimate fund-raiser was held at Penfold’s Magill Estateon Tuesday, 10 October, while the Treas-urer, The Hon Tom Koutsantonis MPhosted a reception at the ConventionCentre for more than 150 members ofthe Adelaide Greek and business com-munity.

The final event, held in Darwin onThursday, 12 October, was hosted by theDeputy Chief Minister of the NorthernTerritory, The Hon Nicole Manison MLAat Parliament House.

Australia’s Hellenic Initiative Campaign raises

more than $1.1 million

TO BHMA16/32 NOVEMBER 2017

TravelThe Greek Australian VEMA

BY KYRIAKI VASSALOU

“What it this? A well?” “Yes, a well. Justsubmerge your head in the water anddon’t be afraid. It will erase all your badthoughts immediately.”

Andreas’s humor may be not be themost sophisticated but he is a guy youdon’t easily forget. It’s the way hespeaks, moves, what he wears and whathe says and does. You may only spenda few minutes with such a person butyou remember them for ever.

Andreas runs an art gallery in Hora– the main hilltop village on the Dode-canese island of Patmos. There you willfind everything from works by ac-complished modern European paintersto drawings by the youngsters he in-structs in the mornings. The place is al-so filled with good music as well as agood deal of creative “madness.”

In Hora, which is dominated by theimposing fortified Monastery of SaintJohn the Theologian, founded in 1088,it’s a joy to wander the whitewashedalleyways of the various neighbor-hoods and take a closer look at the el-egant shops here and there.

Views from the hill are seductive: Onthe one side is Skala, the port village3 kilometers down the road; on the oth-er is Profitis Ilias, the highest summitat 269 meters, and the beaches ofGrikos and Petra.

Walking uphill toward themonastery, under the arches and ar-cades in the maze of narrow medievalstreets, peek through the windows ofthe mansions to catch a glimpse of theirantique furnishings.

One also wonders what the island’shermetically sealed chapels – about 400in total – look like inside.

The monastery is a veritable fort,built on the site of an ancient templeto Artemis, goddess of the hunt.

It houses an excellent ecclesiasticalmuseum with unique Byzantine treas-ures as well as one of the country’s mostimportant libraries, where researcherscan access rare manuscripts, historicalarchives and books.

Downhill from Hora toward Skala, astop at the Holy Grotto of the Revela-tion – the cave where St John is sup-posed to have written the Book of Reve-lation around AD 95 – with its threechapels, is a must.

Hora, the monastery and the cave areon UNESCO’s list of World HeritageSites.

Skala, one of the most attractive portsettings in the Aegean, is Patmos’sbusiest spot. Located on the narrowisthmus that separates the island’snorthern and southern parts, it is anideal base for exploration.

Bypassing Hora on the way to the

southern bit, stop at the three recent-ly inaugurated restored windmills,funded by Charles Pictet, a Swiss bene-factor of the island.

Continue to the beaches of touristyGrikos and the quieter Petra. Furtheron is Diakoftis, with its boat repair fa-cilities. Park your vehicle and either stopfor coffee or a meal, or continue on foot(about 20 minutes) toward Patmos’sbest beach, Psili Ammos, which, trueto its name – shared by many otherbeaches around the country – has finewhite sand, crystal-clear waters and afew trees for shade. On the way back,drive up to Profitis Ilias for panoram-ic views.

Some 6 kilometers north of Skala,you’ll reach Kampos, a farming villagewith whitewashed houses near a sandybeach. George’s Place here is said to beone of the most “in” beach bars in theAegean – guests must reserve theirsunbeds in August.

The rest of Patmos’s northern partis calmer, in keeping with typical islandstyle.

Northeast of Kampos is Lambi – abeach also true to its name, as the peb-bles truly do shine. However, do resistthe temptation to take some of themhome because the shine dims over theyears.

North of Lambi is Livadi Geranou –with pine trees shading the sand anda much quieter ambience than else-where on the island.

It seems paradoxical that St John experienced his vision of the Apocalypse on this beautiful and enchanting Dodecanese island

Snapshots Walking uphill under the archesand arcades in the maze ofnarrow medieval streets, peekthrough the windows of themansions to catch a glimpse oftheir antique furnishings

Where to stayArea telephone code: 22470. Deluxe:Porto Scoutari (Meloi, tel 33123,www.portoscoutari.com), cited as oneof the 100 most romantic hotels in theworld on www.romanticplaces.com(Porto Scoutari and Doriza Bay in Skalaare now offering discounts of up to 50percent); Patmos Paradise (Kampos, tel 32624, www.patmosparadise.com),on a hill, with a pool, tennis and squashcourts. Lower-range: Skala (tel 31343,www.skalahotel.gr), one of the oldestand tastefully restored; Sunset (Skala,tel 31411), in a lovely garden, goodservice; camping (Meloi, tel 31821).

What to see & doPatmos will host its annual ReligiousMusic Festival from August 29 toSeptember 8 in the courtyard of theHoly Grotto of the Revelation; see themansion-museums of Nikolaidis andSimantiris and the nearby Monasteryof Zoodochos Pigi in Hora; next to theSt John Monastery is the Church ofPanaghia Diasozousa – at all suchreligious locations, visitors shoulddress appropriately. Other beachesworth visiting are Agriolivadi, nearSkala, and Lefkes, west of Kampos,where you will see a mansion built by awealthy Greek family from Egypt.

Where to eatLambi and Leonidas in Lambi for goodseafood and more; Mrs Ourania’s PsiliAmmos, on the beach of the samename, has superb pastitsio and goat intomato sauce; Flisvos and Ktima Petra inGrikos have good home cooking;Benetos, in Sapsila, is said to be one ofthe best restaurants in the Dodecanese,so you may need to book in advance (tel 33089); the same goes for Veggerain Skala (tel 32998); Vaggelis, on thesquare in Hora, has excellent Greekdishes, while Aloni has good food withlive music at times; try breakfast atAigaio in Skala and coffee in Loza, Hora.

ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010

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PatmosSimply a revelation

Patmos

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