The National HeraldA wEEkly GREEk-AmERICAN PuBlICATION

July 15-21, 2017

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VOL. 20, ISSUE 1031

10anniversary

nd21915-2017

By Zois Marinos

MONTREAL, CANADA – It is,perhaps, the only place in thewhole world outside of Greeceadorned by three differentGreek monuments within abouta one-kilometer (less than 2/3of a mile) radius.

The uniqueness of JeanTalon Street in Montreal was re-inforced after the unveiling ofthe Sculpture of the Greek Im-migrant on June 30, the thirdin a series of Greek monumentsin the Park Extension.

“As far as I know, there is noother place abroad which,within a few hundred meters,hosts three Greek sculptures,”says journalist and writer JustinFrangoulis-Argyris, secretary ofthe Montréal branch of theGreek Lyceum. This shows thetemporal influence of Hel-lenism, a self-evident conclu-sion, but it is always useful topoint it out.

The National Herald on July6 made a small survey amongexpatriates in the shops, parks,and streets of Park Extension.The area was once an emblem-atic district for the Greeks ofMontreal. And it remains,though, with less Greek popu-lation, as a large part of theGreeks have moved over the lastdecades mainly to the Laval re-gion.

Most are surprised by thefinding.

“I know the statue of Athena

and the Greek Immigrant,” saysprogrammer Stelios Papaniko-laou, 47, from Kalamata. WhileEleni Alexopoulou, 55, fromPreveza, an employee in a laun-dry room, was the only one sur-veyed who knew about thesculpture devoted to theOlympic ideals. “But I did notcombine them. Yes, three Greekmonuments on the same street,one close to the other... It seems

By Theodore Kalmoukos

NEW YORK – The election ofBishop Sevastianos of Zela asthe new Metropolitan ofChicago was canceled by theHoly Synod of the EcumenicalPatriarchate. The election wasscheduled to take place onThursday, July 13 at the Phanar.

The National Herald haslearned that the unexpectedturn of events is due to the Listof Candidates which was con-sidered problematic and incom-plete.

The List, however, had beenapproved by the Ecumenical Pa-triarchate last March. BishopSevastianos of Zela had gath-ered 7 votes out of 8 who votedfor the triprosopon during theselection on July 6 by the HolyEparchial Synod of the GreekOrthodox Archdiocese of Amer-ica.

The Ecumenical Patriarchatehas the right and privilege tocancel the selection of the threeperson ballot that is institutedby the Holy Eparchial Synod ofAmerica. The practice thus farwas that the Synod of the Patri-archate presided by His All Ho-liness Ecumenical PatriarchBartholomew was to elect thecandidates who receives the ma-jority of the votes during the se-lection process of the triproso-pon (three person ballot).

This development may createa crisis between the EcumenicalPatriarchate and the ArchbishopDemetrios of America becausethis is a direct rejection of suchan important recommendationof the Church of America ex-pressed by its Holy EparchialSynod.

TNH was unable to contactHis Eminence ArchbishopDemetrios at press time despitemultiple calls to the Archdio-cese.

TNH has learned that BishopSevastianos is in Cyprus visitingfamily members.

His Grace Bishop Sevastianosof Zela came first during theprocess of the selection of thethree person ballot (trirproso-pon) on July 6 by the HolyEparchial Synod of the GreekOrthodox Archdiocese of Amer-ica, presided by His EminenceArchbishop Demetrios.

The triprosopon was com-

Suspects Charged in American Tourist DeathPoliceman lead suspects to court in Zakynthos. Eight suspects were charged with involvementin the beating to death of a 22-year-old American tourist. See related story on page 8.

TNH Staff

NEW JERSEY – Bill (Vasilis)Matsikoudis, was the chief at-torney for Jersey City for nineyears, and is currently running

for mayor of that city, the sec-ond largest in the state of NewJersey. Matsikoudis, a Greek-American with roots in Thessa-loniki, spoke with The NationalHerald about his campaign andthe issues facing Jersey City.

Located just across the Hud-son River from Manhattan, Jer-sey City is rapidly developingand in a few years may surpassNewark in terms of population.Matsikoudis told TNH that thedevelopment in the last twentyyears is similar to that in Brook-lyn and Astoria and has made

the city less affordable. Jersey City was a destination

for the first generation of Greekimmigrants and two historicparishes are located there, SaintDemetrios and the Annunciationof the Virgin Mary. Although thenumber of Greeks and Greek-Americans is about a thousand,the Greeks are thriving in thecommunity with real estateholdings and businesses, includ-ing restaurants.

Matsikoudis’ father, Elpido-

Matsikoudis for Jersey City Mayor

imerazande.gr via AP

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TNH Staff

WASHINGTON, DC – This isAmerica & The World is a serieshosted by Dennis Wholey, ajournalist and bestselling authorwith over 40 years of broadcastexperience. The weekly seriescovers international affairs andis produced in Washington, DC,featuring countries around theworld.

The series is broadcast na-tionally on public television andPBS stations, and it is distrib-uted internationally by Voice ofAmerica Television. Wholey ex-plores the cultural, social, andpolitical lives of people aroundthe world.

The three-part series of Thisis America Visits Greece wasshot in Greece and airs on threeconsecutive Sundays: July 9, 16,and 23.

Thanks to the George & Judy

Marcus Family Foundation, theNational Hellenic Society(NHS), American College ofGreece (ACG), and the HeritageGreece Program will be high-lighted in Part II on Sunday, July16 at 10 PM. The episode willfeature interviews of severalHeritage Greece student partic-ipants and American College ofGreece President, David Horner.

Greece Today – Part II fea-tures Greece’s economy anddebt crisis along with therefugee crisis which are dis-cussed during a visit to Athens.The American College of Greeceand NHS Heritage Greece Pro-gram, Stavros Niarchos Founda-tion Cultural Center, and theAcropolis are also featured inthe program.

According to its missionstatement, the National HellenicSociety is an organization estab-lished to create a lasting net-work of Greek Americans thatwill preserve our heritagethrough the sponsorship and ini-tiation of programs that supportour Hellenic culture, benefit ourmembers and their families, andhonor our ancestors. NHS mem-bers represent accomplishedmen and women in our commu-nity and membership is solelyby invitation. As is our tradition,fellowship and enrichment area prominent part of this society.

Through the support of pro-grams that foster the preserva-tion of the Hellenic heritage inthe United States, NHS strivesto be a beacon for the promo-

PBS Series This isAmerica Visits GreeceHighlights NHS

Election of Chicago Metropolitan Canceled

ATHENS (ANA) – Demographictrends in Greece – including thelatest wave of emigration start-ing after 2010 – paint a futureof dwindling overall population,with an ever-decreasing propor-tion of working age and eco-nomically active individuals, thehead of Thessaly University’sDemographics and Social Analy-

ses department Prof. VyronasKotzamanis told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency(ANA) on Tuesday.

“Greece is currently markedby an overconcentration of itspopulation into an extremely re-stricted section of its territory(the result of successive wavesof internal migration in previous

decades), the appearance after2010 of a new wave of flightabroad, especially of youngGreeks of reproductive age, thatis not expected to stop soon andwhose result will be the appear-ance of a negative migrationbalance,” Kotzamanis said in an

His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople. The Holy Synodof the Ecumenical Patriarchate canceled the election of the new Metropolitan of Chicago.

A Road Full of GreekMonuments in the Heart of Montreal

Ageing Greece’s Future, Drop in Pop.

Art Works for Diaspora Exhibit in the HamptonsArt lovers attended the opening reception for the Philip Tsiarasexhibit at The Muses. See related story on page 2.

George Marcus

TNH/COSTAS BEJ

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EcumenicalPatriarchate citesincomplete list ofcandidates

Continued on page 8

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TNH ARCHIVES

By Eleni Sakellis

NEW YORK – The film Istoriafollows Greek-Australian film-maker Nicolaos Demourtzidis,his father, Peter, and grandfa-ther Elias, who suffered fromAlzheimer’s disease, as theytravel from Australia to Greeceto help Elias find closure.

The documentary is an im-portant story not only for theDemourtzidis family, but for allfamilies, and for anyone inter-ested in Greek history and mem-ory, as it highlights the devas-tating toll of the Greek Civil Wareven to this day. The film won aBest Documentary award at the2017 London Greek Film Festi-val in May and the HollywoodInternational Independent Doc-umentary Award in 2016. De-mourtzidis spoke with The Na-tional Herald about the film, hisfamily, and his upcoming pro-jects.

When asked about the deci-sion to share his grandfather’sstory, he said that “before mygrandfather was diagnosed withthe Alzheimer’s disease, I didn’tunderstand what the diseasemeant or what impact it had onfamilies. Even when we weretold he had it, it didn’t have theimpact of bad news broken tome. Little did I know of whatwas to come. It came to a turn-ing point that we started seeingthe impact on his daily life andwhat affect it had on his familyand especially my Yiayia. MyPappou was drifting away fromus, like a log slowly going downstream. Some days you wouldn’tsee the difference and other daysyou would. I was losing my best

friend right before my eyes andI couldn't handle it. This is thepart when the ‘bad news’ hithard on me of his disease. I wasgoing to lose my Pappou like itor not and his story…my story!This was the catalyst that madewe want to do it, so many peo-ple told me it was too late, andit should have been done earlier,but, of course, the stubbornGreek in me pushed on andmade it happen! I do have toadd, a lot of prayer was goingon at the time; it’s quite hard toget the clearance from a doctorto let a sick, elderly man flyacross the other side of theworld. I didn’t want to do thisstory necessarily to share Pap-pou’s story, his story is for meand my children. What he went

through for me and my familyis what needed to be shared.People need to know that theirPappouthes and Yiayiathes wentthrough the same thing so thenext generation could be who

they are today. You can’t losethis. If we lose our story, our his-tory, then what legacy do wehave to pass on? Collectivelywhat culture will we have toshare? To answer your question

in short, I decided to share thedocumentary and take it to thenext level when I realized thatwe all need to find our Istoria inlife. The world is one beautifulmosaic, but it’s losing its color,if we each can keep our piececolorful and bright, then our cul-ture will exist onto the ages.”

Demourtzidis noted, “My en-tire father’s side is from Pelar-gos. My Pappou Elia was bornthere, grew up in the orphanagein Florina when both parentswere killed during the civil warand then returned to Pelargosin his late teens.”

When asked what it was likeworking on the film, De-mourtzidis said, “By far the

hardest project we have done,when you are emotionally at-tached to a project it alwaysmakes it that one bit harder. Wehad to stay professional and letthe story unfold and not lettingany tears get in the way. Therewere scenes where my Pappouwas crying his soul out and rip-ping down walls from the painin confronting his past, we hadto stay behind the camera andlet it unfold. Very tough. Thehardest part of working with myfather was seeing him duringdifficult times, very rarely doyou see your father cry as theyneed to be strong for the family,but him seeing his father gothrough it all was just toopainful to watch.”

On what is next, he said, “weare hoping Istoria will make itinto a handful of film festivalsthat are coming up. One in par-ticular is the New York GreekFilm Festival as well as my localAustralian Greek Film Festivals.Once it’s done its film festivalrounds I will focus on distributionto help fund my next project. Thequality of Istoria has attracted somuch attention I am being of-fered other stories to produce, it’squite exciting and humbling atthe same time. I really do hopewe can get another Greek storyoff the ground sometime soon,but again it all depends on thesupport you find earlier on. DavidOckenden the Director of Istoriais a creative genius, how he man-age to capture what he did with-out speaking one word of Greekamazes me and the audience tillthis day. It’s professionals like himthat make dream stories come tolife!”

Greek-Australian Filmmaker Nicolaos Demourtzidis Talks to TNHCOMMUNITY2 THE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017

By Theodore Kalmoukos

SOUTHAMPTON, NY – The“Art Works for Diaspora” exhibitby renowned artist Philip Tsiaraswas launched in theMuses/Nicolas S. Zoulas Hel-lenic Center of the Kimisis of theMother of God parish inSouthampton, NY. Among those

attending were John Catsima-tidis and his wife, Margo, Dr.George Korkos, and Greta Ka-materos.

Tsiaras’ art is exhibited inmany galleries and also at NewYork City’s Metropolitan Mu-seum of Art.

Rev. Alex Karloutsos, presid-ing priest of the Kimisis parish,

told TNH that “we are trying toshow the art of the Hellenes ofthe Diaspora projecting our Hel-lenic roots and give the oppor-tunity not only to the Greeks ofAmerica but members of thebroader Hamptons communityto come and see.”

The exhibit will run throughSeptember. Fr. Karloutsos said

that “on August 26 we are goingto have the Blue Dream event,during which we are going tohonor the Lonely Whale Foun-dation and the Navy Seals whoprotect us; it is going to be nice.We are going to donate $100 toeach.”

Karloutsos praised artistPhilip Tsiaras. He said that “he

comes from New Hampshire, heis famous; his works are at Met-ropolitan Museum. Very few canreach those heights that Philiphas reached.”

Speaking about Tsiaras’works, Karloutsos said that “anentire room is dedicated to theParthenon, in another one thereare works of horses because heloves horses very much. He alsohas done the earth, the sun, andhe has an art piece called BlueDream, which is very nice.Philip was a student of the greatartist painter Lucas Samaras.”

The parish of Southampton

“is doing very well,” Karloutsossaid. “The church cost $23 mil-lion and now we are toward theend. We are in the process ofpainting the icons of the dome.George Philippakis is the icono-grapher and it is expected to fin-ish in April.”

The parish, Karloutsos said,“is comprised by 220 families,and not all of them are Greek.We have Russians, Romanians,Georgians. We have the supportof many friends from through-out the United States who arehelping us and thus we can ac-complish all these works.”

tion, understanding, and appre-ciation of the Hellenic heritagein the United States, and passon the stewardship of Greekheritage and shared democraticvalues and ideals to the nextgeneration.

Heritage Greece 2017 has of-ficially begun with sixty-two stu-dents sharing a two-and-a-halfweek cultural and educationalimmersion experience at theAmerican College of Greece inAthens. It is a cultural, educa-tional, and inspirationalodyssey, and participants are ac-companied by 20 students from

the American College of Greece.It is a trip that alumni have de-scribed as a life-changing expe-rience.

The group met on June 8 fororientation in Washington, DC,and a reception was graciouslyhosted at AHEPA Headquarterswith the Heritage Greece 2017class, NHS members, and GreekAmerican mentors in atten-dance. The students left the fol-lowing day.

Heritage Greece is about“connections”– connecting thestudents to their respectiveGreek roots, heritage, identity,and to one another as they forgelifelong relationships.

This summer, no matter where you go, take The National Herald with you!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR ON-LINE EDITION AND STAY INFORMED!

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www.thenationalherald.comThe National Herald

TH

E NATIONAL HERA

LD

Continued from page 1

PBS Series This is AmericaVisits Greece Highlights NHS

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis with retired U.S.Congressman Mike Bilirakis in a meeting in Athens.

NHS

ABOVE: The Demourtzidis family and friends at a screening ofthe documentary film Istoria. BELOW: The flyer for the docu-mentary film Istoria. LEFT: Nicolaos Demourtzidis with hisgrandfather Elias.

PHOTOS: BRAd HAlSTEAd

Philip Tsiaras Art Works for Diaspora Exhibit Opens in the Hamptons

The Art Works for Diaspora exhibition by artist Philip Tsiaras opened at the Muses/Nicolas S.Zoullas Hellenic Center of the Kimisis tis Theotokou Church in Southampton, NY.

Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, Greta Kamateros- Director of the Greek National Tourism Organization,artist Philip Tsiaras, and Fr. Constantine Lazarakis at the opening of the exhibit.

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ

TNH Staff

NEW YORK – Over 300 guestscame together on June 23 to cel-ebrate making a difference atthe Loukoumi Make A Differ-ence Foundation's annual eventhonoring individuals and orga-nizations that truly do make adifference. The Loukoumi Foun-dation also presented its Inspi-ration Award to TEGNA, thesponsors of National Make ADifference Day. Meg Kennedy,Manager of the Tegna Founda-tion, was among those presentat the event.

“For over 20 years, NationalMake A Difference Day has in-spired millions of Americans todo good deeds and through thisday TEGNA has also changedthe lives of everyone in thisroom,” said Foundation Presi-dent Nick Katsoris to those inattendance, “because TEGNA in-

spired us to start the Loukoumi

Make A Difference Foundationwhich now unites over 50,000kids to make a difference withLoukoumi each year.”

Katsoris and guest host ElenaKampouris, star of My Big FatGreek Wedding 2, Before I Fall,and Broadway's Les LiaisonsDangereuses, also awardedeight Make A Difference Awardsand three new Dream Days.

Loukoumi All-Star awardwinner Ava Tsapatsaris pre-sented a check for $5,500 toJohn Morytko of St. Jude Chil-dren's Research Hospital fromher fundraising efforts.

Children from across thecountry entered the 2017 Louk-oumi Dream Day Contest andcongratulations were extendedto Melina Kokkalas, Mara Cook,and Lauren Berg as the latestDream Day winners.

Melina wants to own herown restaurant when she grows

up and open it to people that

don't have money to eat, soMelina will spend the day at JonBon Jovi's JBJ Soul Kitchen, arestaurant that does exactlythat. Mara wants to be a chil-dren's book illustrator and shewill spend the day with famedillustrator Laura Knorr; and Lau-ren Berg, the Facebook DreamDay Contest winner, wants to bea chef when she grows up andwill get to spend the day withCelebrity Chef extraordinaireMaria Loi in the kitchen at LoiEstiatorio.

Katsoris gave special thanksto Loukoumi's Good Deed Spon-sor: The Psaros Family, Louk-oumi's Gift Sponsors: Eileen GillFranklin/George's Angels, andFirst American Title InsuranceCompany of NY, Jeff Mitzner,and the Friend of LoukoumiSponsors: Maria Loi/Loi Estia-torio, Paul and Kelly Lountzis,Jerry and Bessie Drenis, and Dr.and Mrs. Roy Vagelos.

The 2017 honorees:The Old Mill Road Elemen-

tary School, Merrick, NY washonored for hosting Interna-tional Day of Happiness at theirschool & a 5k Walk for the Louk-oumi Foundation.

Building Hope: The NewYonkers Animal Shelter washonored for making a differenceevery day.

The Philoptochos, GOYA,HOPE, and JOY at the Assump-tion Greek Orthodox Church inDanbury, CT was honored foruniting their entire communityin countless projects on Make ADifference Day.

The Tina Doufekias Make ADIfference Award was presentedto the St. Demetrios School, As-toria for their work for St. JudeChildren's Research Hospital

The Holy Cross Turkey Crew,Whitestone was honored forproviding seven families with avery special Thanksgiving.

Irene Maris was honored forher work with the NationalArthritis Foundation.

Tommy Drenis was honoredfor his work with FARE: FoodAllergy Research & Education.

Ava Tsapatsaris received theLoukoumi All-Star Award.

Alexandra Sakalis was hon-ored for raising charitable fundsthrough her read-a-thon.

COMMUNITYTHE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017 3

TNH Staff

ATHENS – The Acropolis Mu-seum joins forces with the Onas-sis Foundation, an organizationthat has been contributing toCulture and Education for 42years, in a rare and significantpartnership. The end result isco-staging in Athens the “emo-tions” exhibition, which was agreat success at the Onassis Cul-tural Center in New York.

Exhibits from the world'sgreatest museums tell stories ofemotions in ancient Greek artthrough the gaze of the Acrop-olis Museum. As the Museum'sPresident, Professor DimitrisPantermalis, explains, “This isan unusual archaeological exhi-bition which focuses on the por-trayal of the 'ethos of the soul'in 129 ancient artworks. Usingsurprisingly simple but powerfulmeans, the ancient artists de-picted bright emotions like de-sire, love, lust and shame, butalso dark passions like madness,fury, revenge and heartbreak.”

The President of the OnassisFoundation, Dr. Antonis Pa-

padimitriou, expressed his joyat seeing the outstanding exhi-

bition transferred to Greece sosuccessfully. He said, “The jour-

ney through time and spacegoes on. After the impressive ex-

hibition at the Onassis CulturalCenter in New York, 129 arti-facts from the collections ofgreat Greek and internationalmuseums are on their way tothe Acropolis Museum. Theirmission is the same: to help usempathize with the ancientworld and the emotions thatruled it. The exhibition chimesboth with the Onassis Founda-tion's educational mission andwith the current tendency in his-torical research, which nolonger seeks to extract from thepast ready-made teachings forthe present, but strives insteadto convey the visitors into thepast and expose them to theideas that were prevalent ingiven eras. It is, of course, agreat honor that our partner inthis project is the Acropolis Mu-seum, an institution synony-mous with extroversion in Greekculture and the unique use ofexhibits to inform and educatevisitors.”

The show's curators are: An-gelos Chaniotis, Professor of An-cient History and Classics in theInstitute for Advanced Study at

Princeton and a member of theBoard of the Onassis Founda-tion's affiliate organization inthe United States; Nikos Kaltsas,Honorary Director of the Na-tional Archaeological Museum;and Ioannis Mylonopoulos, As-sistant Professor of AncientGreek Art and Archaeology atColumbia University.

The exhibition will be dis-played in a new tailor made set-ting, developed by the AcropolisMuseum in collaboration withthe architect, Eleni Spartsi. Thegeneral oversight of the updateddisplay has been undertaken bythe President of the AcropolisMuseum himself, Professor Dim-itris Pandermalis.

The exhibition will be a wel-come addition to the already ex-tensive works on view at theAcropolis Museum. Those inAthens this summer can viewthe powerful emotions ex-pressed in the ancient art on dis-play that impressed audiencesin New York so recently.

The exhibition opens to thepublic on July 18 and runsthrough November 19.

Emotions Exhibition Set to Open at the Acropolis Museum in Athens

a b

«The reader isimmersed into theemotions whichshape and drive Yannithrough his life andbring him to therealization thatdestiny isn’tsomething achievedin a single momentbut rather through an entire lifetime»

The iRead Review

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

appointmentwithyesterday.com

By Zois Marinos

MONTREAL, CANADA – Bornon September 12, 1990 andwith parents from Naxos andTripoli, Emmanuella Lam-bropoulos is the youngest MP ofthe Greek Diaspora. She waselected to the House of Com-mons on April 3 in the Saint-Laurent electoral district ofMontreal, occupying the seat offormer Minister of Foreign Af-fairs Stéphane Dion.

Lambropoulos, as detailed inThe National Herald, has man-aged to displace bigger namesin the political life of Canada,and was elected to the federalparliament of the country with59.1 percent, under the flag ofthe Liberal Party of Prime Min-ister Justin Trudeau.

A teacher of French and His-tory at Rosemount High School,she received her degree in 2013from the renowned McGill Uni-versity and specialized in the ed-ucation of children with learn-ing disabilities.

As for her new life in Parlia-ment? “Interesting,” Lam-bropoulos told TNH and invitedus to the event she organized inGirouard Park on the occasionof the 150th anniversary of thefounding of Canada.

Already in over three monthsof her parliamentary term, shehas taken major initiatives for

her electoral region, includingactions on the environment,boosting employment andtourism.

And to think that “everythingstarted from grandma's livingroom,” she said, which was herelection base. And then, goingdoor-to-door to every house inthe area, she announced hercandidacy.

But with the public, Lam-

bropoulos had developed a verystrong relationship as a volun-teer with Dion’s team and alsoas the president of the McGillUniversity Hellenic Student As-sociation.

TNH discovered that Em-manuella Lambropoulos followsthe example of George Micha-lakis, a northern Chios-native,who was elected a Member ofthe South African Parliament at

age 26. Lambropoulos has notyet turned 27. In her speech af-ter winning the election shespoke in both English andFrench, “I will be an MP for allof you. My door will always beopen to you,” thanking her teamand supporters, saying she was“proud” to continue where Dionhad left off, as reported by theCBC News in April. She beat for-mer provincial immigration

minister and presumed front-runner Yolande James for theLiberal Party nomination only amonth earlier.

On July 2, wearing her char-acteristic black-framed glasses,Lambropoulos was greeted bydozens of Greek expatriates inGirouard Park. The Greek com-munity of the province of Que-bec feels great pride for Em-manuella, whose election was

strongly and actively supportedby Prime Minister Trudeau.

Besides the Greek commu-nity, Lambropoulos enjoys sup-port from other ethnic commu-nities she represents.

“We celebrate 150 years ofCanada together and join ourvoices in honoring this greatcountry,” she said, and told TNHthat she will probably visitGreece this summer.

Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation Awards 2017 in Eastchester, NY

The Inspiration Award was presented to TEGNA, accepting theaward- Meg Kennedy, Manager of the Tegna Foundation, withLoukoumi Foundation President Nick Katsoris.

JIllIAN NElSON

An image from the Emotions exhibition at the Onassis Cultural Center in New York.TNH fIlE/COSTAS BEJ

Emmanuella Lambropoulos, the Youngest MP in the Greek Diaspora

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the youngest MP of the Greek Diaspora EmmanuellaLambropoulos on the campaign trail.

Emmanuella Lambropoulos, center, with her constituents inGirouard Park in Montreal.

COuRTESy Of EmmANuEllA lAmBROPOulOS

Loukoumi, Chef Maria Loi, actress and guest host Elena Kampouris, and Loukoumi FoundationPresident Nick Katsoris at the Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation Awards.

By Eleni Sakellis

NEW YORK – Friends and col-leagues gathered to celebrate anaward-winning year for EllopiaFilms USA, whose documentaryfilm series on Mount Olympushas garnered 12 internationalfilm festival awards in 2017.The celebration took place atthe Korali restaurant on Man-hattan’s Upper East Side on July9.

Among those in attendancewere CEO of Ellopia MediaGroup USA and Director of Mt.Olympus the Series AthinaKrikeli, Yanna Darilis- DirectorNGTV, George Kokkinos- Execu-tive Producer NGTV, GeorgeAlexiou- Editor Ellopia FilmsUSA, Dimitris Filios- ERT Cos-mos FM, Panos Satzoglou- Di-rector Cosmos FM, XristosKostaras- Singer, Spiros Exaras-Composer and soloist, MariaPetrou- Executive Producer El-lopia Films USA, Anastasia Kasi-matis- Producer Ellopia FilmsUSA, Alex Agisilaou- Cine-matographer NGTV, GretaBuffinton- Ellopia Films USA,and Maria Christina Baklava-Director Ellopia Films USA Eu-rope.

Krikeli thanked all those inattendance and noted the posi-tive reception the film series hasreceived so far. She mentionedthe response from viewers atscreenings on college campusesin the United States whothought Mt. Olympus was onlya mythical mountain, the homeof the Olympian gods, and notan actual mountain you couldvisit in Greece. Certificates werepresented to those who helpedmake the documentary seriespossible as well as those whohelped promote the work of thetalented Greek filmmakers andartists, including the productionteam and members of the me-dia.

The guests enjoyed the food,drink, and lively conversation,followed by Exaras playing hisguitar and Kostaras singing afew well-known songs. Krikeliand the guests joined in the

singing of some of the betterknown Greek hits while classicGreek desserts were served.

Among many awards, MountOlympus the Creation receivedthe LA Hollywood InternationalIndependent Festival 2016Award of Recognition, GlobalMusic Awards Silver Medal Win-ner 2016 Outstanding Achieve-ment George Chatzis Originalscore, Soundtrack Film andTelevision, Gold Movie AwardsLondon Award of Recognition2017, Hollywood InternationalMoving Pictures Film Festival1st Prize Award Raleigh Studios2017, and the New York FilmScreening Festival Award of Ex-cellency 2017.

Mt. Olympus: Elassona theSecret Path received the 2015Award of Excellence at the BestShorts Competition in Los An-geles, Hollywood InternationalMoving Pictures Film Festival1st Prize Award Raleigh Studiosin 2015, and the Indiefest FilmAwards 2015 Award of Merit.Mt. Olympus EMAK in RescueMode received the New YorkFilm Screening Festival Awardof Excellency 2017 and the GoldMovie Awards London Award ofRecognition 2017.

As Krikeli notes on the film’swebsite about climbing Mt.Olympus, “it’s not the view thattakes your breath away, or theprecipitous rocks, the narrowstrip of land under your feet atthis highest peak of Olympus…You feel like sharing somethinggrand, something imposing, youhave a sense that you are partof a ritual, a holy ceremony, apart of a ‘Liturgy’ that does notreally exist.

It’s like having your DNAdancing at the rhythms of an-cient ‘chorus’ repeating againand again vows of faith andtrust to Hellas (Greece). Yourbody simply operates like a ve-hicle that you leave at the topof the mountain once you getthere, to regain strength for thedescent and the journey back.Up there you don’t feel mortalat all; the great Mt. Olympuswill not allow it.”

COMMUNITY4 THE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017

foros, immigrated to Jersey Cityfrom Greece and became a suc-cessful deli owner. His mother,Eileen, was born to a familywith deep Jersey City rootswhich include a CongressionalMedal of Honor winner and aveteran of the Battle of Gettys-burg. Matsikoudis’ maternalgrandfather worked for JerseyCity for more than 20 years, ris-ing to the rank of Director ofParks and Forestry, as noted onMatsikoudis’ website.

Matsikoudis is the youngestof seven children and knows thevalue of hard work. At age 16,he lost his father and worked inrestaurants while attendingschool, eventually graduatingwith honors from Seton HallUniversity. Matsikoudis at-tended Seton Hall Law Schooland also graduated with honors.He worked for one of New Jer-sey’s most prominent law firmsbut was drawn to public service.

The number of candidatesfor Jersey City mayor, from ahigh of 15, dropped markedlyafter incumbent Mayor StevenFulop announced he would notbe running for governor of NewJersey but would instead seekreelection. Matsikoudis toldTNH that this is a non-partisanelection in which candidates arenot listed by political parties.The winner needs over 50% ofthe vote on Election Day, No-vember 7, to avoid a runoff inDecember. The three candidatesrunning for mayor are Matsik-oudis, the incumbent Fulop, andformer New Jersey State Assem-blyman Charles Mainor.

Matsikoudis noted that thecampaign is “going well” but itis still a “hard fight” to runagainst an incumbent mayor.Having raised $360,000 for his

campaign, he said that muchand more will be needed in thenext four months leading up toElection Day. The issues facingJersey City are similar to thosefacing many major cities in thenation, including affordability,safety, and community policing.Making the city more affordableis a top priority for the candi-date who has plans for afford-able housing, rent stabilization,and helping with the down pay-ments on homes for city workersto keep them living in the citythey serve.

Matsikoudis highlighted theimportance of community polic-ing and for increased positiveinteractions between the com-munity and the police. He notedthe eight shootings just over theFourth of July weekend thatmade the front page of local pa-pers. As noted on his campaignwebsite, “Jersey City has seen aserious and sustained increasein homicide under the Fulop Ad-ministration and the Mayor re-fuses to commit to communitypolicing, only paying lip serviceto occasional foot patrols. Wewill change this and embracecommunity policing.”

Matsikoudis mentioned theelection includes the selectionof nine City Council membersthis year and that a slate is beingput together and will be final-ized soon.

In one of his campaignvideos, Matsikoudis says, “Ihope to be elected your mayorso that I can fully dedicate allthat I have to offer to make Jer-sey City safer, more affordable,more beautiful, and the trulyworld-class city that we know itcan be.”

More information is availableon Matsikoudis’ websitewww.mats4mayor.com and onFacebook.

Greek-American Bill Matsikoudis, candidate for Jersey Citymayor.

Matsikoudis Running forJersey City MayorContinued from page 1

TNH/COSTAS BEJ

posed of Bishop Sevastianos ofZela, who received votes fromseven of the Synod hierarchs(voters); Archimandrite GeorgeNikas presiding priest at theHoly Trinity parish of Salt LakeCity, UT, who received threevotes; and ArchimandriteGerasimos Makris presidingpriest of the Holy Cross parishin Brooklyn, who also receivedthree votes.

The Synod was comprised ofArchbishop Demetrios of Amer-ica, presiding, and Metropoli-tans Methodios of Boston, Isaiahof Denver, Alexios of Atlanta,Nicholas of Detroit, Savas ofPittsburgh, Gerasimos of SanFrancisco, and Evangelos ofNew Jersey.

All voted for Sevastianos ex-cept for Gerasimos, who madeclear to Demetrios and the otherSynod members his preferencefor a candidacy of MetropolitanNikitas of Dardaneles.

Sevastianos is the Chief Sec-retary of the Holy EparchialSynod and the Spiritual Advisorto the National Philoptochos So-ciety. He was ordained a bishopand given the honorary title ofthe city of Zela on December 17,2011.

The result of the selectionprocess was sent to the Ecu-menical Patriarchate for the of-ficial election by its Holy Synod,

Sevastianos was Demetrios’choice. Metropolitan Nicholaswill preside in the interim untila new metropolitan of Chicagois officially elected.

The Synod decided that theList of Candidates was incom-plete because not all the namesof those eligible for electionwere included. The Patriarchate

is going to ask from ArchbishopDemetrios to add to the List allthose eligible candidates includ-ing those hierarchs who haveserved at the Archdiocese ofAmerica and now serving in Me-tropolises abroad such as Met-ropolitan Athenagoras of Mex-ico, Cleopas of Sweden, Tarasiosof Buenos Aires, Nikitas of Dar-danelles. Also, the current Met-ropolitans of the Archdiocesecould be place on the List if theydesire to be transferred to theMetropolis of Chicago.

ABOUT BISHOPSEVASTIANOS

Bishop Sevastianos was bornin Ano-Zodia, Cyprus, he is thefirst of three children born toPanayiota and Frixos Skordallos.He is a graduate of the Theo-logical School of the University

of Athens, Greece (1978). Hereceived a scholarship throughthe World Council of Churchesto study in the United States atColumbia Theological Seminary,Decatur Georgia (1982) wherehe received a ThM in PastoralPsychology. He has worked andreceived advanced certificationin Clinical Pastoral Education atCaraway Methodist MedicalCenter, Birmingham, Alabama(1980-1982), and furthered hisstudies in Pastoral Psychologyat Vanderbilt University,Nashville Tennessee and MiddleTennessee State University(1982-1984).

He was ordained Deacon onJanuary 17, 1974, by the lateMetropolitan of MorphouChrysanthos and Priest onMarch 4, 1978 in England by

the Bishop of Tropaiou Grego-rios who is currently the Arch-bishop of Thyateira and GreatBritain. He received the offikionof Archimandrite by the lateArchbishop of ThyateiraAthenagoras. He has served sev-eral parishes both as a deaconand a priest in Cyprus, Greeceand the United States.

As a Deacon, he served thelate Metropolitan Chyrsanthosof Morphou (1974), St. GeorgeChurch, in Akadimia Platonos,in Athens (1975), St. NicholasChurch in Kato Patisia, Athens(1976-78), and as a priest inNottingham England (1978-79),Holy Trinity-Holy Cross in Birm-ingham, Alabama, U.S. (1980-82), Sts. Constantine and Helen– Holy Cross, Huntsville, Al-abama (1982-84, 1989-93), theCathedral of Panayia Catholike,Limassol Cyprus (1984-88),Holy Transfiguration, Marietta,Georgia (1993-2004), and St.Nicholas Cathedral, TarponSprings, Florida (2004-06). Hewas appointed Chief Secretaryof the Synod by ArchbishopDemetrios of America on June1, 2006.

Bishop Sevastianos has beenactively involved in the Admin-istration Committees of theGreek Orthodox Archdiocese ofAmerica serving as a Councilmember on the Metropolis andArchdiocesan levels; in the Ad-ministration Committee of theArchdiocesan Council where heassisted in developing resourcesfor the training of Parish Coun-cils and in the Legal Committeeof the Archdiocese. He hasserved as President of the ClergySyndesmos of the Metropolis ofAtlanta for several years and theArchdiocesan Presbyters Coun-cil.

Election of New Metropolitan of Chicago CanceledContinued from page 1

almost unbelievable,” she toldTNH.

The three monuments are:At the corner of Jean Talon

and Park Avenue, the Sculptureof the Greek Immigrant, thework of Professor Giorgos Hou-liaras. The unveiling of the mon-ument took place on June 30,with Montreal Mayor DenisCoderre.

The statue of the goddessAthena, made of granite, locatedin the center of the homony-mous park, on Jean Talon andBloemfield Street. Project bySpyros Gokakis. Travel guidesin the province of Quebec de-scribe the statue as one of the20 best sculptures in the city ofMontreal.

Finally, the sculpture dedi-cated to the Olympic ideals, in

the small park Gaia at JeanTalon and Rockland Street. Thework bears the signature ofPraxiteles Tzanoulinos and, onthe base - in Greek - it is “dedi-cated to the Olympic ideals, adonation of citizens of Greekorigin to the municipality of thetown of Mount Royal.” It wasunveiled on July 15, 2014 andis made of stainless steel. It hasa diameter of 1.4 meters andwas donated by the families ofPaul and Melpo Kamateros,Nicholas Tsatas, JimmyChristopoulos and NikolaosArkolakis. It was unveiled dur-ing the days of Thanos Kafopou-los as the General Consul ofGreece in Montreal. The spotwas not chosen accidentally, asthe small park bears the nameof the goddess Gaia, fromwhich, according to Greekmythology, the earth originated.

A Road Full of GreekMonuments in MontrealContinued from page 1

Olympic Ideals sculpture in Montreal. Sculpture of the goddess Athena in Montreal.PHOTOS: ZOIS mARINOS

The Sculpture of the Greek Immigrant by Giorgos Houliaras.

Ellopia Films USA Celebrates an Award-Winning Year for Mt. Olympus

ABOVE: A few of the manyawards won by Ellopia Films.LEFT: The Ellopia Filmsposter. FAR LEFT: XristosKostaras, Athina Krikeli, andSpiros Exaras celebrating anaward-winning year forEllopia Films USA at Korali inManhattan.

Archbishop Demetrios and Fr. John Vlahos at the ArchdiocesanCathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City.

GREEk ORTHOdOx ARCHdIOCESE Of AmERICA

TNH Staff

NEW YORK – The NationalPhiloptochos of the Archdioceseis sending $115,000 worth ofaid to Greece and Cyprus, bring-ing the total help since 2012 to$789,120.

The Philoptochos officiallyannounced that “as we celebrateIndependence Day and theideals and principles of ourhomeland, a country of immi-grants, we remain committed toand supportive of our ancestralhomes. Accordingly, the GreekOrthodox Ladies PhiloptochosSociety, Inc. is pleased to an-nounce that on July 3, 2017, itsExecutive Board approved dis-bursements totaling $115,000for aid to the people of Greeceand Cyprus, as follows:

• $10,000 to Lyreio Paidiko

Idryma- SS Anargyroi, an eccle-siastical entity under the care ofthe nuns from the convent ofHoly Trinity in Mati, Attiki.

• $10,000 to DemetreionCenter of Apostoli in Moshato,Greece, an after-school programGreece for the care of under-privileged children.

• $20,000 to Apostoli, a non-governmental, nonprofit orga-nization founded by the SocialServices Department of the HolyArchdiocese of Athens for foodand support of families.

• $10,000 to the EcumenicalFederation of Constantinopoli-tans for humanitarian assistanceto deprived, expatriated Greeksof Constantinople.

• $30,000 - $10,000 to eachof three partially or entirelyrefugee Metropolises of Cyprus,for food and assistance with util-

ity bills, housing and medicalexpenses, etc.

• $20,000 to the Holy Me-tropolis of Mytiline to provideassistance to the villages de-stroyed by the very recent earth-quake in Lesbos (Mytiline),Greece.

• $15,000 to Syndesmos GiaAtoma me Aftismo (Associationfor Children and Adults withAutism) in Limasol, Cyprus.

“Since the start of the finan-cial crisis, the severe economicconditions have continued un-abated, causing food shortagesand lack of housing and medicalcare. These conditions have im-pacted not only the physicalneeds of the people, but also thespiritual and emotional well-be-ing of our brothers and sistersin Greece and Cyprus.

“The stewards of the Greek

Orthodox Ladies PhiloptochosSociety, empowered to make adifference in the world, are lim-itless in their compassion forserving the sick, the hungry, theweary and the disenfranchised.

“Heartfelt thanks go to themore than 400 local Philopto-chos chapters across the US,along with their communities,without whose support the workof the National Philoptochos

would not be possible. Workingtogether, with the love andblessings of God, we will con-tinue our work to lessen thepain, loss and suffering of themost fragile in our society.”

By Eleni Sakellis

ISLAND PARK, NY – The LongIsland Greek-American Cham-ber of Commerce (LIGACC) heldits first annual Summer BeachBBQ on July 11 at Pop's Restau-rant, in Island Park. The eventwas sponsored by Gold CoastBank (GCB), known as “Long Is-land's Community Bank” andthe Chamber's President andFounder John C. Tsunis- GCBChairman and CEO. Additionalsponsors were the Holiday InnExpress Stony Brook and GusConstantine, author of the Es-caping Cyprus books. Amongthose present were the LIGACCboard members, family, andfriends.

Tsunis spoke to The NationalHerald noting that the eventwas a way for the Chamber tocelebrate the start of the sum-mer season with all the mem-bers gathered together to showtheir philotimo for the “oiko-geneia” the family, because theorganization and the Greek-American community really is afamily.

He noted that the LIGACCwas created as a way to connectpeople, business owners, andthe community in order to helpeach other and to give backthrough various philanthropiccauses the organization sup-ports. Though only two yearsold, LIGACC is growing rapidly,already doubled in size, andwith over 100 members.

Tsunis said that the organi-zation is here to help any waythey can and mentioned the re-cent honor received from theRonald McDonald House NewYork for the record-breakingfundraising effort that he andthe Chamber were very happyto support, especially such agood cause, assisting familieswith children battling rare dis-eases. He observed that “itmeant so much to me, for a kidfrom Long Island.”

Noting his family roots inNafpaktos, Tsunis told TNH thathe was baptized at Three Hier-archs Church in Brooklyn beforethe family moved to Island Parkin the 1950s. His father openeda concession stand on the beachand named it Pop’s which hap-pened to be the name of therestaurant where the event washeld on Tuesday night. Tsunissaid he had heard about therestaurant and wanted to havean event there, contacting therestaurant and telling them

about his father’s business thatshared the name. The event asoriginally planned was only sup-posed to be drinks and horsd'oeuvres with a small donationfrom those in attendance tocover the cost, but the Greekowners, George Voutsinas, Jr.and his koumbaro Gus Potaris,instead provided the food anddrink for free. Voutsinas saidthey are proud of their Greekheritage. The Greek tradition ofhospitality, the friendly service,and great food at Pop’s addedto the warmth and the convivialatmosphere of the event.

Tsunis also mentioned ameeting with the U.S. Ambas-sador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt,Consul General of Greece inNew York Konstantinos Koutras,Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, andbusinessman/political radio per-sonality John Catsimatidis,among others on June 28, not-ing that whatever we can do tohelp the community and thehomeland, the Greek businesscommunity, Greek culture, to in-teract and support each other isextremely important. He said in

the future, the organization mayeven support political candi-dates. One of the first speakersat a LIGACC event was NassauCounty District Attorney Made-line Singas. The success of theGreek-American community inso many different fields, Tsunisobserved, is good for Americaand for the patrida.

The former altar boy at St.Paul’s in Hempstead, also re-called seeing the weeping iconsin the early 1960s when he wasabout 8 years old and a visit bythe late Archbishop Iakovoswhen one of the weeping iconswas transferred by motorcadeto St. Paul’s.

Tsunis said that as the 40 or50 cars began the drive from Is-land Park to Hempstead, threewhite doves appeared in frontof the motorcade and flew alongwith it until they reached St.Paul’s, a 20 minute drive, andthen flew away. The eventstayed with him all these years,and though weeping icons maybe scientifically explained, Tsu-nis noted the importance offaith.

COMMUNITYTHE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017 5

By Theodore Kalmoukos

LINFIELD, CT – More than 700children will enjoy a memorablecamp session at Camp Hope inLinfield, CT this summer, ac-cording to His Eminence Arch-bishop Demetrios Geron ofAmerica.

The archbishop spent an en-tire day with the children, coun-selors, and other camp staff.

Demetrios told TNH that “weare here today with thecampers, who this year have in-creased to more than 700,which means that we are goingup, which means how valuablethis ministry is for the children.

“I had the opportunity to seethe dance groups, the sports,and a very nice group of Byzan-tine musicians and liturgics andI was extremely pleased.”

Demetrios told the childrenthat it is a great blessing in bein such a camp, which givesthem the opportunity to learnmany things regarding our Or-thodox Faith. Also, they learnabout Hellenism by enjoyingGreek songs, dances, and othercustoms and traditions.

He also told TNH that “thechildren have the opportunityto get to know each other andconnect. We have a great num-ber of children from the parishesof Port Washington, Flushing,and Zoodohos Peghe in theBronx ranging from 10 to 17

years of age. They have the op-portunity to know each other,to go beyond the area of theparish and to realize that Ortho-doxy is something more andwider than their parish.”

The archbishop praised thephysical environment of thecamp. He said “the children arein a very beautiful environmentwith a rich number of trees andgreenery and with a very big

lake, and that is why they ask:‘why we can’t stay a littlelonger?’ When they sit down athome to have dinner they telltheir parents ‘we should say aprayer, because this is what wedid at camp.’”

Demetrios spoke of the inter-esting questions the childrenasked him. One child asked: ‘is itdifficult to be an archbishop?’and I replied it is, but God helps.

Another child asked me ‘howlong have you been an arch-bishop?’ Another asked howmany churches we have and Itold him that we have 540churches all over the UnitedStates, and the boy said, ‘ah, thatmany!’ Another one asked mewhy the archbishop wears alwaysblack and I answered becauseblack is cool. I’m telling you, it isso enjoyable to talk with them.”

Archbishop Demetrios Visits “Camp Hope” in Connecticut

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ABOVE: Campers are having good time under the flags of their beloved countries, the UnitedStates and Greece. ABOVE RIGHT: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America amidthe children – the future of the Church and the Greek-American community. RIGHT: Thechildren at the camp get to know one another and begin lifelong connections.

National Philoptochos Sending $115,000 to Greece and Cyprus

Left to right: President of the Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Jennifer Constantin,National President of Philoptochos Maria Logus, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, HisGrace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane-Director of St. Michael’s Home, and Katherine Boulukos-DAD Board Member. Photo by Barry Sloan

Proving the Insanity of Atheism By FactsPhysics has no foreknowledge, which is a fact. So physics could have never known in advance

that man’s body could produce knowledge. By knowledge we take the proper food to eat whichthen by our organs becomes blood, and obviously we need this to live because life is in the blood.Even if you eat or if the food becomes blood you are still dead. So what happened to evolution?Who knew in advance that after food becomes blood you need veins all over your body, so theblood can flow throughout your body and also that you need a pump to keep circulating theblood? Is this a proven technology or a myth of physics? And also who knew the heart has tokeep pumping constantly otherwise you are dead? Do you put the food into your mouth or evo-lution does? You do. If you eat food you grow, but if you do not then you do not grow. What doyou see here, that food makes you grow or that evolution makes you grow? So physics puts thefood into your mouth or your knowledge puts the food in your mouth?

For food to become blood, you must have different organs working to form it. Every organ hasa special workmanship in order to complete the foreknowledge of the personality, but again, notby physics because physics has no foreknowledge. The atheists claim it is by physics, however.So the atheists do not understand wisdom. We eat food, it becomes blood, and life is in the blood.This life is physical life or spiritual life? Here we have two different kinds of evidence. One isblood comes through technology, which is foreknowledge and physics put together, but the foodis by physics only. Here we have another proof, even though there is life in the blood, the blooditself cannot become a personality. We need something else and that something must produceknowledge. I ask all the atheists worldwide, does physics understand that? So here we are talkingabout a perfect personality by foreknowledge, and this personality cannot come by the bloodonly, despite life being in the blood. This personality arrives by the brain, but the brain needs theblood in order to work. Now here we have a super technology with a perfect personality fromanother personality who understands all of these facts.

Therefore, now we have the fact that life is in the blood, but without knowledge the life in theblood is useless. So now we go to the brain, a superior wisdom, which only God has, nobodyelse. We know that God appeared to mankind many times since the beginning of the creation.We have witnesses, the historic documents, archaeological evidence, and above all we have Hiswisdom. His wisdom is above life. His wisdom proves the perfection of knowledge and life.Through the perfection of knowledge we have safety in life, and without this, we kill each other.Don’t you see it? So you do not see God created us? How about the perfection of knowledge,you do not see that either? Jesus came from heaven, and He proved it because we have the doc-uments. Have you ever checked them? If you do not check, then you do not know about the wis-dom of God. So why do you go against something you know nothing about, why don’t you checkthem? What happened to your knowledge? It will take you to the grave. Can you walk out ofthe grave? Jesus did it. He is the Only One, and He proved it. Millions upon millions of peoplekeep seeing Him and talking to Him, even after 2,000 years. He proved there is life after death.Maybe there is no blood in the Spirit, and if so, then Jesus proved in life without blood. Can anyatheist come close to that???!!! When the Holy Spirit came upon His Apostles, He came in a dif-ferent form by speaking languages of the world. Don’t tell me that was evolution too! Thus, theday of Pentecost is historic evidence of that. Witnesses 100%, evidence 100%, history 100%...whocan say no? You must be governed in your brain by heavy-duty insanity for sure! So we have 120witnesses plus another 3,000 that came after they heard the news, and you deny all that?

I have hundreds of more proofs, but no room to put all of them, that God exists. He provedperfect and everlasting life that is free. If you accept it, everlasting life is free by repenting andobeying Jesus, but if you reject it you have nothing. How can you say no?

With Christ’s Love,

Niko MAN OF GODsent by Christ, to evangelize the world with the wisdom of God.

Email us: ETWCMinistry@outlook.com8075 Broadview Rd., Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 •(440) 759-6494

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LI Greek-Amer. Chamber 1st BBQ

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ

FEATURE6 THE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017

n JULY 10-16CONTOOCOOK, NH – Olympia-cos Soccer Camp takes place atSt. Methodios Faith and Her-itage Center, 329 Camp Merri-mac Road in Contoocook, July10-16 for boys and girls ages 6-18. More information is avail-able by phone: 617-277-4742,online at: www.metropolisof-bostoncamp.org or email: mb-camp@boston.goarch.org.

n JULY 13-16SOUTHAMPTON, NY – KimisisTis Theotokou Greek OrthodoxChurch, 111 St. Andrew’s Roadin Southampton, holds its an-nual Hamptons Greek Festivalon Thursday, Jul. 13; Friday, Jul.14; Saturday, Jul. 15, 4-11 PM;and Sunday, Jul. 16, 12 Noon-9PM. Traditional Greek food andpastries, wine tasting, children'srides and games, dance to liveGreek music. More informationis available by phone: 631-283-6169 and online at: www.hamp-tonsgreekfestival.com.

n JULY 14-15MISSOULA, MT – AnnunciationGreek Orthodox Church, 301South 6th Street West in Mis-soula, holds the Montana GreekFestival: Athens under the BigSky on Friday, Jul. 14, 5-10 PMand Saturday, Jul. 15, 11 AM-10 PM. All your favorite Greekfood from baklava to gyros,Greek Taverna for wine andbeer options, Greek dancelessons and performances,Greek music, family fun andkids activities. More informationis available by phone: 406-543-0792 and on the Montana GreekFestival Facebook page.

n JULY 14-16CAPE COD, MA – St. GeorgeGreek Orthodox Church, 1130Falmouth Road in Cape Cod,holds the 35th Annual Cape CodGreek Festival on July 14-16 onthe parish grounds. Greek foods,music, dancing, live entertain-ment on Friday and Saturdayevenings, indoor and outdoorvendors. Admission is free for allages and although we offer freeparking, VIP parking is nowavailable. More information isavailable by phone: 508-775-3045 and online: www.stge-orgegreekfestcapecod.com.

REDONDO BEACH, CA – St.Katherine Greek OrthodoxChurch’s South Bay Greek Festi-val, 722 Knob Hill Avenue in Re-dondo Beach, takes place onFriday, Jul. 14, 5-10 PM; Satur-day, Jul. 15, noon-10 PM; andSunday, Jul. 16, noon-9 PM.Greek foods, pastries, dancing,live music, games for the kids,church tours. Admission: $2, Se-niors: $1, Kids under 12: Free.More information is available byphone: 310-540-2434 and on-line at: sbgreekfestival.com.

n JULY 14-16NILES, IL – Holy Taxiarhai andSaint Haralambos Greek Ortho-dox Church, 7373 N. CaldwellAvenue in Niles, holds the BigGreek Food Fest of Niles on Fri-day, Jul. 14, 5 PM-12 AM; Sat-urday, Jul. 15 and Sunday, Jul.16, 3 PM- 12 AM. Enjoy the au-thentic food, live music anddancing, kids’ corner, cookingclasses, free admission and freeparking. More information isavailable by phone: 847-647-8880 and online: www.big-greekfoodfestofniles.org

n JULY 15TARPON SPRINGS, FL – TheCity of Tarpon Springs presentsNight in the Islands–a free event

on the world famous SpongeDocks, between Hope andAthens Street, 6-11 PM on Sat-urday, Jul. 15. Enjoy Greekmusic, dancing, and dining! Anhour of free Greek dance lessonsby the Levendia Dance Troupefrom 6-7 PM. The event featureslive music by Ellada, an excitingband composed of three of themost accomplished Greek musi-cians in Florida—LeonidasZafiris, bouzouki; Elias Poulos,vocals; and Dino Theofilos, key-board. To reserve a table for din-ner, please contact participatingrestaurants Costa’s, Hellas,Mama’s, or Mykonos. More in-formation is available online attarponarts.org.

n JULY 21-23JOLIET, IL – All Saints Greek Or-thodox Church holds its annualGreek Festival at St. Sava's Pic-nic Grounds, 3457 Black Roadin Joliet. Traditional Greek food,music, and dancing. Raffle. FreeAdmission. Free Parking andShuttle Service available. Hours:Friday, Jul. 21, 5-11 PM; Satur-day, Jul. 22, 2-11 PM; and Sun-day, Jul. 23, noon-10 PM. Moreinformation is available byphone: 815-722-1727.

n JULY 24-28EAST MEADOW, NY – Holy Trin-ity Orthodox Church of EastMeadow, 369 Green Avenue,will hold its Vacation BibleSchool July 24-28, 9 AM-1 PMeach day. The course is for chil-dren in Pre-K through 8th grade.The cost will be $30 per child,but $75 maximum per family.The theme will be “Take Me tothe Water” a water-themed jour-ney each day through importantBiblical stories filled with inter-active learning experiences,games, and songs. For more in-formation, contact Dr. NicholasReeves by phone: 845-658-7435or email: vbs@htocem.org.

n JULY 26LONG ISLAND CITY – SocratesSculpture Park, 32-01 VernonBoulevard in Long Island City,and Film Forum, in collabora-tion with Rooftop Films, presentOutdoor Cinema 2017 this an-nual free international film fes-tival, now in its 19th season –one of the longest-running sum-mer film festivals in New YorkCity. On Wednesday, Jul. 26, theGreek comedy Chevalier(2016), directed by AthinaRachel Tsangari, running time99 minutes, will be presentedwith a pre-screening perfor-mance that begins at 7 PM. Ad-mission is free to the films andperformances throughout thefestival with limited VIP seatingavailable! contributors. Moreinfo available: 718-956-1819and online at: socratesscult-purepark.org.

n JULY 28-30NEWPORT, RI – St. SpyridonGreek Orthodox Church, 390Thames Street, on the corner ofLower Thames and BrewerStreets in downtown Newport,invites you to join us for our An-nual Hellenic Festival. We willbe grilling up souvlaki, gyros,loukanico and more. Stop by fora Greek Dance and an ouzo.Don't forget to enter our raffle.We can't wait to see you there!The loukoumades are callingyour name. Free admission.Hours: Friday, Jul. 28, 4 PM-Midnight; Saturday, Jul. 29,noon to 1 AM; and Sunday, Jul.30, noon-6 PM. More informa-tion is available by phone: 401-846-0555 and online:www.hellenicfest.org.

GOINGS ON...

By Dr. AnthonyParaskevopoulos

There is no way we can ade-quately describe the degree towhich music was important inAncient Greece. Although mostof us know them only as a na-tion of poets, philosophers, his-torians, mathematicians, sculp-tors, and architects – and hardlyspeculate about their musicians– the Greeks were as much in-fluenced by musical ideas as wetoday are influenced by the The-ory of Relativity and theachievements of nuclear

physics. Music was not just an-other art for them; it was a wayof life whose affairs were con-sidered to be the states’ respon-sibility and whose origins werebelieved to lie in the activitiesof the gods.

Beginning with accounts ofmythical and magical notions ofmusic prevalent in AncientGreece, it should be noted that,in general, myths were not usedto cover the complete range ofman's existence, but only thatwhich determined his uniqueidentity and place in his cosmos.By claiming divine origins formusic and by placing them intomythological frameworks, theearly Greeks were seeking toconfer upon it far greater signif-icance and, as it were, truth thancould be had if they allowed itto remain within the mundaneworld of human activity.

It was, for them, more thansimply one pursuit among othersin their everyday lives, but anexpression of their highest fac-ulties; an activity of such impor-tance that its very foundationsand sanctions lay on MountOlympus.

Let us consider, then, someof these myths and theories ofmagic and their importance foran understanding of Greek mu-sic. To begin, it is useful to ob-serve that the term "music" hasits origins in the word "Muse,"

the name of the demigoddessesliving at the foot of Olympus.They were the guardians and in-spirations of the arts and artists.In fact, "music," in Greek, liter-ally means "art of the Muses." Inaddition to these Muses, how-ever, Apollo was, traditionallyspeaking, the god most associ-ated with music. In fact, he wascalled Apollo Phoebus (the shin-ing) the sun god. And it was hewho possessed as one of hismany attributes the talent ofplaying that very important in-strument, the lyre. Even now,one may see representations ofhim holding a lyre as often asone may see representations (ofhim) holding his ever-famousdeath-arrows. According tomyth, Apollo acquired the lyrewhen his young brother, Her-mes, after killing a turtle andfastening on its shell gut stringsfrom an ox (stolen from Apollo'sherd) gave the newly inventedinstrument to Apollo as repay-ment for the theft. In fact, thelyre was such a predominantpart of Apollo’s worship – andGreek life as well – that any at-tempt to challenge its supremacywas easily turned aside with thewarning of the fate of a certainmusician who thought he coulddispute the lyre's position. Asthe story goes, Marsyas, a fa-mous flutist, came upon the fluteof the goddess Athena and, be-

coming ecstatic at his find, chal-lenged Apollo to a contest.Apollo won, of course, and he(Marsyas) was flayed alive forhis hubris. But, the lyre was notdominant in all parts of Greece,as can be attested to by themyths. In northeastern Greecefor, example, the aulos, or reedpipe, was the main cultic instru-ment, instead. The inventors ofthis instrument were Hyagnisand Marsyas.

Although it is difficult tospeculate, it is not impossiblethat the story of the contest withApollo was started by the West-ern Greeks, who sought to pre-serve their dominion in the mat-ter of music authority as well ascomment upon what they felt tobe the rustic nature of the aulosin conjunction with the purity ofthe lyre. It is also possible thatthe story was devised to showthe supremacy of Apollo overthe god Dionysus who was thepatron of the aulos.

Yet, even beyond makingplain the importance of musicas an attribute of the gods,Greek mythology testifies to themagic of music as a force whichhad a power all its own. Thewell-known story of the Sirenspresents a perfect example ofthis power.

According to this myth,Odysseus had to be restrainedwith ropes tying him to the mast

of his ship to prevent him frombeing overcome by the enchant-ing beauty of their song. Duringthis time (of the Trojan War) theimportance of music wasstrongly felt. Homer notes, forinstance, that Achilles was asinger and lyre performer, in ad-dition to being an indefatigablewarrior.

The poet offers a glimpse ofthe young man's musical talent(and of course, the power of mu-sic) when he tells us that he(Achilles) aggrieved at the lossof his beloved Briseis, forgot hissadness the moment he struckthe golden strings on his lyre."How he comforts his heart withthe sound of the lyre…stimulat-ing his courage and singing thedeeds of the heroes."

Again, in Homer we read ofPenelope, Odysseus' wife, who,having heard a song from themusician Phemius, entreatedhim to stop because the force ofhis song increased her grief forher missing husband. "Phemius!Much art though skilled in mov-ing our hearts by singing; tellingthe deeds of the heroes andgreat gods, famous in story;truly thy strain awoke deepdown in my heart lamentation."

Anthony Paraskevopoulosholds a EdD in music and haswon numerous teachingawards.

The Importance of Ancient Greek Music

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MEMPHIS, TN – FatherNicholas L. Vieron, son ofLeonidas and Ellas (neeMetaxas) Vieron, was born inNew Orleans on November 13,1925 and lived across the streetfrom the first Greek OrthodoxChurch in the United States.Greek was his first language, asnoted in his biography. He grad-uated from high school at age16 and immediately went toPomfret, probably the youngestever to enroll at the seminary. A1947 Holy Cross graduate, hewas ordained to the priesthoodOctober 26, 1948, by BishopGermanos Polizoides, andserved one year in Louisville, KY,and five in Huntington, WV, be-fore being assigned in 1955 tothe Annunciation Church inMemphis, TN. He retired in1991 and is now Pastor Emeri-tus of the Memphis church.

He earned a master’s degreein history from Marshall Univer-sity in 1955, and later, in 1970,a JD from Memphis UniversitySchool of Law. Though retired,Fr. Vieron is still active in thecommunity and teaches anAdult Greek Class which justcompleted its 45th year with acommencement ceremony anddinner on May 25.

The energetic “elder states-man” in the Memphis Ministers'Association, Vieron enjoysteaching his Adult Greek class.Students from all walks of lifeenroll in the course, which isnot a fundraising effort, but afun, educational program whereall graduate “with honors.” Themajority the students who takethe 14-week course are not ofGreek origin. They learn the

New Testament Language, an-cient and modern Greek historyand art, as well as the OrthodoxFaith and Greek traditions, cul-ture, food, and dance.

Showing no signs of slowingdown, Father V, as he is affec-tionately known, will be 92when he begins teaching hisnext session of the Adult GreekClass on January 15. He said,4Memphis reported, “ever since

Martin Luther King Jr. Day wasdeclared a holiday, I havestarted my Greek class on thatday- the third Monday of Janu-ary- in honor of the fact that mystudents reflect a cross-sectionof people, the kind of world Dr.King envisioned.”

The students’ reaction to theclass is moving. Student evalu-ations, as reported in 4Mem-phis, include such comments as“This class is the highlight of myweek,” “Through your eyes, Ihave seen God,” and “The pas-sion you have for God and yourhomeland… have made memore interested in Greek cul-ture.”

As Sister Terry Starr saidwhen asked what she likedabout Fr. Vieron’s class, quotedin the class brochure, “Now Ican tell God I love Him inGreek; I also enjoy your humor.”

A senior citizen Memphian,Loretta C. Taras, wrote the fol-lowing in a 2005 parish com-memorative album:

“Fr. Vieron's ecumenicalspirit is his hallmark. He madethe Orthodox Church known tothe entire Mid-South. Hisprayer, 'Whether we worship inthe Shadow of His Cross, ornear the Star of David, or bysome other symbol or by nosymbol at all, we all stand asbrothers and sisters under theFatherhood of our One God, atruth indelibly written in ourhearts in black and white,' hascomforted and uplifted peopleall over the city. One cannot for-get his role in the struggle forhuman rights during the turbu-lent late 60s when he and asmall group of white ministers,together with Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr., tried to heal a suffer-ing Memphis community.”

For 17 years, Vieron was theeditor of the Retired Clergy As-sociation’s monthly publication.He and wife, Bess, have twosons, Leonidas and Paul, fourgrandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Fr. Nicholas L. Vieron Teaching Greek at Age 91

Fr. Nicholas L. Vieron teaching his Adult Greek Class at theAnnunciation Church in Memphis, TN.

TNH Staff

WASHINGTON, DC – Represen-tatives Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12),co-chairs of the CongressionalCaucus on Hellenic Issues led abipartisan effort urging Secre-tary of State Rex Tillerson toblock a small arms sale thatwould benefit the Turkish Pres-idential security guards whobeat unarmed protesters last

month in front of the TurkishEmbassy.

The Members were joined byeight of their colleagues in theHouse of Representatives on aletter to the Secretary.

In light of actions by TurkishPresident Recep Tayyip Erdo-gan’s security detail againstpeaceful protesters last month,the Members argue that Secre-tary Tillerson should “reject thesmall arms sale of $1.2 million

worth of semiautomatic hand-guns for the same security forcesresponsible for the attack.

Preventing this sale sends aclear message that the U.S. willnot turn a blind eye to such bru-tality against unarmed protest-ers.

Such a sale must be contin-gent upon a resolution to theMay 16 incident that includesholding the guards involvedfully accountable.”

Maloney, Bilirakis Call to Stop Arms Sale

By Eleni Sakellis

The seasonal fresh fruits thatare available in summer canmake entertaining easy when itcomes to drinks and desserts.Fresh fruit is always a refreshingend to a summer meal and thebright flavors of fruit make agreat backdrop for beverageswhether or not alcohol is added.Simply sliced and served withfeta cheese and a chiffonade ofmint leaves, or in a fruit salad,watermelon is a classic treat inthe summer and the sweet basefor refreshing cocktail. Here area few ways to enjoy the fruits ofsummer and Greek cocktails.

Fruit Salad

• Watermelon• Cantaloupe• Apples• Peaches• Pineapple• Strawberries• Blackberries• Blueberries

• Grapes• 2-3 tablespoons sugar,

optional• 2 tablespoons finely chopped

fresh mint, optional• Pomegranate seeds, optional• Greek yogurt, optional

Cut the fruits into bite sizedpieces, place in a large bowl,sprinkle with the sugar, if using,and mix carefully to combine.Add the berries and grapes, cut-ting up the strawberries and/orgrapes if they happen to be verylarge, stir and garnish the topwith fresh mint, if using. Foradults only, add half or a wholebottle of white wine or cham-pagne for special occasions, andstir. Let the fruit salad marinadefor half an hour or refrigeratefor up to 2 hours. Stir beforeserving in individual bowls,spooning some of the liquid overthe top. Any leftover juices andwine make for a refreshingdrink. For more Greek flavor,add pomegranate seeds and

serve with Greek yogurt for ex-tra protein. If preferred, topwith your favorite flavor of icecream and enjoy as a sundae.

A diversity of fruits in yourfruit salad adds complexity andinterest, not to mention vitalphytonutrients to your diet. Useabout a cup of fruit per personto determine the amount of fruityou will need for your salad.The fruits listed in the recipe aresuggestions, so choose your fa-vorites and enjoy.

Greek WatermelonMojito• 1 ½ oz. rum• 4 pieces (1-inch squares)

fresh watermelon or 1 oz.fresh watermelon puree

• 1 oz. fresh lime juice• 3/4 oz. simple syrup• 3/4 oz. Greek sparkling

water, or Perrier• 6 mint leaves and one large

mint sprig

In a tall mixing glass, muddlea piece of watermelon and the

mint leaves with the simplesyrup. Add the rum and limejuice, then fill the glass with iceand shake vigorously. Strainover fresh ice into a glass. Topwith Greek sparkling water orPerrier, and swirl gently. Garnishwith the sprig of mint.

Greek Sangria-Agiorgitiko with Fruit• 12 oz. fresh squeezed orange

juice• 12 oz. fresh squeezed lemon

juice• 8 oz. dark rum• 8 oz. orange liqueur• 2 liters Saint George

(Agiorgitiko) wine• 6 oz. mixed fruits, your

choice of lemon, lime,oranges, apple, strawberries,figs, peaches, or pineapple

To prepare, mix in a largeglass pitcher or punch bowl andserve over ice.

Mavrodaphne Cooler

• 2 oz. Mavrodaphne, sweetred wine

• ½ oz. Crème de Cassis• ½ oz. white rum• 1 oz. fresh lemon juice• 2 oz. cranberry juice

To prepare, add all the ingre-dients to a shaker and shakeover ice. Serve in a balloon glassand garnish with a sprig of mintand a twist of lemon.

Greek Summer Fruit Saladand Cocktails to Enjoy

GREEK GASTRONOMYOUR EVERYDAY GREEK

By Dr. Dimitra Pontoporou

In Athens there is a metro station next to the main touristic at-tractions Acropolis, Syntagma, Omonia Square, Monastiraki, evento Piraeus Harbor. In many cases we get faster to our destinationby metro than by car. Here are some common phrases and wordsin everyday conversations, when using the metro. This summerwe speak Greek.

DIALOGUEMaria and Petros have arrived from New York to Athens and

have decided to take the metro to visit Acropolis and the NewAcropolis Museum. This is a common dialogue in Greek at a metrocounter. (T: is the cashier).

Greek phrase Pronunciation TranslationΠ: Μαρία, πού θέλεις maREEa POO THElis Maria, where do you want να πάμε; na PAme? to go?Μ: Θέλω να πάω THElo na PAo I want to goστην Ακρόπολη. STEEN aKROpoli. to Acropolis.Π: Πάμε με το μετρό. PAme ME TO meTRO. Let’s go by metro.

(At the metro station)Π: Καλημέρα. kaliMEra. Good morning.Τ: Καλημέρα. kaliMEra. Good morning.Πού θέλετε να πάτε; POO THElete na PAte? Where do you want to go?Μ: Θέλουμε να πάμε THEloome na PAme We want to go στην Ακρόπολη. STEEN aKROpoli. to Acropolis.Ποια γραμμή να πάρουμε piA graMEE NA PAroomeWhich line shall we takeγια την Ακρόπολη; yiA TEEN aKROpoli? to Acropolis?Τ: Τη μπλε. TEE BLE. The blue. Π: Υπάρχει στάση Ακρόπολη; iPArhi STAsi aKROpoli? Is there Acropolis stop?Τ: Ναι, υπάρχει. NE, iPArhi. Yes, there is.Μ: Πόσες στάσεις είναι POses STAsis EEne How many stops is it από εδώ; aPO eDO? from here?Τ: Είναι δύο στάσεις. EEne DEEo STAsis. It is two stops.Π: Θέλουμε δύο εισιτήρια. THEloome DEEo isiTEEria. We want two tickets.Μ: Πόσο κάνουν; POso KAnoon? How much do they cost?Τ: Τέσσερα ευρώ. TEsera evRO. Four euros.Μ: Ευχαριστώ. efhariSTO. Thank you.

BASIC VOCABULARYGreek word Pronunciation MeaningΠού POO whereΘέλω THElo I wantΘέλεις THElis you wantΘέλει THEli he/she/it wantsΘέλουμε THEloome we wantΘέλετε THElete you want Θέλουν THEloon they wantΝα ΝΑ toΝα πάμε na PAme to go (we)Να πάτε na PAte to go (you)Να πάρουμε na PAroome to take (we)Μπλέ BLE blueΥπάρχει iPArhi there isΠόσο κάνουν; POso KAnoon? How much do they cost?Η στάση EE STAsi stopΤο εισιτήριο TO isiTEErio ticketΤα εισιτήρια TA isiTEEria tickets

Note that in Greek the verb endings indicate the person, so wemay omit the I, you, we etc. pronouns. For instance, when we sayθέλ-ουμε, πά-με, πάρ-ουμε, we always mean we.

MAIN PHRASESTry to match the phrases in English with their translation in

Greek:1. Πού θέλετε να πάτε; 1. How many stops is Acropolis from

here?2. Θέλουμε να πάμε 2. Where do you want to go?

στην Ακρόπολη.3. Ποια γραμμή να πάρουμε 3. How many stopsγια την Ακρόπολη; is Acropolis from here?4. Πόσο κάνουν δύο εισιτήρια; 4. We want two tickets to

Acropolis stop.5. Πόσες στάσεις είναι η Ακρόπολη 5. How much do two ticketsαπό εδώ; cost?6. Είναι δύο στάσεις. 6. We want to go to Acropolis.7. Θέλουμε δύο εισιτήρια 7. Which line shall we takeγια τη στάση Ακρόπολη. to Acropolis?What would you answer to these questions in Greek?

PRONUNCIATION KEYi (idiom), ee (needle), e (energy), o (organism), oo (boot), y

(yes), h (helium), th (theory), d (the). The capitalized syllablesare accented.

Π: Όχι, είναι στην Πλάκα. Ohi, EEne STEEN PLAka.Τ: Α, ξέρω που είναι. A, XEro poo EEne.

This Summer we Speak Greek to Move Around by Metro

By Phyllis (Kiki) SembosSpecial to The National Herald

Spring is a prelude to sum-mer. So, we should all enjoy thedays that spring offers; Mother’sDay, Father’s day, Easter, gradu-ations and, especially, the gar-den that comes alive with thecolors winter took away. MyRoyal Bonica, Sally Homesclimbing rose bush and KnockOut rose bushes have fullybloomed, showing off their scar-let brilliancy, bringing randomcomments from passersby thatmake me happy. I worked hardto see those results, having at-tended a Rose Meeting at thelocal library. I learned so much.

I relish replacing the wintersweaters and pants, boots andheavy coats with short sleevedresses, sandals and skirts. Imake the first pitcher of freshlemonade with a cup of watermelon juice when the supermarkets get them in. During theweek, with spring as my mutefriend, walking is my trans-

portation into the park nearbywhere a wide lake centers thepark. Going around once is aquarter mile. I try to go twice.Immediately, the pressures ofthe week begin to ease away. Itry to block that voice in myhead that insist on remindingme of the chores that need do-ing.

After that brief heat wavelast week, I can enjoy and ap-preciate the cool breezes waft-ing off the lake, watch the Cana-dian geese waddle toward thelake with their new fluffy chickswho follow mommy, closely. Thelake is ringed with young treesplanted only two years ago.Soon, those trees will spread outleafy branches and shade thenew benches surrounding thered brick walk encircling thelake. Not far, between a standof White Birch trees, a narrowstream of cool, clear water spillsinto the lake, gushing overrocks, causing a lovely, soothingsound. The serene silence sur-rounding the park is broken

only by a bird in the trees, thesquawk of a fidgety duck, andthe few happy children in theplayground in the far corner ofthe park. Of course, it’s differentduring the weekend; ball play-ers, picnickers, joggers and par-

ents pushing strollers all try toenjoy a brief respite away fromthe hectic routines of the longweek.

Suddenly, I am grateful forbeing in retirement and I cancome during the week; my mind

has the luxury of appreciatingnature’s wonderful gifts. Beinga cloud watcher, I enjoy theshow the sky gives me for free.I wonder what it would be likeif we lived in a place where it isalways June.

For a short period, I forgetmy age, all the bad times, thepains in my fingers and the un-certainties of the times thatseem endless and hopeless.Somehow, yesterday’s newspa-per headlines are just that – yes-terday’s news. Recently, I’vestopped following the news –news that swiftly negates theserenity I enjoy in nature’s com-pany.

I wish every dictator, despot,crooked congressman; prisonerand mean spirited human beingcould be here with me, see thatthe world is so stunningly beau-tiful, and with some help andwisdom can be even better.-heaven on earth. I wish theywould feel as I feel, think whatI think, see what I see beforeme, welcome spring as a new

beginning to what could be. Per-haps in the midst of so muchoverwhelming beauty somemental miracle would occur todeter their ugly ambitions, real-ize that the child on the swingcould become tomorrow’steacher, pianist, doctor or poet– and not a casualty of their de-structive, toxic nature and igno-rance that will only revisit themin the end. If we handed one ofthose miscreants a rose youwould witness a sudden, imme-diate change in attitude – if onlytemporary. Plato said beauty isnatures’ privilege. Aristippussaid, “It is better to be a beggarthan ignorant; for a beggarwants money, but the ignorantwants humanity.” And, he, also,said, “Nature and wisdom speakthe same language.”

With these intense thoughtscrowding through my mind,they swiftly vanish – are van-quished - because I just saw twosmall deer approach the lake fora drink. Please excuse the lumpin my throat.

GREEK AMERICAN STORIES

Preludes

FEATURETHE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017 7

By Eleni Sakellis

Summertime is a wonderfultime for entertaining but some-times we can get stuck in a rutwhen it comes to food and drinkideas. Books can offer some fab-ulous inspiration for your nextparty. The following books byKathy Kordalis are full of won-derful ideas and recipes to en-joy.

The Poptail Manual: Over 90Delicious Frozen Cocktails isperfect for summer entertaining.What better way to beat theheat than with frozen cocktails,especially when frozen into pop-sicles! All the classic cocktail fa-vorites you would expect are in-cluded in this fun book likeMojitos and Pina Coladas. Thereare also some fun flavor combi-nations like Tiramisu, AmarettoSour, and Strawberry and BlackPepper Sambuca poptail. All ofthe recipes call for premium al-cohol, fresh fruits, and naturalingredients only. For the morecrafty readers, the book also in-cludes ideas for making yourown popsicle molds.

The Goodness of Raw Choco-late is a must for all those ad-dicted to chocolate. The bookincludes 40 antioxidant recipesthat are not only delicious andeasy to prepare but also offerheart healthy benefits. Whenasked why raw chocolate, Ko-rdalis explains in the book’s de-

scription: “when cacao beansare naturally fermented anddried rather than roasted, theyretain much more of their nat-ural goodness. The process alsomeans the berry and coffeenotes found in raw chocolate'sflavor are intensified - similar tounsweetened dark chocolate.Plus it's very versatile, works insavory or sweet dishes and,most importantly, makes youfeel good in your body andsoul.” Among the recipes in thebook to enjoy are chocolate-dipped fresh fruit, cacao bars,roasted vegetables with choco-late picada, and a delicious sum-mer dessert- raw vegan fig andblackberry cake.

Party Food to Share: SmallBites, Platters & Boards is agreat book for those who enjoycooking and entertaining at

home all year round. As notedin the book’s description, “En-tertaining at home doesn’t haveto mean hours in the kitchen.Put together a selection of deli-cious foods, arrange them styl-ishly on a platter or board andlet guests graze at their ownpace.” The relaxed style is per-fect for summer entertaining,

though the book is currentlyavailable for pre-order onlineand will be released on Septem-ber 12. With seasonal recipes,party planning tips, and lists ofwhat to buy, the book makes en-tertaining for a crowd easy andfun, allowing hosts to spendmore time with their guests in-stead of worrying over compli-cated recipes. From breakfastdishes to brunch, lunch, dinner,nibbles with drinks, or a feast,there is something for everyoneto enjoy in this book.

Kathy Kordalis was raised byGreek parents in Sydney, Aus-tralia. Inspired by her Australianand Greek heritage, her foodstyle is light, relaxed, and ac-cessible. A graduate of Leith’sSchool of Food and Wine, Ko-rdalis originally moved to Lon-don and entered the profes-sional food world in amanagement role at the Diver-timenti Cookery School. Nowworking as a freelance food styl-ist and writer, her clients includeTesco Online and Waitrose FoodMagazine, as well as Chef BillGranger, for whom she tests anddevelops recipes for his threeGranger & Co restaurants inLondon. Kordalis is currentlycompleting a master’s degree inthe Anthropology of Food atSOAS, University of London,and leads popular GastronomicTours in central London for Con-text Travel.

LITERARY REVIEW

Books by Kathy Kordalis for Summer Entertaining

OBITUARIES/CLASSIFIEDS/GREECE8 THE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017

DEATH NOTICES

n BONTALES, DIAMANDO(JULIA)

STATEN ISLAND, NY – (from theStaten Island Advance, publishedon Jul. 6) – Beloved wife and lov-ing mother Diamando (Julia)Bontales (nee Panagakos), 85,passed away on July 3, 2017, inHolmdel, N.J. Born in Anavryti,Greece, Diamando immigrated tothe U.S. in 1951, and settled withher aunt and uncle, James andGeorgia Katsoris, in Port Rich-mond Center, S.I. In 1954, Dia-mando married Louis Bontalesand they lived in Sheepshead BayBrooklyn, N.Y., before settling onStaten Island in 1967, where thecouple raised their three sons,Steve, Jack, and Peter. Diamandoworked for Superior Confections,and later worked and retired fromSt. Vincent's Medical Center. Lastsummer she enjoyed a trip backto Anavryti and Epirus, Greece,where she reunited with familyand friends. Diamando was aparishioner and proud memberof the Holy Trinity-St. NicholasGreek Orthodox Church LadiesPhiloptochos Society and theGolden Seniors club. Diamandowas the beloved wife of the lateLouis Bontales. She was the lov-ing mother of Steven and his wife,Cheryl of Holmdel, N.J.; and thelate Peter and Jack, and Jack'ssurviving wife, Joanne. She wasthe cherished grandmother ofChristie Pisacano and her hus-

band, Nick; Stephanie Karatziaand her husband, Tony, andAlaina, and Cleoniki. She was thedear sister of John Panagakos,Helen Arniotis, Elizabeth Papas,and Peter Panagakos, as well asthe late Nicholas Panagakos andGus Panagakos. She was the fondaunt of many nieces, nephews,and grand-nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, donations maybe made to Holy Trinity-St.Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church,1641 Richmond Ave., S.I. 10314in Diamando's memory.

n KOUChOUKOS, CAThERINE

CHICAGO, IL (from the ChicagoTribune, published on Jul. 4) –Catherine Kouchoukos neeRobakis, born in Lahanada,Messinia Greece. Beloved wife ofthe late Peter J. Kouchoukos. Lov-ing mother of Bessie (Anthony)Grosso, Angie (Andrew) Ben-ziger, John (Kiki), Zachary andLouis Kouchoukos. Proud grand-mother of Catherine, Christina,Alexander, Paul, Elpetha, Ellena,Panayotis, Thalia and Ioanna.Fond aunt, cousin and friend ofmany. Memorial donations to St.George Greek Orthodox Church2701 N. Sheffield Chicago, IL60614 would be appreciated.

n MIChAEL, vOULA P. SILVER SPRING, MD (from TheWashington Post, published on

Jul. 7) – Voula P. Michael passedaway on July 5, 2017 after a briefillness. Beloved wife of 61 yearsof the late Perry P Michael, shewill be forever missed by her chil-dren, Peter Michael (MaryAnn),Larry Michael (Darlene), MariaLampos, (Thomas), and by hernine grandchildren. She was anadoring grandmother toStephanie, Olivia, Aris, Anjelica,Victoria, Christina, Nicholas,Katherine, and Ryan. She is alsosurvived by her sister, Arge Mour-toupalas (Tom). She was born inVassara, Greece on February 4,1927, and made the US her per-manent home in 1955. In lieu offlowers the family requestsmemorial donations be made tothe Sts. Constantine and HelenBuilding Fund.

n POULIOS, AGAMEMNON J. HUDSON, NH (from the Pough-keepsie Journal, published on Jul.4) – Agamemnon J. Poulios, 85,

of Hudson, NH, formerly of Wap-pingers Falls, NY, passed awaypeacefully with his family by hisside on July 1, 2017 after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic can-cer. He was the husband of Gian-nina Poulios. "Memos" as he wasaffectionately called was born onFebruary 4, 1932 in Manchester,NH, a son of the late Demetriosand Annetta Poulios. Agamem-non honorably served in the USArmy during the Korean War era.He later went on to earn a bach-elor’s degree in engineering fromthe Univ. of Denver and began acareer as a project manager forIBM that would span 30 years.Memos was a longtime parish-ioner of Kimisis Greek OrthodoxChurch and proud member ofAHEPA. In addition to his wife,Memos is survived by his childrenJames & Keri Poulios of Anthem,AZ and Christina & Joseph Cruz,Jr. of Chelmsford, MA, his brotherPlouto and his wife Stacy ofRochester, NY and sister Perse-phone of Chelmsford, MA. Hewas the beloved Grandpa ofAlexa, Donny, Gabrielle, Alexan-der and Christopher. In lieu offlowers, donations may be madein Memos' name to the LustgartenFoundation for Pancreatic CancerResearch, 415 Crossways ParkDr., Suite D, Woodbury, NY11797; or Home Health and Hos-pice Care, 7 Executive Dr., Merri-mack, NH 03054.

This is a service to the community.

Announcements of deaths may be telephoned to the Classified department of The National Herald at

(718) 784-5255, monday through friday,

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST or e-mailed to:

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TNH Staff

Eight men – six of them Serbs,another a British citizen of Ser-bian origin, and a Greek – werecharged so far in the beatingdeath on the notorious Greek is-land of Zakynthos of a 22-year-old tourist, a recent graduate ofthe University of Arizona.

Police said Bakari Hendersonwas set upon by a mob of 10people after an argument at abar over a drink placed at thewrong table and that he wasbeaten to death with viciousblows to the head.

There was no indication if po-lice, who were said to be on thelookout for violence on an islandwith a reputation for brawling,drunkenness, hooliganism, andassaults, responded quickly tothe mass beating on Henderson.

The eight suspects were dueto appear before an investigatingjudge on July 11 but the hearingwas postponed to give theirlawyers time to prepare their de-fense.

The judicial process in Greeceis notoriously slow, and a trialdate might not immediately beset. Suspects can be held in pre-trial detention for a maximumof 18 months.

Police said they also arresteda 33-year-old Serb after judicialauthorities issued an arrest war-rant for him in connection withthe case.

Henderson died of multipleblows following a fight at a barin the rowdy tourist district ofLagana on the Western Greek is-land.

Henderson, 22, an African-American, suffered fatal injuriesto the head after some reportssaid the gang was using brassknuckles on him. There was noindication if it was a racist at-tack.

Henderson graduated in Maywith a bachelor’s degree in Busi-ness Administration. His familysaid in a news release that hewas in Greece working on aphoto shoot to launch a clothingline.

Policemen raided the hotelwhere the alleged suspects were

staying and detained six Serbiannationals who were reportedlyrecognized through CCTV cam-era footage taken from shopsnext to the bar where the inci-dent occurred.

Sources said footage showedthe suspects beating the Ameri-can even after he appeared to beunconscious. The victim was ata bar with friends on July 7when a man approached himand they began quarrelling.

The bar’s security guard askedthem all to leave but they con-tinued to quarrel on the street.

According to sources, friendsof the attackers joined the brawland started punching the Amer-ican. He was rushed to hospitalbut was pronounced dead fromhis injuries.

Zakynthos Mayor PavlosKolokotsas told the paper thatjust a few hours before thetragedy, municipal officials hadmet with local police officers todiscuss how to prevent brawlsand riots on the island, featuredin social media videos showing

wild drinking, carousing in barsand young women dancing onbar tops. In 2011, a 19-year-oldBritish tourist was killed by twoGreek taxi drivers.

Henderson’s aunt, JanRichardson, said her nephewplanned to travel to Spain afterhis time in Greece.

She said the family doesn’thave any “definitive answers orknowledge about what actuallyhappened,” but that they are try-ing to keep their interactionswith the authorities private. Shesaid their focus is on getting hernephew’s body returned home.

“He was the guy who walkedaround campus and knew every-one. He was so determined inlife, I mean he had dreams ofstarting a clothing line and open-ing his own business and he in-spired me to work harder,” Hen-derson’s college friend, AlyssaWhite, told KVUE television sta-tion in Austin.

(Material from the AssociatedPress was used in this report)

Eight Men Charged with Beating Death of American

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By Steven J. Korbel

CHICAGO, IL – An amazingphotograph clearly shows theface of a bearded man with aleaf crown or headband. Doesthis face resemble that of theold wise man of Greece? Zeus?Or Poseidon?

The mystery deepens as an-other face behind the ear ap-pears to be looking in anotherdirection and possibly addi-tional faces farther to the rightand a large one in the middleof the picture.

In April, Dr. Alexander G.Alemis went to Athens to presenthis new book, Political Systemsand their Relationship to theEconomy and Freedom. One ofDr. Alemis’ many interests is pho-tography.

He likes taking unique pho-tographs as he sees things fromdifferent angles. This photothough, which he took in Athenson April 23, is incredibly special.He took a picture of the Acropo-lis Rock from a certain spot,which revealed the faces in therock formation for possibly thefirst time in history.

At Alemis’ request, I re-searched the Internet for any-thing relating to the face of theAcropolis and found nothing.Subsequently, we put it on Face-book, but besides the accolades

and admiration for the picture,we received no evidence of thisface or faces being known.

Alemis spoke with two arche-ologists in Greece who havedone extensive study of theAcropolis and its history but hadnever seen or read about thefaces of the Acropolis.

But how is this possible thatfor 2,500 years no one has dis-covered these faces? WhenAlemis first showed me this pic-ture and asked me to send it forcopyright I thought he waspulling my leg. As he showedme the rest of the pictures and

the vantage point from wherehe took this picture from, I wasshocked.

This finding is incredible onthree fronts:

1. That it was not discovered,documented, or studied allthese years. Keep in mind, theAcropolis is probably the mostphotographed monument in theworld.

2. How Alemis discovered it:he told me approximately 20things had to happen for him tobe there that morning on April23rd. None of those events wereplanned, including the incident

where one of his staff decidedto switch seats with Alemis dur-ing brunch that morning, whichcaused him to see the face onthe rock.

3. Most importantly, thequestions it raises:

a. Who could have carvedthis huge face on the rock at theexact corner of the Acropolis?

b. What equipment did theyuse?

c. Was the face or facescarved prior or after theParthenon? If prior, what otherfaces were also carved, whichhave already been destroyed,and for what purpose?

d. If the faces were carvedprior to the Parthenon, whattechnology was used and is theParthenon a lesser monument?

In as such, this finding hasthe possibility of changing his-tory.

Dr. Alemis will return toGreece this fall to present his newbook The 63 Parts of Intelligenceand will get more data about thisview, but if any readers of TheNational Herald who have anyinformation about the face orfaces of the Acropolis are encour-aged to email him at: market-ing@familydentalcare.com.

Steven J. Korbel is theMarketing Director for UpstatDental Solutions in Chicago.

Dr. Alemis’ Photo Reveals Ancient Face of Acropolis

Dr. Alexander Alemis' photo of the Acropolis with the mysteri-ous face, or faces, was taken on a recent trip to Athens.

In this 2016 photo providedby John Gramlich, BakariHenderson of Austin, who wasbeaten to death July 7, at abar in Lagana on Zakynthos.

AP PHOTO

interview given for World Pop-ulation Day.

This trend was further am-plified by a low fertility rate andbirth rate (90,000 births peryear), combined with a highnumber of deaths (120,000 peryear), which again created neg-ative balances that were not ex-pected to reverse over the next20 years, he added.

These factors would lead toan ageing of the Greek popula-tion in coming years, with anincrease in the percentage ofover-65s and over-85s, com-bined with an overall popula-tion reduction, a shrinking ofthe working-age population andof the economically active pop-ulation. This will in turn impact

a number of areas but especiallythe cost of pensions and health-care, difficulty in adapting tothe new economic environmentand an increasingly conservativeelectorate.

Tracking Greece’s demo-graphic history after WWII,Kotzamanis said this wasmarked by a considerable pop-ulation increase (from 7.6 mil-lion in 1951 to 10.6 million in2017) as well as a progressiveageing (with a 13.5-year in-crease in the average age from30 years in 1951 to 44 in 2017).This was accompanied by alower fertility rate and a 13-yearincrease in life expectancy, aswell as urbanisation, with 80 pctof the population currently liv-ing in urban areas, especiallyAthens and Thessaloniki.

The forecasts up to 2050 pre-dict a fairly constant decline inthe permanent population andfurther significant ageing, withthe average age increasing 3.7-5.5 years relative to 2015 and themedian age (43.95 years in 2015)increasing by 3.7-5.7 years.

In 2035, meanwhile, the av-erage age is expected to haverisen between 3.6-4.5 years andthe median age by 5.5-7.1 years.This will reflect an increase inthe percentage of the populationthat is over 65 and over 85, re-spectively (from 21 pct and 2.8pct to 27-28 pct and 4-4.5 pct)while the percentage of under20s will fall. The ageing is fore-cast to increase further in 2050,when 31-33 pct is forecast to beover 65 and between 6.5 pctand 4.9 pct over 85.

Ageing Greece’s Future, Dwindling WorkforceContinued from page 1

TNH Staff

It took United Nations Secre-tary-General Antonio Guterresless than seven months into thejob to learn what his predeces-sor, Ban Ki-moon endured for 10years: the Cyprus unity talkswere intractable, and, this time,may have collapsed for good.

The Portuguese diplomat be-came the latest in a long line ofenvoys and politicians to fail atgetting Cypriots and their Turk-ish counterparts to come toterms on how to reunify an is-land divided by an unlawful1974 Turkish invasion.

The final straw was Turkey’srefusal to remove its 35,000-strong standing army in theNorthern third it occupies andgive up the right to militarily in-tervene – invade further – whenit wants. It proved too mucheven for Cypriot President NicosAnastasiades, eager to makeconcessions before next year’sre-election campaign.

Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci,two alleged moderates, begannegotiating two years to greathope and fanfare they could bethe ones to finally solve the

dilemma but it began unravel-ing, putting the lie to constantpredictions from the UN andboth sides that “significantprogress” was being made whenit wasn’t.

Saying he was “very sorry,”Guterres threw the towel intothe ring after less than a weekof renewed talks after earlier sit-

downs had also collapsed, say-ing it was fruitless with bothsides refusing to budge.

He now will consult withboth sides again before decidingwhether to take another shot at,his spokesperson, Stephane Du-jarric said.

The negotiations had beenconducted in secret in the Swiss

resort of Crans-Montana and nodetails were officially releasedabout the debacle with reportssaying only that the talks hadimploded.

“The Secretary-General ex-pressed his regret that the con-ference was closed without anagreement reached,” Dujarricadded. But he wouldn’t put theshroud over any lingering hopes,adding that it failure “just meansthe conference on Cyprus isclosed,” without explaining thedifference.

Guterres, who sidelined theUN Special Envoy Espen BarthEide, who had given up earlier,said the Norwegian diplomatwould remain in place in casethe talks can be revived some-how, trying to quash speculationhe would be removed and yetanother envoy named.

Greece said Turkey had no in-tention of trying to reach a unitydeal and that the talks were justa disguised ruse to allow Ankarato keep its army on the islandand blame Cyprus for the col-lapse.

NOT OVER YETEven the most hard-boiled

Cypriots expressed pangs of dis-appointment after the collapse

of the latest round of talks aimedat reunifying their ethnicallysplit island nation.

But many Cyprus residentson both sides of the divide havebecome almost inured to suchbad news after decades of failedUnited Nations-sponsored peacetalks.

“Now our voices need to belouder, more convincing,” ac-tivist Tina Adamidou, who hasparticipated in nightly peacedemonstrations at the U.N.-con-trolled buffer zone that cutsacross the country’s capital, said.“We need to show that as Cypri-ots we are united.”

While many issues remainedunresolved, the deal-breakerwas a clash over what wouldhappen to the more than 35,000troops that Turkey has kept inthe island’s breakaway TurkishCypriot north since 1974, whenit invaded following a coupmounted by supporters of unionwith Greece.

Greek and Greek Cypriot of-ficials said it was Turkey’s “ob-session” with keeping its troopsin place and the right to militar-ily intervene post-reunificationthat sunk the talks. Turkish andTurkish Cypriot officials said

pulling all troops out and abol-ishing intervention rights wasout of the question. “We camevery close,” Akinci said.

“Close, but not closeenough,” Eide, who had prac-ticed months of shuttle diplo-macy ahead of the unsuccessfulsummit in hopes the talks wouldyield a peace deal, tweeted.

Officials involved in the 10days of difficult negotiations ata Swiss resort said the failedtalks would not be the end ofthe road for peace on Cyprus.But unlike previous attempts,there are now questions aboutthe goal of future negotiations.

Turkey has indicated it wouldconsider settling the decades-oldproblem in ways other than re-unifying Cyprus as a federation,which has been the objective ofpeace talks for 43 years.

Turkish Foreign MinisterMevlut Cavusoglu said on hisTwitter account that the resultshowed the “impossibility” of aFederal Cyprus, setting up alikely permanent partition forthe island unless there’s a resur-rection deal that finally works.

(Material from the AssociatedPress was used in this report)

GREECE CYPRUSTHE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017 9

After Another Cyprus Unity Talk Collapse, United Nations Starts Over

TNH Staff

ATHENS – The ban on smokinginside restaurants and officeswent into effect in 2009, butGreek citizens continue tosmoke basically wherever theyfeel like lighting up. The notionthat “rules are meant to be bro-ken” is deeply embedded inGreek culture and avid smokersseem not to care less about theharmful effect secondhandsmoke has on their coworkersand restaurant workers, letalone the known harmful ef-fects on their own health.

There are 700 known car-cinogens in cigarettes, whichalone one would think wouldbe a deterrent, but the addic-tive nature of tobacco makesquitting extremely difficult forsmokers. They have to first ad-mit they have a problem. TheWall Street Journal (WSJ) re-cently reported on the problemnoting that Greek “citizens takepride in puffing where theyplease.”

The WSJ article noted thestruggle of Katerina Dervenioti,who decided to open a bar incentral Athens in 2013, certainthat there would be no smokingin her bar. She had always dis-liked smoking, and was confi-dent that the 2009 law banningsmoking in interiors would keepher bar smoke-free. Unfortu-nately, in just a few hours, Der-venioti discovered that “Greeksbelieve rules are meant to bebroken,” as noted in WSJ. Thepatrons lit up even after she

added signs and spoke to them.“Customers now smoke all theywant, starting early in the morn-ing with coffee and ending lateat night with a cocktail,” shesaid, WSJ reported.

Greeks are the top smokersin the European Union. Accord-ing to a

2 0 1 6EU survey, about 37% of Greeksreported that they smoke, thehighest percentage in Europe,where the EU average is 26%,as the WSJ reported. The pollalso revealed that seven yearsafter the ban went into effect,87% of Greeks said they hadbeen exposed to indoor smokingin bars.

Top athletes and politiciansare regularly seen smoking in-doors, not setting the best ex-ample for the nation’s antismok-ing campaign. Deputy HealthMinister Pavlos Polakis lit upwhile giving a press conferencejust last year. At the Finance

Ministry, smokers recently couldbe seen smoking in a hallwayunder a banner reading “Greecestubs out cigarettes.” In October,President Prokopis Pavlopouloslit a cigar and smoked alongwith the mayor of Thessalonikiand most of the attendees at alunch celebrating Oxi Day.

Greece’s Parliament last yearexpanded the nonsmoking lawswith a ban on electronic-ciga-

rette smoking in public places.Some lawmakers pointed out,during the debate, the ironyof the new law when theoriginal one continues to beignored.

Center-right parliamen-tarian Niki Kerameos said,WSJ reported, “meeting

rooms, parties’ offices, secre-tariats, walkways, toilets, the

cigarettes are everywhere. If wedon’t set an example of follow-ing the laws, how do we expectcitizens to do so?”

As Greece continues to strug-gle with economic issues, theenforcement of all types of in-fractions is not consistent. Bud-get cuts have left only a third ofthe wardens who issue ticketsfor traffic violations, smoking,and other fines in the Attica re-gion which includes Athens. Themunicipal police numbers havealso been reduced and a HealthMinistry telephone hotline forcomplaints about smoking vio-lations is seldom answered.

Health Minister AndreasXanthos admitted that thesmoking regulations had notbeen implemented. “What we

need is to give the feeling thatwe are restarting,” he said toParliament on May 31, Interna-tional No Tobacco Day, WSJ re-ported.

The threat of fines on busi-nesses of as much as €10,000,or about $11,300, and on indi-viduals from €50 to €3,000 havenot stopped the violations sincecollecting the fines is also diffi-cult.

When the ban first passedand inspections were more fre-quent, business owners found acreative solution, getting rid ofashtrays and placing small cupsor vases next to the no-smokingsigns. Inspectors might noticecustomers crushing out ciga-rettes, but, it was the individualdisobeying the rules, not thebusiness owner.

Andreas Varelas, Athens’svice mayor, said, WSJ reported,“the businessmen’s imaginationis never so vivid as when itcomes to finding ways to breakthe law. Rule-breaking is inGreeks’ nature.”

New taxes on cigarettes be-gan in January which might de-crease smoking by making thehabit even more costly than italready is. Part of the conditionsfor Greece to receive bailoutfunds from its EU creditors the“sin” taxes have raised the priceof a pack of 20 cigarettes toabout €4.50, a euro more thanbefore the economic crisis. Aregular smoker can spend morethan €100 a month on smoking,a steep price when Greekmonthly salaries average about€700, WSJ reported.

Police said they plan a newenforcement push after the sum-mer, when smokers move backindoors.

Varelas said that if businessesreceive enough fines, they willfollow the anti-smoking laws.According to the law, a bar orrestaurant can lose its licenseafter the third smoking fine.

There is also a fear that thestrict enforcement of the smok-ing ban may cause a drop inbusiness for bars and restau-rants. Dervenioti said, WSJ re-ported, for many smokers, “thehabit is part of their DNA. If theyare not allowed to light up while

having a drink, they’ll stay athome.”

Few seem to take into ac-count that the number of non-

smoking patrons of bars andrestaurants might also increasewith stricter adherence to thesmoking ban.

Greeks Thwart Nation’s Anti-smoking Efforts by Flouting the Law

Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades talks to the nationallytelevised news conference at the presidential palace in dividedcapital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, July 10, 2017.

TNH Staff

ATHENS – His fervent fansabandoning him in droves afterhe repeatedly reneged on anti-austerity promises in surrender-ing to international creditors hevowed to defeat, Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras is hoping to per-suade Greeks to come back intohis camp with a series of con-ferences aimed at showing theeconomy is reviving.

The Radical Left SYRIZAleader agreed to more pensioncuts and taxes on low-incomefamilies in return for the releaseof 8.5-billion euros ($9.73 bil-lion) from a staggered, delayedthird bailout this one for 86 bil-lion euros ($98.43 billion) hesaid he would never seek noraccept but did both.

With the lives of millions ofGreeks taking devastating hitsafter constant pension cuts, taxhikes, slashed salaries andworker firings that he perpetu-ated after saying he would re-verse, it could be a hard sell forTsipras to get people to think ofthe Gross Domestic Product.

Polls show the major opposi-tion New Democracy Conserva-tives, who imposed austerity ina previous regime but whosenew leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakissaid he would both oppose andinstitute, have leads up to 14.8percent and more over SYRIZA.

With some financial pressureoff for now, Tsipras – who didn’tget the debt relief he sought norGreece’s inclusion into the Eu-ropean Central Bank’s bondbuying program, two elementshe said were essential to a mar-ket return before disputing him-self – has embarked on the cam-paign of regional economicconferences around the country.

He also told his Cabinet min-isters to hit the hustings and talkto a disenchanted electorate toplay up his reneging benefitsand that SYRIZA’s violation ofits own alleged principles wasfor the common good and notpolitical gain.

He has a lot of baggagethough. It took two weeks forthe government to get strikinggarbage collectors to return towork during a sweltering heat

wave that has tourists seeingmountains of rubbish piledeverywhere.

Panos Kammenos, the leaderof his coalition partner the pro-austerity, far-right, marginal, jin-goistic Independent Greeks(ANEL) is also under investiga-tion for phone calls to a jailedformer shipowner in a majorheroin-smuggling case in whichKammenos allegedly asked forhis testimony against a promi-nent businessman in return forlenient treatment from a lifesentence.

Tsipras is also facing thewrath of the union of the PublicPower Corporation (PPC) overhis plans to also renege on anti-privatization promises and letthe agency be taken over by in-vestors.

Trade unionists and other lo-cal labor groups have alreadylambasted Tsipras for goingback on many of his pre-electionpledges, reminding him that hehad once described many of themeasures included in the dealwith the Troika of the EuropeanUnion-European Central Bank-European Stability Mechanism(EU-ECB-ESM) as “crimes.”

But Tsipras may be buoyedby a possible market return thatcould come soon, investors andbankers close to the discussionstold Reuters, raising private cashthat would mark an importantstep towards ending its depen-dence on official funding nextyear.

Athens' largest creditor, theEuropean Stability Mechanism,said Greece should develop astrategy to end a three-year ex-ile from markets before its cur-rent bailout program expires inmid-2018.

Greek Finance Minister Eu-clid Tsakalotos met with in-vestors in London last monthand one of those funds, BlueBayAsset Management, said in-vestors eager to make a killingon interest rates for a possiblebond are lining up.

"It seems to be every day I'mgetting a call asking about thisparticular topic," BlueBay's MarkDowding told Reuters, despiteno end in sight to Greece’s eco-nomic crisis.

By Eraklis Diamataris

JULY 15: On this date in 1950 GreekAmerican journalist and entrepreneur Ari-anna Huffington (neé Ariadne-AnnaStasinopoúlou) was born in Athens. Huff-ington moved to the United Kingdom whenshe was 16 years of age and attended GirtonCollege, Cambridge where she became thethe first foreign and just the third femalePresident of Cambridge Union (the biggestdebating and free speech society at the uni-versity). At the age of 23 Huffington pub-lished her first book, titled “The FemaleWoman” which was controversial in that itwent against the Women’s Liberation move-

ment. Huffington’s career truly took off inthe 1990s when she published 4 books andher husband, whom she married in 1986,successfully for a seat in the House of Rep-resentatives from the state of California andthen narrowly missed out on winning a Sen-ate seat. Her husband’s political fortunescatapulted Huffington into the conservativemainstream as an endorser of most of thenSpeaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s “re-publican revolution” agenda. She involvedherself with radio and was a contributorwith various cable news TV outlets lendingconservative perspectives. As the early2000s progressed, and recently divorcedfrom her husband, Huffington unsuccess-fully ran for governor of California as anindependent. With her newfound views de-cidedly more liberal than her earlier years,Arianna Huffington founded The HuffingtonPost on May 9, 2005. The Huffington Postis a news and opinions website that catersboth to local users and to international au-diences. The site leans towards liberal-leftcommentary and was sold to AOL for $315million on February 7, 2011. Huffington re-mained editor-in-chief at the The HuffingtonPost until August 11, 2016 when shestepped down from her position at the com-pany she founded to focus her attentions toher new project called Thrive Global. Hernew focus pertains to health and wellnessinformation distribution and awareness.

JULY 21: On this day in 356 B.C. TheTemple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of theSeven Wonders of the Ancient World wasdestroyed by an act of arson. The perpetratorof the act was Herostratus who was out to

seek fame. Herostratus was swiftly sen-tenced to death and the ancients wanted towash his name from history as they tried todo with Ephialtes who betrayed Leonidasand his 300 Spartans. The city of Ephesuswas devastated by the fire to their great tem-ple and were able to build a replacementtemple on with the help of neighboring vil-lages and towns. The ancients looking for away to explain the disaster to the masseshypothesized that perhaps due to the factthat Alexander the Great was born eitheron the day of the fire or a day before/afterwas too preoccupied with helping to bringinto the world, Alexander the Great than tosave her own temple. Other scholars claimthat the temple was actually destroyed byJohn Chrysostom as a means to stuff outthe heresy that Christians believed that poly-theism was. The Temple of Artemis was re-built 3 times and ruins of the third and finalstructure remain visible to this day. A templehas been erected near the original site inorder to try to depict what the temple mayhave looked like in its heyday.

This Week in Greek History

AP PHOTO/PETROS kARAdJIAS

Sliding Tsipras WantsEconomic Conferences

WASHINGTON – The vice president of theUnited States, Mike Pence, spoke on Mondayby phone with Alexis Tsipras, the Prime Ministerof Greece.

Following is the readout of their conversationas issued by the White House:

The Vice President spoke by phone todaywith Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.The leaders reaffirmed the enduring ties be-tween Greece and the United States. The VicePresident congratulated the Prime Minister onGreece’s progress toward recovering from the

economic crisis and thanked him for Greece’srole as a pillar of stability in the region, its NATOcontributions, and its military cooperation withthe United States. The leaders expressed regretthat the Conference on Cyprus closed last weekwithout a settlement agreement, and the VicePresident underscored continued U.S. supportfor a comprehensive settlement to reunify theisland as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.The Vice President extended to Tsipras an invi-tation to visit Washington, and the leadersagreed to meet in the near future.

VP Pence Invites Greek PM to Washington

Celebrating Ancient Greece, TodayIn this Friday, July 7, 2017 photo, people wearing clothing in-spired by Ancient Greece, take part in a torch-lit procession atthe northern Greek village of Litohoro, northern Greece. Devo-tees of ancient Greece's religion and culture gather each Julyat the foot of Mount Olympus to hold a series of events, cere-monies and seminars.

AP PHOTO/GIANNIS PAPANIkOS

On Elaine Jaharis’ OpenLetter

To the Editor:I read again and again the

open letter that Elaine Jahariswrote to “All” and published inThe National Herald on July 1.And I read it many times be-cause this is not just a “letter.”This is a homily, this is a ser-mon, this is a wake-up κήρυγμαthat should be read from thepulpit, from the amvona to allthe parishioners every Sundayfrom every priest and every hi-erarch.

The Ephraimite teachings arenot the Orthodox Monasticismas we know it, it is not evenChristian.

It is a devious medieval doc-

trine that insists in the total obe-dience to Ephraim and snuffsout our pure, our chaste faithto the crucified for us Son ofGod Jesus Christ.

It is a malignant growth, a“morphoma” that preys on ouryouth from a very, very, youngage and on the weak and el-derly.

I will not devote to thesepages as to what I observed per-sonally at the start of this “ma-lignant growth” at my parish. Itwill take not just pages butwhole volumes to describe howdevious is this trickster, thismascara, who appeared all of asudden in our lives and in real-ity threatens the existence of ourOrthodox Church in America(and believe me, in the world!).

But I will humbly ask the ed-itor of The National Herald totranslate and publish Elaine Ja-haris’ letter in the daily ΕθνικόςΚήρυξ – after, of course, receiv-ing permission from Elaine Ja-haris.

Respectfully submitted,Stephen Cherpelis

Douglaston, NY

Editor's Note:Stephen Cherpelis is a mem-

ber of the Archdiocesan Council2000-2017, Vice Chairman ofthe direct Archdiocesan Districtmember of the Administrationand Finance committee, ArchonDikaiophylax of the EcumenicalPatriarchate serving at the Na-tional Council Member of theLeadership 100.

EDITORIALS LETTERS10 THE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017

After the Collapse of the CyprusUnity Talks

On July 7, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterreswas forced to suspend the talks for a solution to the Cyprus prob-lem.

The atmosphere had greatly worsened. The negotiators, tiredand aware that the talks were about to flop, forgot their goodmanners and proceeded to shout at one another.

“I'm very sorry to tell you that... the conference on Cyprus wasclosed without an agreement being reached,” Guterres informedthe handful of reporters present at the time.

Thus, a few days before the 43rd anniversary of the Turkishinvasion of Cyprus, it became fully clear that a solution to theCyprus problem does not exist, at least not as it is perceived bythe Greeks and the Turks.

This is because we, on the one hand, consider that even if allthe agreements in the world are signed, they will not be worththe paper on which they are printed if the Turkish troops do notwithdraw from Cyprus.

And for the Turks, any agreement that relinquishes the trophiesof their victory, i.e., their military presence on the island, wouldbe meaningless.

Can these positions be adjusted ? For example, can the UnitedStates force Turkey to withdraw its troops, or even to withdrawenough of them so as not to constitute a real danger to the Greekson the island? And if so, why did it not do so for 43 long years?

In any case, now what? Does life in Cyprus return to its pre-talks format?

No, it does not.The definitive affirmation of the deadlock creates a new ratio-

nale. The distrust between the two sides grows even more. Thedrilling for oil will begin soon, while the Greek side will holdpresidential elections in February.

However, the spokesman for the Greek Cypriot governmentgives a positive perspective: “Tonight's development,” he said, “isin no way positive, but it is not the end of the road either."

What he means is not at all clear. But to be realistic – which isnecessary – we must accept that the situation in Cyprus has dete-riorated. Turkey is not willing to withdraw its troops and, in ad-dition, is determined to intervene militarily, as the Turkish foreignminister stated, “if need be”. One such case may be the oildrilling...

In any case, the Greeks – in Nicosia and in Athens – are calledupon to make decisions: should they trust the further perpetuationof the situation? And if so, for how long, without the passing oftime alone will provide the solution?

Or should they dare to trust the considerable talent and cre-ativity of Hellenism and accept a solution that keeps a goodamount, but not all, of the Turkish forces on the island in thehope that the tide will turn in their favor; namely, a solution forcoexisting with the Turkish minority, knowing that given sometime they will maintain the sovereignty of their homeland?

Apathy, or Abandonment?For anyone who was in Greece in July, 2015, it was an experi-

ence that is impossible to forget. It was a politically hot month with rapid developments that

were marked by the final stage of an exhaustive and incompre-hensible negotiation regarding the public debt, and a referendumthat no one has yet been able to truly understand, and which ledto a capitulation to its creditors, which not only cost Greecebillions of euros in additional debt, but also left deep scars in theGreek economy and banking system.

Upon visiting Greece again this July, it is natural for one towant to determine what memories the Greek people have pre-served from 2015, after two more years of ongoing deprivation,overtaxation, and banking controls and restrictions.

The answer can be summed up in one word: apathy. Whomeveryou ask just shakes his head, shrugs, and tries to forget. This ap-athy, the general indifference, the reluctance to comment seemsodd and is cause for serious concern. It betrays a lack of any ex-emplary punishment from that wretched experience; it erodesand weakens the instincts for political action.

As incredible as it may sound, the Greeks seem to have becomeaccustomed to their wretched daily lives. There are very few peo-ple who want to raise their voice in protest for the continuingbanking controls or the ongoing exorbitant, exhaustive taxationwhich this month, in particular, resulted in an increase for about1/3 of tax returns.

The current debate in Parliament for closing the new negotia-tion on the debt is not at the center of public attention. It is noexaggeration to say that everything has taken the form of a de-spondent routine, which everyone has accepted with bowed heads,and several, if not many, are persuaded by, or at the very leasttolerate, the government’s blatant and unsubstantiated allegationsof a forthcoming exit from the crisis.

And so this is how one lives this July in Greece, as if July,2015 never happened.

Is this possibly a psychological, historical amnesia, by whichthe Greek people are being tested, after so many years of a harshand exhaustive economic crisis? Or could one perhaps speak of aphenomenon of self-abandonment, which goes beyond politicalattitudes, stifles the appetite for political reaction, and assumesthe form of a fatalistic decadence that begins to spread and em-brace all levels of Greek society?

These are the sad questions that one experiences this July inAthens.

Let’s say it for the thousandth time: the sky, the sea, the naturalbeauty, the Greek paradise are always keen to welcome anyonewho wishes to enjoy this unique land.

But it seems the people have begun to live somewhere else.Their resistance is exhausted, the past no longer constitutes aguide for avoiding future mistakes, and the future is not promising.Those who once heroically rebelled against harsh oppressionseem to have been abandoned to the insidious erosion of com-promise by misery and deprivation.

In Greece, this July of cruel recollection, the need for a newvision, a new political reality, becomes all the more necessary.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORThe National HeraldA weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC.

(ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ),reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest to the Greek-American community of the United States of America.

Publisher-Editor Antonis H. DiamatarisAssistant to the Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos

Assistant Executive Editor Eleni SakellisReligion Editor Theodore Kalmoukos

Contributing Editor Constantinos E. ScarosWebsite Editor Achilleas Kouremenos

Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros

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THE NATIONAL HERALD, 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614TO OUR READERS

The National Herald welcomes letters from its readers intended forpublication. They should include the writer’s name, address, andtelephone number and be addressed to: The Editor, The NationalHerald, 37-10 30th Street, long Island City, Ny 11101. letters canalso be faxed to (718) 472-0510 or e-mailed toeleni.sakellis@ekirikas.com. we reserve the right to edit letters forpublication and regret that we are unable to acknowledge or returnthose left unpublished.

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Observations By Antonis H. Diamataris

Tsipras’ Invitation from Pence:Encouraging, or Degrading?

Vice President Mike Pence’s invitation toGreek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to visitthe White House “in the near future,” al-though good news on the one hand, raisessome fundamental questions, which we areobligated to bring to your attention.

Regardless of whether or not one sup-ports Tsipras, this issue, the visit of a GreekPrime Minister to the White House, can onlybe seen from a purely national aspect.

First of all, let us recall a few things wemust keep in mind: through this newspaper,I have often criticized the fact that althoughthe new administration is in quite close con-tact with the Turkish government, it requiresnumerous requests from Greece to schedulea telephone appointment between the pres-ident and the prime minister, as well as fora very brief meeting at NATO.

Contrarily, the president has already in-vited the Turkish president to the WhiteHouse and recently met with him at theG20 summit, while the secretary of statehas visited Turkey twice, but did not con-sider it useful to stop over in Athens, evenfor just a few hours, in the interests of bal-ance between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot president visitingthe White House (June 6) before the Greekprime minister (not as yet) in a new ad-ministration is unprecedented.

Second, the takeaway from the conver-sation between Pence and Tsipras revealsthat the Greek prime minister has only beeninvited to meet with the vice president, notwith President Trump. In other words, thesame that happened with Cyprus PresidentNicos Anastasiades.

But if that happens, it would be an un-acceptable, offensive degradation of Greeceand the Greek prime minister, and shouldnot be tolerated.

So, should the prime minister perhapsaccept Pence’s invitation only after ensuringa meeting with the president?

Third, invitations to the White House,the most supreme of all invitations, are ex-tended to heads of state and governmentfor two main reasons: as a reward for thework carried out by a head of governmenton issues of foreign policy, or because theU.S. authorities believe that an invitationto the White House, in the overall atmos-phere that is created, may likely secure anagreement on something which is in Amer-ica’s interest.

In this case, the first reason probablydoes not apply. Tsipras has not shown anysuccess in matters of foreign policy.

Thus, the second reason applies. Butwhat is the national issue for which Tsiprasneed a little push in order to agree? Perhapsthe agreement on the Souda base, onCyprus, on the petroleum, or the FYROMname dispute?

Lastly, I characterized Tsipras’ invitationto the White House as “good news” on theone hand for the following reason: becauseif it happens, it would constitute a public,evident “reconciliation” of the so-called Leftwith America, which will help to furtherseparate Greek foreign policy from domesticpolitics, to Greece’s benefit.

Drilling and PossibleConsequences

To be perfectly clear, Cyprus – and there-fore Greece – are on a collision course withTurkey on the issue of drilling for hydro-carbon exploration.

And if Cyprus and Greece are indeed de-termined, as a result of a full-fledged na-tional policy, to proceed with the drillingand face the consequences if necessary, thenfine. Let’s proceed.

But if Greece stumbles into a crisis be-cause of Nikos Kotzias, its insufficient for-eign minister who behaves ridiculously im-maturely, or because Cypriot President NicosAnastasiades has, for various reasons, beencaught up in this course, then they cancause trouble for the nation.

More specifically:1. Greece is isolated internationally be-

cause of its economic crisis, but also becauseof its lack of serious leadership. We have toadmit that it is difficult for someone to takeseriously a government with Alexis Tsiprasas prime minister, Kotzias as foreign minis-ter and Panos Kammenos as defense minis-ter.

2. But Cyprus also doesn’t have any sig-nificant support, despite the fact that its

economy is growing and it has a more seri-ous government. The fact that it does nothave any tangible support could not bemore apparent from the collapse of the re-cent talks, during which the Western powerseither did not want, or were unable, to pres-sure Turkish President Erdogan to makesome basic concessions on the issues of se-curity and guarantees. Thus, the result iswhat it is.

3. The current U.S. administration doesnot have the slightest interest in Kotzias’rhetorical philosophies, such as “Turkey’sviews are contrary to the traditions of West-ern enlightenment and Western politicalculture”.

The bottom line is that:a. Erdogan visited the White House more

than a month ago. (It was announced yes-terday that V.P Mike Pence invited PrimeMinister Tsipras to visit the White House “in the near future.”)

b. He recently met with President Trumpin the G20 meeting.

c. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visitedyesterday Turkey for the second time andmade the following statement: “this is anextraordinarily important relationship tothe United States for many, many reasons…from a security standpoint to future eco-nomic opportunities as well, and the im-portant geography just by luck of MotherNature that the citizens of Turkey occupyat this crossroads of the world.”

4. A few years ago, it was impossible foran American secretary of state to visitGreece but not Turkey, and vice versa. Nowthe visit only Turkey without anyone evenobjecting...

5. Senior Turkish officials, from Erdogandown, leave no doubt with their statementsthat they believe the oil in Cyprus is alsothe property of the Turkish Cypriots andthat they will not allow Greek Cypriots toexploit it alone. In fact yesterday, duringthe World Petroleum Congress in Constan-tinople, Erdogan recently warned oil com-panies against participating in the hydro-carbon exploration.

Ultimately, then, the question is howdoes one assess the present historical junc-ture, and does one believe that the Turkswill follow through on their threats?

History has taught us that it is not wiseto ignore their threats. Thus, on that basis,one cannot take the risk. Unless – I repeat –a national decision has been taken that thehydrocarbons belong to Cyprus and Greecealone and therefore they will not succumbto any blackmail.

If such a decision has been taken, noproblem.

Provided they are ready to take respon-sibility for the consequences.

Two Old Friends, and Plan B The public portion of the meeting be-

tween President Trump and Russian Presi-dent Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit inGermany among the world's wealthiest na-tions seemed very friendly. I am referringto the handshakes and their chitchat.

Not that anyone would expect them toliterally pounce on each other, of course.

But after so many months of unansweredquestions, suspicions, and revelations aboutPutin’s involvement in the American elec-tions, one would expect that they would bemore restrained. Especially Trump.

Adding to that the fact that their meetinglasted over two hours, and that MelaniaTrump tried to interrupt them – withoutsuccess – so that Trump could continue withhis schedule, one truly cannot help but won-der what they were talking about the entiretime.

In any case, Trump also referred to theissue of Putin's involvement in the Americanelections. And although their respective for-eign ministers initially stated that Trumpwas assured by Putin that there was noRussian meddling and that they agreed itwas time to move forward, White HouseChief of Staff Reince Priebus told Fox NewsSunday that “the president absolutely didnot believe President Putin’s denial.”

Nonetheless, that the American presidentdevoted a whole two hours to one of hiscounterparts, regardless of country, is a bigdeal. Is Russia really so important for Amer-ica? More important than any other coun-try?

However, in addition to meeting withother heads of state, President Trump alsoheld an “unscheduled” meeting with TurkishPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan for abouthalf an hour. And, in fact, without the pres-

ence of an associate.The Turks did not disclose what was dis-

cussed, nor did the Americans. It is specu-lated that they spoke about Syria, the Kurds,and ISIS.

They possibly spoke about Cyprus aswell, since the collapse of the unity talkswas such a fresh topic.

And it is somewhat ironic, consideringthat two days earlier Cyprus President NicosAnastasiades was anxiously trying to getahold of President Trump – he ultimatelyspoke to Vice President Pence – to mediatewith Erdogan.

In any event, it does not seem as if Er-dogan’s meeting with Trump, or any otherhead of state of the world’s 20 largesteconomies, deterred him from making un-acceptable statements...about implementing“a Plan B or Plan C”.

Or could it be that the Cyprus issue wasnot discussed at all?

Lesson Learned fromVaroufakis: Cooperation, NotConflict

The fact that Greece has not yet beenable to present its own plan for ending thecrisis but is only confined to responding toplans presented by its lenders, is both inef-fective and nationally offensive. That it hasnot worked out a plan that is its own, inwhich it believes, and which it may imple-ment accordingly.

What continues to happen is that thegovernment responds to the measures thelenders suggest, which it ultimately accepts– after long and incredibly damaging delays,for political reasons – to avoid bankruptcy.

However, the drafting of such a plan isnot an easy task. And the people who wouldbe entrusted with drawing up the plan musthave extensive and relevant knowledge aswell as experience. In addition, the individ-ual who will make the final decisions,namely the prime minister, must know whatis happening.

It is obvious that the objective require-ments for the development of such a planare absent from today's Greece.

In principle, it is propitious that AlexisTsipras considered methods of addressingthe problem before becoming prime minis-ter. But the two years during which he hasgoverned the country reveal that both heand his key advisers were recklessly cluelessabout the subject.

Former Greek Finance Minister YanisVaroufakis, for example, possessed the the-oretical basis and was knowledgeable aboutthe subject, but was living in a fantasyworld; with a sense of narcissism, he sawhimself slugging it out with German FinanceMinister Wolfgang Schäuble while both de-feating and humiliating him, to avenge theGreek people for what they had beenthrough up to then.

He saw victory arising from conflict andfrom the annulment of what had beenagreed upon, rather than from cooperation,without considering the ratio of forces be-tween Greece and its creditors.

Thus, in words he committed to paper,he was eyeing the creation of a parallel pay-ment system, among other things, as hasbeen extensively disclosed. And althoughthat can be implemented theoretically, itdoes not take into consideration the conse-quences it would have on the market, northe reactions of its lenders.

That is why it was reckless.In the situation in which the country

finds itself, where the creditors hold mostof the cards, the best strategy is sincere co-operation rather than an imaginary Marxistconflict, provided that our side is genuinelyprepared to implement the plan, if it is ac-cepted by the lenders. And also providedthat the plan would presented to the peoplein its genuine version.

The incongruous situation in which thegovernment “fights” the bad lenders to pre-vent them from offering it another loan,without which the country will be driveninto bankruptcy, must stop at some point.In other words, the government both re-quests a loan and fights against it. The resultis that such behavior neutralizes the positiveaspects while retaining the negative.

It is a miracle that thus far, Greece hasbeen spared from the amateur manipula-tions of its rulers. But the risk of disasterremains high because, although some rulershave learned some things at the expense ofothers without considering the conse-quences, for them the system remains alien.

So, how can they possibly improve it?

Share your thoughts with usThe National Herald welcomes your response to any article or editorial Please send e-mail toenglish.edition@thenationalherald.com

VIEWPOINTSTHE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017 11

By Theodore Kalmoukos

The recent process for the se-lection of the triprospon (three-person ballot) by the HolyEparchial Synod of the GreekOrthodox Archdiocese of Amer-ica regarding the election of thenew Metropolitan of Chicagoshowed that the list of candi-dates for promotion to the rankof Episcopacy is problematicand pathogenic. The problemsshould be dealt now withoutany further delay tactics.

I remind that the list of thesupposedly eligible candidatesis comprised by 32 celibatepriests plus the auxiliary Bish-ops. That list that TNH pub-

lished in its recent editions hasbeen ratified by the EcumenicalPatriarchate.

It should be noted that Archi-mandrite Mehaleres comes fromthe married clergy, but after hiswife died, Metropolitan Metho-dios bestowed upon him the sta-tus of archimandrite. Mehaleresis retired.

Archimandrite Poulos is alsoretired.

Three on the list are not as-signed anywhere for unknownreasons and one is on medicalleave. Despite all that, they con-tinue to be on the list eligiblefor election. These are not re-sponsible and serious things atall. For God’s sake, it is an un-

equivocal snub of the Church it-self and the persons involved.

Thus it is imperative that thelist should be cleaned up. Thenames of those who for manyand different reasons should notbecome bishops must be deletedimmediately. I am sure His Em-inence Archbishop Demetriosknows this very well. The exist-ing hypocrisy and the false cul-tivation of hope that somedaythose candidates will put a miteron their head must be stopped.

There are some on the listthat should not even be or-dained as priests in the firstplace because they are unfit, tosay the least. They scandalizethe faithful. The same is true for

some hierarchs as well, whonever should have been ele-vated to the Episcopacy in thedistant and recent past.

The late Archbishop Iakovoswas responsible for a lot of or-dinations of unfitted persons.Also the current ArchbishopDemetrios is responsible forsome of those selections and or-dinations, although he resistedin some cases but he was pres-sured from the Patriarchate toproceed. It is a whole cycle thatis well connected, and they pro-tect and promote each other.

One more thing: those priestswho become widowers shouldnot be given the title of Archi-mandrite simply for reasons of

“prestige.” The title of Archimandrite is

considered a monastic title andit should not be given to just any-body in order to preside in theservices over their married clergybrethren. The congregants andespecially the young men andwomen consider these things tobe nonsense and they could notcare less. The same applies forthe hierarchical vestments withall those bells on them, themiters, the staffs, and the longmantles. All those shining. shim-mering garments hide Christ.

No more bishops should beordained. There are more thanenough, because after all, theycost a lot of money to the

Church, meaning us the Peopleof God, with their salaries, ben-efits, insurances, homes, expen-sive cars, and trips domestic andabroad. Even the fees for theirsatellite dishes are paid by theChurch. This whole costly ex-penditure should be stopped.They get salaries and tips; letthem pay on their own likeeverybody else.

Why should the Ecclesia, thefaithful People of God, be oblig-ated to pay all these “despotic”expenses? If they want all theirexpenses paid they should stopgetting salaries. After all theydon’t have families to providefor; they don’t have children tosend to college.

By Dimitra Pontoporou

Cruising the Aegean, Greeksand travelers equally cannotavoid thinking Odysseus sail-ings. Were the coastlines differ-ent then? Given the strongAegean winds where would theships in prehistoric times shelterand anchor?

Homeric philology and ar-chaeology seek to find the an-swers.

It is not easy to reconstructthe prehistoric coastlines in theiroriginal configuration and de-termine the exact locations ofprehistoric harbors. Coastalpalaeographical and geomor-phological studies have provedthat the morphology of theMediterranean basin coasts hasseriously changed in the lastmillennia. Sea level changes, lo-cal tectonic movements, coastalsedimentation, changes in therivers’ flow, sea currents andmanmade coastal constructionshave altered the ancient mar-itime landscape since theBronze Age and the Homericepics era. On the other hand suf-ficient interdisciplinary evidence(geological, archaeological) onthe possible exploitation ofcoastal formations as harbors islacking. Therefore the Homericdescriptions are a precioussource of information for a topo-graphical typology of the earlyAegean harbors and anchoragesites. Homeric natural harborsand anchorage sites have typo-logically been classified in thecategories below.

Natural bay. A typical nauti-cal activity repeated in both theIliad and the Odyssey is moor-ing in a natural bay. A naturalbay with water was the harborof Reithro, outside the town ofIthaca. Ideally, preferred bayshad potable water. Pharos islandnear Egypt also offers an an-chorage site, shaped by a nat-ural bay. Naulochos limen iscalled a natural harbor, wherethe ships could lie, like in bed.Naulochos is a composed word:naus is the ship and lechos thebed in ancient Greek.

Almost enclosed bay. En-closed bays existed on Cyclops'island (“a harbor giving safe an-

chorage, where there is no needof moorings”), in the Laistry-gones’ land and Forkynos harborin Ithaca.

Bays either side of an “anvil-shaped” headland. This config-uration offered the advantageof easy access and entrance tothe harbor basin in differentweather conditions and wind di-rections. The bays usually createa double harbor configuration,and later the two basins wereconnected. This was the forma-tion of the harbor on Phaeakesisland, consisting of two en-closed bays either side of theheadland, where the fortifiedtown was built. Though we ig-nore the actual geographical lo-cation of the Homeric Scheria,the land of Phaeakes, the hy-pothesis that it could be ancientCorfu can be supported by thefact that there two harbors werecreated in either side of a lowpromontory. An anchorage con-figuration with two entrances,was the one, where Penelope’ssuitors were hidden waiting forTelemachus to return from Peloswith the aim to kill him.

Archaeological evidence ofsuch arrangement comes also

from Mallia, Crete, an importanttown with two harbors that canbe assimilated to the emporia ofeastern Mediterranean Enkomiin Cyprus, Ugarit or Byblos inSyro Palestine. The first depic-tions of coastlines and shoretopography come from theMiniature Frieze from the Westhouse in Santorini. In the depic-tion of the third town, there is adouble harbor arrangementwith a smaller harbor separatedfrom a larger one by a rockypoint of land.

In lee of a promontory. Thisis a term used in the epic to de-fine safe harbors, side hit by thewaves. Such a harbor is themain harbor of Mallia, Crete,protected by the west by a rockypromontory. During the BronzeAge, there was a preference forlocating settlements on or nearpeninsulas. One of the mostcharacteristic examples is thatof Agia Eirini at Kea, Cyclades.During this period it was shel-tered behind a strong fortifica-tion wall. Other similar sites onlow peninsulas include Manikaon Euboea, Agios Kosmas andAskitario in Attika, Kolonna onAegina and possibly Phylakopi,

well fortified from the landwardside.

Anchorage in lee of an is-land/ offshore reef. Several ofMenelaus ships in Crete soughtshelter behind a reef that hin-dered high waves. In the mouthof the Cyclop’s island there wasan island with a low cliff.

Archaeological evidencecould be argued in Amnisos,Crete, where the harbor is situ-ated in relation to an offshoreisland and protected on the westby high cliffs. Similar was thesituation in Kommos, in southCrete, the seaport of Phaistos.The land was connected to arocky islet now submerged.

Riverine. The coast at themouth of a river was regardedas safe from the winds and thewaves. In Egypt Odysseus an-chored his ships at the riverEgyptos. Also while visiting theNekyia (the land of the dead)he anchored at the mouth andthen up the river Oceanos.

Next time you cruise theAegean and see a coastal con-figuration of this typology, youcan pretty safely assume thatHomeric ships had anchoredthere 3500 years ago.

Sailing the Homeric Natural Harbors of the Aegean

ANALYSIS

The List of Candidates for Metropolitan of Chicago and the Lack of Seriousness

This summerfinds the Greek-American commu-nity reeling fromyet anotherparochial dayschool closure – atthe Holy Crossparish in White-stone – the sixth inthe past decade.

The NationalHerald first brokethis story and fol-lowing the ensuingfallout, parish ad-ministrators at-tempted to spin the story anddeny the closure, leaving a rayof hope for the resumption ofoperations in the fall pendingimproved registration figures…as if the abrupt announcementto close shop might somehowpromote trust and higher enroll-ment! To complicate matterseven further, Archdiocesan offi-cials noted that they were un-aware of the school’s financialwoes, while the community’spriest, who was not presentwhen the announcement toclose the school was made be-cause he was on assignment atan Archdiocesan youth camp,went unpaid for six months sothat teacher salaries could becovered, because the communitywas experiencing a shortfall dueto monthly contributions to theArchdiocese’s National Min-istries and utility bills.

This communication break-down is merely the tip of the ice-berg in a crisis whose causeshave not yet been formally ana-lyzed, let alone addressed. Thisabsence of any corrective actionis perhaps the most frustratingdevelopment in the whole sadsaga of school closures plaguingour parish communities. Thiscolumn devotes the majority ofits space to matters concerningHellenic education because it be-lieves that the issue is a top pri-ority, touching intimately uponthe vital interests of the commu-nity and reflecting attitudesabout our all-important hierar-chy of needs that will determinethe shape and future of GreekAmerica and impact the cominggenerations profoundly.

Of the six schools that ceasedoperating, only one has man-aged to reopen and providesome form of daily Greek lan-guage instruction. That school iscurrently the lone Hellenic-themed charter school in NYC.The remaining schools thatclosed are either dormant or be-ing leased and generating majorprofits for their parishes, the par-ticulars of whose allocation thewider Community knows verylittle about and which havesometimes resulted in nouveauriche kitchness, or worse yet,scandals whose ultimate ramifi-cations remain to be seen. Thelast closing was perhaps themost shocking, because unlikethe other schools, whose parishcommunities were located inlow-income neighborhoods witha changing demographic anddwindling numbers of Greekfamilies – a development oftencited to justify the ill-fated deci-sion to shut down schools – thecurrent parish is located in awealthy district of NorthernQueens, which is home to anever-growing number of Greekresidents.

This data is useful in advanc-ing the argument that the prob-lem of Greek parochial schoolclosures cannot be attributedmerely to demographic changeand financial constraints. Whenlarge, wealthy parish communi-ties exhibit the same symptomsas their smaller, more modestcounterparts, it becomes evidentthat there are deeper systemicproblems at play.

With the majority of NewYork’s once bustling network ofGreek-American day schoolsnow closed, it is apparent thatthe situation has reached full-blown crisis mode, and if leftunchecked, this disturbing pat-tern threatens to infect the re-maining educational institutionsas well, turning into a pandemic

and wiping out atime-tested andhighly valued insti-tution for the trans-mission of Hel-lenism.

The questionsare vexing. Whywas the Archdio-cese the last toknow about theschool’s financialtroubles? Why didthe school andparish administra-tion wait until thelast possible mo-

ment to draw attention to theirplight, rather than seek help ear-lier on, when the problem mighthave been more manageable?Why on earth would the parishcontinue paying monthly com-mitments to unspecified andquestionable Archdiocesan “na-tional ministries” when a tangi-ble and far more valuable com-ponent of its own ministry – itsschool – was in such grave fi-nancial danger?

These and an entire slew ofother unanswered questions willcontinue to haunt the Greek-American community. However,the grassroots response – or lackthereof, to be more precise – willserve as an even gloomierspecter in the aftermath of thistragedy.

School after school is closingand the trend will likely con-tinue so long as no pressure isbrought to bear against thehandful of persons responsiblefor this short-sighted policy. Inmost of the aforementioned in-stances, the saying can be con-firmed that while it may take avillage to raise a child, it onlytakes about a dozen councilmembers and probably less thanfifty paid parish members to rub-ber stamp the decision for aschool closure.

Boards make decisions toclose down a school largelywithout any wider communityconsultation, as if it were theirown private little shop; as if theydidn’t solicit funds from a muchbroader base when building theschool; and as if they were own-ers, not stewards of this nobleinstitution.

Still, culpability ultimatelylies with all of us as members ofthe greater community for notactively pursuing our role asstakeholders and taking owner-ship of the situation. Individualparishes have been left to fendfor themselves when it comes tomaintaining Greek parochialschools, and amidst the chang-ing makeup of our society anddaily lives, it seems fairly obvi-ous that this model is nowlargely untenable.

For every failing schoolforced to close because of flawedoperational setup, the brightminds and deep pockets of thesupposedly affluent Greek-American community should behard at work with plans to opena new one.

This has not been the case upuntil today, and the results havebeen merciless and humiliating.

This vicious cycle of schoolclosures leading us ever closerto cultural suicide can only bebroken if initiative are taken atthe grassroots level to compelleaders and administrators to en-gage in a discussion that shouldhave begun years ago. Withouta sustained widespread appealfor a national Greek educationfund to assist Greek schools,broader and intricately more de-veloped collaboration betweenparish communities and othercommunity institutions to widenthe stakeholders’ base and gen-erate greater support, more effi-cient oversight and guidance tomaintain the schools on a suc-cessful path, and a comprehen-sive strategy that will help pro-mote the schools outside ethnicborders as well, this crisis willnot be alleviated. The time forlamenting is long gone. The timefor action is now at hand, lestthere be no schools left to save.

Follow me on Twitter@CTripoulas

Greek Education KO’dAgain, as Crisis Deepens

by ChristopherTRIPOULAS

Special to The National Herald

Don’t know about you butI’m shocked - SHOCKED - tofind out there was no gamblinggoing on in the Cyprus disunitytalks at the tony Swiss resort ofCrans-Montana (diplomats loveluxury accommodations andfree five-star dinners and drinkswhen deciding other people’sfates behind closed doors,preferably with Cuban cigarsand brandy thrown in) beforethe negotiations collapsed amidfury and name-calling.

Again.You’d think 43 years of fail-

ure and dealing with Turks whoinvaded the island in 1974, whostill unlawfully occupy thenorthern third and want to keepa 35,000-strong army there andthe right to invade again wouldhave taught a long, sad line ofenvoys, politicians, United Na-tions chiefs, US Secretaries ofState, European Union attachesand professional politicians alesson.

The talks began with greatfanfare two years ago whenCypriot President Nicos Anas-tasiades, coming off ruining alot of people’s lives after givingthe order that banks could seize47.5 percent of bank accountsover 100,000 euros ($115,000)to save the institutions from baddecisions - for which no one washeld accountable despite hispromise - sat down with a fellowalleged moderate, Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

There were cute photo op-portunities of them sitting downand sharing drinks, billing andcooing and looking at eachother almost like lovers as theinternational press, which

prefers publishingpress releases with-out question or in-terpretation, trum-peted a deal was athand.

When it wasn’t,they just kept re-peating it was, swal-lowing hook, lineand sinker a cease-less supply of lies la-dled out by the UN’sSpecial Envoy, Nor-way’s Espen BarthEide.

He’s the latest tobe planted in thegraveyard of diplomats whofailed to make an inch ofprogress, although it’s a lot bet-ter than wherever the 1587Cypriots who disappeared in theinvasion are buried or the pris-ons where they were allowed torot while the United States -which gave Turkey the greenlight to invade thanks to HenryKiller Kissinger - let it happen.

Unless Anastasiades, whoshowed signs of wavering,agreed to let Turkey keep itsarmy on the island, there wasnever going to be any deal, es-pecially with Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan - who re-fuses to recognize Cyprus, barsit ships and planes and wantsto join the EU, to which the le-gitimate side of the island be-longs - wanting a Turk to bePresident every other term.

The talks serve only the in-terest of people who like freeFirst-Class plane fare to Cyprus,New York and Switzerland everynow and then, where they canstay in swank joints, pat every-

one on the back,and pose for pho-tos where every-one has fakesmiles on theirfaces as they holdhands they can’twait to wipe off ontheir pants.

Anastasiadescorrectly said anEU country should-n’t allow a foreignpower to allow anoccupying army onits soil when he gothis back up. Ifthere’s any

squawking from the EU head-quarters in Brussels over the lat-est collapse - you need a score-card to keep track of them - letTurkey put an army in Belgiumor Germany and then let’s talk.

US Vice-President MikePence was said to have spokenwith Erdogan but was told bythe Turkish bullyman dictatorthat he would agree only to lethis army stay on the island for15 years and then have a reviewof that condition, which wouldlead him to say it would stayanother 15 years and so on andso forth until it reaches his de-mand it’s there “forever,” whichit is.

The UnitedCyprus movementof Cypriots and Turks thinkthere’s a chance still. Turkish-Cypriot Dogukan Muezzinler,told the Cyprus Mail after thesideshow fell apart: “I’m deeplysad but not broken … we willbuild peace in Cyprus from theground up. This is not over. Wewill find a new way and beginagain.” Not.

US Cypriot organizations re-leased an open letter about thesecret negotiations whichlargely kept Cypriots and Turkson the island in the dark eventhough they would have to votefor any deal in a referendum, ashappened in 2004 when Turksapproved the Annan Plan butCypriots voted it down.

“At this key moment inCyprus’ history, we have decidedthat it is time for us to speakout, warn against false steps,and describe an agreement thatwe may be able to support,”they said, the use of an interna-tional police force suggested byAnastasiades instead of troopsTurkey wants.

The organizations includethose who have invested inCyprus and led business delega-tions and said they supportunity and rights extended tothose on both sides of the islandbut not at the cost of leavingTurkish troops in a EU country.

They were right and the talkscollapsed because Turkey could-n’t, wouldn’t, didn’t and won’taccept that and never will solet’s not have any renewed talksthat would go nowhere fast andlead to more press releases that“significant progress” was beingmade, one of the biggest lies ofthe still-early century, apartfrom anything coming out ofDonald Hump’s mouth.

If they do resume, let it be inLas Vegas so the bookies cantake odds. I’ll be in the casinowaiting for Anastasiades, Akincior Guterres to hand me my win-nings.

adabilis@thenationalherald.com

LETTER FROM ATHENS

Cyprus Disunity Talks Aren’t Suspended, They’re Dead

by ANDYDABILIS

Special to The National Herald

VIEWPOINTS12 THE NATIONAL HERALD, JULY 15-21, 2017

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Greece the next 300 yearsStephen Tzikas

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Love Poemsby Dionysia Nick Garbi

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By Theodore G. Karakostas

The Orthodox Church can beconsidered one of the foundersof Greek independence. OnMarch 25, 1821 the feast of An-nunciation, Archbishop Ger-manos raised the standard of re-volt and the war for freedombegan.

There had been precedentsin Church history for such anaction such as when PatriarchSergius of Constantinople car-ried the Icon of the Theotokoswith the procession of faithfulin 626 AD when the City wasthreatened by the Avars, whilethe Emperor was away. It is in-teresting that the Theotokos(Mother of God) played a sig-nificant role in both the defenseof Constantinople and the GreekWar of Independence.

There is an unsettling anddisturbing hostility aimed at theChurch of Greece by the presentgovernment in Athens. Prayerhas reportedly been removedfrom Greek schools and now theGovernment wishes to imposenew social policies that threatenthe influence of the GreekChurch and the role of theGreek family (i.e., same-sexmarriage).

Furthermore, MetropolitanChrysostom of Patras recentlycomplained to the Ministry ofHealth after the name of SaintAndrew (patron saint of theCity) was removed from thehospital, in the campaign to sec-ularize Greece.

An important distinctionmust be made between secular-ization and separation of churchand state. Indeed, even inByzantium, in which the con-cept of "symphony" (synergy)prevailed, there was in fact sep-arate administration betweenthe Empire and the Church. Sec-ularism is not about separateadministration, it is about bring-ing about the expulsion of Chris-tianity from public life and in avery undemocratic manner.

The Byzantine era in Greece

was one of the high points ofGreek history and civilization.While Byzantium has been ma-ligned by many, it has also beenpraised by many historians andscholars. During the seventhcentury, it was Constantinoplethat saved Europe from the firstCaliphate. It was the scholars ofByzantium who preserved themanuscripts of Classical Greecein their libraries.

The hostility of various Greekpolitical parties in recentdecades toward the Church canbe seen as an effort to erase theglorious Byzantine past fromGreece's national memory. Fol-lowing the conquest of Constan-tinople it was the Greek Churchbeginning with the EcumenicalPatriarch George "Gennadios"Scholarius that saved the faithand national memory of theGreek people. Certainly, thereare many criticisms of many hi-erarchs under the Turkocratiathat can be made but the factremains that Orthodoxy andHellenism sustained one an-other a point made by the lateSteven Runciman in his

book, "The Great Church inCaptivity."

A more recent book, TheChurch of Greece under AxisOccupation, by PanteleymonAnastasakis claims that theChurch played a similar role asit took over for the state follow-ing the occupation of Greece.The bishops became the repre-sentatives of the people in theabsence of a government.Greece's former Education Min-ister Nikos Filis questioned theChurch's role during the Ger-man occupation. The Church ofGreece's activities against theNazis and their support for bothChristian and Jewish Greeks iswidely celebrated and praisedby many, including the YadVashem in Jerusalem. The YadVashem includes ArchbishopDamaskinos and MetropolitansChrysostom of Zakynthos, Gen-nadios of Thessaloniki, andIoacheim of Volos as "righteousamong the nations."

In addition, MetropolitanChrysostom of Smyrna was mar-tyred for the faith of Christ andthe Greek nation when he wasslaughtered by the Turkish na-tionalists in 1922. Most recently,the Church has produced Arch-bishop Christodoulos, who bril-liantly defended the rights of theChurch against the anti-ChurchSimitis government and ex-

pressed the Church's traditionalpatriotism.

If Greek politicians wish tosecularize Greece, then theyshould at least be democraticabout it and open the issue to anational debate.

The Church should be per-mitted to make a case for itselfbefore the Greek people and to

remind the people of the glori-ous past that was centered inConstantinople, and of the in-contestable fact that the Churchpreserved the language and na-tional consciousness under theOttomans. The manner in whichthe Greek government has cho-sen to proceed with its policiesis truly despicable and very un-

democratic. At a time when Greece faces

various crises, including the eco-nomic crisis and the inflow ofrefugees (which the Church hasmade maximum efforts to alle-viate), it needs the moral andspiritual leadership of the Bish-ops, Priests, and Monastics.Greeks should

take inspiration from the re-cent glorification of SaintsPaisios and Porphyrios. Saintscontinue to come from ChristianGreece.

Theodore G. Karakostas is theauthor of the books In the Shad-ow of Hagia Sophia, and WithThis Sign Conquer.

On the morning of June 29,President Trump unleashed apair of scathing tweets upon thelatest recipients of his laser-fo-cused counterattacks; this time,MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough andhis cohost, fiancée, and daugh-ter of the late former nationalsecurity advisor ZbigniewBrezinski, Mika.

In response to their daily bar-rage of Trump-bashing, duringwhich they routinely accuse himof nonstop lying and destroyingthe country, the president firedback: “I heard poorly rated@Morning_Joe speaks badly ofme (don't watch anymore).Then how come low I.Q. CrazyMika, along with Psycho Joe,came...to Mar-a-Lago 3 nightsin a row around New Year's Eve,and insisted on joining me. Shewas bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!”

So, there it is. Joe is psycho,Mika is crazy, and she wasbleeding badly from a facelift.And they both wanted to joinTrump so much, but he rebuffedtheir self-invitation.

Then, on July 2, just beforethe Sunday morning politicalshows were about to begin onall of the major television net-works, Trump tweeted a videoof a Wrestlemania skit from adecade ago in which part of thebit with World Wrestling Enter-tainment (WWE) head VinceMcMahon involved Trumpwrestling McMahon to theground.

For the tweet, Trump super-imposed a CNN logo to coverMcMahon’s face, thereby imply-ing that he had “taken down”CNN. Trump has repeatedly re-ferred to CNN, among other me-dia outlets, as “fake news” andindeed three CNN reporterswere recently fired for publish-ing a poorly-reported story,which CNN retracted, regarding

Trump campaignmembers’ allegedconnection to Rus-sia.

Over the pastcouple of years Ihave spoken withmany Trump sup-porters (full disclo-sure, I am one too).But I have yet toencounter evenone, me included,who encouragesthe president tosend scathingtweets. In my case,I don’t necessarilythink the presidentis unjustified in doing so, but ifI were standing next to him atthe time, I would advise him tochoose his language a bit morecarefully.

This week’s column focuseson two points: speculation as towhy Trump tweets, and whatour collective reaction as a na-tion ought to be.

I often criticize “armchairpsychologists” for trying to psy-choanalyze Trump, so if you feelcompelled to criticize me, inturn, for doing the same thing,be my guest.

As I see, it, President Trumptweets for one of two reasons:either 1) he has never com-pletely exorcised a demon pre-sumably acquired in childhoodto take even the slightest insultpersonally and be incapable ofwalking away from it withouthitting back ten times harder, or2) unlike most of his advisors,he considers erratic tweets thatmost of the country find trou-bling to be beneficial to him po-litically. So, his tweets are eithera failure to exercise impulsecontrol, or a calculated maneu-ver that only he sees as beingadvantageous.

Or it could be a combination

of the two. Afterall, unlike conven-tional politicians,who market-testslogans, messages,and actions con-stantly but won’tfess up to it, Trumpopenly admitswhen he does suchthings. “Drain theswamp,” he said,was a line he threwout there once andit gained such trac-tion that he stuckwith it. He didn’tthink it would besuch a big deal,

and compares the experience toFrank Sinatra initially not hav-ing thought much about hismegahit song My Way.

It is entirely possible, then,that Trump’s natural reaction isto hit back – verbally – when-ever attacked, and he realizesthat when he does so all eyesare on him, and so he considersit a win-win. Never mind thatmuch of the attention is nega-tive, Trump seems to believe inthe old adage that there is nosuch thing as bad publicity.

So, whether or not one ap-proves of Trump’s tweets andregardless of how one choosesto explain his motivation behindthem, few can argue that we arefacing a “dignity gap.” This pres-ident, as compared to most oth-ers, including almost all of thepast 100 years, engages in be-havior universally deemedundignified for the hallowed of-fice he holds. To suggest other-wise would be to argue thatTrump’s words have been moredignified on the whole thanthose of Presidents Obama, theBushes, Reagan, Carter, Ford…etc., which not even the bestspin doctor can purport convinc-ingly. Even President Nixon’s

most shocking statements cameas a result of secret recordingsthat he was forced to divulge.

During the presidential cam-paign, Trump was often criti-cized for his tone, to which heroutinely responded “I don’thave time for tone.” He also saidthat once he won, he would be-come “so presidential, you’re go-ing to find it boring.” That is apromise that to this point hehasn’t kept. Perhaps he con-cluded that it is worse to be bor-ing than to be undignified.

The real question we oughtto ask ourselves is if we are tojudge – even at this early stage– the Trump presidency fairly,is: how important is dignity?How much of a priority is it tobe dignified? What percentageof the pie graph of an ideal pres-ident should “dignity” cover?

Most Americans – me in-cluded – would like to see asmuch dignity as possible in ournation’s leaders. But it is not themost important quality.

Two relatively recent presi-dents, John Kennedy and BillClinton, were supremely undig-nified insofar as they carried onextramarital affairs inside theWhite House. In stark contrast,Jimmy Carter and George W.Bush were admirably straitlacedmonogamous husbands. Yetmost people would not rankCarter and Bush ahead of Clin-ton and Kennedy in terms ofoverall effectiveness.

So, yes, under DonaldTrump, there is a dignity gap,at least in terms of his tone. Butin the grand scheme of things,is it really that big of a deal?

Constantinos E. Scaros' latestbook, Grumpy Old Party (aboutthe 2016 presidential election),is available for purchase onamazon.com and in bookstoresnationwide.

Trump’s Tweets & the “Dignity Gap”: What I’d Tell Him

by CONSTANTINOS E.SCAROS

Special to The National Herald

No Debate in Greece on Secularization and the Separation of Church and State

There is an unsettling and disturbing hostilityaimed at the Church of Greece by the presentgovernment in Athens.