NEO magazine - June/July 2018

JUN/JUL 2018

The Macedonia Agreement - Analysis by Alex Billinis

"Forever Young" with Nana Mouskouri

"Lives Afloat" at the National Hellenic Museum

Annual Hellenic Issues Conference in Washington DC Moves Cyprus Up on the American Agenda

$4.95

FROM THE EDITOR

:: magazine FOUNDED IN 2005 BY Demetrios Rhompotis Dimitri Michalakis Kyprianos Bazenikas Publishing Committee Chairman Demetrios Rhompotis (718) 554-0308 dondemetrio@neomagazine.com Director of Operations Kyprianos Bazenikas info@neomagazine.com Marketing & Advertising Director Tommy Harmantzis (347) 613-4163 th@radioneo.us ATHENS - GREECE Public Relations & Marketing Director Rita Despotidis rdespotis@gmail.com NEO Magazine is published monthly by Neocorp Media Inc. P.O. Box 560105 College Point, NY 11356 Phone: (718) 554-0308 e-Fax: (718) 878-4448 info@neomagazine.com Check our website neomagazine.com

COVER PHOTO BY BILL PETROS

SUMMER PLANS My friend is a doctor and when I asked him recently if he was going to be around for the summer he said to me, What do you think: doctors do nothing but travel? And then he recited a litany of all the obligations he had for the summer and how he would be chained all summer to his—examination table.

And then on Facebook I see him in Paris with his wife and friends and from there they might be visiting Greece.

Another Facebook friend who said he was chained to his desk I see posting everywhere in Greece (all those balmy beaches and crystal-blue water and drinks with rainbow colors and freshly-caught octopus grilled and ready to be eaten).

And yet another roams the islands all year long shooting his show on Greek food and culture. You know how much work it is? he groans. And yet every time I see him posting selfies it’s with a tremendous smile on his face, in some taverna, surrounded with friends with smiles plastered on their faces, at an outdoor table piled with food, surrounded by the lights hanging from the trellis in their restaurant under the stars.

Once you’ve lived life in these villages and hills and towns and islands and paralies, once you’ve seen them as a kid, or as an adult, once you’ve seen the life lived there—really lived there—people in Greece, for all the eternal turmoil of their politics and economics—seem to live the most idyllic life in the world.

I went to visit Greece a few years ago with my family and we sat in a restaurant in Plaka and lingered for hours under the stars and enjoyed the most delicious food in the world and stayed, Greek-style, practically most of the night.

We went to Chios then and my uncle picked us up from the hotel as we were having breakfast so we could have tiganites with them—so we had two breakfasts—and then we went to have lunch—at an outdoor restaurant right off the sea purling and foaming through the rocks on the shore by the old windmills and the restaurant owner was closed but opened just for us and my uncle asked him what he had on the menu, and the owner shrugged, Greek-style, and said, So what do you want?

We said we wanted everything—and he literally brought us everything. And then he sat with us and we had a parea.

Then my uncle drove us to his house in the mountains-and we had dinner there—overlooking the town of Chios itself twinkling at our feet, past the church with the white courtyard and the blue dome, past the moonlight bobbing on the waves, to the garland of And there is a friend who seems to have given up going lights in the town at the outdoor taverns of the paralia back home altogether (to South Africa) and what he where everyone was sitting at the outdoor tables does is seem to roam our native island of Chios and take enjoying life as it was meant to be. photos like rustic still-life’s of its native beauties and remnants of bygone times (a stone wheel at the Don’t miss out. Enjoy your summer in Greece and aletrouvio, a tsapa rusted through, the beautiful blue Cyprus this year. shutters of a home, red poppies in an open field, the belfry of the village church looking haunting in the light of the moon).

DIMITRI C. MICHALAKIS

:: magazine PUBLISHED MONTHLY IN NEW YORK Editor in Chief: Dimitri C. Michalakis info@neomagazine.com Western Region Desk - Los Angeles Alexander Mizan director@americanhellenic.org West Palm Beach, Florida Desk Vassilios Kukorinis skopelitis@hotmail.com Baltimore Desk Georgia Vavas gvavas@comcast.net Photo/Fashion New York: ETA Press fpapagermanos@yahoo.com Los Angeles: Nick Dimitrokalis (951) 764-5737 photobynikos@hotmail.com Graphic Design NEOgraphix.us Adrian Salescu Athens Desk Konstantinos Rhompotis (01130) 210 51 42 446 (01130) 6937 02 39 94 k.rhompotis@neomagazine.com

Eleni Kounalakis Polls Strongly in California LieutenantGovernor Race

by Philip Chrysopoulos*

Eleni with husband Markos were NEO's Persons of the Year and cover in February 2007

Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis s one of the two family’s housing development business. She candidates remaining in the race to become the lives in San Francisco with her husband, next lieutenant governor of California. journalist Markos Kounalakis, and their two sons Neo and Eon. Ed Hernandez, a fellow Democrat, is the other candidate remaining from an initial group of 11 The lieutenant governor is the president of the runners. state Senate and is first in line to succeed the governor. They also sit on most state Kounalakis secured first place in a first-round commissions and agencies, as well as the UC vote with 23.4 percent, while Hernandez came Board of Regents, the California State in second with 20.8 percent.

University Board of Trustees and the California State Lands Commission.

According to The Daily Californian, many candidates were political newcomers running The Greek American politician’s platform for office for the first time. focuses on economy expansion, universal healthcare, affordable higher education, goodKounalakis has served as U.S. ambassador to paying jobs, affordable housing and protection Hungary, appointed by former president of the environment.

Barack Obama in 2010. The Greek-American politician graduated from Dartmouth College Kounalakis also aims to make California’s voice in 1989, and earned her MBA from UC known internationally, highlighting the state’s Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 1992. stance on the Paris climate agreement as well as She also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Laws California’s leadership in technology. from the American College of Greece.

Before her involvement in politics, Kounalakis, t h e d a u g h t e r o f a G r e e k i m m i g r a n t The story was first published in Greek Reporter e n t r e p r e n e u r a n d d e v e l o p e r A n g e l o (usa.greekreporter.com).

Tsakopoulos had worked for 18 years in her

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William Conopeotis, Peter Parthenis, Kenneth Kondraros, John P. Calamos, Sr., Dr. Laura Calamos, C. Dean Metropoulos, Paul Athens, Alex Gianaras

“CONNECTING GENERATIONS”:

THE NATIONAL HELLENIC MUSEUM 2018 GALA Mae Calamos with Ethel Parthenis

The Karamanos family

Paul Gust Vallas, Marianne Kountoures, Nadia Kountoures and John Kountoures

At its Annual Gala, “Connecting Generations,” this past May, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, The National Hellenic Museum and more than 500 Greek Americans, friends and community members from across the country raised more than $800,000 during the night of auctions, live music, dancing and celebrating the legacy of Hellenism. The philanthropic support from the evening is set to benefit tens of thousands of museum visitors, with 83 cents of every dollar spent on programming.

“What a wonderful night it was with so many elegant attendees, the spectacular live music, and of course, the great generosity of our donors,” said Dr. Laura Calamos, President of 16

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the National Hellenic Museum. Celebrity emcee Dean Richards of WGN TV and Radio, thanked the mothers in the room, recalling the importance of his own mother and yiayia to his upbringing. Cubs Legend and National League All-Star, Ryan Dempster wowed the crowd by offering signed jerseys to bidders in the live auction. One attendee exclaimed: “The dance floor was packed with 10 lines of Greek dancing circling all around! This was definitely one of the best galas to date!”

demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the National Hellenic Museum and to the ideal of philanthropy. The National Hellenic Museum Philanthropy Award is named after Alec K. and Viena P. Gianaras because they exemplified all the aspects of true philanthropists. Their vision in supporting the National Hellenic Museum modelled to others the spirit of giving to great causes in the Greek American community.

The event was emceed by WGN’s Very Own Dean Richards with live musical stylings by the One highlight of the evening included the Chris Sarlas Orchestra, with George Dimas and presentation of the inaugural Alec K. and Viena Voula Karahaliou, and The Levendes, featuring P. Gianaras Philanthropy Award, given this year singer Nikos Koutras. to The Gianaras Family and Frank S. Kamberos, i n r e c o g n i t i o n o f d o n o r s w h o h a v e Boasting a rich repository of 20,000+ artifacts, PHOTOS: ELIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

Konstantinos Armiros His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael, Elena Manos, and John G. Manos (President of Commercial Real Estate Division at Bank Financial)

Dr. Pauline Raptis Sleder

Aris and Lisa Halikias

WGN TV & Radio’s Dean Richards and His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael

C. Dean and Marianne Metropoulos

Vicki Parthenis, Peter Parthenis, Jr., Peter Parthenis, Sr., Ethel Parthenis, Stacy Paros

William and Edith Apostal, Martha Cannis, Kelly and George Konstas Dimitris & Eleni Bousis

Eva Kirie, Evdokia Karas and Maria Karas Kirie – 3 generations of women from one family

photos, historic newspapers, books and an archive of 450+ recorded histories, the NHM serves as the physical hub of Greek American history, now many generations strong and celebrates the mosaic of the Greek diaspora, immigrant journeys and the breadth of the American experience.

The Museum preserves the largest collection of artifacts and oral histories dedicated to the Greek American story anywhere in the world, serving as a central repository for researchers,

teachers and students of all ages.

Special events help to fund classes, field trips, tours, programs, and, as highlighted in this year’s theme, the John Calamos, the chairman of the museum and his daughter, Dr. Laura Calamos who is protection of the museum archives and the president of the museum the important memories preserved for all. The artifacts in the NHM Collections ser ve as a cr ucial the collections, it narrates the journey across component of NHM’s educational the Atlantic, tracing the difficult path to becoming American. This exhibition also sheds outreach. light on important chapters of American Located in Chicago’s Greektown, the history, and highlights the contributions of NHM provides lifelong learning for the whole Greeks and other immigrants to the building of community. Exciting and thought-provoking the United States. exhibitions draw from thousands of years of Greek histor y and culture, including The special Exhibitions explore a variety of immigration. Rooted in all things Greek, as well topics that offer multiple perspectives on Greek as universal, they offer visitors a better culture, history, art, and a deep thriving and understanding of the Hellenic story and inspire evolving heritage. them to connect with their own history and For more information on the museum and its culture. activities, their website is The core exhibition expands on the legacy of nationalhellenicmuseum.org.

Greek immigration. Enriched by artifacts from NEWS & NOTES JUNE/JULY 2018

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Sounio, at the Temple of Poseidon with one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world

Historic Trip to Greece by the Cathedral School of the Holy Trinity The juxtaposition between Ancient Greek architecture and the modern marvel that is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, will forever remain in the minds of the 8th grade students at the Cathedral School of the Holy Trinity. During their recent trip to Greece, the students visited the renowned sites of Ancient Greece, as well as their modern counterparts, bringing to life over a decade of Hellenic studies.

Diner with Greece's Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura

The 8th graders of The Cathedral School of the Holy Trinity, a school in Manhattan with a focus on classical education for the modern world, embarked on an educational trip to Greece this spring. This historical trip marks the first time in over 15 years that a trip of this magnitude and importance occurred. During the trip, the 18

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At Delphi

students visited The Acropolis, Delphi, archaeological sites of Olympia, the ancient city of Mycenae, Epidaurus, as well as the monasteries of Meteora. The students have been studying the rich culture and history of Greece for years and visiting these UNESCO heritage sites exposed them to the primary resources and wonders of Ancient Greece.

The experience was enhanced by a dinner with Greece’s Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura and the Director of Tourism in USA and Canada, Greta Kamaterou at Elaia Restaurant in Plaka, Athens. Students and teachers alike met Ms. Kountoura and Ms. Kamaterou to learn about all that Greece has to offer and to further develop their understanding of Greece as a strong nation with a robust history.

The tour highlighted the impact that ancient Greece and modern Greece have on our world today. Through the support of Nikos Mouyiaris and Mana Products, the trip became a financial reality for all of the students. The excellence of the itinerary, private tours and educational workshops coordinated by Hellenic Holidays created a unique learning experience for all.

Special thanks to Roula Lambrakis for taking this vision of a school trip and creating the reality of an intellectual adventure in Greece.

Working together with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center was an integral part of the trip. The school viewed firsthand the environmental and sustainability achievements of the recently inaugurated center, the first of its kind in Europe. A private tour of the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera culminated in At the Acropolis a n At the Stavros Niarchos architecture Foundation Cultural Center workshop, w h e r e students created their own designs based on the Culture Center’s architectural principles.

ORDER OF AHEPA AMERICAN HELLENIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION

GOLD COAST CHAPTER NO. 456 Manhasset, New York 11030

PRESIDENT John G. Levas Amcorjgl@aol.com VICE PRESIDENT Chris Pappas SECRETARY Dr. Michael Georgis RECORDING SECRETARY Nick Kouzionis TREASURER Ted Malgarinos Board of Governors Leonard Zangas Honorary Governors Dean Pappas Evens Cyprus Sunshine Welfare Tom Gardianos

The Chapter is having a membership drive for new members only $100.00 for two years. Email the president to join!

Fraternally yours, John G. Levas President

Go to Greece & Cyprus this Year, where Magic and Reality Overlap!

Fraternally yours, Dr. Michael Georgis Secretary

Our meetings are held at The Port Washington Yacht Club, located at 1 Yacht Club Dr, Port Washington, NY, first Wednesday of each month, 6:00 pm.

The 96th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention will be held on July 22 - 27, 2018 Atlantic City, New Jersey, Harrah's Hotel & Casino.

Ahepa web Site is AHEPA.ORG You can download membership applications on line!

Everyone is Welcome!!!

Our Chapter is the largest on Long Island For more info please visit AHEPA.org

Daniel S. Janis the 3rd receiving HABA's Executive of the Year Award.

From left are, Fanny Trataros, President of HABA, James Gerkis, the honoree, Robert Savage, Sophia Prountzos, Nick Lionas, Anna Sembos, Costas Kellas, Emmanuel Caravanos and George Maroulis

Fanny Trataros, President of HABA, addressing the event

Hellenic Bankers Honor Daniel S. Janis at their Annual Gala The Honoree with his daughter Sabrina wife Stephanie

The Hellenic American Association for Professional in Finance bestowed its annual Executive of the year Award to Mr. Daniel S. Janis the 3rd, during its annual award dinner which was held on Wednesday June 13th, at the Union League Club in Manhattan.

Mr. Janis is the head of Global Multi-Sector Fixed Income at Manulife Asset Management He is a senior managing director, senior portofolio manager and the lead portofolio manager for the multi-sector fixed income strategies.

Mr. Fanny Trataros, the President of HABA welcomed everyone and she described the activities of the association and the cooperation and help is receiving from all Professional 20

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Association in the Greek American Community. and be hungry.” Also, when you start, you have to have a mentor and always try to be prepared.

Mrs. Alexis Christophorous, news anchor and Business correspondent for Yahoo Finance was His wife Stefanie and his daughter Sabrina were the Mistress of Ceremony, also present at the dinner.

The Vice President of HABA Mr. Robert Savage introduced the honoree. Mr. Janis which sort for Jianakopoulos (his complete family nameHe was born in a family consisting of a Greek father and an Italian mother and two sisters) thanked HABA for choosing him to receive the award and speaking to the audience of mostly young professionals he shared his secrets of his success urging them to have integrity in everything they do. “In other words do what you said to do to your clients. There are three principles,” he said. “Be humble, show respect

After the presentation of the award Mr. Costas Kellas, the director of HABA used his closing remarks to thank all those who helped in organizing the event and the sponsors of the event.

Among the attendees was the Consul General of Greece Dr. Konstantinos Koutras, the Consul of Greece Mrs. Lana Zohiou, the Consul General of Cyprus Mr. Alexis Faidonos and the trade representatives of both Greece and Cyprus to New York.

Cathedral School Students Excel with Hellenic Education David Savage ( VP of HABA Executive Board) with the honoree Mr. Daniel Janis the 3rd

Mr. Costas Kellas, the director of HABA gave closing remarks

From left, Elpida Ferguson, Konstantinos Bouras, Maria Kalamidas, Nancy Papaioannou, President of Atlantic Bank, Gerasimos Tetenes, Matilda Economou and Maria Pagoulatos

Mr. Daniel Janis the 3rd with his daughter Sabrina and other friends and associates during the reception

The Hellenic-American Association for Professionals in Finance, is one of the premier Greek-American organizations in the New York metropolitan area. HABA is a not-for-profit organization established in 1982 to promote the professional and educational interest of Greek-Americans, Cypriots and Pan-Hellens in the banking and finance industries. Their current membership consists of over 300 professionals representing more than 50 institutions across the financial spectrum.

Since its inception, HABA has strived to serve the professional and educational interests of the Hellenic community by sponsoring lectures, seminars, receptions with guest speakers and other events such as book-signings, holiday celebrations and job-fairs.

For more information, their website is haba.org P HOTO S: ETA P RESS

The Cathedral School gathered June 11th at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan to celebrate the graduation exercises of its 8th grade class. Distinguished television producer Michael Karzis spoke to the graduates and attendees, underscoring the importance of an education rooted in the classics, Greek language, and Greek culture. Mr. Karzis reminded the students to always, “Contribute...be respectful...and be kind”.

Distinguished guests such as Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America and Bishop Nicholas of Russian Orthodox Church, listened to speeches given by outstanding scholars George Chudley, Logan Coster and Richard Abiuso, the valedictorian and co-salutatorians of the class respectively.

The Three Hierarchs Award, celebrating the student who most embodies Greek Orthodox values, was given to Manolis Lambrakis. “A school that graduates students with such strong academics and moral values is unique and a source of strength for the Greek community” noted Live Diakolios, a Cathedral School Board Member.

This year’s graduates of The Cathedral School hold a remarkable place in the school’s 69 year history. They are the first class in 15 years to complete their Hellenic education with a trip to Greece, visiting many of Greece’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition, the graduates are leaving The Cathedral School to enter some of the best high schools in New York City. “Our students place into the best high schools because an education rooted in Hellenic principles and ideals is the best preparation for a strong academic future.” said Head of School, Kristine Cecere, regarding the graduates.

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Greece: Sky Is the Limit to Develop Energy Resources at Regional and National Levels Greece has emerged as a key gas player in the national and E a s t Mediterranea n levels. In the regional setting, the acquisition of

by Antonia Dimou Israel’s Karish and Tanin offshore gas fields by a Greek company, Energean Oil & Gas, at the price of $148 million presents a milestone. The reason lies in that the approval of the Field Development Plan by the Israeli authorities and the securing of sales agreements guarantee the execution of the $1.3 billion investment plan to fully develop the two fields. The contract for the Karish field’s development foresees drilling in three wells in the first quarter of 2019, and the first gas is expected to flow in 2021.

Interestingly, Energean Oil & Gas has secured sales agreements of more than 3 bcm of gas annually and has raised almost $1.2 billion of loans to develop the Karish and Tanin fields.

island of Corfu, as an outcome of the 2014 International Licensing Round. Additional bids that are expected to be evaluated include HELPE with Edison that have established a 5050 partnership for a Gulf of Patras block; HELPE’s consortium with Total and Exxon Mobil that each hold 40 percent stakes for two offshore blocks south and southwest of Crete; and, HELPE with Spain’s Repsol that each holds 50 percent stakes in an offer submitted for another Ionian Sea block.

Greece envisions reducing dependence on energy imports and increasing public finances through investment incentives and new legislation for onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production (E&P). Athens’ interest in the reform of the legal and institutional framework for the safety in offshore exploration and exploitation, including environmental rules, is evidenced in the July 2016 enactment of law 4409 by the Greek parliament that transposed the European Directive 2013/30/EE into national law. Despite the fact that oil and gas exploration and production is a prime strategy for Greece’s economic development, the Greek government has delayed the approval of licenses and permits not only for the onshore licensing round of areas in Southern and Western Greece, but also the second international licensing round that expired in July 2014. This stalling has impeded the opening of new licensing rounds.

The Greek energy company has notably worked with arranger Morgan Stanley to secure funding from banks and institutional investors; the capital will finance a Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit to extract natural gas from the two fields, and a pipeline that will transport gas to Israel.

No doubt that, there are certain preconditions for Greece to become an energy producer, Thanks to the acquisition of Israeli fields by namely delineation of the Greek EEZ with Greek Energean Oil & Gas, Israel’s energy neighboring countries; a comprehensive market is no longer dominated by a monopoly. settlement of the Cyprus problem; involvement The Greek energy company’s presence in the of foreign energy companies in exploration and Israeli energy setting is accelerated by the production activities as means to help Athens granting of five new exploration licenses as realize the potential of its hydrocarbon result of Israel’s first offshore licensing round resources; and, the alleviation of financial risks that ended in November 2017. The awarded by the EU through project finance from the licenses comprise blocks 12, 21, 22, 23 and 31 European Investment Bank. On grounds of thus raising the total number of licenses held by investment decisions based on commercial Eneregan Oil & Gas to thirteen, providing viability, the European Bank for Reconstruction upside potential for future growth and and Development previously funded with two c o m p l e m e n t i n g t h e c o m p a n y ’ s E a s t subordinated loans valued at 95 million dollars the Greek Energean Oil & Gas to expand Mediterranean portfolio. exploration activities in the Greek Prinos field In addition to the Greek penetration of the East with fifteen new drills scheduled for 2015-2017.

Mediterranean energy landscape, Athens also That said, there cent decision by Energean Oil & seeks to develop its own gas fields in the Ionian Gasto farm out a 60% interest to Spain’s Repsol Sea and South of Crete. The Greek Ministry of for its onshore blocks in Western Greece was Energy signed a contract with French Total’s JV driven by the Spanish company’s expertise in ,Italian Edison and Hellenic Petroleum (HELPE) conducting a geophysics campaign to process securing offshore Block 2, located west of the 400km during 2019 that can lead to new discoveries.

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In the existence of significant exploitable hydrocarbons, Greece will get tangible benefits for the Greek national economy and the local Greek communities. But to enhance the energy exploration and development process at the national level, Greece should motivate foreign companies to get involved in oil and gas exploration and production activities and partnerships in the country as a means of helping Greek energy companies build knowledge and capacity. The launching of new tenders for exploration and production of hydrocarbons will undoubtedly provide new opportunities for domestic and international companies to work together to create jobs in Greece. This presupposes the enhancement of a stable and secure environment for doing business, i.e. granting licenses and permits on time, transparency in tenders, and evaluation of bids processes. Also critical is the advancement of plans to supply American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Balkans, through the Greek Revithoussa LNG Terminal that not only will establish the US as an alternative source of supply but will also bolster Greece’s geostrategic stand.

At regional levels, Greece should enhance cooperation with Israel on joint development of regional infrastructure for the transportation and marketing of gas, like the East Mediterranean pipeline as a potential route for Israeli gas to Europe, via Cyprus, Crete, continental Greece and Italy. Equal important is the speeding up of plans for the construction of the Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) near Alexandroupolis in Northern Greece, as it will provide an additional entry point for LNG to the Balkans and Europe.

Unquestionably, Greece is a uniquely positioned country that can transport energy from the East Mediterranean to Europe and a critical player in developing indigenous and regional gas fields. For the country to advance its multiple energy roles, sky is the limit.

Antonia Dimou is Head of the Middle East Unit at the Institute for Security and Defense Analyses, Greece and an Associate at the Center for Middle East Development, University of California, Los Angeles.

Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV ), House Foreign Affairs Committee with Philip Christopher and Andy Manatos

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Jonathan Cohen receives the Frizis Award with leaders of (L to R) POMAK, AHEPA, PSEKA, AHI, US-Cyprus Chamber, HANC, CEH

Author of the Cyprus Arms Embargo Bill, Congressman David Cicilline, is honored with (L to R) Philip Christopher, Andy Manatos, Lou Raptakis, Mike Manatos, Endy Zemenides

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce talks with (L to R) Cyprus Presidential Commissioner Photiou, CEH President Manatos, Cyprus Embassy Charge d’affairs Nicolaides

Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member, House Energy & Commerce Committee

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman, House Human Rights Subcommittee

Annual Hellenic Issues Conference in Washington DC Moves Cyprus Up on the American Agenda They travelled from Cyprus, Greece, England and all over the US and like the 300 Spartans only they are far less – they are facing a foe as formidable, cruel and ruthless as Xerxes' Persia, which is Erdogan's neo- Ottoman Turkey.

Cypriot and other Greek Americans met in Washington DC at the 34th Annual PSEKA (it stands for International Coordinated Committee “Justice for Cyprus--in Greek) Conference to make sure that the centers of American power don’t forget what happened and continues happening in Cyprus after the brutal Turkish invasion of 1974.

The President of the United States, White House and State Department foreign policymakers, and key senators and Members of Congress were personally presented with new information that can advance the Cyprus issue high on America's agenda. Conference participants met with over 40 US senators, key Members of Congress and Administration officials during the three-day deliberations.

The strategy now focuses on presenting the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish forces not only as a violation of International Law and US laws that prohibit US manufactured weapons from being used to attack a country, as Turkey did, 26

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but on the Islamic fundamentalism that Turkey Committee (AJC), The Hellenic American is implementing on the occupied areas by Leadership Council (HALC), The Coordinated importing hundreds of thousands of mainland Effort of Hellenes (CEH), POMAK ( World Turks to the island so that the Federation of Overseas indigenous Turkish-speaking Cypriots), The population becomes a minority.

Federation of Cypriot A m e r i c a n To that effort, the explanation Organizations (FCAO), that Cyprus merits the AHEPA (The American President's personal attention, Hellenic Educational in an op-ed written by Philip and Progressive Christopher and printed in the Association), AHI (The Washington Times (see next American Hellenic page), was personally handed to Institute), The CyprusPresident Trump during the US Chamber of conference on a flight on Air Commerce and The Force One. As well, the foreign Hellenic American policy voice of the US House of National Council Representatives, the Chairman (HANC). of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, read #1 and #4 in the House Democratic C o n f e r e n c e C h r i s t o p h e r ’ s p i e c e a n d Leadership: Democratic Leader Nancy participants met with and Democratic Caucus indicated that he would send it Pelosi senators, Members of Chairman Joe Crowley to the top foreign policy people Congress and in the White House and at the State Administration officials that formulate US Department. foreign policy, including three of the top four senators and Members who lead the The sponsors of this conference, besides formulation of foreign policy in the US PSEKA, included: The American Jewish Congress: PHOTOS: BILL PETROS

• Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee • Ranking Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Middle East Subcommittee - Ranking Member on the House Energy Committee - Leaders in the US Congress for Human Rights: • Chairman of the House Human Rights Subcommittee • Ranking Member on the Senate Human Rights Subcommittee • Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission - Leadership in House and Senate: • #1 Democrat in the House Leadership • #4 Democrat in the House Leadership • #4 Democrat in the Senate Leadership

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senate Armed Services Committee with Andy Manatos

- Influential Members in other Foreign Policy and National Security issues: • Ranking Member on the House Counterterrorism & Intelligence Subcommittee • Ranking Member on the House Asia & Pacific Subcommittee • Ranking Member on the House Western Hemisphere Subcommittee - Founders and Co-Chairs of the Hellenic Caucus: - Founders and Co-Chairs of the Congressional Hellenic-Israeli Alliance (CHIA) - Numerous Members who serve on the House Europe Subcommittee, House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, House Terrorism Subcommittee, and House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

Philip Christopher: “Turkey promotes Islamic fundamentalism” PSEKA President Philip Christopher talks to NEO'S Demetrios Rhompotis. Himself a refugee from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Christopher became a successful businessman and has for decades led the fight for the Cypriot cause.

You piece in the Washington Times about the Islamic radicalization of the occupied areas is part of a new strateg y?

Yes it is! Because this is what Erdogan wants to do all over Europe. He wants to bring Muslim fundamentalists and that's his vision.

As I wrote in the article, Cyprus is the first case where this scheme is been implemented, by converting the occupied areas to a fundamentalist Muslim state within Europe.

What will the next steps be?

I will come back to Washington and meet with State Department officials. Also, President Trump has the op-ed I wrote and let’s see how he reacts to it.

What's your assessment of the this year's conference?

What about the big meeting in Cyprus?

Every time we come here to Washington we Yes, Cypriot organizations are meeting July put a little stone in 25 to 27 and we are the building that we bringing together are trying to more than 150 construct. And young Cypriots every time we from all over the come, there is a world to get them different crisis and a i n v o l v e d . different situation.

Hopefully, by that We h a v e a n e w time a new policy administration. The will be issued by the new Secretary of government of State just got Cyprus. Because confirmed. But I when we go to think what we heard Cyprus it's really a for the first time matter of from congressmen exchanging ideas and senators is that and coming up with they really talk an updated strategy about the Cyprus to follow and issue, they implement. understand the issue, they A message to the understand the Greek American Exclusive Economic community: How Zone of Cyprus and can they help? how it has to be protected in view of We a r e i n a the American fundraising season. companies drilling We need to help there. And they Greek American Philip Christopher understand why candidates and key Turkey's actions are detrimental in the Congress people who are on our side. We region. So, I'm very happy with what we have need a lot of work to do and much money to accomplished and I think the greatest spend until November and we need all the achievement is the fact that we had all the help that we can get. I understand that many major Greek American organizations here. A people don't have the time to get personally lot of people are saying, you are not united, involved in the Hellenic issues effort, but you are not working together, but this time they can help by participating or organizing everybody was here, together, with the same fundraisers. PSEKA is available for help and message. That to me is what the work of provide guidance as to who are the key PSEKA is all about, because we are not an candidates that need our support. organization, we are a coordinating Everybody can help and do what is required. committee.

COVER STORY

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In July 1974, Turkish forces invaded and captured 3% of Cyprus before a ceasefire was declared. In August 1974 another Turkish invasion resulted in the capture of approximately 40% of the island. The ceasefire line from August 1974 became the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus and is commonly referred to as the Green Line.

Around 150,000 people (amounting to more than one quarter of the total population of Cyprus, and to one third of its Greek Cypriot population) were expelled from the occupied northern part of the island, where Greek Cypriots constituted 80%. A little over a year later in 1975, roughly 60,000 Turkish Cypriots, amounting to half the Turkish Cypriot population, were displaced from the south to the north.

The occupation is viewed as illegal under international law and amounting to illegal occupation of European Union territory since Cyprus became its member.

T h e International Coordinating Committee "Justice for C y p r u s " (PSEKA) was founded in 1975 by the late President of C y p r u s , Archbishop Makarios. The Senator Bob Menendez organization, with Mike Manatos w i t h headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus, has chapters all over the world. Its North American headquarters are located in New York City. Today PSEKA is staffed by professionals and volunteers working together in cities all over the United States and Canada. Over the last two years, PSEKA and its Board of Directors has begun a push via the Internet, to raise awareness over the plight of the people of Cyprus.

The mission of PSEKA remains the pursuit of a just and viable solution to the Cyprus Problem, which will see the people of Cyprus free from the tyranny of an invading force - that of the Turkish Armed Forces which occupies over 35% of its territory. While the history of the conflict between Turkey and Cyprus is rooted in the 60's and 70's, the repercussions of that conflict has definitely spilled over to the new millenium.

Today, the Cyprus Problem remains the only source of military and political tension in the southern sphere of influence of Europe and the Balkans region by having two of NATO's most well equipped members, Turkey and Greece, face each other off over the future of the island.

For more information on PSEKA and of ways to support the struggle to liberate Cyprus from Turkish occupying forces, the website is pseka.net 28

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The first modern Islamist fundamentalist conquest of the West?

by Philip Christopher* In the 1970s, a young mogul named Donald Trump was making news as a young, brash and very successful real estate developer. At the same time, Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus made international headlines. Now, 44 years later, they are on a collision course of historic consequence. US President Trump is the leader of the Western world and Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus has now become the first modern Islamist fundamentalist attempt to capture Western world territory and resources.

fought jihadi Islamists. Given that the birthrate of the roughly 500,000 Turks on Cyprus is higher than that of the 800,000 Christian Greek Cypriots who live in the remaining two-thirds of the island, illegal non-secular Turks stand to become a majority of the people in this Western democratic island nation and pose an even more serious threat to US security interests.

Spurred by the need to distract domestic attention from Erdogan’s collapsing economy, this conquest attempt will reach a New revelations expose Turkey stealthily historic tipping point under President positioning itself to attempt to permanently Trump’s watch. And we are confident that possess the northern Trump will put an third of Cyprus, end to it. His which is rich in “common sense” will replace Washington’s hydrocarbons and stands as a bulwark “wisdumb” that has effectively given the of Western civilization in the The occupied town of Kyrenia, where Philip “green light” to Turkish aggression E a s t e r n Christopher was born and hasn't been able on Cyprus. There are M e d i t e r r a n e a n . to return since Cypriot citizens fought beside the US in every dozens of examples that include looking the 20th century war and have shown their other way during Turkey’s illegal use of unwavering common thinking. When Turkey American arms and planes in violation of the refused treatment to our dying soldiers at Foreign Assistance Act to invade Cyprus. our base at Incirlik, after Islamist They even include our helping Turkey with fundamentalists bombed US military shameful silence as they hid for 10 years their barracks in Beirut, Cyprus stepped up and execution of five Americans captured alive, took care of our soldiers. dumping them along with 2,000 GreekCypriot men, women and children into mass Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan graves. duped US officials into believing he would end his illegal military occupation of Cyprus. Trump’s extraordinary business sense will He was so convincing that news stories protect Cyprus, a hydrocarbon-rich ally that indicated President Barack Obama spent has been working with Exxon, Shell and more time on the phone with Erdogan than Noble Energy of Texas. It is also working with any other head of state for most of his America and Israel to provide a safe path for presidency. these resources to Western Europe. He will not be frightened as Turkish warships try to Erdogan ignored the Geneva Conventions intimidate companies licensed by Cyprus, and quietly transplanted hundreds of like Italy’s Eni, to explore for hydrocarbons thousands of Turks to live among Cypriot- in their exclusive economic zones. Nor will born Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus who are he remain silent as Erdogan attempts to take traditionally Western, moderate and secular over Cyprus’s northern third in his drive to Muslims. The Turkish Cypriots recently create a new Ottoman sultanate and a world exposed Erdogan’s ploy by pointing out that caliphate. there are 684,301 active mobile phones and 715,000 loaves of bread baked a day in the Washington “wisdumb” cannot manipulate northern third of Cyprus and that they, who President Trump. As long as he is the leader are supposed to essentially be the totality of of the Western world, he will not allow the population, number only 130,000.

Erdogan’s Islamist fundamentalists to achieve their first modern conquest of the The Turkish Cypriots complain that Erdogan West. President Trump, please stand with the has forced mosques and extremist imams Republic of Cyprus, a strong ally of the into the occupied area that “brainwash our United States and Israel. children.” Recently, Erdogan’s Gray Wolves violently attacked a Cypriot newspaper that Philip Christopher is president of the stood with America in opposing Erdogan’s International Coordinating Committee assault on US-backed Syrian Kurds who have “Justice for Cyprus” (PSEKA).

LIVES AFLOAT – AN EXHIBIT ON THE GREEK REFUGEE CRISIS AT THE NATIONAL HELLENIC MUSEUM The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) in Chicago, introduces its newest exhibition Lives Afloat: The Greek Refugee Crisis through the Lens of Tasos Markou 2015-2017, to open Thursday, June 21, 2018 through spring 2019. This photographic exhibition, which will be inaugurated to coincide with the World

Refugee Day ( June 20th) portrays the realities facing refugees as they arrived in Greece at the height of the Greek Refugee Crisis.

By early 2015, the numbers of refugees pouring into Greece had dramatically increased to hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children. Many fled their home countries, attempting to reach Europe over land and by sea. Most were fleeing violence, war or persecution, and more than a third were escaping the Syrian Civil War. Unlike economic migrants, refugees do not willingly leave in search of new or better opportunities. Rather, refugees are forced from their homes by threat of harm and unsafe conditions.

To compose the Lives Afloat exhibition, the NHM exhibition team utilized evidence-based reports and data from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and imagery of photographer Tasos Markou.

Markou, born in 1983 in Larisas, Greece, 30

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studied photography at the Diek Voluou Public Vocational Training Institute. In 2015, he traveled to the island of Lesvos to cover the refugee crisis. His photographs capture some of these journeys — the difficulties of sea crossings, the living conditions in camps, and the boundaries encountered, particularly at the northern border of Greece. Daily life in the camps, including the poignant moments of families trying to adapt to living with limited resources and the sense of chronic waiting are portrayed.

The NHM’s Lives Afloat exhibition shows a perspective of the Greek refugee crisis over a three-year period in three sections, Arrivals, Waiting, and Borders, to illustrate the experience through powerful photographs. Markou found himself changed by the experience, at times working more to provide aid as a volunteer than as a photojournalist. "I decided it wasn't enough to just be a good person. You have to act. Lesvos changed me. It would change anyone who comes here,” said Tasos Markou.

“It is so important for the National Hellenic Museum to be telling the story of the Greek Refugee Crisis with our own exhibition,” said Laura Calamos Nasir, Ph.D, National Hellenic Museum President. “It is crucial for the National Hellenic Museum to address recent history and portray the effects the crisis has had on so many.

Using photos to tell the real story of a crisis impacting the Greek community, and indeed millions of lives, we aim to encourage people to learn more by seeking good sources of information, to gain more perspective and to develop a greater understanding of what is happening in the world, whether in the past or in current events. Visitors are invited to consider ways to get involved by learning more

about the impact of nonprofit organizations and how effectively they directly impact peoples’ lives.”

Founded in Chicago as the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center (HMCC) in 1983, the HMCC moved to the city’s Greektown

neighborhood in 2004 and opened its current location on Halsted Street as the National Hellenic Museum in 2011. The contemporary four-story building is home to extensive collections, rotating exhibitions, classrooms, and a stunning rooftop view of Chicago. Three floors of galleries explore ancient and modern themes and provide multi-use spaces to host tours, public programs, and private events. The NHM boasts a rich repository of 20,000+ artifacts, photos, historic newspapers, books and an archive of 450+ recorded histories. The NHM Collections & Archives serve as a central repository of Greek American history, now many generations strong. The Museum celebrates the mosaic of the Greek diaspora, immigrant journeys, and the breadth of the American experience.

For information on the Lives Afloat exhibit or other programs, membership, special events, facility rentals, or giving, their website is nationalhellenicmuseum.org.

The Macedonia Agreement

by Alexander Billinis It is of course premature to call the agreement signed, all too symbolically, at Lake Prespa between Greece and its northern neighbor, “North Macedonia,” as a done deal. National parliaments need to weigh in and, in newly baptized North Macedonia’s case, a referendum needs to be held for this agreement to be binding. This Agreement may be moot by the time it goes to press. However, without going too far into the history of a very complicated issue —the Macedonian Issue—allow me to offer a few opinions.

First, there is the name itself, “North Macedonia.” I have been writing and studying this issue since my college days when I was an East European Studies major at Georgetown University. I have always believed that Macedonia is a region divided between three states, and that no part has exclusivity for the whole—whether in a territorial, cultural, or ethnic sense. As such, a geographic qualifier to the name Macedonia always made sense to me.

I would have preferred Slav Macedonia as the name because the former Yugoslav republic is on part of the territory of Macedonia, and because the majority population are indeed Slavs. In this way, the name Slav Macedonia contains an ethnic and geographic qualifier.

Having said that, some qualifier is far better than none, particularly where now for over a quarter century most people refer to North Macedonia as simply Macedonia. Further the “Deal” requires that the name be used ever ywhere, both domestically and internationally.

As such, I give the country’s name a hesitant thumbs up.

Second, there is the nationality and the language. Here I am more concerned. The agreement as it stands simply baptizes the neighbor ’s language and ethnicity as “Macedonian” without any qualifier. There is a need to differentiate between a Greek or Bulgarian Macedonian and a Macedonian from North Macedonia, and here we have a problem.

By not clearly defining this nationality and language as a separate “Macedonian” from that of Greece or Bulgaria, it implies that Macedonian is only a person from North Macedonia who speaks (Slav) Macedonian. The concept of a Macedonian ethnicity is a contentious one for both Greeks and Bulgarians, and if the North Macedonian side 32

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over-interprets this to the exclusion of Greek inviolable, and “nothing in either country’s and Bulgarian Macedonians, the Agreement constitution shall be inferred to constitute a will be a scrap of paper. basis for changing frontiers, or for interfering in the internal affairs of the other.” This is yet The Slav Macedonians will of course point out, another sore spot for the Greek side, one again, probably correctly, that their 35 percent plus seemingly resolved by the Agreement.

Albanian minority will not like their nationality listed as Slav Macedonian, and that their votes On borders and internal interference, another will be vital to passing this agreement in thumbs up. parliament and the referendum. This argument unfortunately has merit. They will often argue It is hard to give each item equal weight and by that they should not have to “qualify” their no means are these criteria the only ones, but I nationality with the term Slav, to which I would do believe that they are the main points for respond that they and so many other ex- normalizing the fraught relations between the Yugoslavs were happy with the term Yugoslav, two neighboring states. I remain bothered by and this should pose no problem. Further, the nationality issue, yet I think that the balance while Macedonia does indeed have a long Slavic of the Agreement is equitable enough to both history—from the times of Slav settlement countries and may form the basis for improved nearly fifteen hundred years ago, it is relations in the future. Of course, no historically incorrect to bestow the term Agreement is worth anything without the buy“Macedonian” on them without any qualifiers. in of both parties, and in both countries—and The agreement contains some mealy-mouthed their vocal diasporas—there is considerable reference to “Macedonian” as a South Slav feeling that the deal is a sell-out. language and clearly not related to the Macedonian of the Ancients, yet it should go Certainly, there is outside pressure to make a further. deal work, so that North Macedonia can join European and Euro-Atlantic structures. It may For the nationality and language issue, I give a be, too, that the Greek government battered by thumbs down. austerity and by some rather disastrous policies at the beginning of the SYRIZA-ANEL While we are on history, the Agreement makes government needed an international success by clear that that the North Macedonia has nothing concluding an issue that has largely been a to do with Ancient Macedonia, which is “a public relations disaster for Greece. I have Hellenic civilization” with a “continuity from never respected Prime Minister Tsipras and I antiquity to the present day.” For so many would hardly be surprised that he would people this has been a key sticking point and conclude a deal for cynical reasons. Optimism the Deal/Agreement specifically states that and trust in politicians is in low supply in either Ancient Macedonia belongs to the heritage of of my countries. And yet seeds sometimes take Greek Macedonia and that for each Party to the root even in poor soils.

Agreement (Greece and North Macedonia) the term “Macedonian” refers to “a different I think that the key to making this Agreement historical context and cultural heritage.” This is work is to understand that both Macedonian a clear endorsement of Ancient Macedonia as identities—and a Bulgarian Macedonian Greek and of the continuity of Hellenic identity—exist. All these identities have value character of Macedonia from the Classical and there is a considerable common history. All period to the present. It states, further, that of Macedonia shares a common primary FYROM must change any monuments or public religion—Orthodox Christianity—and all infrastructure in their country “to ensure Macedonians are successors of the Byzantine respect for the said [Hellenic] patrimony.”

Empire. During the Ottoman era all Orthodox Macedonians were part of the Rum Mileti, the For historical issues, thumbs up.

Turkish term for the Byzantine Community, living together as one people, often Then of course there is the issue of irredentism multilingual and conscious of our similarities either implicit or explicit in the North and our differences. We have so much in Macedonian Constitution and policies. The common, including a beautiful region called Agreement confirms that the borders are Macedonia.

The Hamptons Greek Festival The sights, sounds, aromas and flavors of Greece are coming again to Hamptonites and visitors to the East End. The Hamptons Greek Festival will take place again this year, July 12-15. On the beautiful grounds of the Dormtion of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, the Hamptons Greek Festival brings the spirit and fabled hospitality of a traditional Greek Village.

Celebrating the 33rd year of this tradition, the Festival will highlight authentic Greek dishes and pastries, The Hamptons Hellenic Dancers performances, and live Greek Music nightly.

Thousands have indulged in the rich flavors and hearty portions of the Festival’s menu. Passing down the culinary traditions of their parents and grandparents, the organizers of the 2018 Hamptons Greek Festival offer Greek style chicken, pastitsio, spanakopita, souvlaki, gyro and much more. Complementing the main fare are Greek pastries that were praised by Newsday which reported that its “favorite source in Astoria doesn’t hold a candle, frankly, to the kourambiedes (almond butter cookies) made by the Church ladies.”

Families with children of all ages are welcome at the Festival, where they will find a children and young people’s entertainment area filled with face painting, amusement rides, and games. All are invited to enjoy the food, take in the culture, and dance to live music.

The 2018 Hamptons Greek Festival will give attendees the opportunity to tour the new beautiful Byzantine Church which has been featured in Hamptons Magazine’s “Space, Real Estate and Design” section, and is newly adorned with Byzantine Orthodox Icons in the apse and dome.

The Hamptons Greek Festival will take place on Thursday, July 12 Sunday, July 15.

Festival hours are: 4:00pm to 11:00pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday, Noon to 9pm Everyday is Bracelet Day. The Festival is located at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church at 111 St. Andrews Road and is easily accessible from both the Sunrise and Montauk Highways in Southampton.

There is ample Free parking at the Stony Brook University Southampton Campus with Free shuttle bus service for all Festival Guests. Valet parking at a price as well.

AHEPA Yankee District #7 members at the annual convention

Yankee District #7 Holds Discussion on the Future of AHEPA AHEPA Yankee District #7 held its annual Convention at St. George Greek Orthodox Church Social Hall in New Briatin, Connecticut this past May. In addition to the usual business of planning initiatives for the new year and electing new Chapter Officers, the feature of the Convention was a transcendent Panel Discussion, entitled "A Century of Achievement"; Where will AHEPA be in 2022: AHEPA at the Crossroads", an examination on the current state and future relevancy of AHEPA as it approaches its 100th anniversary. The theme of the symposium was the challenge faced by the organizations, adapting to changing demographics, such as the predominance of mixed marriages, and changing priorities amongst families in the modern technological age.

The discussion organizer Gregory Stamos with members of the panel

The long-planned discussion centered on how AHEPA needed to reimagine itself and adjust to societal changes, be it the independence given to local Chapters to make an impact in their local community combined with an appropriate sense of direction from National leadership.

The transparent, provocative and constructively critical discussion was organized by Attorney Gregory Stamos, Past Supreme Counselor of AHEPA, was moderated by Jim Zafiros, former Senior VicePresident at NBC New from New Rochelle, New York and the presenters were Jimmy Kokenos, of Brooklyn, AHEPA Supreme Secretary, Anna Hellene-Grossomanides, former Grand President of the Daughters of Penelope and Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael, former 34

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Dean of the Fairfield School of Engineering and AHEPA New Haven Chapter #98 President.

Kokenos spoke about the flexibility that each Chapter has in addressing local needs and responding to initiatives that resonate within its membership; Grossomanides and Stamos stressed the need for collaboration with other Hellenic organizations in this era of membership challenges, and Hadjimichael presented a video on the necessity to develop foundational strength through connectivity with local Chapter members at the local Chapter level.

This ground-breaking session illuminated not only the successes of AHEPA through its nearly a Century of achievement, but also highlighted the challenges of adapting to changing demographics and initiative amongst the Hellenic community.

hellenes without borders

Alexander Billinis is a writer and lawyer in Chicago, Illinois. He and his family returned to the US after nearly a decade in Greece, the UK, and Serbia. He writes prolifically on Balkan topics. His books, The Eagle has Two Faces: Journeys through Byzantine Europe, and Hidden Mosaics: An Aegean Tale, are available from Amazon.com.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT BYZANTIUM

A rather odd title to an article, but the reader familiar with my work ought to be familiar with my . . . eccentricities. Perhaps it is not so odd, as Greek parents often talk to their kids at some length about “the history of our people.” Gus Portokalos in Big Fat Greek Wedding made a point of talking history, at the dinner table, to the neighbors, and to the “lucky” future son-in-law getting baptized into the Greek Orthodox Church, whose “ancestors were singing in trees while Greeks were writing philosophy.”

Very simple. First of all, talk about how the Roman civilization was in fact Greco-Roman civilization, a fusion of these two high Mediterranean cultures. The Eastern part of the Roman Empire had always spoken Greek as its primary administrative language, and the Romans continued this practice. You might remind both your children—and your Evangelical Christian friends (particularly if you live in the South)—that this is why The New Testament was written in Greek.

Add in the Greek Orthodox Church, the costumes, parades, Greek School (if you indulged in this), and you had a sort of timeline.

The Parthenon, Alexander the Great, perhaps a word on the New Testament being written in Greek and the Apostle Paul’s travels in Greece, and then . . . an intermission.

Then, as the Roman Empire became too unwieldy and attacked by barbarians to the north, the empire was divided into two, and this division ran roughly along the lines of where Greek was spoken (a map helps here). A Roman Emperor named Constantine (that’s why we

This hiatus in historiography and instruction lasts almost 1800 years, until suddenly the poems, the dances, and the rebellions began again, and this nation extinguished for about two millennia arose again, as if in suspended animation for all this time.

Never mind that one must also suspend belief to make this jump; our dinner table talk, and historiography in general, seems to oblige a twomillennium fast forward.

Obviously, I am exaggerating for effect, but ask yourself. Did the Portokaloses talk about Byzantium at all? We know that the yiayia hated the Turks, but do most Greek viewers know how the Turks got there, or what was there before? How often did you talk about the Byzantine Empire and its one thousand year history in Greek school or Sunday School?

If you went to school before Western Civilization courses got axed out due to political correctness, you may have talked about the Ancient Greeks, and then moved West to Rome and never “back East” again, even though East Rome—Byzantium, survived for another 1000 years. Unless you majored in East European Studies, you might never have heard of Byzantium at all.

So, how do you fill in the timeline?

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Greeks have this name all the time) then moved his capital to a place where Europe meets Asia, on the ancient Greek city of Byzantium, and it became known as Constantinople. Under Emperor Constantine, Christianity—the same Christianity we Greeks (and Serbs, Romanians, Bulgarians, Russians and others) celebrate—became the Roman state religion.

everyone else that this Byzantium thwarted any number of Islamic and barbarian invasions of Europe, and when the Byzantines converted peoples to Christianity—unlike Western Christians and scores of other religions—they did so by the Word of God and by the elegance and opulence of their civilizations.

While we rightfully marble at the beauty of The Parthenon and the works of Praxiteles, should we not also wax poetic about Hagia Sophia, The Walls of Constantinople, or the elegant frescoes, mosaics, and edifices of Mystra, Osios Loukas, and literally hundreds of other sites?

Though the Byzantines had an innate sense of superiority, they did not believe, as did the Western Christians, that God could only speak Greek, Latin or Hebrew, and when converting the Slavs, they developed an alphabet and a liturgy in the local languages, so that the South Slavs and the Russians who converted to Orthodoxy did so in their own languages and at the same time fully absorbed Byzantine culture through a Slavic linguistic prism. They conquered with an alphabet army, and it would take the Western Christians another 700 or so years to translate the Bible into local languages.

Medicine, science, technology, and learning thrived under the Byzantines at a time when Western Europe was truly “in the dark.”

When you sit down to eat dinner today, the fork you use to put your food in your mouth—rather than use your often-dirty hands—was invented by the Byzantines. The works of the Ancients rediscovered

by Western Europe in the Renaissance had been part of the national patrimony of the Byzantines.

The Byzantines fleeing the Turks towards the end of the Byzantine Empire were a key catalyst for the Renaissance—again, a fact overlooked and often the Arabs of Spain are given more credit for the Renaissance than the Byzantines.

Since you are on the subject, you might also mention that this empire was set upon by both its fellow Christians in the West, and the Muslims to the East. Caught in the middle, the empire eventually succumbed, but not after a millennium of existence, a track record with few It is worth noting, to your children and to your peers anywhere. This is part of their heritage, a non-Greek friends, that this empire lasted a mere huge part.

1000 years, it generally was the strongest and wealthiest European-Mediterranean polity. It continued on page 57 might also resonate a bit to remind yourself and With the fusion of Greek and Roman civilization with Christianity, you have the basis for the Greek identity of today, and this identity was fully formed in about 400 AD, not 300 BC, or in 1821.

PHOTO: KATE BARRY

“Forever Young” with Nana Mouskouri, the biggest-selling female artist of all time!

by Markos Papadatos Throughout her illustrious career in the music industry, which has spanned 65 years, Mouskouri has performed in excess of 10,000 shows at some of the most exquisite venues in the world, such as the Royal Albert Hall, Berlin Philharmonic, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House and Teatro Monumental in Chile, among countless others. With over 200 albums released, in over 12 different languages, Mouskouri is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She has sold in excess of 350 million albums worldwide, and globally speaking, she is the biggest-selling female artist of all time.

Regarding her latest studio album, Forever Young, Mouskouri said, "I didn't do a record for quite a long time. Honestly, only the younger artists can bring the music further. We, the older artists, we brought our music up to a point. I 46

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decided to do this record now, and I searched for songs from artists such as Bob Dylan, who was one of my favorites, and a few European singers as well. I tried to find songs that were not sad. As a Greek, I am always a very optimistic person, and even if a song is sad, you find a certain truth and you sing it, which is normal. I covered a song 'Love Is a Losing Game' by Amy Winehouse that speaks about love. We know that love can be a losing game, but it can also not be a losing game. The truth is emotional and very important."

While it was difficult for Mouskouri to select a personal favorite song on this new album, especially since she is friends with many of the singer-songwriters, a few in particular that stand out to her include the classics "Hallelujah" and "Forever Young". "With 'Hallelujah,' I feel I am saying goodbye to Leonard Cohen, who passed away last year. I did a lot of his songs," she said. "I also love the Bob Dylan song 'Forever Young'. It was Dylan who inspired me with this song, because it speaks so honestly how you can stay young," she added, with a sweet laugh.

Mouskouri continued, "All these songs, among others, including old Greek and French songs that I remember, are important to be sung. It is a pleasure for me to sing them, and the same time, it is supporting the certain style that we had about songs. These songs will always be there, since they spoke about true feelings."

On her cover of Bryan Adams' “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," she said, "I am a positive person, and I like to always think about hope in life, and love. This is very important. There is hope and I like optimistic things."

She is appreciative of the fact that her latest record is available on vinyl. "I had the biggest success in the '70s because of vinyl. I have so many records, in many different languages, also

and two days later, on April 29, played at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, California, prior to making a tour stop at The Moore Theatre in Seattle, Washington, on May 1. For the rest of M a y , s h e performed concerts in Canada. "I have not been to the United States for

you can't stop progress. As older artists, we cannot catch up as much."

For her fans, she concluded, "I am always learning new things. I have children and grandchildren now, and all of these things made me learn how to be in a family, and how to be treated by my children. Love and happiness is not something that you can have once in life, and put it in a pocket, and say that

On July 5, 2018, Mouskouri will be performing in her native Greece, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ("Herodeon") in Athens, where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to ELPIDA, Association of Friends of Children with Cancer. a number of years," she said prior to the concerts. "I am looking forward to returning in vinyl. We should not be nostalgic of losing back to America, and I hope that the people will something, it is nostalgic to keep the roots of remember me." something that was good, and not to destroy it completely," she said.

On July 5, 2018, Mouskouri will be For her latest studio offering, Mouskouri opted performing in her not to put any Greek songs on there, since she native Greece, at the would like to someday put out an album Odeon of Herodes entirely of Greek songs.

Atticus ("Herodeon") in Athens, where a Regarding the key to longevity in the music p o r t i o n o f t h e industry, Mouskouri shared the following p r o c e e d s w i l l b e advice that she received from Maria Callas, who donated to ELPIDA, was one of the biggest singers in the world at Association of Friends the time. "Maria Callas told me: 'in life, it o f C h i l d r e n w i t h doesn't matter what you do, the most important Cancer. thing is why you do it, and how you do it.' In my life, I did all of my singing with love and for love. O n t h e i m p a c t o f I continued to follow and get new songs, and I technology on the continued to learn. Here I am, 65 years later." music business, Mouskouri said, "This Mouskouri continued, "I owe it all to the is not my favorite, people and the audience who listened to me, because I am losing and they believed in me. I always tried to be tracks. Now, it is a bit honest in them, and not to disappoint them." difficult. I understand that this is life. Also, The veteran songstress revealed that her classic with the technology, song "Hartino To Fengaraki," which translates we lose the basics, into "The Paper Moon," is the song that she which is the identity: closes all of her live shows with. "That was my where a record comes very first song," she said. "In fact, one needs to from, where a singer believe in themselves. 'Hartino To Fengaraki' is comes from, and why a very beautiful song, and it is always with me." the singer sings a certain way. It is tricky On April 27, Mouskouri performed at the Palace since it is diffused very of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco, California, easily. After all though,

it's there forever. You have to cultivate love. You have to care so they can care for you. You have to care for everything. It's a philosophy. You respect your life, and you respect your audience and your singing as well. All this made me to survive for a long time. The first time I came to the United States was in 1962, when I was recording with the great Quincy Jones."

The conference speeches included video messages from U.S. Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, Geoffrey Pyatt and Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post. John Roa, Chairman of Roa Ventures, and Gus Kalaris, Master winemaker of Axios Wines, shared stories of how they began their successful businesses, both inspired by Greece.

The National Hellenic Student Association and the Greek America Foundation Co-host the 2018 National Innovation Conference The National Hellenic Student Association (NHSA) of North America, Inc. collaborated with the Greek America Foundation to host the National Innovation Conference and Forty Under 40 Awards this past May in Philadelphia, PA at Temple University.

began. Opening remarks were given by the President and Founder of Greek America Foundation, Gregory Pappas. Konstantine Ouranitsas, NHSA Chairman, and Alexander

Networking breaks gave guests an opportunity to meet with the speakers and sample food from Olyra Foods and Liokareas Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The remainder of the conference included two panel discussions titled: “Slay in your Lane” featuring four dynamic women in philanthropy, medicine, politics, and education; and “Food 2.0” featuring the nations top food innovators and entrepreneurs.

Included in the food panel was chef and healthy lifestyle expert, Maria Loi, who conducted a cooking session for the kids participating in Camp NIC. The conference concluded with an inspiring presentation by Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016, Elena Laquatra, an engaging conversation and video presentation by the President of NowThis Media, Athan Stephanopoulos, and a motivational speech by Peter Polydor, Founder

The convention kicked off at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown where the NHSA Executive Board greeted attendees during check-in. A welcome reception held at the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial provided a picturesque night for attendees to meet one another, as well as speakers, and award recipients.

and President of Ergo Holdings as well as former panelist from the NHSA Spring 2017 Convention in Los Angeles.

Following the conference, participants attended the Forty Under 40 Awards Reception at Temple University Mitten Hall. Attendees had the opportunity to network and socialize with the award recipients before heading to the Greek Night organized by NHSA at Positano Coast. The Hellenic Weekend ended with a walking tour of the City of Brotherly Love, closing with a group photo-op at the famous The following morning, attendees enjoyed Thomopulos, NHSA President, then welcomed Rocky Steps leading to the Philadelphia breakfast at the historic Temple University guests and shared remarks about NHSA’s Museum of Art. Performing Arts Center, before the conference upcoming initiatives.

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In the Spirit of Heroic Greek Marathoners, Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Jimmy Pantelidis Conquers Modern World's Oldest Marathon In what many called the worst weather in the 122 year history of the race -- wind chill of 26 degrees, hard rain the entire race and headwinds gusting to 35 miles per hour (more than 2,500 runners received

Jimmy and Mike crossing the Boston Marathon finish line in the same jersey worn by 1946 Boston Marathon champion Stylianos Kyriakides

When Jimmy Pantelidis was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in February of last year, he handled it as he does most other challenges in his life: full-on. Not only did he vow to beat cancer…he vowed to run the following year the world’s oldest and best-known marathon - the Boston Marathon.

Jimmy with his daughter Marianna right before she ran the New York City marathon to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer and honor her father’s battle

Well, he did just that. And he did so just 4 months after his last chemo treatment and a cancer-free diagnosis, and just months shy of his 65th birthday. It was the 15th marathon for the man affectionately known as the “marathon man.”

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Jimmy and Mike at Mile 1 of the race at the statue of Stylianos Kyriakides

medical treatment) -- Jimmy Pantelidis and his running mate Mike Manatos completed the Boston Marathon. Over 30,000 amateur and professional runners from all over the world compete in the Boston Marathon each year, braving the hilly Massachusetts terrain and varying weather, and the event attracts over 500,000 spectators, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event.

the Boston Marathon to help save the people of Greece. Although he hadn’t run in 6 years and had to sell his furniture to buy a ticket to the US, he arrived at the starting line in 1946. He was so emaciated that minutes before the race started, race officials told him he could not run because he would die on the streets of Boston.

Greek-Americans with him convinced officials to let him run. During the race, he worked his way to the front of the pack until he was tied with one of the Boston Marathon’s greatest champions, Johnny Kelly. When a Greek-American from the crowd showed, “for Greece, for your children!” Kyriakides took off and won the race in world record time. As he crossed the finish line he shouted, “FOR GREECE!” Kyriakides spent the next month traveling around the United States collecting funds and food for the starving people of Greece.

When he returned home with $250,000 (a remarkable sum in 1946) and tons of food and supplies, over one million Greeks lined the streets to welcome home their hero.

Jimmy and Mike were thrilled to meet in Boston, just days before the race, the grandchildren of Kyriakides - Maria Contos and George Contos. Together they watched the presentation of the golden olive wreaths, flown in from Marathon, Jimmy and Mike drew inspiration from Greece, to the head of the Boston several historic, heroic Greek marathoners: the first marathoner, Pheidippides (in 490 BC); the first Olympic marathon champion, Spyridon Louis (in 1896) - the Boston Marathon was inspired by this first marathon and began the year after (in 1897); and most directly by the winner of the 1946 Boston Marathon Stylianos Kyriakides.

Kyrikides’ story is legendary. Narrowly escaping execution in Greece during WWII, and watching his fellow Greeks die of starvation in the civil war that followed, Kyriakides vowed to go to Boston and win Jimmy and Mike with the replica

of the same jersey Kyriakides wore

Marathon in t h e Massachusett s State Hall at an event hosted by the Alpha Omega organizat ion in Boston.

Each year since 1984, The Boston wreath these ceremony program wreaths crown the male and female winners of the Boston Marathon. They also met at this event Nick Tsiotis, the author “Running with Pheidippides: Stylianos Kyriakides, the Miracle Marathoner.”

During the race yesterday, Jimmy and Mike stopped at Mile 1 at the statue erected to Kyriakides (in which he is guided by 1896 Olympic Marathon champion Spyridon Louis), and unfurled the Greek flag. As they crossed the finish line that afternoon,

Jimmy’s family that flew in to Boston to cheer him on during the race

Jimmy and Mike were also presented with a replica of the exact jersey Kyriakies wore when he won the 1946 Boston Marathon, and wore this jersey Mike and Jimmy with the grandchildren of Stylianos Kyriakides, Maria and George Contos, and the golden as they ran Boston. wreaths flown in from Greece to crown the winners of the Boston Marathon

they were wearing their rain-soaked Kyriakides jerseys, clutching the Greek flag together, and shouted, “FOR GREECE!" In November of last year, Jimmy's daughter Marianna ran the New York City Marathon to honor her father and to raise funds for Project Purple which works to find a cure to Pancreatic Cancer and improve the lives of patients through support, hope and compassion. She raised over $22,000. For the Boston Marathon Jimmy ran and raised for both Project Purple and Cops for Kids with Cancer.

Fellow Leadership 100 board member Drake Behrakis with his sons George and Demetri Pantelides, Co-Founder, along Behrakis whoiscame to cheer Jimmy on with

his brothers George and Peter, of Pan-Brothers Associates, Inc., which offers full Real Estate Development, Management and Brokerage services. He is a long-time member of the Board of Trustees of Leadership 100 and served on the Board of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Manhattan, New York. He and his wife Stella live in Manhattan with their three children, Carli (24), Marianna (22) and Nicholas (18).

Jimmy and Mike running with Jimmy’s daughter Marianna who ran the last 7 miles of the Boston Marathon with them

Pole. He was going to participate in the Marathon last year but a foot injury did not allow him. This year, the Marathon took an extension for ten days and Argyris has to cancel his hospital "on- calls". "Everything went wrong, and because I'm a little preemptive, I thought if something went wrong one more time, then I would not go to the Marathon", he adds.

Difficult conditions As he claims, the conditions were extremely harsh as his face was exposed to ice for so long.

"I could not put a mask because it was blurred by my breath. At some point, ice cubes formed in my eyelashes, eyebrows and mums because of sweating. It was very difficult to run like that.

I have to get it out of my mind in order to go on and that's what I did. But in the end I started to go crazy, it was bothering me too much, but I was saying from within: "It's enough, I finish, I finish, I win."

"There are no limits to human will�

It began as an almost irrational thought, but over time it became a challenge as demanding as few things in life. Extreme weather conditions with near-prohibitive temperatures (-30 degrees) and demanding distance, are inherently causes that would make most of us turn side on our comfortable cough.

But this was not the case of Argyris Papathanassopoulos, the doctor who aimed not only to participate but also to win the Marathon in the inhospitable place of the North Pole and eventually did it filling with pride the Greeks in all over the world. The orthopedic surgeon in the profession, who lives permanently in England, ran 42 kilometers and 195 meters of distance in 4 hours, 34 minutes and 36 seconds leaving almost half an hour behind the second runner.

Moment of ecstasy The Marathon took place at Camp Barneo, known as North Pole Camp, which is located 49 kilometres from the top of the world and the photos of the finish line with Argyris kneeling by holding in his hands the greek flag having at the same time his face covered with ice, made the round of the world. As he says to NEO, this was a moment of absolute ecstasy for him and despite the fact that in the past he had run under extreme weather conditions, such as in 52

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the Sahara and Death Valley in 50 degrees Celsius, this time he broke down crying.

"I was kneeling and tearing up because I first met with polar temperatures for four consecutive hours without water or food. The cold was indescribable. Unfortunately, a journalist came with a camera and broke all this ecstasy. At that moment I wanted to be alone and experience what I was able to do. However, I felt awe because I ran to the top of the world.

Then I went to change my clothes because all my body was filled with ice".

In addition to the exciting minutes of the finish line, engravings will remain in his mind and the life lessons he took from this Μarathon, where he saw people with objective difficulties overcoming themselves. "I ran with a man who had a prosthetic member and who did not stop for 14 hours. Also, a 77-year-old man, despite his advanced age, ran for 11 hours to finish. But what shocked me the most was a blind gentleman who, with the help of his companion, ran into the ice trying at the same time to balance. Ι was thrilled and I realized there is no limit to the human will", he says with pathos.

However, it is worth noting that it is an extremely expensive sport that costs several thousand euros. His participation in that Marathon costed more than 20,000 euros, but he admits that it was worth it. "Until the race was over, I was wondering if it was worth the Once he entered his sleeping bag, he realized trouble to come here. Now it was not only worth it but I would honestly do it again". what he has achieved and he was crying for the whole night. "I could not sleep, I was thinking how powerful the emotion was and the film was playing in my mind: how did I reach the North Pole, how many years I had dreamed of it, what I finally did".

And he did not exaggerate as he has gone through many difficulties before reaching the North

Argyris started running from the age of 14 and from 2006 he stuck the "microbe" of extreme Îœarathons that made him searching for what is most extreme to experience.

messages from people of all ages who did not stop congratulating him for his success. "People told me that I made them proud and they really made me feeling that. I am very pleased with all these messages because I see that, despite the A special one was what he experienced in difficulties of the country, Greeks remains Mexico when he ran with a small tribe of indigenous people known as the Tarahumara.

They call themselves RarĂĄmuri, loosely translated as "running people," "foot-runner," "swift of foot," or "he who walks well" and they are considered the best runners in the world as they cover daily 30 km for food and water.

"This Marathon was conducted in a very distant and isolated place, where the closest part of the culture is at 250 km. It's a terribly remote place, and for that reason there are crops of cannabis and cocaine, which the natives give to the mafia.

Two days before the start of the Marathon, members of the mafia killed five natives and as a result the whole government army came from New Mexico. After several tensions and controversies among the athletes on whether or not to run, we finally did it. So we run on a distance full of patrols and under the fear of a new hit by the mafia. It was something unforgettable".

After his spectacular victory in the North Pole Marathon his facebook page was flooded with

proud and still believe in their country."

Having run all over the world, from Oceania and Africa to South America, Asia and Europe, Argyris' next goal is the South Pole.

start, did the right thing and appointed Michael Psaros to the herculean task of not only finding out what the problem is, but also creating a structure that would be based on some basic control and balances. An independent auditor was employed and certain mechanisms were placed in order for the same situation not to but the BUDGET for Saint Nicholas that started occur in the future. in Celsius and has since moved in Fahrenheit digits! Let me be clear, I'm not saying funds have Take into consideration that this archbishop been embezzled (although the suspicion looms found a mess when he assumed his duties and large because there is ...Ground Zero his main task, given by his patriarch, was to accountability) but for sure there has been pacify and not to open new fronts. As a result, wasted money here and there: it doesn't take a he did not place much attention to the genius to see that! archdiocese's structure which even in Archbishop Iakovos' times had started to But I digress … The second main attacking resemble the Greek public sector. I'm not giving point of the war against the archbishop is his Archbishop Demetrios a free pass, but you need advanced age which supposedly doesn't allow to judge his leadership within the particular him to cope with the demands of his office. circumstances--like everybody else, including That, of course, isn't the case, as Demetrios in the patriarch. Because if the Archdiocese in his 90s runs like a horse and he can recite you America is the Bible and all the holy scriptures by heart if problematic, you make the mistake to test him. His secret, the Ecumenical besides praying, is that he eats very little, “like a Patriarchate is sparrow” as those who know him say, and he ...ecumenically doesn't like Scotch (unlike his predecessor). problematic.

But let’s for the sake of our discussion give credence to this argument. We all know that the And since they patriarch is physically ill. It's very unfortunate Archbishop Demetrios say follow the and sad, but it's a fact. By the same logic, then, of America money, every shouldn't we ask the patriarch to step down and year the parishes send hundreds of thousands give his place to a younger and healthier of dollars to Constantinople. Add those hierarch who would be able to cope with the millions that assiduously and to his credit demands of the office in a more efficient Father Alex is collecting from private donors manner? throughout the US. Did the Patriarchate ever issue an account as to where and how that Of course the answer in both cases should be money is spent as he should? Accountability and is NO! The church isn't a company and the and transparency should be thorough and bishops aren't CEOs that can come and go throughout, not just about St. Nicholas. We are according to the immediate needs and talking about people's money and every penny popularity. Those who lightheartedly and should be accounted for! irresponsibly employ these arguments are playing with the fire! Moreover, in our church More than money, however, the problems of sacking the archbishop tends to become a the Mother Church in Constantinople are of an ...tradition. Do you need me to remind you that existential character. The Patriarchate doesn't the late Archbishop Iakovos was unjustly made function as an independent entity, in a free to resign before his time (after he explored the country. Instead, its legal status is of a local possibility of autochephaly and the union of the Turkish religious institution, under the Turkish Orthodox churches in America)? Then, his Ministry of Religious Affairs. The patriarch and successor, Archbishop Spyridon was (rightly) his hierarchs have to deal with a regime that pushed out. Don't you think it too much if doesn't think twice about manipulating its Demetrios met the same fate? And if we assume Muslim leaders and population, it has no that the patriarch is right in his quest to have qualms in squeezing and torturing benefits out him removed, what should he (Bartholomeos) of the Orthodox Church. Moreover, Turkey do after failing in such critical a choice of his uses the Patriarchate to promote its image as a making twice??? religious tolerant society, while it's hardly that!

Even for minor permits in order to repair Going back to the allegedly mismanaged funds churches, the local bishops have to bribe the of Saint Nicholas: there has been so much authorities (usually by giving the officials in misinformation and fake news around that it charge Rolex watches). makes former communist regime campaigns of slander against members and dissidents alike As if the Turkish state obstacles weren't enough, pale by comparison! As a result a clear picture of the patriarchate functions not as a modern and the problem and its real dimensions is lacking. o p e n i n s t i t u t i o n , b u t a s a h e r m e t i c However, the archbishop, although with a slow brotherhood that is afraid of everything and

If Demetrios goes, the Patriarch should go too!

A few years ago, a crisis erupted in the St. Irene “Monastery” in Astoria when the two bishops in charge, Paisios and Vikentios, started fighting and throwing mud at each other, employing some willing Greek American media and many of their mainly naïve, if not plainly stupid, acolytes. Soon the shit hit the fan as the proverbial saying has it, the situation got out of hand and led – thank God - to the demise of both. This time, another war has erupted in our church, not exactly of the same kind and with two different main characters, but no less damaging for them and the flock. The “cold war” that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been waging a g a i n s t A r c h b i s h o p Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios in Bartholomew order to force him out has turned to an all-out assault that could end with both parties mortally wounded and the church as collateral damage.

The campaign against the archbishop is based on two main premises: mismanagement of the funds for the Saint Nicholas Church (aka Orthodox Disneyland) at Ground Zero; the archbishop's advanced age that supposedly renders him unable to keep up with his duties.

Without getting into the details of the case, one cannot help but realize that the exact same premises, following the exact same logic, could be applied to the ecumenical patriarch!

Our church in America isn't autocephalous, or independent (in fact its status is outright noncanonical and unorthodox). All the hierarchs, including the archbishop, are in title only, the ultimate authority rests with Constantinople.

Now, this is like a “rhomphaea,” the Biblical double-edged sword, because if all the authority rests with you the same goes with the responsibility and accountability! Thus it is only fair, that the ones who so fervently are asking the archbishop to step down should ask the patriarch to step down as well! He's the boss and he's fully responsible for the alleged mess here. And the archbishop was his choice, not ours!

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everybody, the result of centuries of existence under the Ottoman and now the neo-Ottoman yoke. Up until a few years ago, the Patriarchate had only one fax machine, which a metropolitan kept locked in his office! As if the rest of the metropolitans couldn't call or send documents to Kalmoukos from the privacy of their toilet, when they took their shit and felt like opening up …

For all these reasons and many more, it has become more than obvious that our church in the US could not and should not be in its current status, under the direct authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Autocephaly has been proposed time and again, most recently by Stathis Valiotis, who besides being a businessman, is a graduate of a Greek school of Theology. Hardly a ...heretic! The arguments are strongly in favor. When the Patriarch is (rightly) contemplating to declare the Ukrainian Orthodox Church autonomous, like he did years ago with the Church of Estonia, it makes no sense to deny the same right to the Church of America, or Australia etc. Our forefathers fought bravely to get rid of the Ottoman yoke, why being forced under it as American citizens?

Autocephaly however, isn't the only course of action and in my humble opinion not the ideal at this case. I would root for autonomy like the Church of Estonia which is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate but has her own synod and makes her decisions independently. That's a formula that can be worked and adjusted so that our church here gets the freedom she needs, without at the same time estranging herself from the Mother Church which she can continue to support and look at for guidance. The benefit from such a development will be mutual, because if the Turks realize that the Patriarchate has no governing power over the American church they might finally leave it alone or be less bothersome.

Regarding Archbishop Demetrios, instead of being forced out, he should be respectfully approached and consulted in order to come to an agreement as to the time of his willing departure. We wouldn't like him to die on the job! And he must be part of the process in choosing and grooming his successor. It will for sure lead to another Spyridon-like disaster if you appoint a younger archbishop out of the blue and ask him to walk through this artificial mess. And it's unfair to have Demetrios step down as responsible for a blown out-ofproportion crisis. At least give him and his team the chance to clean house and then go in peace! Why humiliate him? What does that say for the Mother Church when she treats one of her hierarchs like that?

In closing, it will be promising if at the upcoming Clergy Laity Conference some of these issues are discussed in a civilized manner, in the spirit of love and respect that characterizes similar gatherings such as ...our church's synods!

I'm not gonna make it to the Conference this time. I know better and I'll be in Mexico's Playa del Carmen, after some major tequila accounts. I might not get the ads, but at least I'll get the tequila!

Something is better than nothing. However, my spies will be there and they will report to me everything that happens, before it happens!

Hasta luego!

P.S. For full disclosure purposes, NEO magazine has had only four (4) full page ads from the Archdicese in its 13 years history. For that we received $1,000 and they still owe us the last two ads, after a year and a half... Also, I don't have any kind of relationship with Archbishop Demetrios. I don't meet with him for tea or for spiritual guidance. He does very well to stay away from me and I'm more than happy to reciprocate.

continued from page 44 So great was this Byzantine legacy that, in fact, the conquering Turks could not extinguish it, but rather coopted it in their own imperial system. The Byzantine peoples—today’s Greeks, Serbs, Bulgarians, and Romanians, and o t h e r O r t h o d o x Christians —retained their religious and community identity as Rums (Romioi-[East] RomansByzantines). They were, however, second class citizens in a regressive state that took them from the pinnacle of European learning and technology to a state of impoverishment and underdevelopment.

Nonetheless, they persisted, and whether under the Turkish Sultan or the Byzantine Emperor, they still called themselves RomioiRomans-Byzantines, and remained loyal to their Church and their history. So powerful was this sense of Byzantine identity—throughout the exByzantine Empire, in fact—that many Balkan revolutionaries wanted to create a Balkan Federation to replace the Ottoman Regime. Rhigas Pheraios, well known to Greek School children for his Thourios Ymnos, and considered the Protomartyras (first martyr) of the Greek Revolution, was in favor of such a multiethnic Byzantine Federation.

could have been a unifying force.

Byzantium also explains why, during the 1990s expansion of the Greek economy, nearly all Greek investments were in Byzantine successor states.

To understand the importance of Asia Minor to Greeks, it is vital to understand Byzantium. Asia Minor was the core of Byzantium, and now it is its necropolis, emptied of its Byzantine inhabitants. It was the Byzantine yearnings of the Greek people, both in Greece and in Asia Minor, that drove the Greek Army into Asia, to claim Greece’s successorship, not to the Ancients, but to Byzantium. What happened in 1922 was truly a catastrophe in every sense of the word, a whole living histor y excised and amputated, with the survivors who still called themselves Romioi dumped on Greek shores.

Byzantium is the link that is missing in far too many discussions about Greece, and the history and legacy of this empire is vital to understanding Greece, who we are, and who we were. It is the link to our ancestral lands, to our Church, and to our fellow successors in the region. When we forget about Byzantium, we can hardly know ourselves, and one of our greatest ancient ancestors, Socrates, above all admonished The Philike Etairia had Romanian, one to “Know Thyself.”

Albanian, Serbian, and Bulgarian members as well as Greeks. They The legacy is all around us, hidden were united by a common in plain sight. It only requires a Byzantine identity, a legacy of over contextualization of the historical 1000 years of common history and record. Keeping this record culture. Today, the Balkans are s t r a i g h t , b o t h w i t h i n t h e divided, and everyone assumes community and without, is vital. If that it has to be that way, it does we do not, Byzantium will fade not. We all had a common f u r t h e r f r o m h i s t o r i c a l Byzantine legacy, yet we all chose consciousness, or its glories, to emphasize those things that legacies, and edifices will be codivide us, rather than unite us. The opted by others. It’s up to us.

Byzantine legacy was one that

a New Song by Christina Christofi Christina Christofi, a Cypriot born singersongwriter has released her first single called ‘”Abandoned Hope”, which is available in platforms such as: google play, iTunes, Spotify and cd baby. The song is a collaboration with talented young musicians; Production: Mike Mroz, Music and Lyrics: Jan Alexander Santos, Lisa Yamada.

and with them,” she says. ”It has been an For more information her website is honour for me to collaborate with CP Lacey, christofichristina.com known from famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem and to perform in that stage.”

You can also follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinachristofi Christina’s everyday follows a very busy schedule, working at the Jazz Gallery usually “Abandoned Hope” - Single by Christina once a week and teaching at a Music Academy. Christofi available at: Google Play, iTunes, She is performing in multiple venues in the city Spotify, Youtube (only in the USA). and works at the CCNY as a coordinator for special events. Her life experiences in the city have taught her a lot and helped her grow as a musician and as a person.

Christina came to New York five years ago, to a bigger place with a much bigger dream; she was born and raised in Cyprus and she grew up in a diverse family speaking Greek and Finnish as well as English as a third language. Her father is Cypriot, and mother is Finnish.

“I truly feel grateful and blessed and hope people will love our music and I hope we will Ever since she was nine, she started singing and be awarded with great reviews,” Christina says, playing piano. She discovered that music was adding that “much more to come soon!” her passion at a very early age and was involved in many music related activities such as the European Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Romania, in 2006 representing Cyprus, young talent showcase at the International 44th Pori Jazz festival in Finland in 2009 and Christmas CD release in Cyprus in 2007 etc.

She graduated as an honours student from a music high school in Limassol, Cyprus. Her passion for music grew with her. It was what represented her. Music was not a hobby anymore and that is the reason why she decided to pursue her higher education in New York.

She graduated with a BFA in Jazz Vocal Pe r f o r m a n c e i n 2 0 1 7 w i t h m u l t i p l e scholarships.

“In New York I met so many people with great talent and accomplishment, apart from my great professors, and learn so much from them

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