NEO magazine - March 2023

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SACRIFICE OF GREECE

When I was growing up, I lived on Chios in Greece with my grandparents, andI remember the history all a r o u n d m e o f t h e “Turkokratia.”

There was the famous castle of Chios, built by the Byzantines in the 10th century, and with a church inside, St. George, later converted by Piyale Pasha during the occupation into a mosque, and restored back into a church after the Ottomans were expelled

I remember a very ornamental horse trough in the main square of the town that residents said the Turks had built And, most of all, I remember the village of Anavatos, now abandoned, where all the inhabitants were massacred during the Occupation, and their bones deposited outside the wall of the village. And I remember the footprint there, embedded into the stone floor of the village church,andimprinted fromthebloodofallthe people that were being slaughtered there, whichstillsendsachillupmyspine.

I remember walking along the dry river bed near my grandparents’ farm, and finding all sorts of shards: some were recent, some were ancient, some were from the Occupation, all were a record of the history and turmoil of the island. This beautiful island, where the sky was always blue, the houses were white and had shutters that were blue and red like Easter eggs, where the lemon trees provided lemons for our dinner,wasliterallysteepedinblood

Chios, of course, is the site of the famous massacre of Chios, where the Turks took revenge on the Chiotes for joining the revolution, by killing four-fifths of the population of about 120,000: slaughtering all babies, all males over 12, all women over 40, and enslaving the rest, or the survivors fleeing into a generations-long exile. Chios, once one of the most prosperous islands in the Aegean, going back to ancient times, was never the same.

The history of Greece is glorious, but always painful, and practically every family has a history of survival going back generations. In myownfamily,bothmygrandfathersfoughtin wars(mypaternalgrandfatherneverrecovered his health from them), and my father was a decorated veteran who fought in the Greek civil war andwasat thefront for five long years, andgot leave justonceto see hisbaby daughter I remember looking at all his war photos when I was a kid, even bringing them to my public school one day to show them off to my teacher andtheotherkids.Icouldn’timaginemydad,a buttoned-down school principal always in a suit, being the dashing figure in khaki, and with sidearms, being shown in these pictures. He told stories about his war years, because he was a natural storyteller, hemade themmatterof-fact, but in those young lives he described lost forever, there was a whole generation gone foreverandthesurvivorsafflictedforlife.

Greece has earned its place in history, not just for the culture and wisdom it had singularly brought to the world, but for the blood and s if f le

C. MICHALAKIS

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ITRI

Lord Byron’s Epic Heroism and his Role in the Greek War of Independence

by Anastasia Kaliabakos

After he obtained his master’s degree in 1809, Byron traveled in Portugal, Spain, and the Near East for two years. Traveling abroad in your young adulthood was customary for rich men at the time, as it would increase their worldliness and sophistication. His experiences fed into his later works, including Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (1812), which he began writing during his travels in Greece This particular epic brought him nearly instant fame in England Upon his quick rise to fame, it is said that he exclaimed that he “awoke one morning and found myself famous.” Afterwards, his poetry, style, and manners were widely imitated by otherswhosoughttobelikehim.

In 1815, he married Anne Isabella Milbanke, and the couple had a daughter, August Ada, in 1816. Ada proved to be a mathematical prodigy and is actually considered to be the

prepare a Greek fleet for sea service and then sailed on December 29, 1823 to join Prince Aléxandros Mavrokordátos in Kefalonia, who was the leader of the rebelling forces in westernGreece

Additionally, a separate rebellion was being sp earheaded by Mavrokordátos in Missolonghi, which is a town on the northern coast of the Gulf of Corinth. The campaign there was fractured among the Greeks due to tension among the leaders there. However, Byron made immense efforts to unite the factions and even personally took command of a brigade of Suliote soldiers, who had a reputation of being the bravest among the Greeks. Byron wrote in his journal, “I came here to join a nation, not a faction.” And that he did During his time in Greece, Byron set aside his previously hedonistic-leaning lifestyle to be a true military leader In the face of factionalism and military ineptitude, Byron came into his own as a Spartan-like leader, training his troops valiantly and subsidizing theGreekcausedespitebeingaforeigner.

April 19, 2023 marks T-1 year until the bicentennial of the famous poet Lord Byron’s death. Before doing any research into Lord Byron, I only vaguely remembered learning about him from English classes in high school and the dramatic reading of his poem “She Walks in Beauty” from the movie Dead Poets Society.However,heismoreinteresting,inmy mind, than nearly any other modern poet due to his exotic and epic travels throughout his youthandyoungadulthood.

B y r o n w a s b o r n i n Aberdeen,Scotland,in1788. He did not have an easy early childhood, as he suffered from clubfoot and lack of wealth However, his life changed for the better at age ten, when he inherited the title of his great uncle, William, the fifth Baron Byron-- hence, Lord Byron. He was able to attend various elite and selective schools, such as Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. However, while he was honing his artistic craft and gaining knowledge from his high-level schooling curricula, he was acquiring a lot of debt and embroiling himself in dramatic and passionate relationships with a variety of partners-- arguably, fuel for future poems. In 1807, he published his first volume of poetry, entitled Hours of Idleness, which was not receivedwellbycritics.

programmer However, Byron’s marriage quickly failed and they were l e g a l l y s e p a r a t e d . Afterwards, he traveled to Geneva from England as a social exile, settling down near Bysshe Shelley and his wife, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, both famous authors. He continued to explore romantic options abroad for the next few years and worked on his writing simultaneously

In 2021, the Greek W a r o f I n d e p e n d e n c e began. It was a successful war f o u g h t b y G r e e k revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted by the British Empire, the Kingdom of France, and the Russian Empire, while the Ottomans were aided by their North African allies. The war led to the formation of modern Greece, which would be expanded to include its modern borders in later years. The revolution is celebrated by Greeks around the world as independencedayonMarch25theveryyear.

Byron, who was known as an avid supporter of liberal causes (having participated in an uprising in Ravenna, Italy years prior and engaging in liberal dialogue in the House of Lords when in England), supported the Greeks in their fight. He decided to join the Greeks, sending £4,000 of his own money to

In 1824, his unwavering commitment to the war caught up with him. Weakened by a serious illness, he insisted on training strenuously alongside his undisciplined men in the cold, wet March weather in anticipation of an assault on the Turkish stronghold of Lepanto Unfortunately, Byron contracted malaria anddied on April 19, 1824. His body was brought back to England. Although he was refused burial in Westminster Abbey due to the reputation he acquired in his younger years, he was placed in his family vault near Newstead.

In 1829, Turkey accepted the Treaty of Adrianople, which recognized Greek autonomy

During the 19th and early 20th c e n t u r i e s , t h e G r e e k s continued to fight to expand their boundaries to include the Greek-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire, eventually reaching what is the presentterritorialconfigurationin1947.

Byron said on his deathbed, “Die I must. Its loss I do not lament; for to terminate my wearisome existence I came to Greece My wealth, my abilities, I devoted to her cause. Well, there is my life to her” Today, nearly every Greek town has its Odos Vyronos, or Byron Street, and statues memorializing the British expat are common. I am sure that Byron would be happy to know that his legacy is not only carried on eternally through his poetry, but by the Greeks today who continue to admire his dedication to Greek independence ThisGreekIndependenceDay, be sure to remember not just the Greek warriors, but also all the foreign volunteers and fighters, who earned Greece her longdeservedfreedom.

Statue of Lord Byron in Athens

The Reception of Lord Byron at Missolonghi (1861) by Theodoros Vryzakis

Portrait of Lord Byron, artist unknown

SERBS IN THE GREEK REVOLUTION

by Dean Kalimniou*

It is fair to say that the Serbians had a stake in the Greek Revolution and the Independence of Greece, even prior to 25 March 1821, with leaders of the Serbian people and key protagonists in, or veterans of the Serbian revolt, such as Serbian revolutionary leader Karadjordje, becoming sworn members of the PhilikeEtaireia.

Indeed, when the Greek Revolution was proclaimed, not in Greece, but in Moldavia in February 1821, Prince Alexander Ypsilanti’s forces were comprised of mixed Greek and Serbian fighters. Some of these were known for their ferocity. Captain Milenko Stojković, was renowned for having killed the Ottoman notables Aganlija, Kucuk Alija, Mula Jusuf and Mehmed Focic, responsible for the killing of Serbian Princes that triggered the First Serbian Uprising, arrived in Moldavia with his band of Serbian fighters and placed himself under Ypsilantis’ command Petar Dobrnjac who had distinguished himself previously by defeating Ibrahim Bushati, pasha of Scutari at the battle of Deligrad and was one of the most important men in Serbian society, followed suit. Mladen Milovanović, prior to crossing the Danube to fight with Ypsilantis, served as the Prime Minister of Serbia and as a first Minister of Defence. The fearsome Prodan Gligorijević, known as Hadži-Prodan, on the other hand, after fighting in the First S e r b i a n R e v o l t a n d a n o t h e r r e v o l t h e instigated of his own accord in 1814, also joined forces with Ypsilantis in 1821 in Wallachia, while mention is also made by chroniclers of an archimandrite “Servos,” probablyhisethnonym,whoalsoarrived from SerbiatofightfortheGreekcause

The Greek revolt in the Danubian principalities, having to deal with competing Romanian nationalism and the Ottomans was an abject failure After the subjugation of the rebels, Serbian fighters migrated south to Greece proper, in search of employment and as a means of evading punishment. One of these was the legendary female fighter Čučuk Stana, wife of the armatole Giorgakis Olympios, who was killed in the battle of Secu in Moldavia. Others, who we learn of from descriptions of battles, range from

Constantine Nemanja, who claimed that he was a descendant of the royal Nemanjid line of Serbian medieval rulers, and would sign his correspondence as “Prince of Serbia” employed a seal that bore the double-headed eagle and was granted a pension of five loaves of bread a day, George Papazoglou, a cavalry officer under the command of Hatzi Christos, of Bulgarian ethnicity, who was killed in the battle, Radoš Mavrovouniotis (ie of Montenegro), while a listof fighters surnamed “the Serbian” such as Thomas Servos, Lambros Servos, Lambros Christou Servos and Thanassis Servos are recorded as having fought at the siege of Messolongi. Another twenty five Serbians are mentioned as having foughtunderthecommandofCaptainGeorge Kontopoulosinthatmostimportantoftowns.

Of all of the Serbians who fought in the Greek Revolution, the one who perhaps left the greatest legacy, was Vaso Brajević, better knownasVasosMavrovouniotis,whoplayeda leading role in thirty six battles for the liberation of Greece. In 1821 leading a force of 120 Montenegrins and Greeks, he joined the early stages of the Greek revolution. Teaming up with his b l o o d b r o t h e r, Nikolaos Kriezotis, leader of the Greek R e v o l u t i o n i n E u b o e a , h e d i s t i n g u i s h e d himself in fighting in Central Greece In 1822 he participated in the battles against the Ottomans in Athens where he d ispl aye d g re at bravery and daring, being widely acclaimed as oneofthebestwarriorsofthetime.

Having successfully navigated the minefields of the ensuing civil wars and coming out unscathed, he was assigned the rank of General and entrusted with a force of 1,500 fighter. Notably, between 1826-27 he was one of thefew revolutionaries not to be defeated by the Egyptian forces led by Ibrahim Pasha, that devastated the Peloponnese and almost defeated the Revolution. Perpetually restless, he teamed up with Hatzimihalis Dalianis of Chimarra in Northern Epirus to participate in a daring but ultimately failed Greek expedition to Cyprus and Lebanon aiming at inciting revolution in the soft underbelly of

the Ottoman Empire. His career having peaked, heeventually becamea member of the Greek Privy Council and an adjutant to King Otto.

Other Montenegrin Serbs who followed Mavrovouniotis seemed to have been from the same area as he, the Bjelopavlići lowlands and they are also given the same surname in historical records. Thus, there are extant r e f e r e n c e s t o I o a n n i s S l a v a n o s Mavrovouniotis, Ioannis Montenegrinos, who fought in the siege of Tripolitsa and Gregory Jurovic Mavrovouniotis. Historian William St Clair in his magisterial history of the Revolution: “That Greece Might Still be Free,” writes of a Montenegrin General with the Germanised name of de Wintz, who h a v i n g f o u g h t u n d e r N a p o l e o n , unsuccessfully attempted to unit of 2,000 European volunteers or mercenaries to fight in Greece, giving up after failing to secure the requisitefinancialassistance.

While in the beginning, Serbs tended to fight under their own leaders, with the effluxion of time, a sense of camaraderie developed between Greeks and Serbs and their units began to be mixed. The vast majority of these men were guerrilla fighters, while few, notably a mixed corps of 250 Greeks and Serbs led by the Serbian Stefos Nivitsa, formed a part of a tactical army under the command of the turban-toting French philhellene Charles Nicolas

Fabvier

There was no rosy-eyed Rhigas Pheraios fuelled dream of a Confederation of Balkan Peoples presided over by a dominant but benevolent Greece shared by these Serbian fighters. Many of them believed that one way to secure Serbian independencewasto foment revolt in the South. Others, aligned with the Karadjordje faction of Serbian leadership, were in danger of their lives under the rule of their rivals, the Obrenović and thus found it expedient to seek refuge in Greece. Many still, as soldiers of fortune still do, travelled to where the action was, seeing payment, loot and privilege. In this regard, it is significant to note that after 1824 a good many Serbian fighters received commissions in the Greek Army, among them, general Hatzi Christos Dagović, battalion commanders (chiliarchs) Stefos and Anastasi Dmitrević, vice-chiliarch Jovo Mavrovouniotis, Captains Ioannis and Nikolaos Radović of Montenegro and the Serbians known only as Nikolzo, Kotzo, Helias,Spyros,andKaragiorgos.

The vast majority of the Serbs who survived the Revolution, did not return to Serbia Instead, they settled in Greece, married local women and assimilated into the emerging society, in the same manner as their Greek counterparts who had fought in the earlier Serbian revolts. While public statues exist of Vasos Mavrovouniotis, the most famous Serbian freedom fighter for Greece, his compatriots barely rate a mention in the popularconsciousness.

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μία φλόγα, σὲ ὅλην τὴν Τουρκιά, Νὰ τρέξ΄ ἀπὸ τὴν Μπόσνα, καὶ ὡς τὴν Ἀραπιά.

“We will light a flame throughout the Turkish lands That will spread from Bosnia to Arabia.” Rhigas Pheraios.

Vasos Mavrovouniotis, the most famous Serbian freedom fighter for Greece

The “Doxiadis” Exhibition and its American Epilogue

by Ilias Chrissochoidis*

Greece in the Second World War (1946), copies of which were sent to institutions abroad Regardless of its effectiveness in securing war reparations, the album was an extraordinary publishing achievement of the Greek State. Its historical significance was recognized by its several reprints, the last one in2014.

At the same time the Greek newspaper Kathimerini was reprinting The Sacrifices of Greece in two volumes (19, 26 January 2014), I was exploring an unusually large box at Stanford University (Hoover Institution Library and Archives, Collection Number: XX654). The library catalog identified it as “Greece. Hypourgeion Anoikodomeseos charts” and the short description read “Depicts Greece’s economic losses during World War II.” Although the album-based book Such Was the War in Greece (1947), authored by Doxiadis, exists in Hoover Institution library’s collections, no one had ever made the connection betweenthetwo.

“Such Was the War in Greece,” Basil J. Vlavianos papers, MSS 2002/09, Box 155, Folder 8, Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives, University Library, California State University, Sacramento

and an honorary citizenship of the City of Athens (17/4/1946). Since the album was not yet released, he might have received a copy of its contents in the form of unbound maps. In any case, the material ended up in his namesake institution at Stanford, remaining ignoredfordecades.

History is Greece’s timeless currency. Without it, modern Hellenism could hardly have been granted statehood by the Great Powers two centuries ago. And because of it the Greeks are bound to live in perpetual anxiety at the intersection of East and West, North and South.

Yet history is not a fossil. Being alive, it feeds onnewsources,re-evaluatesoldones,changes ideological filters, and, occasionally, takes revenge on its forgers. It can also be suppressed or remain incarcerated, as was the case with the groundbreaking “Doxiadis” exhibition on Greece’s war ravages, a unique contribution in the documentation of modern eratragedies.

The young architect C onstantinos [Konstantinos] A. Doxiadis (1913–1975) began collecting material on war damages in Greece as early as May 1941. By the time Athens was liberated, in October 1944, he had been ready to present it in a systematic way Working under the auspices of the new Ministry for Reconstruction, he managed to integrate it into the national effort for war reparationsandeconomicreconstruction.

The resulting exhibition “Such Was the War in Greece” (1945) toured major cities of the Allied powers, culminating in San Francisco during the U.N. charter conference (1945), and dazzled visitors with its visualized statisticaldata.

The exhibits were then turned into a fourlanguage album entitled The Sacrifices of

My research revealed that 1) the box contains maps and diagrams of the exhibition “Such Was the War in Greece” and that 2) the material was part of the personal library of former U S President Herbert Hoover(1874–1964).

When, where, and how Hoover acquired the maps i s u n k n o w n . H i s relationship with Greece, h o w e v e r , i s w e l l documented A member of the national committee of the Greek War Relief Association (GWRA) during the war, he visited Athens on April 16, 1946, as an envoy of President Truman, pleading for the immediate dispatch of 100 thousand tons of cereals to the country. It was the same time that The Sacrifices of Greece was being printed a n d D o x i a d i s w a s advancing groundbreaking financial solutions for the reconstruction of the country

A reasonable guess is that Hoover received the maps during that visit as part of honorary events, such as his award of an honorary doctorate by the University

C. A. Doxiadis, CBS interview, June 1945 (Archive Files 28829). ©Constantinos and Emma Doxiadis Foundation

The oversized cardboard sleeve contains 62 maps and diagrams printed on soft paper and measuring 13.5 by 18.5 inches as well as a printed list of damages (see below). Twenty-eight of the original exhibits, including all photos, are missing.

The classification of the maps does n o t f o l l o w t h e i r o r i g i n a l numbering For example, maps depicting the invasion of Greece by the Axis powers (nos. 10–18), of historical value by 1946, appear at theendofthesequence

Englishtitlesaresuperimposedontheoriginal Greekones.Twelvemapsanddiagramsbearat their bottom inscriptions in English

describing and estimating the itemized damages. The amounts are identical to those in the printed list with only two exceptions.

The most glaring one concerns Greece’s merchant navy (no 42). Whereas the list estimates its losses at $342,303,049, the inscription on the map raises them to $512,445,597! One wonders if the acquisition of American Liberty ships by Greek ship owners on extremely favorable terms was linked to the overvaluationoflossesinthissector?(In2014, Professor Kostas Kostis spoke of “excessive, at times,estimatesofdisasters.”)

A d j u s t e d f o r i n f l a t i o n (4/1946–1/2023) Greece’s total war losses are estimated at $222.68 billion with the following a p p o r t i o n m e n t : $ 1 6 1 . 3 3 (Germany), $50.67 (Italy), and $10.67(Bulgaria).

The“Doxiadis”exhibition,hardly known in America, stands as a rare moment of government e f f i c i e n c y a n d p at r i o t i c responsibility in postwar Greece, offering comprehensive and reliable documentation on the most tragic period in its modern

history. Alas, its international impact did not translate into the expected war reparations. Even so, the maps that have for decades been buried in the vaults of the Hoover Institution deserve full digitization and open access to the public.

*) Ilias Chrissochoidis, Ph.D., is Academic staff, Stanford Continuing Studies (2023) and Research Associate, Department of Music at StanfordUniversity

Doxiadis explains a map of the exhibition to U.S. officials, Basil J. Vlavianos papers, MSS 2002/09, Box 155, Folder 8, Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives, University Library, California State University, Sacramento

Hoover Institution at Stanford University

Herbert Hoover

Leadership 100 Concludes 32 Annual Conference with more than $5 Million in Grants

The 32nd Annual Leadership 100 Conference took place from February 2 to 5 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona and concluded with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, celebrated by HArchbishop Elpidophoros of AmericaatHolyTrinityCathedral inPhoenix, Arizona.

Chairman Demetrios G. Logothetis, in his Welcome Address at the Grand Banquet, stated that it was an extraordinary conference with record attendance and participation of young members, “ a fitting beginning to a new

year ” , which welcomed 75 new members. He commended Archbishop Elpidophoros for his paternal love and support of Leadership 100 and for setting forth a bold vision for the future of the Church in America. He also thanked Executive Director Paulette Poulos and her staff, noting her role in successfully recruitingnewmembers.

He further stated that the Conference had set “the vision and strategy” for Leadership 100 “ as it looks forward to its 50th Anniversary in 2034, with a goal to reach 2500 members and

$250 million, and even its 100th Anniversary in 2084, with a goal to reach 10,000 members and$1billion.”

He expressed confidence in reaching such ambitious goals, stating that current members represented only 1% of those with the capacity to join and that 2.5%, “and even 10%”, could be reached, urging Conference attendees to each recruit one member by next year ’ s annual Leadership100Confererence.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America in his final remarks at the Grand Banquet said that he was impressed by the organization and devotion of Leadership 100, stating that its generous stewardship was ”a manifestation of the legacy of the ever-memorable and visionary Archbishop Iakovos.” He also said that Leadership 100 grants had nourished the Church from coast to coast and sustained the ministries of the Archdiocese, providing a virtual endowment of support for Hellenic College-Holy Cross for more than two

Archbishop Elpidophoros bestows Medal of Saint Paul upon Chairman Emeritus Argyris “RJ” Vassiliou, as wife, Ann, and Chairman Demetrios G. Logothetis look on

Archbishop Elpidophoros addresses Grand Banquet at 32nd Annual Leadership 100 Conference

Presentation of Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence, L to R, Paulette Poulos, Dr. Costis Maglaras, Carl Hollister, Archbishop Elpidophoros, Panos Panay, Demetrios G. Logothetis, and Yvette Manessis Corporon, at 32nd Annual Leadership 100 Conference

decades. He thanked Chairman Logothetis for his talent and leadership and Executive Director Paulette Poulos for her devotion and commitment. The Archbishop also noted the attendance of many young members, who he said Leadership 100 must continue to “attract, sustain and grow” He concluded by stating that “Leadership 100 is “poised for the next 100yearstodoevengreaterthings.”

The Grand Banquet also included the presentation of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence to Conference speakers Dr Costis Maglaras, Dean, Columbia Business School; Panos Panay, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Microsoft; Carl Hollister, President, L.M. Kohn & Company; and Yvette Manessis Corporon, best-selling author and Emmy Award winning producer The Leadership 100 Achievement Award was previously presented to Rev Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, Ecumenical Officer and Director of the Department of InterOrthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and Fr. Nicholas Anton, Director of Operations, Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, at the OpeningForumonThursday,February2.

In addition, the Executive Committee approved $5,006,600 in new, multiple year,

and prior grant commitments, and the Board of Trustees elected three new members, Markos Lagos, Dr. Gregory Papadeas and MichaelPsyllos.

The Medal of Saint Paul, the highest honor given by the Gre ek Or t ho dox Archdiocese, was b e s t o w e d u p o n Argyris Vassiliou, Chairman Emeritus of Leadership 100, at t h e G e n e r a l Assembly. He was recognized for his extraordinary service toLeadership100and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, most recently as Chairman o f t h e N a t i o n a l C e n t e n n i a l Committee.

O t h e r e v e n t s included a Welcome R e c e p t i o n o n Thursday, a Hellenic Glendi on Friday, and G olf and Tennis Tournaments and Awards, along with a Walk/Run event on Saturday. There were two networking and social gatherings for more than 140 Leadership 100 Young Professionals, and a Children’sProgram.

Leadership 100 Executive Committee meets at 32nd Annual Leadership 100 Conference

Leadership 100 Chairman Demetrios G. Logothetis addresses General Assembly, at 32nd Annual Leadership 100 Conference

Extraordinary Greek People Book Signing at Embassy of Greece

Over 90 people packed the E m b a s s y o f G r e e c e i n Washington,DCtocelebratethe release of the book, “The Extraordinary Greek People: T h e i r R e m a r k a b l e Achievements and Philosophy for Living from Ancient Times toToday.”

In this book, author Andy Manatos is joined by 60 of the most successful Hellenes, led by t h e G r e e k O r t h o d o x A rc hbi s h op of A m e r i c a Elpidophoros, who submitted personal essays reflecting on how Hellenism has impacted theirsuccess.

The Ambassador of Greece to the US Alexandra Papadopoulou welcomed Members of Congress, Administration officials, Ambassadors and many community leaders in attendance, including: those featured in the book, such as Congressmen John Sarbanes and Chris Pappas; New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker, with wife Susan Glasser of The New Yorker; AHEPA Supreme President JimmyKokotasandChefMariaLoi

Others attending included: former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar; Ambassador of Australia to the US Arthur Sinodinos and former US Ambassador to Greece Tom Miller; both of our community’s federal judges Gregory Katsas (former Deputy Counsel to the President) and Eleni Roumel (former Deputy Counsel to the Vice President); former White House Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios and former Chief Speechwriter for President Clinton Paul Glastris; former President of American University Neil Kerwin and American Hellenic Institute President Nick Larigakis, amongothers.

This book is “not only a story of the past, but also of the present – from the GoldenAgeofGreecetotoday Filledwithlittleknownhistorical factsabout Hellenism and the Greek people, anecdotes of what it means to be a Hellene, and an exploration of the unique Greek word `philotimo,’ or love of honor, thatrunsdeepwithineveryHellene’spsyche,”saidAndyManatos.

To purchase the book, with a contribution to the not-for-profit Washington OxiDayFoundation,youcandosothroughthislink:tinyurl.com/jnbetv93

The Extraordinary Greek People author and Washington Oxi Day Foundation Founder & President Andy Manatos

(L-R) former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, Andy Manatos, AHEPA Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas

(L-R) The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser, New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker, Lynn Glasser, Andy Manatos, Washington Monthly Editor Paul Glastris

Ambassador Papadopoulou with Sienna Manatos, who introduced author and her papou, Andy Manatos

(L-R) Andy Manatos, Secretary Alex Azar, Federal Judge Gregory Katsas

(L-R) Mike Manatos, Congressman Chris Pappas, Congressman John Sarbanes, Ambassador of Greece to the US Alexandra Papadopoulou

Endy Zemenides is the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), a national advocacy organization for the Greek American community To learn more about HALC, visitwww.hellenicleaders.com

Reimagining Relations with the Diaspora

By Endy Zemenides

The upcoming elections in Greece will for the first time allow the country’s diaspora to vote from Greek consulates abroad. When adopted, this move was heralded as a major step forward in the relations between the Hellenic Republic and Hellenes abroad Two rationales for the move stood out: first, it was a way to keep those who left Greece due to last decade’s economic crisis engaged in the country’s political and civic life and make their return to Greece more realistic; second, it was a way to keep the older and more traditional part of the diaspora tied to Greek publiclife.

By all accounts, the diaspora vote from the United States is on track for lackluster participation. That in and of itself is not cause for concern. Voters should be engaged and at least trying to be informed if they are going to be taking votes that not they – but relatives and compatriots in Greece – must livewiththeconsequencesof

What should be of greater concern is that once again another initiative to bring Greece closer to its diaspora is not delivering the desired result. Other grand ideas – from SAE (the Council on Hellenes Abroad) to issuing of Greek citizenship to members of the diaspora – have similarly come up short. All these programs have not only failed to meet their mark with the diaspora as we presently know it, but they don’t even begin to address Greece’s relationship with the diaspora of the future

Six years ago in the pages of this magazine, I asserted “For anyone who has closely observed or participated in the GreekAmerican community, it is clear that there is no singular manner in which to define the diaspora here in the United States. This makes it impossible – at this point – to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to Greece’sdiasporapolicy.”

This statement rings louder today than it did

evensixyearsago,buttheconstantsearchfor a “magic bullet” when it comes to diaspora affairs continues. A few of the misfired bullets have already been detailed. Even within the diaspora there are overaggressive attempts to establish a one-size-fits-all approach – exhibit A being the efforts to establish a new charter for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America that wouldcentralizeauthority

No magic bullet will be suggested here, but there should be greater urgency when it comes to pouring new foundations on which Greece and the next generation of its diaspora can stand on together. The present approach certainly does not meet the “ eye test”. And by “ eye test” I am suggesting that a quick look at the typical room diaspora officials turn to in New York or Chicago or Florida suggests that the Greek institutions responsible for diaspora relations will have fewer and fewer people that they know and canturntointhenextdecade

Greece can afford to let the citizenship and voting initiatives run their course, but it has to simultaneously mind the future. Fortunately, the wheel does not have to be completely reinvented. There are success stories to build off of, untapped resources to beoptimized:

(1) Communications. Greece has to devote more resources into mass communications with its diaspora. Greece’s correspondents in Washington and New York do not have the resources that many of their foreign counterparts (including Turkey ’ s correspondents) have Greek-American publications – like NEO – have to work overtimetokeepoperationsgoingasis.

A modest investment will have huge returns. It will allow for more digital content, given that this is where future generations are going to consume information such an investmentisamust.

This does not have to be solely the responsibility of the state. Antenna Group’s partnershipwithViceMediacouldresultina product that targets Americans who speak Greek as a second language – flipping the modus operandi for television products broadcast into Greek American households presently

(2) Foreign study The Ministry of Education is making a big push to attract more American students – and pending changes in Greek law – more American universities to Greece. There are already well-established foreign study programs, but very few Greek Americanstudentsparticipateinthem.

Increasing the number of Greek Americans studying in Greece could have a transformational effect for the diaspora. Ensuring that next generation Greek Americans understand present day Greece beyond the beaches and villages of their grandparents will pay off immediately Given that foreign study is increasingly becoming a typical university experience, thiswillrequireminimalinvestment.

(3) Activate Influencers. Inviting GreekAmericans to support, travel to and invest in Greece should be the floor. As this particular diaspora community increases its reach and influence, Greece should become acquainted with the rolodexes of its partners in the diaspora. Greek American immigrants who became successful entrepreneurs have raised and educated c h i l d re n w h o re pre s e nt or h e a d multinational operations These are the partnersthatAthensandtheGreekeconomy need now, and building these relationships shouldbeprioritized

To its credit, Greece is constantly thinking of howtoengageitsdiaspora.Tofinallyfindthe right strategy it may need to reimagine –evenredefine–whoitisappealingto.

THE POWER OF WORDS: JOHN GUMAS

by Elena Kefalogianni PRESIDENT & CEO

Ancient Greeks are credited with creating arts and sciences, democracy, medicine, and other advances but who knew that they came up with the idea of advertising! A stroll through the ancient Agora would see the sights and sounds of street peddlers and vendors promoting their wares among competitors, similar to how we are exposed to advertising today through modern platforms. Technology has migrated online, consumer needs and demands have shifted, yet John Gumas, CEO of his award-winning company, GUMAS Advertising, maintains that the message remains the same: “What never changes in advertising in its purest form is quite simple: a conversation between two people”

Thechallengeliesbehindthemeansandmode of delivering the message Today consumers are better informed, savvier, and old models of delivering the “hard sell” message are antiquated. “The moment somebody tries to sell you, is the moment you lose trust in that person,” says Mr Gumas. Modern marketing is based on trust and credibility. Before a good/service is sold, one has to sell the message Consumers must relate and identify with brands they can directly relate to. “The keyisgettingpeopletotrustyou,themarketto trust you, and your brand. You can then sell a product because they believe you and they trust your brand; they believe in the brand Thenewstrategyistosellwithoutselling.”

Companiesfallintothetrapofaonesizefitsall approach believing every social media platform and advertising platform is suited to their business That can be especially misleading, when companies look up to the advertising campaigns of industry giants with unlimitedadvertisingbudgets.Theseindustry giants have the flexibility to use every advertising platform available without being selective. “When you have $100 million to spend, as Apple, Coca Cola and others—they are the penultimate advertisers. They have so much money to spend and the margin for erroriswide”

Smaller companies must account for their finances before deciding on an advertising campaign. Additionally, companies sometimes view their goods and services from what they think is the consumer ’ s perspective often resulting in making the wrong assumptions. “The most common mistake we see with companies is they believe they know exactly what their customers need to hear them say We believe that guessing is the number one reason marketing campaigns fail”

Consumers are bombarded by data and their respective attention span continues to wane John Gumas believes the optimum way to capture their attention is to convey a message similar to the proverbial elevator pitch based on a 30-second opportunity to answer three questions: WHO are you; WHAT do you do;

OF GUMAS ADVERTISING

WHY are you different from your competitors. Gumas proffers a fourth, and most critical consideration: “what’s in it for you?”

That is the essence of posturing Gumas’s clientele as challenger brands Challenger brands are brands that compete against larger brands These brands also have to also motivate consumers to want to purchase their goods and services while competing with larger brands who are spending significantly moremoney.

According to Mr Gumas, “the most credible form of advertising is when somebody finds

you.” Consumers must find you, and optimization that is based on analysis of search terms is critical to dovetail need with message delivery The way the message reaches consumers will continue to evolve, and the process of creating that message is mission criticalintheadvertisingindustry.

Gumas believes that in the future artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality will be commonplace. The next TikTok is just around the corner and the speed and modes to reach vast numbers of consumers will continue to grow. With the e v o l u t i o n a n d s e a m l e s s automation of big data, privacy issues will continue to mount “There's a push right now for privacy. Whether one looks at Apple, Facebook, or Google, requires a change in algorithms to accommodate privacy concerns. As advertisers, we are challenged to deliver the right message to the rightpeople,inacost-effectiveway that delivers the highest results for ourclients.”

He believes that these concerns will pushthe corporate world towards the adoption of more equitable, customercentric models and eliminate bad players using big data in deceptive and unfair ways “It’s going to be harder for us to target clients, yet it’s good t h i ng for s o c i e t y, for consumers, and to keep the big players and brands honest.”

Gumas embraces challenge and knows that hard work and determination are prerequisites to success

GUMAS Advertising was created to help level the playing field for all brands in c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h conglomerates His own Greek American story is a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e opportunities and success rewarded for hard work, vision, and attention to customer’s needs “So, fast forward, this is our 39th year in business and the term challenger brand marketing® is our trademark; we helped create an industry within advertising.”

GUMAS Advertising is ranked as one of the top branding, marketing, and

advertising firms in the Bay Area with clientele ranging from small companies to large multinationals. John and his partner Craig Alexander just published their #1 bestselling book, Challenger BrandMarketing providing companies with proven, practical, and useful tips on how to help grown their own brandsand business.Keeping it short and sweet is the penultimate challenge. After all, JohnGumas’favoriteMarkTwainquotereads: “I would have written you a shorter note, but I didn’thavethetime.”

Elios Board of Directors President John Gumas welcomes honorees and guests at the 2022 Hellenic Charity Ball in San Francisco.

Photo: Drew Altzer Photography

John and Janice Gumas celebrate the wedding of their daughter

John and Janice Gumas at the Elios 2022 Hellenic Charity Ball in San Francisco

Photo: Drew Altizer Photography

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Archon John Gumas, and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar, in Constantinople.

GreekCypriotsofNJ nd Held2 AnnualGala

The Consul General of Cyprus Mr. Michalis Firillas addressed the guests and stated that he was glad to be with the Greek Cypriots of NJ for the first time and congratulated the president and board for a wonderful evening. Mr. Firillas congratulated the new elected p r e s i d e n t o f C y p r u s M r N i c o s Christodoulides.

Mrs Axiotakis and the Board express appreciation to the following for honoring us with their presence: PSEKA President, Mr Philip Christopher, President of the Cyprus US Chamber of Commerce, Maria Pappas, President of Cyprus Children’s Fund, Nicos Zittis, Founding President and President Emeritus of the Cyprus US Chamber of C o m m e r c e , A n d y C o m o d r o m o s , Commissioner of Public Works of NJ Dr. Zenon Christodoulou, Assemblyman Michael Ta n n o u s i s , C o u n c i l m a n S t a t h i s Theodoropoulos, President of Salamis, Mr. Stathis Zambas and all it’s members, many members of the FCAO and Nepomak (youth divisions of the fcao )and members of the Cyprus Young Professionals of the Cyprus US Chamber of Commerce. Thank you one and all!

The Greek Cypriots of New Jersey held a successful Cyprus Glendi on friday, March 3, 2023 at the Graycliff in New Jersey The President, Despina Axiotakis along with Vice President Minas Antoniou, welcomed all the guests for joining them at their second annual glendi! Mrs. Axiotakis gave a shout out and appreciation to all the young people from NEPOMAKandtheCYP for taking part in this event She also asked everyone to observe a moment of silence and prayer for the victims tragically killed at Tempe,Greece

M r . K y r i a c o s Papastylianou, president of the Federation of C y p r i o t A m e r i c a n O r g a n i z a t i o n s c o n g r a t u l a t e d t h e president, Despina Axiotakis and the board m e mb e r s for t h e i r

commitment and dedication to promoting the Cyprus culture and wished everyone a wonderful time and asked everyone to continue to promote our customs and traditions.

She also thanked Major Sponsors, Maria Pappas, ComodromosAssociates, P.A., Spyros Kyprianou, FCAO, American Network

From left, Anastasia Lambrou, Anna Tannousis, Petroula Lambrou,, Councilman Stathis Theodoropoulos, Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, Pantelis Pantelides, Despina Axiotakis

The VIP/Board Members of the GCNY. From left: Andy Comodromos, Philip Christopher, John Papatheropontas (Board Member) Kyriacos Papastylianou (FCAO President) Consul General of Cyprus Michalis Firillas, Despina Axiotakis (president of Greek Cypriots of NJ) Board Members: Minas Antoniou, Georgia Constantinou, Rena Christie, Stelios Kyprianou

Solutions, Savas Tsivicos, Loucas Restaurant, Matthews Colonial Diner, Georgia Constantinou, Gotham City Diner, Hibernia Diner, Lampousa Cypriot American Association, Pompton Queen Diner, Connie Manola of M&T Bank, Pancyprians of Staten Island “Aphrodite”, Marc Demetriou And Alma Bank!

Thankyouallforyourgeneroussupport.

Gifts were provided to the guests by Idalio Foods limited ad 776 Deluxe Foods. Mrs. Axiotakis thanked Harris Enotiades for his generousdonations.

Members of NEPOMAC

From left, Dr Zenon Christodoulou, Philip Christopher, Consul General Michael Firillas, despina Axiotakis, kyriacos Papastylianou, Tasos Zambas, Nicos Paphitis, Martinos Kyprianou

Nicos Zittis, President of the Cyprus Children’s Fund, Eleni Pantelides, Anna Comodromos, Andy Comodromos, Maria Pappas George Alexandrou. Standing, Xenia Rakkou, Phytos Stratis

Longing for Home

Greek Adoptees Share Their Heartbreaking Stories in Voices of the Lost Children of Greece

“WhoamI?”“WheredoIcomefrom?”Most of us know the answers to these questions. I say most, because some truly don’t know It’s been said that you must know where you come from to know where you ’ re going. But for some, those answers are out of reach. And it keeps them from finding their place in the world and determining where they’re going. Such is the plight of many adoptees, especially adoptees from Greece duringthe1950sand1960s.

Adoption can be a beautiful, selfless act—when done for the right reasons. But thousands of children were adopted from Greece in the aftermath of World War II andtheGreekCivil War,and many of them were stolen from their families or taken u n d e r s u s p i c i o u s circumstances. Many others were separated from siblings and, in some cases, twins. Families were told their babies died. But they were very much alive, and sent to unsuspecting families in the U.S. Some were adopted into loving homes, while others were abused This dark time in our history cannot continue to be swept under the rug. Because many are struggling, they need—and deserve—to know where they come from. Without a true sense of identity, they feel like they’re not grounded; they feel like their roots were cut And they’re longing to reconnect. The sense of nostos—a longing for home—won’t let their questions die And there are parents and families on the other end who’ve spent their lives, in some cases decades, wondering about their lost children. Time is of the essence, because many of the parents are now elderly or have already died. The adoptees are aging, too, and it is past time for them to reconnect those roots, to find home, and to finally learn who they are and where theycomefrom.

Mary Cardaras, herself an adoptee, has compiled the gut-wrenching stories of a group of Greek adoptees, including her own in Voices of the Lost Children of Greece: Oral Histories of Cold War International Adoption(AnthemPress,2023).Someofthe adoptees have been able to find their answers, however, others still search. Their stories are strikingly similar: all longing to reconnect with their roots, for a sense of

belonging past, present, and future. To know where they fit in the puzzle Cardaras has also become a fervent activist for adoptees. She shared her story and why it’s importanttogivevoicetotheadoptees.

Mary’sstory

Born in a maternity hospital in Athens, Cardaras stayed with her birth mother for nine days. She’s not sure where they stayed, but at that point, her mother realized she couldn’t raise the baby and took her to an orphanage The baby became #44488 Cardaras’ adoptive parents couldn’t conceive, and her adoptive grandparents sought a child for them They first saw Cardaras at the orphanage and within 12 months she would journey to the States to hernewfamily.

“From the orphanage, I was sent to a foster home organized by PIKPA, the Patriotic Institution for Social Wellness and Awareness; then a private foster home, where I stayed until my new grandparents and I boarded a ship to the U.S.,”sheexplained.

Growing up in a loving, Greek-American family, she always knew she was adopted Her family told her “ a beautiful, more romanticstory”abouther adoption, which she later learned was not entirely true They didn’t want her to bear the shame or stigma of her origins.

“They didn’t want anyone to know that I was the product of an unwed mother My grandparents were the only ones who had any contact with the orphanage In fact, they met my birth mother They fabricated some nice stories one of which was about the orphanage I came from. I wasn't at the nicer Mitera in the outskirts of Athens. I was in the dank, public orphanage in the center of the city I never wanted to hurt my adoptive parents or seem ungrateful, so when I was younger, I’d sneak to look at my papers. ”

When Cardaras was 17, she traveled to Greecewithhergrandparents.

“I felt like I belonged there It wasn’t foreign. It was home It was my country Other adoptees have expressed that same sentiment.Whilethere,Isearchedthefaceof every female face I saw, wondering if she’s lookingforherbaby.”

Sensitive to the feelings of her adoptive parents, it wasn’t until Cardaras was in her thirties that she began a “quiet search” through a social service agency in Athens. It tooktenyearstogetanyinformation.

“They told me they’d put me in touch with my birth mother, but we both needed to go into therapy first. She refused and likely didn’t want to re-live the trauma of her pregnancy, my birth, giving me away She didn't want to re-experience her shame. Then I dropped it for 21 years and tried to forgetaboutit.”

But she could not forget. Then her adoptive parentspassedaway

“It’s horrible losing your parents. Bereft, I felt untethered, alone, like I’d been left again. I knew it was time to reconnect in a deeper waytomyGreekidentity”

Cardarasgotinvolvedatchurchandenrolled in Greek school There she met a woman who shared the story of Dena Poulias, who’d been stolen from her parents in Greece and adoptedintheU.S.

“Something stirred in me Heartbroken, I called Dena and asked if I could write her story. I told it for her because she couldn't findthewordstotellitherself.”

Uncoveringtruths

For one year, Cardaras interviewed Poulias and her family During her research, she discovered a book by Gonda Van Steen, entitled Adoption, Memory, and Cold War Greece: Kid Pro Quo? (University of MichiganPress,2019).

“I read about communists, stolen babies, doctors, lawyers—a veritable Greek baby trade I called Gonda and asked her, ‘Am I one of these kids?’ She said yes. She searched my adoption numberinhervastdatabase,and that’s how I learned about this time in history. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had to write about it. There are so many of us. We’re the first group of kids in history to be exported from our country The Koreans and Chinese began doing this later People rarely spoke of it, until Gonda’s book, and then I wrote Ripped. Now everyone’s talking. These people are lost. They want aconnectiontotheirbiological kin.”

Ripped at the Root: An Adoption Story (Spuyten Duyvil, 2021) details Dena’s adoption story and her quest to find her birthfamily.

There’s such a stigma surrounding these adoptions,thatCardarasfaced manyhurdles inhersearch.

Dr. Mary Cardaras

“TheGreekgovernmentexpressessympathy and sadness but is reluctant to open the files. They say they don’t understand why we have todredgeupthepast.Ican’tunderstandthat. Somepeoplehavegainedaccesstotheirfiles, but it’s a battle with bureaucracy It takes time and money. Many adoptees don’t speak Greek, which presents a greater challenge The Greeks made mistakes in history It’s besttoconfrontthem.TheIrishhaveopened all their adoption records. Greece needs to dothesame ”

Cardaras met with a government rep who hadheldherfilebutwouldn’tletherseeit.

"Shetoldmetherewasnothingofinterest.”

Ultimately, she located her mother and pennedaletter,butitwastoolate Shediedin 2020 Cardaras has met some of her biological familyandhermother’scaretaker.

“She gave me my mother’s coat. I could smell her It was a very emotional moment Unfortunately, we did reunite, but at her grave. I’ve been told I look like my mother, walk and talk like her Our voices sound the same I’ve never been like anyone else I’m still searching for my biological father. I have hisnameandhemaybestillalive”

Givingvoicetoadoptees

Some adoptees who shared their stories in Voices of the Lost Children of Greece have found their answers, while others still search Cardaras gives these brave individuals the space and the grace to share their struggles, their nostos. This important work must be spread far and wide. Their poignant stories reveal this tragic event in our history, and will make you further appreciate your own family, your home, and your story. For countless adoptees, someone cut those roots, not realizing they would regenerate, and stretch across those miles, needing to connect. And they must. The feedbackhasbeenincredible.

“People tell me they never knew about this. Otheradoptees arenowsharingtheirstories. I just want justice for the adoptees. I hope this book continues to bring more attention to that time in history, to our stories and the importance of knowing and claiming our identities."

Cardaras has worked in academia, authored books, and produced documentaries all preparing her for this journey She’s the Founder and Director of the new Demos Center at Deree-The American College of Greece in Agia Paraskevi, a suburb of Athens.

“And I’ll continue to work with Gonda—I’m so grateful to her—to be a voice for adoptees, get the files open, and restore their Greek citizenship We’realllongingforhome”

OtherGreekadoptionstoriestocheckout: Twentieth Century Janissary: An Orphan’s Search for Freedom (Xlibris, 2011) by DionysiosC.Dionou

Beyond the Third Door (BookBaby, 2019) byMariaHeckinger

Lost Child of Greece: One Orphan’s Incredible Journey Home (Menonite Press, 2021)byAmaliaGouvitsasBalch

Maria A. Karamitsos has been a positive voice in Greek media since 2002. She's the founder & former publisher/editor of Windy City Greek magazine. For 10 years, she served as associate editor & senior writer for The Greek Star newspaper. Her work has been published in NEO magazine, Greek Circle magazine, The National Herald, Greek Reporter, Harlots Sauce Radio, Women Who Write, KPHTH magazine, XPAT Athens, and more. Maria has contributed to three books: Greektown Chicago: Its History, Its Recipes; The Chicago Area Ethnic Handbook; and the inaugural essay collection, Voices of Hellenism Literary Journal. She recently completed her 1st novel, called FindingEleftheria.

meetyourindividualneeds.

Many people turn to her for her expertise in weight loss and other chronic issues that they have not been able to re s olve t h rou g h a traditional medical route Her clients, Dora states, “usually have an array of symptoms like bloating, constipation, headaches, poor sleep, body aches, skin issues, not feeling right in their b o dy, and usu a l ly m u l t i p l e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s B y improving their relationship with food and making better choices these symptoms subside and the excess weight is released ” Dora works with the whole person, including the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. She provides the tools and education needed to help themachieveabetterquality oflife

Hippocrates, the Greek physician of the Classical world, she delved into her studies about the power of food as medicine. Dora, a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, has studied a lot about the psychology behind our choices, and, coupled with her studies in human nutrition, the next step for her was to combine these areas of expertise and start her own holistic wellnesspracticein2016.

by Athena Efter

Astoria Holistic Health: Discover Your Personal Path to Wellness

With our busy lifestyles, hectic work schedules, and often unhealthy eating habits, increasingly people are turning toward programs that offer holistic health solutions to manage weight loss and overall wellness. The expression “ you are what you eat” exists for a reason. What we put into our bodies affects us physically, mentally and emotionally. How many times have we started those diets or cleanses, only to fall off the wagon? This is where having a coach and mentor-someone to hold your hand through that process with the knowledge base and commitment needed-can help you start and stay the course to achieve yourwellnessgoals. DoraFiotodimitrakis, aka Dora Fioto, is a board certified holistic health coachandlicensedmassagetherapist,basedin Astoria, NY, who is committed to finding solutions for optimum health, designed to

Dora’s inspiration to explore non-traditional solutionstowellnesscametoherwhenherson had eczema, a skin condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin.

D o c tors had pres cr ib e d different creams, but the condition did not improve That’s when she decided to seek out a naturopathic doctor who assessed her son ’ s condition and determined that he was allergic tocowdairy.Thesolutionwasto replace the cow dairy with goat derived dairy products. It worked. His eczema vanished and her curiosity about the connection between food and symptoms was piqued Drawing even more inspiration from

Dora’s program is unique in that it focuses on the whole person as an individual. It is a customized program with personalized coaching, nutritional education, emotional and energy work, support, and accountability where each client gets the guidance they need to achieve their goals. It’s an empowering approach to holistic health and wellness by h e l p i n g t h e m understand how their choices can help them in other areas of their l i v e s , s u c h a s re l at i ons h ip s an d confidence building Another unique aspect of the program is that you will not be given a meal planofwhattoeat. According to Dora, “those can be foundall over theinternetandin hundredsofbooks.Manytrydietafterdietbut don't achieve the results they seek because

deprivation and restriction cannot work longterm We take into account what you are currently doing, and your specific sensitivities and teach you how to do it better Understanding your body, habits, and mindset behind those habits supports people in making real, lasting changes from a place of empowermentandchoice.”

Dora also makes it a point to really get to know her client and spend time talking with them to help her better assess the current condition and symptoms that need to be addressed. Midway through the program there is an evaluation process where she and her client compare where they were when they started and where they are now, and where they want to be Dora emphasizes the importance of people seeing how their choices impact their

quality of life and the progress that has been made: “I like to quantify my clients’ experiences and keep very detailed records of their progress so they understand what is working for them and equip them with the ability to sustain the results longterm.”

Through coaching and guidance, Dora’s program helps us identify food and environmental sensitivities that can help us feel better. According to Dora, “ we eat everyday. That’s the one thing we all do. What we put in our bodies can help us or hurt us. When we eat better, we feel better, and think more clearly Our sleep improves, our energy level improves, we have better mood, better bowel movements, fewer headaches, less bloating, less fatigue, etc.” And, yes, processed foods are the main culprits that affect our overall physical well-being. Increasing our intake of whole foods, in conjunction with other wellness techniques, like reiki and distance healing, can promote relaxation, stress reduction, and anxiety management, to help restore balance of energy. Dora specializes in these two wellnessdisciplines, as well as biomagnetism, nutrition response testing, and quantum entrainment, all of which can be done with amazing results through distance healing. While these techniques do not necessarily replace traditional forms of medical treatment, many medical professionals do encourage holistic healing as a supplemental wellness regimen.

With her program, Dora’s goal is to help her clients achieve sustainable lifestyle changes by understanding their choices and what motivates them: “By going to a deeper level, I

help my clients apply their personal values, personality, and habits to sustain the changes they have made This is a process because if we are doing things one way all our lives, it takes time to create new, healthier paradigms that are deeper and lasting. My goal is for people to be able to bounce back quickly and easily and enjoylifeintheprocess!”

To learn more about the program and how Dora can help you meet your wellness and f i t n e s s g o a l s , y o u c a n v i s i t AstoriaHolisticHealth.com to schedule a free consultation.

Covid tested many of us and to this day, continues to. For some, it changed everything they ever knew and even derailed them on what they “thought” their expected paths should take them. This is exactly what happened with Christos Bisiotis – a celebrated chef now based in S outh Florida, who most famously has been known as the first Greek chefto ever cook at the W h i t e H o u s e , h a s b e e n nominated for a Michelin Star and has opened up some of your beloved favorite establishments. Yes, he has cooked your meals and designed your cherished and mouthwatering menu items that keep you going back to, Estiatorio Milos - Hudson Yards, Avra (Beverly Hills, Madison and Lexington), MILA Miami, Carbone Miami, and much, muchmore.

by Laura Neroulias

No Name on the Chef Jacket

– while at the same time, making sure we had our Greek and Sunday school education. The “American Dream” continues to this day in 2023, and there is no better example than ChristosBisiotis.

Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Christos graduated from the culinary school in Greece, OTEK – the private Greek government’s highly regarded hospitality school which only allows in the best of the best. Like many of his tattoos, cooking is etched in him for life Being influenced at a child, Christos spent much of his time cooking with his dear grandmother Terpsichore who taught him how to, “cook from the heart and give smell to memories.” At the age of 12, he began to tend to his parents’ bakery, and work at neighboring restaurants, starting as a dishwasher (yes, at 12 years old), and working his way up the ranks to cook, and never looking back. “To this day, I consider myselfacook.I’mnotintotitles,andlikeevery human being, we all have our history,” he continuestosay.

cheapest flights,” Christos landed in NYC, but not his luggage. Knowing little to no English, and also knowing little to nobody, he sleptinAstoriaParkhisfirstnight – and possibly was the coldest nightoftheyear.Afewhourslater with a backpack filled with printed resumes, he found himself wandering up to a Greekowned real estate office in the early hours on December 26, and finding perhaps, an angel A man by the name of “Bobby” was there and offered his own basement apartment to Christos where he could plant his feet for a few months. Picking up the Daily Ne ws and lo oking at job advertisements, he cut out Burger King 2-for-1 coupons to fill his daily quota of lunch and dinner cravings, giving him only nutritional strength to go and apply f rom restaurant to restaurant. Bumping into rude and crude Greek owners, one specifically being ‘ very annoyed’ that Christos came in to chat with himwhilehewaseatinghislunch, he was offered his first job by the late George Stergiopoulos, owner of Christos Steakhouse in Astoria. Warmly and sincerely welcomed in, Christos got his shot and after several months of hard work, he was offered a position at Edison Ballroom, which under mutual ownership, he worked on massive catering events, celebrity birthdays and galas.

“The goal for me was to cook nice food All I can do is cook,” Christos states, however there was more to come, and the

Like many of us who are first generation Greek, their parents poured their blood, sweat and tears throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s in theUnitedStatestobuildafuturefortheirkids

Finding himself crossing the Atlantic over to the United States on Christmas Day 2007, “because that was the day that had the

brakes were not going to be pressed anytime soon. Christos eventually landed as Chef de CuisineatEatalyNYCFlatiron.Workingthere for four years and learning the art and love of Italian cooking and food hall operations, during his time there he also assisted with the

Chef Christos Bisiotis

Chef Christos Bisiotis' Signature Lobster Caprese

Chef Christos Bisiotis at a private dinner in Miami Beach, FL (2021)

opening Eataly Chicago and international locations. Years after, he found himself in skillful, high-pressure positions, including leading culinary and gourmet efforts under MINA Group for Locale Market, located in St. Petersburg, Florida which was the Group’s firstentryintofoodhalloperations.

In-between the years, Christos had several achievements including, being nominated for Michelin Star at The Greek (2014), being the First Greek Chef to cook at the White House (2013, by invitation from the White House Executive Chef) which also included cooking s e v e r a l t i m e s d u r i n g t h e O b a m a administration and for the Annual United States Congress Dinner, was hand chosen by the late, great French Chef Alain Sailhac to teach a culinary class at the legendary De Gustibus Cooking School at Macy's Herald Square (2018), participated and competed with head chefs in the International

Estiatorio Milos - Hudson Yards. At $25 billion, the most expensive real-estate developmentinU.S.history,therehemanaged a 120-person bri

Gastronomic Festival in Athens (2007), and was a Consulting Chef of EL AL Airlines, Tel Aviv,Israel(2017).

“It was never about the fame. For me, wearing a chef jacket, it’s just a piece of cloth that I strongly dislike putting my name on. I believe the jacket does not make the chef. I feel extremely comfortable always wearing my short sleave dishwasher jacket. Because I startedasone.”

It was a matter of time before he found himself back to what he loves the most -- cooking Greek. Coming back full circle, 10 years later in2017,hewashired asExecutiveChefatAvra Madison, and soon after, launching Avra Beverly Hills in 2018, their first West Coast location. In 2019, Christos was tasked to open international seafood Greek restaurant

a

e, curating an unparalleled culinary destination for the 230seatdiningroom.

On the high of his life, what could go wrong? Towards the end of 2019 and early part of 2020, Christos was offered the opportunity and worked towards opening up his first restaurantwhichwascalled,‘Egéo.’Locatedon a bustling 31st street corner of Astoria, Queens, it was set to soft launch on March 25, 2020 in celebration of Greek Independence

Christos Bisiotis, inspired by his wife) and Israeli (called, Lox n’ Love), you will now find Christos’ doing what he loves, and what he does best – consulting restaurants, cooking and delivering incredible weekly meals (aka, CB Meals) throughout all of South Florida, catering for events, teaching culinary classes, executing personal chef services, and creating his own line of food products which is currentlyundergoingtesting.

“I am coming to the conclusion that cooking can either keep you very focused or destroy you After 22 years working in professional kitchens all over theworld, I figured that it was about time to truly be me and do it all on my own. I am a one-man show and took my lessons from the past. I prep, I cook and do not have to answer to anyoneotherthan thephone callsofmyclients,”heunapologeticallynotes.

Day With tons of press attention, social media buzz a n d h i g h c o m m u n i t y anticipation, it didn’t happen. With the NYC shutdown, an onset of challenges due to the pandemic, plus, a “bad partnership,” Christos walked away in the Summer 2020 and leaving NYC entirely. Rethinking his path, he moved down to Miami spending the next two years opening MILĀ Miami and Carbone Miami, working as a personal chef in those ‘fancy’ condos in Miami Beach, hosting private dinners, and ultimately, rebranding and rebuilding hisownpathonhisownterms.

In the Summer 2022, more than 800 days since what it felt like the entire world tried to force him off his entrepreneurial course, he created his own hospitality company, ‘The CB Concepts.’ Focusing on three cuisines including Greek (termed, Térpsi by Christos Bisiotis, in honor of his grandmother), Italian (named, LORA by

One of the biggest questions Christos gets asked is if he will ever be back in a restaurant. He states, “I do not have an answer to that because I was looking for it for so many years to have one Maybe I will never have one, and I am ok with that. My focus is on the future of my kids, building opportunities for them and possibly seeing them continue what I am doing.”

With values based on family, tradition, faith, respect, hard work and relentlessness, it looks likeChristosBisiotisisjustgettingstarted

For more information about Christos Bisiotis, you can visit www.christosbisiotis.com, and follow The CB Concepts on Instagram, www.instagram.com/thecbconcepts, and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/thecbconceptsSoFlo

“I would like to be remembered as a person who said whatever I wanted. I am raw. I am stubborn. I am intense. I am cold cut turkey. Some people may even say I’m a psycho. Above all though, I am not a hypocrite, I believe in God, and I am a good father.” – Christos Bisiotis.

Chef Christos Bisiotis' Signature Tuna Tartare

CB Meals' Ribeye Steak with Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli Rabe

Christos Bisiotis, recently landed in the U.S., in Astoria Park, Queens (2008)

In action, Chef Christos Bisiotis teaching a class at the De Gustibus Cooking School at Macy's Herald Square in NYC (2018)

Cyprus in Vienna!

Recently, Kyrenia Opera was in Vienna for a night of wonderful music with Cyprus in Vienna, celebrating the long history and rich culture of Cyprus. The concert was presented in gratitude to Anna Papasavva, Diplomat of the Republic of Cyprus, for her support of KyreniaOpera'seffortsinVienna.

connection between New York and Cyprus through diverse vocal productions and educational outreach to children andadults. With its home base in New York, Kyrenia Opera is dedicated to bringing the wealth of great vocal music serving as a bridge to audiences in both c o

programming encompasses a wide range of classical and folk genres, including staged operas, concert works, and Greek popular and classical art song.Since its inauguration in 2012, Kyrenia Opera has provided outreach programming for more than 3,000 adults and children in the New York metropolitan area, Washington D.C and Cyprus Through performances, educational seminars, and master classes, Kyrenia Opera provides access to live music for under-served communities and the immediate community in New York City

Mail this order form with your data and cheque or money to “Neocorp Media Inc.” P.O. Box 560105, College Point, NY 11356

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Phone: (718) 554-0308

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NEO's articles are up to date and refreshing, covering a variety of topics, including shipping, history, tradition, church, politics, business etc. We publish and distribute 10,000 copies a month. It is estimated that over 50.000 people get to read the magazine every month, among them some of the most influential Greek Americans (NEO has perhaps the widest VIP Greek American list). Through distribution and subscriptions NEO reaches almost all 50 US states. There are regular distribution points in New York, New Jersey, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles, bringing the magazine to the key places of the American Hellenism.

AcelebrationforallBalkanpeoples,includingTurks!

March 25, 1821 marks the beginning of a long struggle that led to the creation of modern Greece and the demise of the Ottoman Empire, which in turn led to the formation of a number of modern countries, including Turkey: the last state that came out of the process that lasted almost a century So, it's a day for celebration, inclusive to us, Greeks, but also all the other Balkan peoples. Turks should partake in our joy as well! Ottomans were a class in the empire and notanationality CountlessGreeks,Arabs, Armenians, Georgians etc. were members of the Ottoman elite, which held absolute power over an array of nationalities “Turk” at that time wasn't a term to be carried with pride, but denoted someone inferior, like an arrogant peasant not be taken seriously. It was during the Young Turks movement in the early 20th century that Turkish nationalism was formed as a reaction to the other nationalisms in the area. Unfortunately it was exercised at the expense of Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians with genocides and countless atrocities. But it was after all that that the term Turk found its place and Turkey becameamenaceforallherneighbors,but

also for the many different peoples within that had to become by force something thattheyneverwere

But as I said in the beginning, this is an occasion to celebrate, let us leave the particulars for another time. Besides the teachings that we've been hearing since ourdaysinschool,weneedtolookfornew meanings and associations that will keep this holiday relevant for many generations to come. Let's multiply the values we draw from it instead of restricting them, as the Committee for the Bicentennial of Greek Independence so ludicrously managed to do two years ago Hellenism is about inclusiveness,cosmopolitanismisthecore of our identity, whatever significance we have done during millennia reflects exactly that! So this national anniversary too, must be seen and explained according to the impact it had for us Greeks but also for other peoples as well. It ignited a process that created new realities for many! And more importantly perhaps, it's still unfolding and we'd better be aware of that!

The vicissitudes of time and the accidents of fate have led here, so many years after the Greek and Serbian Revolutions, to the establishment of strong ties between Greek and Serbian migrant communities throughout the world. Yet despite our shared history and the enduring bonds of friendship that were forged as a result of a mutual commitment to liberty, bonds so strong that they led revolutionary Anastasios Karatasos of Imathia to advocate a dual GreekSerbian state and veteran and historian Lambros Koutsonikas, to conceive of a Greek–Serbian federation of "two sisters," the Serbian community is generally left out of commemorative events for the Greek revolution, and we neglect to pay homage to its heroes, male and female, who fought for and becameadoptedchildrenofGreece

There is still plenty of time for this omission to be redressed, in this bicentennial year of the Revolution, so that Rhigas Pheraios’ noble conviction that the pursuit of liberty and the destruction of tyranny is the task of all nations working together, can be honoured in full Until then, we salute and remember our Serbian heroes with gratitude, awe and deep humility, prayingalwaysthattheirmemorybeeternal

*) Dean Kalimniou (Kostas Kalymnios) is an attorney, poet, author and journalist based in Melbourne Australia. He has published 7 poetry collections in Greek and has recently released his bilingual children’s book: “Soumela and the Magic Kemenche.” He is also the Secretary of the Panepirotic FederationofAustralia.

Alkistis Protopsalti and Dimitris Mpasis to Perform in the US

Alkistis Protopsalti, one of Greece’s most significant, explosive, respected and enduring vocalists will combine her voice with that of the beloved and respected Greek vocalist Dimitris Mpasis in four performances in New York City (April 28- Tribecca PAC), Chicago (April 30 North Shore Performance CenterSkokie), Baltimore (May 6

Kraushaar Auditor iumTowson) and Boston (May 7 Berklee Performance Center).

“THE BEST OF GREECE”, as the project is named, is truly the best of Greek voices and the best of Greek song selections by t h e “ g i a n t s ” o f G r e e k composers The Ultimate Concert Tribute to Hellenism, it is a highly anticipated event and is presented under the auspices of the Consulates General of Greece in New York, B o s t o n a n d C h i c a g o Philhellenes everywhere are invited to the New York City performance on April 28, 2023 to celebrate the “Weekend of t h e H e l l e n i c S p i r i t ” culminating on Sunday, April 30 with the Greek Independence Day Parade inNYC.

Alkistis Sevassti Attikiouzel was born in Alexandria, Egypt to Greek parents Stavros and Maria from Asia Minor and from the island of Chios At the age of seven, the political instability in Egypt brought them all toAthensGreece

Fast-forward 48 years and you find that

Alkistis Protopsalti is one of Greece’s most significant, explosive, respected and enduring vocalists. She commands the loyalty of fans across three generations! She boasts 28 personal albums (all gold or platinum). Her countless live performances are by no means limited to the wondrous ancient theatres of Greece, but also include renowned concert halls and theaters worldwide. Among these performances in Canada, Australia, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Cyprus, Israel, Romania, Sweden and C y p r u s , a r e t h e m o s t remarkable ones at the Radio C i t y M u s i c H a l l a n d Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Grand Theater of Havana Opera House in Cuba, the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow and the Library of AlexandriainEgypt.

Her career began in her native Greece with countless collaborations with Greek composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, Dimos Moutsis, Elias Andriopoulos, , Stamatis Kraounakis, Nikos Antypas, Stefanos Korkolis, Giannis Spanos, Stamatis Spanoudakis, Stavros Xarhakos and also with EvanthiaReboutsikaandGoranBregovic.

Alkistisbelievesthatmusichasnobordersand has always accompanied man. “We meet

music at the moment of our birth” she remarks. “The sounds of nature and man ’ s attempt to imitate them were the first songs. Music dresses most of the other arts and makes them more complete I believe music is the mother of all art” She continues, “In difficult times we turn to art more, searching forsomewheretoplaceouremotions.”

To the delight of her younger fans, Protopsalti performed in Greek two Walt Disney films, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” as the voice of Esmarelda and the film “Tangled” (Rapunzel) providing the demanding voice of Gothel.

Alkistis Protopsalti isquite theathlete too! She proudly ran the Olympic flame torch relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and lead a festive mood at the closing ceremony. Furthermore, she appeared at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Special Olympics at 2010 performing together with the renowned Italian tenor Vittorrio Grigolo She is the only woman to have been named the “Ambassador oftheMarathon”worldwide.

In August 2015, Alkistis Protopsalti became the Interim Alternate Minister of Tourism of the Greek government, a very different but most deserved title indeed! In all she does and particularly through her music, she never misses an opportunity to promote her beloved Greece.

Dimitris Mpasis began his career 30 years ago alongside Alkistis Protopsalti, making this tour a sentimental journey for them both. He has established himself as one of Greece’s most prominent vocalists of the younger generation and stands apart not only for his exceptional voice but also for his professional and artistic ethos.

A Synphonia Entertainment Inc. production with Aphrodite Daniel /Executive Producer. For more information their website is www.SynphoniaEnt.com and the phone numbe(646)623-0270.