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ART S

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Healthy and authentic

Greek style yogurt www.yiasouyogurt.com.au

Publisher note:

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G re ek Cu ltu re M ag azin e

hank you one and all, big and small, Hellene and Philhellene alike for joining us once again on this Hellenic Odyssey.

WIth our humble magazine turing 4 we thought we'd celebrate with some of the best moments from the past and some of our favourite stories, photos and moments

PUBLISHER & Managing Editor: Steve Agi editor@opamagazine.au Co-publishers: Chris Binos & Jim Grivas DESIGN Natasha Dolovacki Sub-editing & Creative Direction Helen Agi ADVERTISING SALES Steve Agi thecaffiend@thecaffiend.com.au +61 432210963 PHOTOGRAPHY Mark Bayes Photography CONTRIBUTORS Chris Binos, Helen Agi, Kat Binos, Jim Grivas, Jim Claven, Glik Andriotis, Paul ‘PJ’ James, Alexander N. Pattakos Ph.D, Leonard Janiszewski, Effy Alexakis, Fr. Kyril, Dean Kalymniou, Bill Papastergiadis MAILING ADDRESS Po Box 406 Albert Park , VIC 3206 PRINTPOST APPROVED PP320135/00072 SUBSCRIPTIONS Steve Agi 0432 210 963 opa@opamagazine.com.au www.opamagazine.com.au ARTICLES All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform withy the magazine format.

OPA! Magazine has truly become Australia's most loved celebration of all things Greek and we are pleased to have you enjoy another issue and this journey with us.

Let us take you on this journey once again and we invite you to share your stories and photos with us online via twitter and facebook - we love being a part of your journey also.

We look forward to many more years of celebrating with you and know that this is only the beginning of this Hellenic Adventure

Everybody Say OPA!

COPYRIGHT

Opa! Magazine is owned by Steve Agi Publishing and published by Steve Agi. All material in OPA! Magazine is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher.

The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Steve Agi Publishing will not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in OPA! Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

Cover photo of the Virgin Mary with child Jesus supplied by the Hellenic Museum as part of their current Benaki Museum Collection

Chris Binos

Jim Grivas

CONTENTS 16 20 30 24 52

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6 COVER STORY 11 ISTORIA – The Crusaders in Cyprus16 ELLAS

ISTORIA – The Statue of Liberty & The Colossus of Rhodes

20 MITOLOGIA – The Greek Gods 24 Greece: My Homeland 30 In the Kouzina 34 A modern Day Job 38 A Byzantine, Down Under 42 VASILOPITA 46

48 The Origins of the Orthodox Church 52 PROFILE – Ange Kenos 54 NIK HALIK – The Thrillionare 57 KOMBOLOI KORNER 58 MEANDERING ASIA MINOR 60 It’s all about the glendi 62 Trish Stratus – The Fighting Spartan 66 TRAVEL TIPS 68 LEGAL EAGLE 70 It’s all GREEK to me opamagazine.com.au

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ΕΛΛAΣ

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ELLAS

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PRAGMATA

Minotaurus

by LEGO The mighty Minotaur, a mythical creature, protects a secret temple hidden deep inside a labyrinth. Players must compete to be the first to lead their heroes to the temple, avoiding the Minotaur and cleverly placing walls to block opponents. Clear and simple rules makes Minotaurus (RRP $39.99) a game for the whole family.

Forty Fine Years - a celebration

of the Pantazis Family and Parap Fine Foods

By Peter and Sheila Forrest

Parap Fine foods is a Darwin institution and has been delivering superlative food items to Territorians since 1968. The Pantazis family have built up a food and wine emporium committed to bringing you only the best quality products available. Forty Fine Years is a story about fine people, fine food and amazing recipes.

Written by Darwin’s most celebrated historians – a must read.

Nintendo 3DS

Seeing an amazing 3D world come to life in the palm of your hands is an experience you have to see for yourself to believe! The large top screen of the Nintendo 3DS system uses the latest technology to produce vivid and convincing 3D effects without the need for special glasses.

GO TO @nintendo3ds.com.au

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FIND MORE ABOUT PARAP FINE FOODS @ parapfinefoods.com

Saradis – Fruits in Syrup Enjoy homemade traditional sweets, in different flavours, such as sour cherry, bergamot and fig in a delicious, rich syrup that will transport you to a time and place unlike any other.

MORE ON THIS SWEET TEMPTATION @ saradis.gr

House of Orange Amsterdam Design Warehouse 100% Dutch design - made in Melbourne.

Beautiful and functional indoor /outdoor furniture - all made to order.

Designed and run by husband and wife team Ursula and Hans van Schoonhoven who moved to Melbourne from Holland ten years ago.

They saw a niche in the outdoor furniture market and introduced their Back 2 Basics range three years ago. They have now expanded to indoor dining and storage and hospitality fit-outs. Demand is growing every season. Their simple, affordable and timeless pieces are on display in their gorgeous Armadale showroom at 917 High Street. Open 7 days.

GO TO house-of-orange.com.au

Say a little Prayer.

When a treasure chest of crosses, coins, angel wings, peace signs, heart & fish are combined with love and creativity what do you get?

A beautiful Sue Sensi piece from her latest Faith collection.

Chic stylish and filled with positive energy & immaculate style.

Visit www.suesensi.com for your nearest stockist.

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ublished predominantly in English promoting all things Greek to Greeks and philhellenes alike.

Established in October 2010, launched to over 100,000 people at the Lonsdale St festival, with 30,000+ copies given away in March 2011.

Launched nationally, with true national distribution predominantly across the Eastern seaboard, but also into the West, Darwin and Tasmania and now into New Zealand.

Created a new space, predominantly marketed to second and third generation Greeks whose first language is English. All other ‘Greek’ media including newspapers, magazines and radio are pitched to the migrant generation and published in Greek.

A big focus and investment online and through to social media.

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EVERYBODY SAY OPA!

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OPA!

OPA

EVERYBODY SAY

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www.opamagazine.com.au www.facebook.com/opamagazine www.youtube.com/channel/UC66RumjAgmWjqKKlYdJfTPA https://twitter.com/opamagazine http://issuu.com/opamagazine

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ISTORIA

THE CRUSADERS IN CYPRUS

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Knights in shining armour, chivalry, jousting, castles and battlements: hardly what one would expect to be traditional elements of Greek culture. However, in multicultural Cyprus, a feudal Latin state ruled the island for over 400 years, writes Dean Kalimniou.

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he story of Cyprus is one of continuous attacks, slaughters and political instability, but also of prosperity, advanced culture and success in the face of adversity.

This is no more so evident than in the years of Frankish rule on the island. Once part of the Byzantine Empire, the cousin of the emperor, Isaac Comnenus, rebelled against

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his overlord and established himself as ultimate ruler of the island.

However, his was not to be a long rule. In 1191 Richard the Lionheart, King of England and leader of the Third Crusade to the Holy Land was shipwrecked at Limassol. He was wed to his fiancĂŠe Beranzera and hastened to inform Isaac Comnenus that he came, not as an enemy, but as a friend. Impressed with his valour, the inhabitants of Limassol

ISTORIA fairness within the courts and also restored order by introducing the feudal system of government to the island, which provided him with greater control of the island.

prepared an enthusiastic welcome for him. Isaac however, withdrew to the interior of the island, and sent word to Richard that we would be attacked.

Unfortunately for Isaac, his lightly armed Cypriot guard was no match for the heavily armoured Frankish cavalry, which smashed through the Cypriot lines and vanquished the native resistance. However, Richard’s victory was hailed by the local inhabitants with much rejoicing, owing to the unpopularity of Isaac and his tyrannical rule over the island.

Richard set about reforming laws, introducing elements of procedural

However, Richard soon set off for the Holy Land and the knights he left behind him, proved to be tyrannical and corrupt, while the Latin priests were allowed to roam the island unchecked, expelling Orthodox monks from monasteries and persecuting clergy. The Cypriots rose in revolt in 1192, Richard realized how tenuous his hold was over the island and decided to sell it to the Templar Knights of Jerusalem for the consideration of 100,000 gold bezants. Guerillas such as the indomitable Captain Kanakis who roamed Pentadaktylos Mountain and managed to abduct Richard’s during the revolt are written into popular folklore.

The Templars proved to be a scourge for the inhabitants of the island.

Almost immediately, they imposed heavy taxes upon the Cypriots and being religious fundamentalists, engaged in wholesale slaughters of Greek monks. Wave after wave of rebellion rocked the island and the Templars decided to cut their loses as they lost control and sold the island to Guy de Lusignan, a companion at arms of Richard.

The arrival of Guy de Lusignan in Cyprus signaled the beginning of the illustrious and long-lived Lusignan dynasty on the island, which lasted for approximately three hundred years. Guy’s first task was to fortify the island, building various castles along the coast of Cyprus.

He also reformed the existing feudal system on the island, dividing it into twelve feudal demesnes and granting them to his loyal knights and

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ISTORIA barons. Guy also introduced a legal system based on the Assizes, a voluminous French codex that particularised the obligations and relationship between knights and their lord as well as the role of townsfolk and the native Cypriot population. The Assizes are considered one of the greatest legal codices of the Mediaeval World and also forms an invaluable linguistic record of the idiom spoken by the Franks at the time.

Guy, one of the few Cypriot rulers to die peacefully, was succeeded by his brother Amalrich. Continuing his brother’s fortification of Cyprus, Amalrich also formally instituted the Latin Church as the official church on the island, significantly reducing the rights and privileges of the Orthodox Church. His reign was characterized by the building of many abbeys on the island, in characteristic Gothic style.

Lusignan king after Lusignan king succeeded each other and enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous rule over the island, which they considered to be the continuation of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, founded during the First Crusade. All Crusaders were united in their reverence for the unique overlordship of the island and the important role it played in keeping the Crusaders supplied with arms and food during their campaigns. This unity would be shattered for a short period in 1228 when the renegade German Emperor Frederic Barbarossa attempted to invade the island and claim it as a personal fiefdom. However, under the regency of Queen Alicia, the Lusignan dynasty was able to maintain its rule over the island.

The major line of the Lusignan’s expired in 1274 when the count of Beirut, Hugh the Third, who claimed matrilineal descent to the Lusignans was installed as king. One of the greatest rulers of his time, Hugh combined in his character, a rare military and administrative genius. Under his rule, the great abbey of Bella Pais was built. However, his golden age was not to last. The kingdom was torn asunder by the bickering of his grandsons Henry and Amalrich who claimed the throne. As a result, the civil administration of Cyprus fell into chaos and Genoese pirates began to raid its coastline. The Lusignans were never able to completely thwart the Genoese aggressors, not even in the prosperous reign of Hugo the Fourth, in which the Frankish chronicler Rudolph Sax wrote “Cyprus is the land of the richest Christian landowners. In Cyprus, a treasure of 3,000 gold ducats is considered nothing… its merchants have the deepest pockets in Christendom.”

Cyprus, the trading entrepot of the Mediterranean, also became a cultural melting-pot. Pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land could take advantage of the Byzantine hospitals, the academies and also the institute of foreign languages. Of greatest importance was the port city of Ammochostos, known as Famagusta which had trading links with the entire known world. Such was the prosperity of the city that, as Sax chronicles, when a leading merchant married his daughter, her trousseau was worth more than that of the Queen of France. Music and literature also reached their apogee at this time, influenced to some degree by local culture, even though an early form of apartheid was enforced by the Franks against their “heretic” Greek subjects.

After the death of Hugo, his sons managed to fight major naval battles against the Saracens. However, more political instability rocked the island as noblemen competed for dominance over the Lusignan kings.

During the reign of Peter, in 1370, the Genoese intensified their attacks on the island, pillaging the coastal towns and imposing a heavy tribute on the inhabitants. The death of Peter marked the beginning of the fall of the Lusignan dynasty. In 1425, Egyptian Mamelukes invaded the island and took its king prisoner. In order to meet his ransom, the entire treasury had to be sacrificed.

In 1442, the local inhabitants of Cyprus began once again to reassert their culture, under the rule of Byzantine Princess Eleni, daughter of Byzantine Emperor Theodoros Palaiologos and widow of John de Lusignan. Her rule was characterized by its openness and fairness. As well, the cultural life of the island began to have a decidedly Byzantine slant. For the first time in centuries, native Cypriots were awarded the same rights as their Latin conquerors and the Orthodox Church was freed from jurisdictional control by the Latin clergy. As well, the Greek language was instituted as the official language of the court.

As a result, many Byzantine churches were built on the island and during her twenty-year reign, Cyprus was pulled back from the brink of assimilation. Her daughter Carlotta carried on her policies, while later Lusignan rule saw the spread of Venetian influence form a stranglehold

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ISTORIA over the affairs of the island. The Venetians exercised control over the dynastic marriages of the de Lusignans and exploited the impending marriage of the last Queen of Cyprus, Catherine to the Neapolitan Crown Prince, an enemy of Venice, to seize control of the island in 1489.

Venetian rule in Cyprus was particularly uneventful. The Venetians strengthened fortifications on the island and at first treated the native Cypriots with great respect. Before long however, they began to practice discriminatory measures against the Greeks. Greek schools were forcibly closed and the only schools allowed to operate where Italian schools with teachers from Venice. The Orthodox Church was again persecuted and subjected to control by the Latin Cardinals.

As a result, the half million strong population of the island was denuded to 178,000 within the space of five years. A revolt by Greek teacher Iakovos in 1546 was brutally suppressed and sanctions applied to all Cypriots. Successive famines and plagues of locusts caused the Venetians to requisition all food reserves from the native Cypriots.

The revolts, which ensured plunged the island into civil war and also leached the island of its staunchest defenders. As a result, an exhausted Cyprus, depleted of resources, funds and men, was unable to withstand the incursions of the Ottomans whose first invasion of the island in 1570 will snuff out the vibrant, multi-cultural life of Frankish Cyprus and plunge it into a long night of darkness and barbarism.

loved his birthplace, to the extent that he often paradoxically expressed anti-Latin sentiments in his writing. His chronicle, in a simpler style than that of Machairas, is a revelation of the behind the scenes political struggles for power that took place among the Frankish nobles of the island. The kingdom of Outremer, romantic successor to the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem formed the centre of the western world’s desire.

Papal plots, the expansionist dreams of the Normans of Sicily, of Germans and Franks brought people of all nations to Cyprus and spread its renown throughout the known world. Establishing a reputation for riches and pleasure, it was fitting that Machairas wrote of Cyprus during the reign of the Lusignans: “Cyprus, the holy island, is so famous that even the greatest lies told would not make it even more famous.”

Today the ruins of Gothic abbeys dot the countryside of Cyprus, especially in the occupied North. The few castles that remain at Kyrenia and Kolossi conjure up ghosts of a bygone era. Chivalry, feudalism was the order of the day and knights in shining armour once manned the battlements of these castles that today guard only the memory of their creators. For surprisingly, on Cypriot culture itself, the long Latin sojourn on the island left barely a trace.

The tenacity of Greek civilization was tested and tried during the Frankish occupation of Cyprus and was found to be resilient, resisting the continuous attempts of the Latins to subvert, stamp out and assimilate it. Cyprus also proved a fertile cultural centre for the propagation of Frankish culture. The language of the Assizes is said to be unsurpassed by any contemporary literature in Frankish Europe. The fact that a Greek translation was commissioned for official purposes by the Lusignan kings also says much for the all-pervasive Greek influence on the island. Chroniclers abounded. Byzantine chroniclers in Cyprus such as Leontius Machairas were known for their conscious use of the common idiom as it was spoken in Cyprus in their writing and their work is characterized by an independent spirit, which allowed them not only to applaud but to criticize the acts of the Lusignan monarchs.

He also fearlessly exposed the Latin attempts to assimilate the Greeks.

“Because the Latins hate the Romans, they hide their icons and confiscate the holy relics so that they can claim that miracles occur only in their churches thus discouraging the Romans from their beliefs. I do not condemn the Latins but I cannot understand why they would want one who is a Roman, to become a Latin. Are we not all Christians?”

The Chronicle of George Boustronios, written in 1501 is significant as in it one can identify the fusion of Latin and Greek cultures. Boustronios, a Cypriot-born, Greek-speaking Frank, identified with and

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ISTORIA

&

The Statue of Liberty The Colossus of Rhodes

by Lee Krystek

Permission to use article via The Museum of Unnatural Mystery www.unmuseum.org Youtube video to be watched via OPA Website** (TAG) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c5bKVuTkpU&feature=player_embedded

Historians believe the Colossus of Rhodes stood at the harbor entrance of the ancient port city.

(Copyright LeeKrystek, 2011)

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ravellers to the New York City harbor see a marvellous sight.

Standing on a small island in the harbor is an immense statue of a robed woman, holding a book and lifting a torch to the sky. The statue measures almost one-hundred and twenty feet from foot to crown. It is sometimes referred to as the “Modern Colossus,” but more often called the Statue of Liberty.

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This awe-inspiring statue was a gift from France to America and is easily recognized by people around the world. What many visitors to this shrine to freedom don’t know is that the statue, the “Modern Colossus,” is the echo of another statue, the original colossus that stood over two thousand years ago at the entrance to another busy harbor on the Island of Rhodes Greece. Like the Statue of Liberty,

ISTORIA this colossus was also built as a celebration of freedom. This amazing statue, standing the same height from toe to head as the modern colossus, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Island of Rhodes The island of Rhodes was an important economic centre in the ancient world. It is located off the south-western tip of Asia Minor where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean. The capital city, also named Rhodes, was built in 408 B.C. and was designed to take advantage of the island’s best natural harbor on the northern coast.

In 357 B.C. the island was conquered by Mausolus of Halicarnassus (whose tomb is one of the other Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) but fell into Persian hands in 340 BC and was finally captured by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. When Alexander died of a fever at an early age, his generals fought bitterly among themselves for control of Alexander’s vast kingdom. Three of them, Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Antigous, succeeded in dividing the kingdom among themselves.

The Rhodians supported Ptolemy (who wound up ruling Egypt) in this struggle. This angered Antigous who in 305 BC sent his son Demetrius to capture and punish the city of Rhodes.

An engraving by Martin Heemskerck in 16th-century helped to establish the inaccurate harbor spanning pose in people’s minds.

Seven Quick Facts • Location: Island of Rhodes (Modern Greece) • Built: Between 292 - 280 BC • Function: Commemorate War Victory • Destroyed: 226 BC by an earthquake • Size: Height without 50 foot pedestal was 110 ft. (30m) • Made of: Bronze plates attached to iron framework • Other: Made in the shape of the island’s patron god Helios

The War with Demetrius The war was long and painful. Demetrius brought an army of 40,000 men. This was more than the entire population of Rhodes. He also augmented his force by using Aegean pirates.

The city was protected by a strong, tall wall and the attackers were forced to use siege towers to try and climb over it. Siege towers were wooden structures that could be moved up to a defender’s walls to allow the attackers to climb over them. While some were designed to be rolled up on land, Demetrius used a giant tower mounted on top of six ships lashed together to make his attack. This tower, though, was turned over and smashed when a storm suddenly approached, causing the battle to be won by the Rhodians.

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ISTORIA Demetrius had a second super tower built and called it the Helepolis which translates to “Taker of Cities.” This massive structure stood almost 150 feet high and some 75 feet square at the base and weight 160 tons. It was equipped with many catapults and skinned with wood and leather to protect the troops inside from archers. It even carried water tanks that could be used to fight fires started by flaming arrows. This tower was mounted on iron wheels and it could be rolled up to the walls under the power of 200 soldiers turning a large capstan.

When Demetrius attacked the city, the defenders stopped the war machine by flooding a ditch outside the walls and miring the heavy monster in the mud. By then almost a year had gone by and a fleet of ships from Egypt arrived to assist Rhodes. Demetrius withdrew quickly, leaving the great siege tower where it was. He signed a peace treaty and called his siege a victory as Rhodes agreed to remain neutral in his war against Ptolemy.

Statue Commemorates Victory

Another artist’s conception of the statue with a slightly different pose (Copyright Lee Krystek, 1998)

The people of Rhodes saw the end of conflict differently, however. To celebrate their victory and freedom, the people of Rhodes decided to build a giant statue of their patron god Helios. They melted down bronze from the many war machines Demetrius left behind for the exterior of the figure and the super siege tower became the scaffolding for the project. Although some reportedly place the start of construction as early as 304 BC it is more likely the work started in 292 BC. According to Pliny, a historian who lived several centuries after the Colossus was built, construction took 12 years.

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The statue was one hundred and ten feet high and stood upon a fifty-foot pedestal near the harbor entrance perhaps on a breakwater.

Although the statue has sometimes been popularly depicted with its legs spanning the harbor entrance so that ships could pass beneath, it was actually posed in a more traditional Greek manner. Historians believe the figure was nude or semi-nude with a cloak over its left arm or shoulder. Some think it was wearing a spiked crown, shading its eyes from the rising sun with its right hand, or possibly using that hand to hold a torch aloft in a pose similar to one later given to the Statue of Liberty.

No ancient account mentions the harbor-spanning pose and it seems unlikely the Greeks would have depicted one of their gods in such an awkward manner. In addition, such a pose would mean shutting down the harbor during the construction, something not economically feasible.

Colossus To Be Rebuilt?

Plans to rebuild the Colossus of Rhodes has been discussed a number of times in the last fifty years. The most recent proposal came in 2008. East German artist Gert Hof hopes to construct a new version of the statue to Helios. However, he does not wish to make it an exact replica. Instead it will stand up to three times as tall as the original and allow people to enter it. At night it will tell “stories” using an innovative light show.

When the statue was finished it was dedicated with a poem: To you, o Sun, the people of Dorian Rhodes set up this bronze statue reaching to Olympus, when they had pacified the waves of war and crowned their city with the spoils taken from the enemy. Not only over the seas but also on land did they kindle the lovely torch of freedom and independence.

For to the descendants of Herakles belongs dominion over sea and land.

ISTORIA In another version the city fathers decide to double the height of the statue. Chares only doubles his fee, forgetting that doubling the height will mean an eightfold increase in the amount of materials needed. This drives him into bankruptcy and suicide.

There is no evidence that either of these tales is true, however.

Collapse of the Colossus The Colossus stood proudly at the harbor entrance for some fifty-six years. Each morning the sun must have caught its polished bronze surface and made the god’s figure shine. Then an earthquake hit Rhodes in 226 BC and the statue collapsed. Huge pieces of the figure lay along the harbor for centuries.

Comparing the Statue of Liberty with the Colossus: Though the bodies are the same size, Liberty stands higher because of the taller pedestal.

Engineering the Statue The statue was constructed of bronze plates over an iron framework (very similar to the Statue of Liberty which is copper over a steel frame). According to the book of Pilon of Byzantium, 15 tons of bronze were used and 9 tons of iron, though these numbers seem low to modern architects. The Statue of Liberty, roughly of the same size, weighs 225 tons. The Colossus, which relied on weaker materials, must have weighed at least as much and probably more.

Ancient accounts tell us that inside the statue were several stone columns which acted as the main support. Iron beams were driven into the stone and connected with the bronze outer skin. Each bronze plate had to be carefully cast then hammered into the right shape for its location in the figure, then hoisted into position and riveted to the surrounding plates and the iron frame.

Some stories say that a massive earthen ramp was used to access the statue during construction. Modern engineers, however, calculate that such a ramp running all the way to the top of the statue would have been too massive to be practical. This lends credence to stories that the wood from the Heliopolis siege engine was reused to build scaffolding around the statue while it was being assembled.

A computer simulation suggests that the shaking of the earthquake made the rivets holding the bronze plates together break. At first only a few weak ones gave way, but when they failed the remaining stress was transferred to the surviving rivets, which then also failed in with a cascading effect. Though some accounts related that the statue fell over and broke apart when it hit the ground, it is more likely pieces, starting with the arms, dropped away. The legs and ankles might have even remained in position following the quake.

“Even as it lies,” wrote Pliny, “it excites our wonder and admiration.

Few men can clasp the thumb in their arms, and its fingers are larger than most statues. Where the limbs are broken asunder, vast caverns are seen yawning in the interior. Within it, too, are to be seen large masses of rock, by the weight of which the artist steadied it while erecting it.”

It is said that the Egyptian king, Ptolemy III, offered to pay for its reconstruction, but the people of Rhodes refused his help. They had consulted the oracle of Delphi and feared that somehow the statue had offended the god Helios, who used the earthquake to throw it down.

In the seventh century A.D., the Arabs conquered Rhodes and broke the remains of the Colossus up into smaller pieces and sold it as scrap metal. Legend says it took 900 camels to carry away the pieces. A sad end for what must have been a majestic work of art.

The architect of this great construction was Chares of Lindos, a Rhodian sculptor who was a patriot and fought in defence of the city.

Chares had been involved with large scale statues before. His teacher, Lysippus, had constructed a 60-foot high likeness of Zeus. Chares probably started by making smaller versions of the statue, maybe three feet high, then used these as a guide to shaping each of the bronze plates of the skin.

It is believed Chares did not live to see his project finished. There are several legends that he committed suicide. In one tale he has almost finished the statue when someone points out a small flaw in the construction. The sculptor is so ashamed of it he kills himself. opamagazine.com.au

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Mythologia

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT

THE GREEK GODS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks which concern their gods and the very nature of the world itself. A major part of Greek mythology are the myths of the Olympian Gods - the Dodekatheon.

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E

ach month OPA! reintroduces us to these immortal old-timers, whose ancient antics continue to define Greece’s identity in

the modern world. And what better way to kick things off than with the ruler of the Gods, the mighty Zeus.

The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon (Δωδεκάθεον) were the principal Gods of the Greek Pantheon (temple). These Gods who

resided at the summit of Mount Olympus were themajor deities in Ancient Greece. After overthrowing their ancestors - the Titans, the Olympian Gods became the rulers of the Cosmos. Their leader was Zeus.

The Gods were born and grew like human beings but they were immortal.

They lived inside human-like bodies with an ethereal fluid called ichor running through their veins. They had passions and human weaknesses and were often at fault, but were always obliged to take full responsibility for their actions. The Twelve Olympians gained their supremacy after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans.

The first ancient reference of religious ceremonies to the Gods is found in the Homeric Hymn to Hermes. The Ancient Greek belief of the Twelve Olympian Gods, can be traced to Athens in the 6th Century BC. The Gods were: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Dionysus, Apollo, Artemis, Ares,

were usually more. However, there

depending on the version of the

Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes.

were never more than twelve at one

tale, with various explanations to the

Greek myths refer to these twelve Gods

time. The four alternative gods were

differences in the composition of the

of Mount Olympus, but in total there

Hestia, Hades, Dionysus and Demeter,

twelve, such as the story that when opamagazine.com.au

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Mythologia

Dionysus was offered a seat among the Olympians, the total number became thirteen. Believing this would create a fight amongst the gods, Hestia stepped down.

The tales of the Gods have exerted a profound influence on the culture, arts, and literature of Western civilization and remain part of modern culture. Artists from ancient times to the present have been inspired by the mythology and have discovered contemporary significance and relevance in the stories.

Family Zeus was the last child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea and had five older brothers and sisters. Zeus’ older siblings had been swallowed up by their jealous father; however, Zeus managed to escape. Later he would unleash revenge on his father and set his siblings free. Zeus married his own sister Hera, the goddess of marriage and monogamy, but gave her plenty of reasons to be jealous, since Zeus was renowned of his numerous love affairs. As a result, Zeus was the father of many children.

R oles and R esponsibilities Zeus had his golden throne on the highest summit of Mount Olympus and was respected by all Gods and mortals. He was the “Lord of Justice�, punishing those who lied 26 |

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or broke an oath, but was fair and always striving to keep a balance of all things. Zeus was responsible for the weather, shaping it according to his temper and disposition.

When in high spirits, Zeus blessed the world with fine weather; in case of a bad mood, however, he would throw rain, winds, lightning and thunderbolts to cause disaster to the mortals, but even Zeus’ powers had their limits, for, however powerful he was, he had neither the right nor the ability to intervene the decisions of the Fates.

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Mythologia

Personalit y Zeus was carefree and loved to laugh out loud. He possessed perfect knowledge and was just, merciful and prudent. However, he was rather unpredictable, since no one could guess the decisions he would make and his mental condition at any one time.

A ppearance and S acred Sy m bols Zeus was strong and imposing, with long and often portrayed with curly hair. The main symbol of Zeus was the thunderbolt, which was as a gift from the Cyclopes because he liberated them. His sacred animal was the eagle.

The Roman name for Zeus is Jupiter.

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A year of growth and achievement for Delphi Bank.

Placed f irmly at the heart of their operations, Delphi Bank’s main objective is to give back to the community that supports them. With their long-term commitment fulf illed for another year, Delphi Bank experienced a successful year to date; a pleasing result achieved through the investments they’ve made in their customers and communities.

As a strong supporter of grassroots football across the country, Delphi Bank aims to recognise the importance of sports in our culture as a way of promoting community spirit, wellbeing and unity. As Premier Partner of the Hyundai A-Leagues’ Melbourne Victory Football Club, the Bank is pleased that they can demonstrate their commitment to the world game right through to the elite level.

From successfully securing and renewing major sponsorships, supporting international acts and performers, partnering with sporting greats to creating new opportunities for community and cultural groups around the nation, the Bank has gone from strength to strength over the last twelve months.

The charitable endeavours of Delphi Bank assist in the health and wellbeing of the Hellenic-Australian community, where funds are provided towards community service providers including Fronditha Care, Agapi Care and the Australian Greek Welfare Society. International Greek singer, Yiannis Ploutarhos recently performed at a fundraising concert in aid of these much-needed services, with the support arriving at a time where the Hellenic-Australian community is ageing rapidly and the need for facilities is at a critical level.

The success of the organisation flows from their strong relationship- oriented, community-minded approach to customer needs; however, it is their long-term support and involvement with the Hellenic-Australian community that remains central to their growth strategy. ‘We play a key role in meeting the cultural needs of the community; supporting our Hellenic roots through various events and sponsorship programs to help strengthen the communities in which we serve’ maintains Mr George Tacticos, Delphi Bank Chief Executive Officer.

As proud Naming Rights Sponsor, the Bank provides substantial backing to highlighted cultural events across the Hellenic-Australian calendar including the Delphi Bank Unley Greek Festival and Delphi Bank Semaphore Greek Cultural Festival in Adelaide, and the nationwide Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival. In addition, Delphi Bank is also the proud Presenting Partner of the Antipodes Lonsdale Street Festival in Melbourne and the Greek Festival of Sydney. These festivals attract thousands of locals each year, spreading the importance of Greek language and heritage whilst embracing both conventional and modern cultural influence.

Delphi Bank’s sponsorship portfolio also includes the Greek Glendi Festival in Adelaide, Brisbane Paniyiri and the Being Greek Festival in Sydney in addition to sponsorship assistance programs for various church groups, sporting associations and educational institutions in an effort to give back to local communities.

As Principal Partner of the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI), Delphi Bank shares the organisations’ strength and passion in bringing people together. A prominent figure within the community, the Bank maintains a strong working relationship with the Chamber which enables important business opportunities for members to exchange knowledge and ideas.

Delphi Bank is pleased to sponsor and be affiliated with these like-minded organisations and community groups which continue to foster Hellenic culture and traditions for future generations to enjoy.

Respecting good corporate citizenship as an integral part of their business, Delphi Bank will continue to go beyond banking to help their customers and strengthen the communities they live in.

Delphi Bank - A Division of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL / Australian Credit Licence 237879.

Greece: My Homeland

A

lexander Vosnakis is an architect living in Athens, Greece. He’s created a showroom which is well known and has been running with the aid of his wife Anastasia and his daughters for many years. It features fine furniture, art and décor items for home interior spaces.

“I grew up in Thessaloniki. My family and studies instigated an inquisitive spirit within me, with a passion for the finest things in life. My academic fields were based on home interior architecture as well as in Greek history. Since I was a little child I knew that I had leanings to-

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wards art. As a young boy I started making my own money by sketching for a local newspaper, and later by illustrating books! When I had spare time my hobby was to create art for my own pleasure and all this effort and practice resulted in me getting passionate with painting, drawing and sketching.”

As an ambitious young man Alex travelled all over the world trying to learn as many things as possible about the beauty and culture of other countries that books can’t teach us. He started collecting unique art finds, from decorative items and statues to fireplaces and antique

both black and white and color, using a variety of materials such as ink, pencil, charcoal, water, acrylic colors, tea-paint etc. and experimenting with many new techniques.”

“At some point of my life I had the chance to meet a group of Greek expatriates and we became very close to one another. They were a big family that was spread abroad and used to come to Greece for holidays, in order to gather all together for a while. One of them had asked me to draw something that would remind him of his homeland. Having known him for a long time and where he came from I was able to make him a series of framed art works which he used to decorate his home abroad. I was impressed at how grateful and moved he was. It is well known how Greeks that are spread all around the world always remember their roots and love Greece, but I only got to understand that strong bond when I actually saw it for myself.”

mantelpieces that were thrown away from palaces and noble mansions while renovating them.

“Having seen all that, I wanted to help people fill their homes with the glory, the coziness and beauty they desired but couldn’t achieve on their own. I came to Athens to build my own business from the very beginning. Times were good and days were passing by like hours because we were really busy. Nevertheless I never stopped loving my job no matter how tiring and stressful it sometimes ended up being.

That is the most important thing for a man to realize, and after that I reached the point where I achieved combining work and pleasure.

Nowadays I’m spending endless hours sketching and drawing figures, landscapes and everyday-scenes from all the places I’ve been,

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Greece My Homeland

The fact that some people can be actually happier and overwhelmed by such a small and gentle gesture is what inspired Alex to hold on to that thought and evolve this idea. He kept on creating art works inspired by Greek people, culture, mentality, history, ancient mythology, places etc. and wanted to share them with his fellow Greeks and everyone all over the world that just love Greece. This wish became true with the help of his family; he created the blogs (http://artinblackandwhite.blogspot. gr http://greecemyhomeland.blogspot.gr http://art-avos. blogspot.gr) where he makes all of this work available to everyone interested.

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“The greater goal of our efforts is that every Greek outside of Greece can find and own something that he loves and reminds him of the strong bond of his homeland. We’re offering art items, memories and subjects from Greece, our beloved homeland, stuff that can easily be given as meaningful presents to relatives during holidays and family gatherings. We also hope to make the new generation of Greeks that haven’t had the chance to visit Greece themselves, and the rest of the world, meet with the Greek way of life using pictures that explain better than words the meaning of family, hospitality, friendship, ‘kefi’ and more.”

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In the KOUZINA

Rocket Salad With Figs and Graviera (Σαλάτα Ρόκα με Σύκα και Γραβιερα)

(serves 4-6)

approx. 5 hand fuls of rocket (arugula) 1 small clove of garlic, minced 1 tsp. of Dijon st yle mustard 1 Tbsp. of hone y 3 Tbsp. balsam ic vinegar 9-10 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

fine sea salt an d fresh ground pepper 12 fresh (ripe) fig s, quartered 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped grated Graviera cheese

Method 1. Pick and tear-off any brown or wilted parts of the salad and wash in cold water. Dry your greens in a towel or use a salad spinner then reserve.

2. In a large bowl, add your honey, mustard, balsamic, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper and whisk into a paste. Continue whisking while pouring a slow stream of olive oil until your desired consistency is achieved and the dressing has emulsified. Taste dressing and adjust seasoning.

Add your salad greens and figs and gently toss until well coated. Top with chopped walnuts and grated Graviera cheese and serve.

Recipe courtesy of: www.kalofagas.ca

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Profile

In the KOUZINA

Greek Summer Sangria For the syrup 2 cups of water 1 cup sugar el on or orange pe 2-3 strips of lem k 1 cinnamon stic es ov cl le 4-5 who 1/2 cup honey  Sangria Mix of red wine 1-750 ml bottle brandy a 1/2 cup Metax d ce sli h, 1 ripe peac d ce sli , ge 1 oran ale (or 7-UP/ 2 cans of ginger Sprite) p (above) 1 cup of the spru

Method

1. To make the syrup, first add the water, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and lemon peel in to a small pot and bring to a boil. Then lower to a simmer and boil for another 6 minutes.

Take off the heat and add the honey and allow to cool. Remove rind, cinnamon and cloves.

2. Add your wine, sliced fruit, ginger ale and brandy and stir. Add the syrup in increments, stir and make as sweet as you wish. Cover and place in the fridge overnight.

To serve, place some ice in each glass and pour the sangria.

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In the KOUZINA

Tangy Maple Mustard Lamb (serves for 4)

2 racks of lamb loin or approx.

1 1/2 kg. of loin or shoulder chops 1/4 cup of olive oil 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 2 cloves of minced garlic 1 tsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/4 cup of Maple syrup 1 tsp. orange zest 1 tsp. sea salt

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In the KOUZINA

Method

Pre-heated oven, set to broil 1. Rinse and pat-dry your lamb. If using racks of lamb, turn them to their underside and using a knife, scrape some of the silver skin to loosen enough of it to be held by your fingers. Tear if off the racks and discard it.

2. In a bowl, add all the ingredients together, mix with a spoon and reserve about 1/3 cup for coating the lamb when it’s cooked. Spread the marinade all over your racks of lamb or lamb chops. Marinate at room temperature for an hour or better yet (recommended), overnight in the fridge.

3. If cooking indoors, pre-heat your broiler and place your oven rack to the position closest to the broiler. Season your lamb racks with some coarse salt and fresh ground pepper. Set your racks of lamb face up (bone side down) on the tray and place under the broiler for 5 minutes a side for medium-rare. Brush reserved warm marinade over the top of the racks of lamb.

4. If using gas or charcoal grill, pre-heat your grill to a high heat. Brush the grill surface with a grill brush and just before grilling, wipe the grill surface with a towel dampened with some vegetable. Grill for 3 minutes a side for medium rare, 4 minutes for medium. Allow your lamb to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Present on a platter with sprigs of rosemary and wedges of lemon.

Serve with rice pilaf, grilled vegetables and pair with this Cypriot white from Paphos, a Kamanterena Xynisteri.

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ΓΙΑΓΙΑ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΩ A Modern Day Job

By DEAN KALIMNIOU

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.”

The Book of Job

S

Some lives are like the mystery religions of old. What is revealed to you is only that which is considered to be of benefit to you at a particular time, with new information only provided once you are deemed ready to advance one more link along the chain of initiation. Once you reach the end of that chain however, you are replete with all the knowledge that if properly used, will ensure your salvation or, according to other accounts, grant you eternal life. This, in my estimation, is the most approximate manner that I can employ to describe the process of attempting in a few lines, to encompass the whole 105 year story of my maternal great-grandmother Πανάγιω’s sojourn upon the earth. I cannot profess the complete knowledge of the subject that is so necessary to claims of an authoritative account of her life; I was told its events in a piecemeal fashion, based upon what she and other family members thought would be appropriate and beneficial both for my character and age and thus lacunae in the story were generally passed over in silence only to be filled in years later, largely by accident. There also needs to be a distinction made between the canon, consisting of the revelations of γιαγιά Πανάγιω herself, al Hadith, or traditions of γιαγιά Πανάγιω consisting of spurious accounts of older family members

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which are usually self-justificatory and the apocrypha, which may or

Bizani in 1913. Then, as the news slowly filtered through the villages

may not be true and which, when questioned about them, γιαγιά

that Ioannina had fallen to the Greeks, a wave of jubilation swept her

Πανάγιω either smiles or consigns to oblivion. But quite apart from

village. Villagers snatched the fezzes from their heads, dashed them to

obtaining a telegram from the Queen, the main privilege of attaining

the ground and trampled on them with joy. However, she also recalls a

the age of one hundred years within a tradition that is largely oral and

darker side to the liberation of Epirus: the few Turkish families resident

based on hearsay, is that your life constitutes whatever you say it does,

in the village crying openly in street, knowing that they would have to

especially when you have outlived all other witnesses. It is not even

leave their homes, never to return. Within years, the traditional

agreed that γιαγιά Πανάγιω was born Παναγιώτα Βασιλείου in

Ottoman konaks that characterized the architecture of the village

October 1906, for village tradition postulates an earlier birth, in 1903.

would be torn down and replaced with artless, faceless, “Hellenic”

What is canonically certain however, is γιαγιά Πανάγιω’s Gorky-like

structures, symbols of the areas’ newfound identity. Intermingled

first memory: that of her home being filled with strange black-clad

within a narrative about the coarse, and often brutal mores of the

women screeching, her father on his knees pounding the floor and

village life my great-grandmother experienced, are fascinating tangents

sobbing and her arms being held by an invisible force as she struggled

about lakes that freeze over, Ottoman pashas that ride across them

to free herself yelling: “What are you doing? Where are you taking my

unawares and build churches to Panagia in gratitude for preserving

mother?” For indeed, the margins of γιαγιά Πανάγιω’s entire life will be

their lives, miraculous icons that refusing to remain in the new

always embroidered with death. Soon after her mother’s funeral, her

churches built for them, miraculously transport themselves every

father was thrown out of the village and forbidden to return on pain of

night to their old churches. There are stories of curses, of St Kosmas

death by her maternal uncles, all eager to preserve the family

cursing the village, this accounting for the unnatural number of deaths

inheritance and bar ‘strangers’ from accessing it. She was sent to her

by accident that take place there and of corrupt priests attempting to

widower uncle’s house at the age of four, where she was expected to

steal thousand-year old icons and sell them to foreigners, having their

look after him and his children until such time as she was married.

children and grandchildren suffer health, marital and other problems

At the time of her birth until the age of seven, γιαγιά Πανάγιω was an

as a result. Then, there are stories that are verifiably true, like that of the

Ottoman subject, resident in the vilayet of Janina. She vaguely

terrified inhabitants of the village, who in their desperation to find

remembers a time where everyone wore fezzes and vividly remembers

shelter in the face of German air raids during the Second World War,

the dull pounding of the Ottoman and Greek guns at the fortress of

quixotically dug into the hill at the village center only to discover an

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Aladdin’s cave of stalactites, stalagmites and fossils extending for

kidnapping my grandmother and attempting to spirit her away to

kilometers underground and which today, though it is the mainstay of

Albania. It was only my grandmother’s presence of mind to simulate

the village’s economy, much like γιαγιά Πανάγιω’s life, has still not

fainting, causing the guerillas to contemptuously toss her onto the side

been completely explored. These I was able to glean on the bus from

of the road, that spared her the heinous fate of experiencing socialist

Athens to Ioannina, when at the age of 93, she traveled with me to

paradise, Enver Hoxha style. There are tens of apocryphal stories that

Greece for her grand-daughter’s wedding. Throughout the duration of

have attached themselves to this event. The trials of this modern day

the six-hour journey, she entertained and enthralled the entire

Job were not over. It appears that at some stage my great-grandfather,

complement of travelers with canonically acceptable stories from the

unbeknownst to the family, had put up the family home as security for

village. From what I have been able to gather, the reason why my great-

a friend’s loan. That friend was unable to pay his loan and my great-

grandmother was able to marry at eighteen without a dowry, was

grandmother lost her home. Through sheer determination, which took

because she was beautiful, hardworking and of good reputation and

the form of gathering firewood, edible greens and anything else she

because she caught the eye of my great-grandfather, Παύλος Παύλου,

could think of to sell at the Ioannina market, she was able to pay the

scion of the wealthiest family in the village, which actually doesn’t

amount secured and return to her home, only to discover that her late-

mean much in real terms. This period of her life is definitely apocryphal.

husband’s brothers had laid claim to it and wanted to turf her out. She

My great-grandmother glosses over it with oblique references to her

dealt with this situation with her usual self-confidence and implacable

husband as «ο προκομμένος μου». There are hidden stories here that

will, this manifestation of boorish heartlessness now being long-

will never be spoken and those that know them, like my mother, will

forgotten. Known for her sense of humour, proud bearing and friendly

never give up their secrets. Suffice to say that it is from this period of

countenance, γιαγιά Πανάγιω was popular among the womenfolk of

her life that both my great-grandmother and each and every female of

the village. Though pitied in the condescending and hypocritical

her line, right down to my sister, her great-granddaughter, have

fashion that village forms of sentimentality usually take, she, along

inherited their indomitability of spirit and fierce independence. In the

with her children and grandchildren remember simple acts of kindness

γιαγιά Πανάγιω cosmos, one prays for menfolk who are committed to

and concern, the gesture of the granting of a single egg, a bunch of

the household, honest, upright and without bad habits. Anything more

garlic or a fish, that made the trials of such a deprived life bearable.

is a bonus and it is up to the women to persevere and advance the

Moreover, as a people’s person, an attribute she has never lost, her

fortunes of the family, which they generally do, in spite of their

home was always full of people, coming to ask θειά-Πανάγιω’s advice,

menfolk’s failings. Her father, who returned to the village when she was

or merely pass the time of day. My mother recalls a γιαγιά Πανάγιω

twenty to seek her forgiveness for abandoning her, however, is exempt.

different to the laid-back, quiet woman of her latter days. Ever vigilant,

In the meantime, γιαγιά Πανάγιω also learned from her father that she

nerves strained to breaking point while engaged in a million necessary

had siblings from his second marriage. Her yearning for “her own

tasks to keep the family together and making ends impossibly meet,

people” during her love-starved early years has seen her establish

she could be strict, harsh in her discipline and seemingly distant.

relationships and cherish those siblings, though she has felt the anguish

However, the love she bore for her family was and could never be

of seeing all but one die during her lifetime. Just before the close of the

doubted. The book of Job concludes with the following verse: “So the

Second World War, after living through famine and a brutal German

Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning,”and this is

occupation, my great-grandfather was “killed by a stray bullet.” This

true also of my great-grandmother.

death, was the harbinger of other tragedies. When she was told of her husband’s death, my great-grandmother was breastfeeding her sixth child. She describes, some sixty years on, tears streaming down her face, how her daughter Paraskevi developed a slight blue discolouration on her stomach almost immediately. By nightfall, it had spread all over and the poor child, my great-aunt, expired in her arms. A baby boy, Paul, also was to perish in the coming months. “I lay awake at night and remember little Chovoula and Pavlaki and I cry and cry,” she confides. She has never been able to overcome her loss and it is this that possibly explains her remarkable tenderness towards children.

Soon after, as the Civil War raged, the local ELAS guerillas requisitioned my great-grandmother’s house, being the only double-storey house in the village at the time, as their local headquarters. They repaid her forced hospitality, which included confiscating what meager stores she had laid up to feed her four surviving and by now starving children, by 40 |

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Follow the trials and tribulations of γιαγιά Πανάγιω as she decides to begin again at the tender age of 58 and make the move down under, to the land flowing with milk and honey, or so she thought…....

She decided to migrate to Australia at what in those days was considered her twilight years, the age of 58, simply because she could not conceive of a future for my mother back in the village. In doing so, she made the heart-breaking decision of leaving two of her four children back in Greece. In Flemington, where she settled, she soon assumed the role that all know her for: that of the archetypal grandmother. There are hundreds of children, of diverse ethnicities, who were looked after by my grandmother as their parents worked in factories in the sixties and seventies all of who still view her as “grandmother,” and who she smilingly refers to as her “children.” In my limited infant understanding,

γιαγιά Πανάγιω was the great-grandmother who would not talk down

than a minute, cute old lady. Her intricate use of allusions, riddles and

to you, employ baby language and exaggerated expressions of love

turn of the century Epirotic patois are as labyrinthine and confusing

when seeing you and did not attempt to buy your love with presents

to the uninitiated as a Borges novel. I remember sitting next to heras

and money like conventional grandparents did. She always spoke to

she was being ritually greeted by an acquaintance who had recently

you as an adult and an equal, expecting that you would understand

lost her husband. My great-grandmother seized her hand and in

everything she told you. She was inquisitive without being intimidating

intense tones explained to her that she too understands what it is to

and all the while as she spoke to you, her piercing eyes would flicker up

lose a husband at a young age and the frustration and loneliness she

and down your face as if to read not only your innermost thoughts, but

experienced. She gave her advice of such sophistication, practical good

your future itself. I found myself actively seeking her company, and as

sense and compassion that I was astounded, though I have always

we grew closer she would plunge me into her world, relating stories and

known from my own experience that her advice, garnered from a life

dismissing my childhood and adolescent anxieties with a swipe of her

of suffering is so timeless as to appear surprisingly modern, relevant

hand. For her, there were no difficulties that could not be overcome.

and easily applicable. When she concluded, the acquaintance stood up,

Hers was a world devoid of expectation where you were thankful for

patted her hand and remarked to one of my aunts in English: “What

everything you had and accepted vicissitudes as a necessary by-product

a cute old lady. She tried to tell me something but I didn’t understand

of existence. What her past had taught her, from what I understood

what she was on about.” Back on the couch, γιαγιά Πανάγιω grimaced

in snippets of stories related while she flattened out sheets of hand-

knowingly, sending me into peals of laughter. One ignores γιαγιά

rolled pastry to make her famous spanakopita and often interrupted by

Πανάγιω’s razor sharp wit and biting sarcasm at their own peril. She can

my interjecting mother, eager to interpolate her own child and male-

reduce the most self-obsessed and inflated ego into a mass of quivering

suitable version of the narrative, was that at the end of the day, a person

jelly with the delivery of just one cutting or seemingly innocent

has absolutely no existence or identity separate from people that they

remark and no one, absolutely no one is immune to her devastating

can claim as their own. The family unit, cohesive or dysfunctional

powers, a power that while skipping her largely insecure children,

and fellow-sufferers and sympathizers define us. I also learned a value

has been bestowed in generous quantities upon her grandchildren

which in these days of “get it off your chest” neo-hellenism is decidedly

and great-grandchildren. Yes, in our household, fat jokes are funny.

rare: that silence truly is golden and that often, it speaks to you in a

She calculates proudly: “I have four children, ten grandchildren and

language all of its own and that language is the language of healing.

sixteen great-grandchildren. These are my people, all my people, όλοι

I have learned of events that befell my great-grandmother that are so

δικοί μου.” Then a pained expression comes to her face and she cups

tragic, so terrible that I cannot write or utter them. None of us ever will,

her head in her hands. For even in her old age, the trials of Job have not

regardless of how much we live in their shadow and I marvel that events

completely ended. Γιαγιά Πανάγιω has had the misfortune of having

and attitudes that took place a century ago, harbour consequences that

a grandchild, my mother’s brother and a great-grandchild die in her

manifest themselves in the core of our collective being this very day.

lifetime and she feels their loss keenly as an unnatural unraveling of

Γιαγιά Πανάγιω never learned to read. However, her natural

the family and herself.

inquisitiveness makes her turn her mind to all manner of subjects.

When my mother went to university, she would return home and discuss her lectures with her. She soon realized that γιαγιά Πανάγιω was soaking up that information like a sponge and that she had an almost photographic memory. She particular liked to hear of the religious reformer Martin Luther, who she called «ο Λούφας.» When I attended university, she would often take me aside and ask me: “Do you know anything about this λούφα?” Having a tendency to drink coffee rather than attend lectures, I could profess to be an expert. For the past ten years, she has been a devotee of Greek community radio. She records everything she hears and during my visits questions me on world events or asks me for a run down of the history of Afghanistan.

Then she comments: “They said on the radio that there was a king who went there, Alexander. The old men in the village also talked about him.

He existed before the Turks, I think.” Αιωνόβιοι by rights can dispense with chronology. The apogee perhaps of our talks was when she asked me: “Who is this Aristotelis everyone talks about? What did he teach?”

“What can one say?” she asks as I remind her that she has rendered the Greek wish «να τα εκατοστίσεις» redundant and ask her what we should replace it with. Then Job-like, she crosses herself, as she has done for the last one hundred years of her life, one hundred years of solitude and superhuman perseverance and running her fingers through my sister’s hair sighs: «Δόξα τω Θεώ χιλιάδες φορές.»

It is easy for an outsider to underestimate γιαγιά Πανάγιω as little more opamagazine.com.au

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A BYZANTINE, DOWN UNDER

By Jorge Sotirios

W

e arranged to meet in inner-city Sydney.

Vrasidas Karalis strode inside Sappho bookshop, sauntered past surly staff and ordered chai latte once seated in the leafy courtyard. This Greek intellectual 42 |

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carried heavy bags inside filled with his vice. Books at bargain price were handed to me as though passing over bars of gold.

Philosophy, mysticism, crime and history soon jostled for space on a wonky table.

The infinite library was alive and thriving, transported by Karalis who had once

bumped into Jorge Luis Borges. Surprisingly, it was in Athens and as recent as 1983.

‘His skin was pale, his hair was white, and he was visiting the Labyrinth!’

Borges was a seminal literary figure to Karalis, and so was Patrick White.

Karalis’ recent book makes for a fascinating

read. In ‘Recollections of Mr. Manoly Lascaris’ the youthful academic details a mystery man who inspired, supported, and encouraged the 1973 Nobel winner.

As partner and muse since their 1941 introduction in Cairo when both men were stationed in Egypt, Lascaris emigrated to Australia in 1948 and was beside White till his death in 1990. Lascaris gave the writer the space and confidence to pursue literature in a manner declared by the Swedish Academy ‘of a Tolstoy epic’.

Who then was ‘Kyrios Manoli Lascari’ as this beguiling Greek insisted on being called? Fluent in French and English and possessing a mind that sifted Theology and Philosophy with ease, Lascaris was deemed the ‘Housekeeper’ to the ‘Great Writer’.

Yet as Karalis portrays Lascaris in his vivid recollections, Lascaris was an intellectual of finely-honed insights. Indeed he was worthy of White’s praise: ‘this small Greek of immense moral strength’.

Karalis recalls an air of death clinging to Lascaris’ home, whenever he visited.

Lascaris kept Byzantine icons as shrine to his

deceased partner, at odds with the Afghan rugs and gaudy curtains left over from the ‘70s. Lascaris would greet Karalis in his worn cardigan before serving him instant coffee.

Then he’d begin his arcane observations, transforming into a Socrates of the Antipodes. Socrates who wore mismatched socks and dispensed harsh wisdom.

‘I was interested in White’s novels, but I discovered this person, so shadowy, so illusory, so well-disguised that I wanted to know more.’ Karalis thought Lascaris peculiar. ‘He never allowed me to have a tape-recorder but I asked permission to write down his thoughts. He criticized this as being ‘so proletarian’!’

Karalis acted like Oedipus piecing together the jigsaw that makes a man.

‘The first words I wrote down were his dreams. They always had to do with his father, who was a strange shadowy presence. He abandoned his children, so Manoly grew up with his aunties’ Karalis stated, adding in a whisper: ‘his father was a ghost figure and at the same time a diabolical presence.’

Karalis describes Lascaris as ‘a Byzantine aesthete’ which seems closer to fiction than to fact. ‘He probably had false memory syndrome that he originated from the Byzantine imperial family. Lascaris needed it since he was coming from lost homelands: Alexandria, Smyrna, Constantinople. The great capitals of Hellenism were once his homes. He lost his ‘kinoniki epifania’, his social distinction as we say in Greece, during the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922. The trauma of losing this historical ‘grounding’ meant Byzantium was an ideal ancestry connecting him with the homeland.’

Interestingly, Lascaris met Kavafy in Alexandria a year before the poet’s death in 1933.

‘Kavafy was never the cleanest of human beings, you understand. He never washed his clothes for example, so he stunk from afar ‘like cheap perfume’. They didn’t get on, I asked, riveted by this chance encounter?

‘No. Lascaris was young. And it was a matter of class. Kavafy was considered ‘a bankrupt bourgeois’!’

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to this inner city haunt of Glebe, where we sank a chai. He would discuss literature with a transvestite writer called Hatzis, even though the two men were complete opposites. Hatzis’ homosexuality was highly theatrical (camp and cross-dressing), whereas for Lascaris ‘the erotic life was a private issue and he didn’t want to publicize his relationship with Patrick’. One reason Lascaris disliked Oscar Wilde and Andre Gide was believing theirs lifestyle was a public performance of sexuality ‘and definitely not for us!’ Hatzis derided Lascaris describing the Byzantine ‘a pompous silk stocking!’

Karalis soon became an indispensable routine to the ailing Greek when translating White’s epic Voss into Greek. It’s considered a defining text of the vast Australian landscape and the dogged characters who inhabit it.

‘Manoly had an important role in this gestation period. You can see it especially in The Aunt’s Story (1948) and The Vivisector (1971).

The morbidity is because both men were brutally scarred. Lascaris believed they lost their goodness and kindness during WW2, a theme repeated obsessively till the end of his life.’

World War 2 brought White to the Mediterranean and the writer had written of his profound attachment to Greece. But what exactly was implied by ‘Greece is my second country’, and Greeks ‘the world’s greatest survivors?’

Karalis pondered the question over his steaming cup of spiced chai.

‘White preferred the late Byzantium and Ottoman period of a nation under persecution and oppression. Therefore Classical Greece didn’t exist. The struggle this nation underwent in order to resist the role of the subaltern of the oppressed and find voice in liberty, White found a drama of trial and retribution.’

Suffering and redemption, trial and retribution? The Tolstoy reference became clearer. Greece gave White a narrative the New World couldn’t. But Lascaris liked Australia and continued to be scornful of his homeland. Greece was a coarse nation who invented tragedy, ‘but were fated to play Operetta’.

Karalis agreed Lascaris possessed an acute eye and a sharp tongue, worthy of his partner’s writings. One reason the Australian public ignores their Nobel Laureate is due to White’s scathing critique at the hollow materialism of postwar society. Lascaris was more forgiving though, declaring Australia ‘a country designed by Chekhov!’

‘It’s an amazing line!’ Karalis enthuses and I agree given the Russian’s use of the minuscule gesture for dramatic effect.

‘What Lascaris meant was Australians care for the small, the peripheral, the episodic, not the grand narrative or the big ideology. Details are the most important thing in life.’

Lascaris used to say Patrick enjoyed ‘the skin of things’ like the bark of a tree or the rind of an orange because ‘only those with imagination can discover reality.’

Karalis continued. ‘Manoly had an amazing sense of ‘le mot juste’, especially in Greek.’ His awkward words came from an archaic mentality. Reciting them in Sappho’s courtyard café seemed appropriate.

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• ‘Sydney is a pre-Christian city on its way to conversion.’

• ‘A good friendship is based on a good dictionary’.

• ‘ Thessaloniki is full of churches, therefore sin abounds’ takes greater significance when added to ‘Evil is charming, and it has many followers’.

Karalis shrugged his shoulders ‘you didn’t know if Lascaris was a wise man, or simply a fool!’

When Lascaris contracted Parkinson’s disease and died in 2002, his ‘metaphysical house’ in Centennial Park was sold to yuppies who renovated and removed a slice of literary history. Lascaris ashes were scattered at a Sydney beach ‘that resembled Greek rocks’, with only a few of White’s colleagues in attendance.

Karalis understood his role as foil to this obscure Byzantine and now laughs at Lascaris’ comments undermining his confidence. ‘Because my time is short Kyrie Vrasida’ Lascaris would say ‘I don’t have time for niceties!’ Karalis’ book reads as a Platonic dialogue, scripted with occasional help by Oscar Wilde.

Karalis exhumation of this small Greek who lived life in obscurity down under, is a celebration of intelligence, dignity, and exacting standards. The same qualities said of Tolstoy. Written with wit, verve and containing a brooding nostalgia for times lost, Recollections of Mr. Manoly Lascaris is a minor classic.

To obtain Recollections of Mr. Manoly Lascaris visit www.brandl.com.

Jorge Sotirios is the author of Lonesome George, C’est Moi! Currently he is writing a travel memoir: When Heidegger Met My Mother.

ALP H A FACI LI TI E S GRO UP Pty L td Suite 48, 21- 23 Aristoc Rd Glen Waverley Vic 3150 T: 03 9764 8944 | M: 0458 516 319 E: lk@alphafacilities.com.au W: alphafacilities.com.au

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Vasil

The Tradition of the St Basil Cake

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asilopita is a sweet bread or cake that is traditionally consumed on New Year’s Day (January 1). This tradition is held in some Orthodox Christian countries like Greece and many other areas in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The word “Vasilopita” is a compound of two Greek words, “Vasileios” (Greek word for the name Basil. Can also mean: Regal, Royal, King) and “Pita” which is Greek for “pie,” but in this context it means, cake.” So Vasilopita can mean both “The King’s Cake,” (The King being Our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ the King), but more commonly St Basil’s Cake (Αγιος Βασιλειος). On January 1 the Orthodox Church commemorates both the Circumcision of Christ and St Basil the Great who was the Archbishop of Caesarea (In Cappadocia, Turkey) who lived in the 4th century. The Vasilopita, or St BasilCake contains a hidden coin as a blessing for the New Year to the receiver.

On New Year’s Day families slice the Vasilopita as a form of blessing the household and the new year. A coin is hidden in the cake by slipping it into the dough before baking. At midnight the sign of the Cross is etched with a knife across the cake. A piece of cake is sliced for each member of the family and any visitors present at the time, by order of age from eldest to youngest. Slices are also cut for various people or groups, depending on local and family tradition. They may include the Lord, St Basil and other saints, the poor and the household. In older times, the coin often was a valuable one, like a gold coin.

The tradition of the Vasilopita is associated with the life St Basil himself. The saint called on the people of Caesarea, the city that he supervised as bishop, because he wanted to distribute money to the poor in his Diocese. However, St Basil wanted to preserve the dignity of his proud flock.

He commissioned the town bakers to bake sweetened bread, in which he arranged to place gold coins. Thus poor families were spared embarrassment when they ate the sweet bread and were pleasantly surprised to find gold coins in the bread.

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opita

by FR Kyril Greek Orthodox tradition has it that gifts are given out by Saint Basil the Great on New Year’s Day, rather than St Nicholas (on December 6th. Aka: Santa Claus, Father Christmas).

St Basil was the son of a very wealthy and well educated family. Eventually he distributed all his personal wealth amongst the poor and he also built what would later be called the “Vasiliada,” or “St Basil Hospice.” The hospital was a refuge for the

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poor, as well as a sanctuary for the homeless and the sick.

The Vasilopita as a sweet bread symbolizes the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life, health, and happiness for all. The coin in the Vasilopita is in memory of the St Basil the Great and his acts of benevolence and philanthropy.

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The Origins of the Orthodox Church

By Fr Kyril

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esus Christ founded his Church through the Apostles who, by the grace received from God at Pentecost, established the Church throughout the ancient world.

St Paul founded the Church of Antioch; St Peter and St James, the Church of Jerusalem; St Andrew, the Church of Constantinople; St Mark, the Church of Alexandria; St Peter and St Paul, the Church of Rome. The Roman See separated from the rest of the Church in the year 1054 after changing the Creed and claiming supremacy of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) over all other bishops. The Roman See

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was then further influenced by the Protestant Reformation. However in the rest of the Christian world, such as Greece, Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle-East and elsewhere, the Church continued to flourish, preserving the Faith of Christ pure and unchanged.

Today this Church is known as the Orthodox Church. It is organized and managed by various regional administrative units (Orthodox Church in Russia, Orthodox Church in Greece, and so on), and there is full unity and inter-communion between all these jurisdictions.

The Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Church is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church professed in the Nicene Creed, which guards the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

The road to Orthodoxy can be bumpy, since most of us in Australia were born and raised quite differently. The sights, sounds, scents, even the vocabulary of the Orthodox Church is much different than most of us have experienced in our upbringing. When you encounter these differences, experience them, and ask about them!

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The Orthodox Church in Australia Unlike Orthodox Christianity in North America, which began as a mission in Alaska, the presence of Orthodoxy in Australia was due to immigration and settlement of peoples from “traditionally” Orthodox countries: Greece, the Balkans, the Middle-East and Eastern Europe, including Russia. The first Orthodox Church service to be celebrated in Australia occurred during Easter, 1820, off the Australian Coast (Sydney Cove, Kirrabilli Point, still called Russian Point today), on board a Russian vessel by it’s chaplain, Priest-monk Dionisii. Clergy from Greece, Eastern Europe and the Holy Lands would visit and even settle in Australia in the 19th century, serving small and scattered communities throughout the continent. Regular Orthodox parish life did not begin until around 1894.

In the beginning, church services were conducted in halls belonging to

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other religions. The first Orthodox Church was established in May, 1898, in Surry Hills, Sydney, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Other churches later became established along ethnic lines as the numbers of various immigrant groups increased, in order to accommodate the pastoral needs of each group, especially by serving them in their own language. Over half a million people in Australia identify themselves as Orthodox Christians. These numbers are continuing to grow.

The Orthodox churches did not see Australia as a mission field. Orthodox Christians in Australia have not lived up to the traditions of the saints and evangelists that we revere. While we contribute a certain amount of material assistance for missions overseas we ignore the Australian community around us almost totally. Only in the last few years has there been any movement towards English language services and the establishment of exclusively English speaking missions.

The situation is gradually improving with greater numbers actively participating in all aspects of Church life, including theological training, ordinations, Church School education...etc., as well as a steady flow of Australians from all walks of life converting.

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Ange Kenos Writing for a magazine or newspaper is not every one’s cup of Greek coffee but Ange Kenos has been doing so for a few years. At times controversial, his pieces are thought provoking and always show his passion for Hellenism. Valuing his opinion and insights we welcome him to the OPA! Magazine editorial team.

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Profile

ut who is Ange Kenos? What does he do when he is not writing for one publication or another? To some he is a wellknown and highly regarded civil celebrant who conducts weddings, baby namings, and a host of other ceremonies.

Indeed, Ange is a recognised trainer of other Celebrants and has a small role with the Gordon TAFE to deliver training programs to Celebrants across Australia.

Over the years he has married them, named them, farewelled and buried them, from one side of Victoria to the other. On one occasion a couple asked him to marry them while standing in the water at St Kilda beach. Another betrothed couple wanted to marry on the back of Harley Davidsons and even asked him to trim back his beard and to wear black leather which he did, much to the concern of his wife Connie.

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Ange is happy to marry couples anywhere, except as he declares openly, “never, ever in a hot-air balloon” as he is not a great fan of heights.

Happier on water rather than the air, Ange Kenos joined the Australian Navy many years ago, becoming the first Greek Australian to enlist in that service. While Greeks served with the Australian Army as early as World War I, and one joined the RAAF in the late 1950s, not counting at least one Greek Cypriot during WWII, the Australian Navy was the last to fall when Ange Kenos enlisted. opamagazine.com.au

“I am passionate about my heritage and I am deeply proud to admit to my Hellenism” says Ange, “But I am also deeply indebted to the land of my birth.

That is in part why I joined the Royal Australian Navy, even though some of my Greek friends errantly regarded that as being against the homeland. It’s a mixed bag of loyalties but one which I can juggle with ease. And that is due to the many works of our ancestors that I have read over the years. I have to admit that growing up I irritated my dad with questions about the ancient Greeks, for wanting to discuss philosophy with him and for seeking to expand my knowledge of my ancestry. To me, being a Greek Australian was meaningless unless I knew what that all meant, beginning with our ancestors - who they were, what they achieved, and how they did so.”

Ange Kenos has co-written school textbooks in business management and more notably in legal studies, where he was a pioneer. For many years he taught and worked in private, catholic and government secondary colleges before being emplyed

by TAFE colleges and two universities.

Within those roles he became known for being one of three teachers who founded VCE Economics for Year 12, and more recently for being one of two teachers, the other being a well known Rhodian, who co-founded the Victorian Space Science Education Centre, the only such facility in the southern hemisphere.

Ange is proud of that achievement as it has allowed young students an opportunity ‘to walk on the surface of Mars’, dressed as astronauts, and to follow up with a host of scientific experiments that bring science to them.

“The centre” he says, “seeks to open the doors of science to young minds in a way that simple textbooks cannot hope to achieve”.

Some readers will know Ange Kenos from the any roles he has played within the community. He has been on the board of the RACV, is a Councillor with the City of Moonee Valley, has been a blood donor, with over 480 donations to his credit.

Ange Kenos is the godson of the late Alekos Doucas who co-founded Neos Kosmos with Bill Stefanou and Jim Gogos.

In many ways he inherited his godfather’s passion for journalism, research and thought provoking writing.

“My starting a family tree did not interest my dad or his dad” says Ange, “although my grandmother Katherine Sdrinis Kenos was far more supportive of her great grandson and his desire to learn about his roots. To me, being aware of my roots and being proud of all that was good, is a part of who I am, and who I want to be, and as Greeks, or Hellenes as I prefer to say, we have so much to be proud of, so much in our heritage that is special. Far too often we

Profile cultural heritage and to push us to become more active within both our community and the broader community of all cultures in Australia.

make the mistake of confusing what our ancestors gave the world with what we offer today and yet we offer so much. To boast about my own family for a little – my Uncle Herakles co founded Kenman Kandy with his son Nick, who used to manage Stan ‘the man’ Longinidis very successfully for years.

This uncle was the first to make commercial filo pastry in Victoria and the second in Australia, but he became better known and respected for his sweets. From the fabulous cake shop he founded and which still runs in Lennox Street, Richmond, to the great Kenman Kandy. Uncle Herakles so loved that shop and what it meant that he would visit now and then and offer to put on an apron and make sweets the way he began all those decades ago, For free, without payment other than the satisfaction of knowing that he only produced the very best. His nephew Nick is very well known in the wine industry and at one stage was general manager of Norman’s Wines. It is amazing how often I go into a wine shop somewhere and when paying by credit card they ask if I am related to this massive figure in Australia’s wine industry. Then there is Harry Goles, who founded and runs the massively successful Ojay Fashion label, for women.

I cannot count the number of outlets he has in several states, not including DFO. I also have an uncle named Bill Louis, who is a world leader in medical pharmacology.

Then I can return to my great grandmother’s surname and many a Victorian would know of the Sdrinis lawyers or of a certain community leader well respected within multiculturalism who married a Sdrinis.”

With such an impressive and powerful family name, Ange had some big shoes to fill, so through the years he has used the medium of writing to raise people’s passion for being Hellenes, to protect our social and

At times he has offended, but here is a case in point. On one occasion he wrote a piece for DILADI magazine which he edited for Nick Loupos, about how Greek parents were often strict and controlling of their daughters, and yet open to their sons having free rein. On visiting a very close family friend after he wrote that piece, the friend blasted him for writing ‘such nonsense’, but then the friend’s daughter came in. She hugged Ange and said a very big thank you for understanding what she had been going through for years. At that point her father woke up to how he had different rules for his son and his daughter.

Ange has served on the Board of the RACV and on the Board of the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital. He has a long history of community involvement with the Olympics, weightlifting, and crime prevention where again, he played a pioneering role and received many awards.

In fact he has been written-off for certain jobs because he has encountered employers who did not share his passion for volunteering and the community.

But all that said, in many ways his greatest passion over the years has been for our community. Seeking to bring us out of what he regards as a ‘darkness’ and into the realisation that we are Hellenic Australians with much to offer the nation and, indeed, with a large number of us having played key roles in different aspects of Australian society. He reminds people that Collingwood favourite Lou Richards is part Greek as is singer Judith Durham.

invented the very first pinball machines and related contraptions? What about Archimedes? A few decades ago a shipwreck was found with a strange device. It took decades to clean up and get it working -finally the experts realised that this device, probably the very last thing Archimedes ever invented, was in fact the ancestor of the computer. It was a simple but effective device with which to predict certain movements in the skies far beyond planet Earth. What about how one set of Greeks invented the bagpipes, others invented pizza and much more, but we will leave that for Ange to discuss another time.

We are more than numbers, more than mere migrants or the descendants of migrants.

We have a wonderful heritage from our homeland but we also have a rich and wonderful culture right here, one that is loved and adored by countless others. So in the editions ahead let us talk about the great things that we have given to Australia and the richness of our culture. Let us celebrate being who we are today and what we will leave behind tomorrow.

Ange Kenos does not claim to know everything, nor to be perfect, but he has joined our editorial team to deliver more of his passion for Hellenism to you and hopes earnestly that you will respond in a positive way. In the issues to come he will cover a broad spectrum of topics. We sincerely hope that you enjoy reading them but if not, as Ange openly asks, write back and say so.

‘Unless we seek open constructive criticism as did our ancestors’, he states, ‘ we cannot progress beyond where we are today.’

Should you ever meet Ange and offer him a coffee, his preference is Greek coffee ‘diplo kai metrio.’

By now you’re thinking so what, and what does this all mean to you? The answer is simple – there is much in our communities that we can be proud of today and I would bet that many a reader could tell us a few great stories. Of leading doctors and lawyers, of great businessmen or even politicians, of amazing architects, artists, singers, teachers and television personalities. Maybe you are related to John Mangos, Helen Kapalos or George Donikian, to name but a few.

Yet why do we tend to only talk about the great days of our ancestors as if we have nothing to offer? Why do we seek to hold on to glory left behind thousands of years ago, leaving out some bits because most of us do not really know even that history that well. Hero of Alexandria invented a steam engine, and had that machine been placed onto a chariot, he would have invented the horseless carriage. Did you know that he was also a mechanical genius and effectively

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NIK HALIK The Thrillionare

By Steve Agi

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Lao Tzu

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or me it was a dream come true. I’d heard about him, read about him and his achievements, read his book and I felt like I already new him. So when Nik Halik came to town I was definitely not going to miss out on meeting this living legend.

Nik Halikopoulos, as he was originally known, hails from Port Melbourne, Victoria, but now has properties in L.A. Greece, Morocco and across Australia where he likes to spend his time. He has been to the

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“Make your life an EPIC extraordinary adventure” Nik Halik edge of space to view the Earth’s curvature in a MIG25, landed on the bow of the RMS Titanic and has climbed some of the highest mountains in the world, including Everest. He is also the first ever Australian civilian astronaut to be qualified as such. He is set to become the first ever Australian and private space explorer to rocket to the International Space Station.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, he was also the lead guitarist of the enormously popular 1980s Glam Rock band, Big Deal, but that pales to

insignificance when we look at what else Nik has achieved.

Pretty impressive for a young man who grew up almost totally sheltered and isolated, only with the moon as a companion, and the world book encyclopedia set his parents bought him, as his friend.

“It all began with my TOP 10 list, Steve,” explains Nik. “I created a list of the TOP 10 things I wanted to do in life and convinced myself that I would do whatever I needed to, to achieve them. I was eight at the time, so anything seemed possible. It was part fantasy, part reality.”

Nik Halik is truly one of a kind. He is known globally as The Thrillionaire, but he is so much more. He is the founder and CEO of the Financial Freedom Institute, Lifestyle Revolution, LLC, Money Masters Global, The Thrillionaires and co-founder of iCoach Global. He is a global wealth strategist, entrepreneur, international speaker, high-adrenalin adventurer and best-selling author.

He is also now a regular contributor to OPA! Magazine with his Who wants to be a Thrillionaire? column, p. XXX Nik has achieved so much in such a relatively short period of time overcoming huge obstacles and against all odds. When everyone thought he’d never amount to much, the boy knew in his heart, as he lay isolated in his room, staring at the moon, that he would one day ‘make it’, that he would one day fulfill all his dreams, that he would one day walk on the moon, and he is almost there.

A picture is worth a thousand words and in the context of this magazine there is no way I could even attempt to do justice to Nik’s amazing tale of adventure. I could not even scratch the surface.

e moon h t n o lk a tation w s e c a 1. To p s a d live on 2. To go an an astron aut e th e world 3. To becom utiful places all over ea ies 4. To own b more th an 100 countr nd eat l to 5. To trave bottom of th e ocean a th e 6. To go to e Titani c s lunch on th orld’s high est mountain th e w 7. To climb th e bulls in Spain ith 8. To run w a million aire e 9. To becom a rock star me 10. To beco

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How do you squeeze in a lifetime of achievements and accomplishments into the limited pages of a publication. In Nik’s case, it is such an extraordinary life that you’d need to write a book about it. Thankfully he has and I urge you to all go out a grab yourselves a copy, for all the juicy and in-depth analysis of Nik’s world, his life and accomplishments.

The Thrillionaire by Nik Halik, is a no-holds-barred autobiography that will not only allow you to deeply connect with Nik, but there is so much treasure in there, that you are bound to walk away with something of value that you can apply to your life, each and every day. I know. I did and continue to do so, each time I read it.

As well as this you can follow Nik’s exclusive words of wisdom and advice in OPA! Magazine every month with our regular Who wants to be a Thrillionaire? column. In case you’re wondering, Nik has fulfilled all but items 1 and 2 of his ‘TO DO’ list, but is working on them as we speak.

FOLLOW NIK”S LATEST ADENTURES @ nikhalik.com

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KOMBOLOI KORNER A Kombolói (κομπολόι) is a part of modern Greek culture, used for a variety of reasons, generally to relieve stress and pass the time. It was especially popular up to the end of the 20th century with Manges and Rembetes, while now it has dropped in popular use due to a decline in the said Manga/Rembeti culture.

It is still considered a symbol of niche Greek culture and coolness and a status symbol that many aspire too.

Did you know: The Greek national anthem there are 158 verses (no one in Greece knows them all though)!

The word gymnasium litereally means “to exercise naked” in Ancient Greek

The Ancient Greeks were the first people to have a democratic government

The official name of Greece is ‘the Hellenic Republic”

Traditionally, Greeks celebrate their name days, rather than their birth dates, why?

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MEANDERING ASIA MINOR

Travels to Byzantium and beyond, with TOM ANDRONAS.

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owhere else in the world does ‘Greek’ meet ‘Australian’, as it does in Turkey.

Centuries of Greek Orthodox tradition collide here with the nation-defining moment of an altogether different country, creating a strange sense of belonging for those that now travel here under the obscure brand ‘Greek Australian’.

This sense of belonging renders Turkey an altogether inviting, welcoming place for Greek Australians to travel and explore.

Undoubtedly the jewel in the Turkish crown, and the first stop for most travelers, is Istanbul.

The seat of Greek Orthodoxy from the split of the Roman Empire in the 4th century A.D. until today, the burgeoning city has an unmistakable Greek essence. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul’s Fanari (Fener) district, and the areas surrounding it, are worth a visit.

Many ethnic Greeks still live in this pocket, though here they’re referred to as Romans or Rum, a relic of the ancient Roman Empire.

For centuries the Eastern Roman Empire’s holiest place, Hagia Sophia stands atop a hill in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district. The building is a marvel of engineering and art, its towering dome supported by 40 enormous 58 |

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ribs and its surviving mosaics glittering from the thousands of golden tiles used to construct them. The vast expanse of the place is testament to the past opulence and magnificence of Christianity in Istanbul.

After the fall of the Roman Empire to the Ottomans in 1453, minarets and Islamic art were added to the building to transform it into a mosque. After centuries of use, and following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk declared that the building would no longer be a religious one, but would be converted into a museum to be appreciated by all.

Standing opposite Hagia Sophia, and about a thousand years its junior, is the Blue Mosque.

Seemingly a tribute to its elder neighbour the Blue Mosque’s dome stands proudly on four monstrous columns known as ‘elephant’s feet’.

Accessible only outside of Muslim prayer times, the interior of the mosque is impressively clad in thousands of hand-decorated blue and white tiles. Entry to the Mosque is free, but respectful dress is expected and shoes must be removed at the door.

No trip to Istanbul is complete without a couple of hours spent in the Grand Bazaar.

The place is like a Sunday market on steroids,

with thousands of merchants touting to “sell you something you don’t need”. If you decide to buy, you must haggle. Start by cutting the original price in half, and work up from there, but be aware that if you make an offer and the seller agrees, you are obliged to buy.

A short way down the west coast from Istanbul – accessible as a day-trip or an overnight stay – is the Gallipoli (Gelibolu) peninsula.

Perhaps the most venerated place on earth by Australians, it is on this battlefield that our young nation was born in 1915. It’s a glorious place and the opportunity to walk on the sands of Anzac Cove is truly a privilege, a pilgrimage that every Australian should make in their lifetime.

The best way to see Gallipoli is with an organized tour. There are hundreds to choose from, but the best by reputation is a company called TJ’s, who have as their senior guide Kenan Celik, the first Turk to be awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the research and documentation of the Gallipoli campaign.

A guided tour will take you to most of the Allied war cemeteries, including Lone Pine and Anzac Cove. Here you can see the last resting place of Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, famous for evacuating wounded men from

the battlefront on his donkey. Simpson lasted just 24 days of the bloody campaign, but in that time earned himself an eternal place in Australian folklore.

The Gallipoli campaign became a defining moment in the formation of the Australian national psyche, but it’s important to remember that modern Turkey was born on those beaches and hills as well. In defending against the Allied invasion, Turkey lost hundreds of thousands of its finest young men.

Also on that battlefield, the father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk came to the fore. Post-war, Ataturk single-handedly constructed the Turkish society that we recognize today, and he is revered by his countrymen for his efforts. But it is also because of Ataturk that we, as Australians, can now comfortably and proudly walk in the country that we, as a Western ally in the Great War, invaded.

In 1934, with WWI still a recent memory, Ataturk said of the Anzac Diggers: “Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives…you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace.” These words are emblazoned across a giant stone monument near Anzac Cove, and as an Australian it’s near impossible to remain unmoved by their magnanimity, especially as they were uttered by a man who fought in the same campaign.

Heading further down the Aegean coast leads to the ancient wonders of Troy (Truva), Pergamon (Bergama) and Ephesus (Efes), which testify to Greece’s antiquarian influence on the region. All three sites are easily accessible both as part of a tour group and independently. They can also be accessed as overnight trips from the Greek islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos respectively.

Further south, on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, abandoned villages like Levissi (Kayakoy) recall the brutal reality of Turkey’s recent past. In 1922 the post-WWI Treaty of Lausanne forced the expulsion from Turkey of millions of ethnic Greek Christians. Some estimates put the number of ethnic Greeks massacred during the population exchange at 1.5 million. Conversely, a huge number of Ottoman Muslims were expelled from Greece.

Today the houses of Levissi stand abandoned, uninhabited since their Greek Christian owners became forced refugees in 1922. The town’s major buildings lie dilapidated and its churches have been ruined by generations of destruction, looting and scavenging for materials. The place is truly ghostly, the trauma of forced relocation difficult to comprehend.

Further north, in central Turkey lies the region of Cappadocia (Kapadokya), a dusty expanse of canyons, valleys and mountains, formed when

Mt Erciyes erupted several thousand years ago.

The ensuing erosion and artificial intervention has resulted in a dramatic landscape dotted with ‘fairy chimneys’, cave churches and underground cities. Hewn by clergymen during the Byzantine period, many cave buildings were defaced during the iconoclastic and Ottoman periods, but can still be visited in somewhat restored form.

The highlight of any trip to Cappadocia is certainly a dawn hot-air balloon ride. The weightless sensation as you glide through the morning mist, gazing down at a scene like nothing else on earth, is magical, and well worth the money. However, tourists beware: there are hundreds of balloon companies offering flights at various prices. It’s quite common for passengers to be quoted different prices for the same flight, with prices ranging from 100 euro to several hundred. The easiest way to avoid getting ripped-off is to do your research, or try to get some local knowledge from your hotel.

Despite the perceived language and religion barriers, Turkey is an amazingly easy place for Australians to travel. Most Turks that are likely to come into contact with tourists will speak fluent English, and will willingly help.

Generally, Turks practice a moderate form of Islam, and will not try to push their religion on any tourist. In western Turkey many men drink alcohol and many women will go without a headscarf, though it’s still unlikely that you will find pork anywhere on the menu. The further east you head, the more conservative people become. Non-Turkish women traveling alone can occasionally find themselves hassled by Turkish men, but a stern ‘no’ will most often deter any unwanted attention.

Ancient Greek ruins at Ephesus.

PHOTO: Tom Andronas

The bustling Grand Bazaar, Istanbul.

PHOTO: Tom Andronas

A Cappadocian cave house.

PHOTO: Tom Andronas

Getting around in Turkey is easy. Very easy.

The easiest way is as part of an organized tour but for the more independently minded, public trains, flights and ferries are all easily accessible.

By far the most efficient way to get around is by bus, with countless local bus companies running services to every corner of Turkey and internationally, at very fair prices. Especially convenient is the overnight bus from Istanbul to Thessaloniki at 95YTL, about $55AUD, as the train connecting the two cities was recently cancelled.

A highlight of any long-distance bus journey in Turkey is the on-board service, which is similar to that of an airline. On every bus an attendant called a yardimci will provide complimentary refreshments and snacks on a regular basis, and every bus will make toilet and food stops.

Turkey is an incredibly easy country to navigate, and if given a chance can be incredibly rewarding. It offers a warm, open welcome and a sense of genuine respect for the outside world, whether an Anzac, a Roman or a strange ‘Greek Australian’. opamagazine.com.au

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It’s all about the

i d n e l G chinson

By Garrie Hut

P

assing through Athens on the way to Crete in September, there were few obvious signs of the austerity’ crisis that is inflicting so much pain on so many people in Greece. There were plenty of tourists at the fabulous Parthenon museum, more walking around Monastiraki and eating in the Plaka.

There was one sign. It was a poster said ‘OXI’ – that most potent phrase, and called for a demonstration on 26 September – a month before the 72nd anniversary of the famous day Metaxas said ‘No’ to Mussolini.

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Reminded me of the relationships built between Australia (and New Zealand) and Greece in the dark days of 1941, and since.

Which is a roundabout way of explaining how my wife Karen and I were on the way to the wedding of Eleni Papadakis and Dimitris Papadomanolakis in Karines a village about 35 kilometres south of Rethymno.

John Rerakis was to be koumbaro (best man). We had become friends many years ago because of our shared passion for military history of Greece and Australia and New Zealand’s part in it.

P

assing through Athens on the way to Crete in September, there were few obvious signs of the austerity’ crisis that is inflicting so much pain on so many people in Greece. There were plenty of tourists at the fabulous Parthenon museum, more walking around Monastiraki and eating in the Plaka.

Next morning John gave warning of the festivities to come, especially the pre-wedding.

bubbling, and the ladies of the village hard It was. at work on salads and kalitsounia.

The pre-wedding feast and the wedding As of a friend of the itself were in Eleni’s father’s village I was imKarines – Melidoni was too small koumbaro for the 400 or so guests. mediately adopted into There was one sign. It was a poster the family and set to said ‘OXI’ – that most potent phrase, Karines is off the road from Rethymno to work stirring the pilafi, and called for a demonstration on 26 Spili, down what in the dark appeared to be nd discussing the finer September – a month before the 72 a narrow track even by Cretan standards. anniversary of the famous day Metaxas points of raki producsaid ‘No’ to Mussolini.

The reception was in the square tion in(koupes!) and the what was the village school where the and traditions history Reminded me of the relationships built school rooms were in full swing, with of Crete with Michaebetween Australia (and New Zealand) and cauldrons of lamb bubbling, and the lis, on a cousin of John’s Greece in the dark days of 1941, and since. ladies of the village hard at work from Chania. I desalads and kalitsounia.

Which is a roundabout way of explaining clined the sheep’s eye how my wife Karen and I were on the As a friend of the koumbaro delicacy, I was and the roast way to the wedding of Eleni Papadakis immediately adopted into the family and sheep heads – I have some way to go before anyonePapadomanolakis arrives in Melbourne from andWhen Dimitris in set to work stirring the pilafi, discussing fully localised.

Crete afirst port about of call 35 is John and Susie RekaKarines village kilometres the finerI’m points of raki production south Rethymno.Philhellene in Moonee Ponds. sis’sofrestaurant (koupes!) and the history and traditions of course, a greatofdeal of wonderful of Crete with was Michaelis, a cousin So it was with Eleni and the 30 members of There John Rerakis was to be koumbaro (best John’s from Chania.

Ichanging declined group the music, with a of fine musithe Vrakofori Dance Group in November man). We had become friends many years sheep’s eye delicacy, the roast sheepwas most elegant cians, andand dancing.

Eleni, ago2010. because of our shared passion for heads – I and have still some–way go before know I’m youtowouldn’t her feet were military history of Greece and Australia fully localised. performing their intricate patterns. The men andThey Newcame Zealand’s part from in it. the airport to a long straight from Vrakaofori were in the night of compulsory hospitality at PhilhelThere was of course, a great dealspectacular of When anyone arrives in Melbourne from wonderfulsyrto, music, with that a changing the dance begins slowly, feet draglene.

It turned out that not only was the group Crete first port of call is John and Susie group of ging fine and musicians, andbefore dancing. skipping, ending in energetic from Rethymno butPhilhellene that Eleni was Rekasis’s restaurant in from MeEleni, was most elegant andslapping. still – you twirling and boot lidoni, not So faritfrom Episkopi, John’s family Moonee Ponds. was with Eleni and wouldn’t know her feet were performing thevillage.

30 members of the Vrakofori Dance their intricate patterns. The men from Group in November 2010.

And of course – there was the shooting. I’m Vrakaofori were spectacular in the not a big fanbegins of guns at any time, but appreciSo that meant that John was koumbaro, and syrto, the dance that slowly, feet They came straight from the airport to the gunfire is a display of tradition, as we were in the vicinity (Europe) atdragging the ate and that skipping, before ending in a long night of compulsory hospitality at energetic like twirling and boot a toast, thatslapping. needs to be conserved, like time, we were invited.

Philhellene.

It turned out that not only the pilafi, the music, the dancing and the vilwas the group from Rethymno but that And of course – there was the shooting.

Eleni from in Melidoni, nothaving far from lage wedding itself.

Wewas arrived Episkopi driven I’m from not a big fan of guns at any time, but Episkopi, village.

ChaniaJohn’s by a family circuitous route in the dark, inappreciate that the gunfire is a display of wereneeds very to careful, and the next puzzled along the way.tradition, The like shooters a toast, that be So terrogating that meant that Johnlocals was koumbaro, conserved,village like thewas pilafi, the music, the several kilometres away. There and as we were in the vicinity (Europe) dancing and village wasthe only onewedding casualtyitself.

– a rabbit, brought in ‘Episkopi?

Episkopi?’ at the time, weWhich were invited. triumphantly and presented to Ianni, father ‘Sort of on the way to Anogia.’

The shooters were very careful, and the We arrived in Episkopi having driven of was the several bride. kilometres away.

‘Are you sure you want to go to Anogia?’ next village from Chania by a circuitous route in the ‘No, Episkopi. ’ There was only one casualty – a rabbit, dark, interrogating puzzled locals along my hearing. seems every time I go to triumphantly andItpresented Episkopi. Left,right, left, right.’ brought inAnd the‘Hmmm way. to Ianni, father the bride.

Crete ofI come away a little deafer. It began on ‘Episkopi?

Which Episkopi?’

Good Friday night a few years ago with an We arrived, but John was away on koumbaros And my hearing. It seems every time I ‘Sort of on the way to Anogia.’ explosive firecracker, and was made a little duties, dedicating the bride-to-be’s bed in Crete go to I come away a little deafer.

‘AreMelidoni. you sure you want to go to Anogia?’ thisFriday time by theashooting, and the by It began worse on Good night few ‘No, Episkopi.’ end the nightfirecracker, (actually it was the beginyears agothe with anofexplosive ‘Hmmm right.’ of the and was made worse this time bymusic. ning aoflittle the morning) by the Next Episkopi. morningLeft,right, John gaveleft, warning festhe shooting, and the by the end of the to come, especially the pre-wedding.

Wetivities arrived, but John was away on night (actually it to wasthe thewedding, beginning of recovered after And so fully koumbaros duties, dedicating the bridethe morning) by the music. a few days. to-be’s bed be in a Melidoni.

‘Could bit late.’

‘Could be a bit late.’

It was.

The pre-wedding feast and the wedding itself were in Eleni’s father’s village of Karines – Melidoni was too small for the 400 or so guests.

Karines is off the road from Rethymno to Spili, down what in the dark appeared to be a narrow track even by Cretan standards.

The reception was in the square in what was the village school where the school rooms were in full swing, with cauldrons of lamb

One of them was spent in Anogia (a raki with a Greek veteran of the resistance) and further up on Psiloritis where there is a beautiful stone-built church and theatre. This is where the Yakinthia festival has been held in July every year since 1998.

On the way back, John spotted a wild pear tree. What happened next seemed to me to typify life in Crete. Or perhaps it was the influence of Zeus, born not far away. Needing a staff to knock down the pears, he found one

– right there. And needing a knife to cut the pears – there was one just there as well.

The wedding took place at Ianni’s house.

A crowd of several hundred tried to get a glimpse of the bride who was inside with her girlfriends were singing to her. This went on for quite a while, before they emerged to stand on the small terrace, with parents Ianni and Chrisanthi – and some more music from the lyra and lute, plus a little dancing.

After a while gunshots announced the arrival of the groom. Dimitris with John, his koumbaro, and friends all in Cretan dress, one bearing a loaf of bread for a on a pole symbolising life or fertility, sang their way to the gate.

Singing to each other, the gate is opened and the groom and entourage are welcomed into the house and more singing. I couldn’t understand what was being sung, but it was very charming, but the meaning was clear as the tradition was observed in the way of this village.

Then came the procession to the church, just fifty metres away up a steep hill. So crowded was it that it was difficult to see what was happening. A glimpse of the stefana wedding crowns, the drinking of wine from the common cup, the golden bible that divided the clasped hands (only God can part the happy couple), the throwing of rice, and a good deal of chanting from several priests. The service was broadcast to the multitude outside, and so the priest needed a good microphone technique to include his brothers at the right moments.

It has to be said that not everyone is paying a great deal of attention to the service – chatting and snacking and kissing a saintly relic – but nonetheless witnessing the happy moment.

Afterwards there was koufata, and fakelaki and the procession to Rethymno for the reception.

And, eventually, home.

The people of Crete have survived austerity and disaster many times before and after Metaxas’ Oxi in 1940. In Melidoni the Ottomans massacred 300 in the cave in 1824 and in Anogia in 1944, the Nazis burned the village and shot all the men they could find.

John thinks it is the maintenance of traditions such as the wedding that will enable Greece to get through her current difficulties.

This is the ancient tradition of xenia – Greek ‘compulsory’ hospitality that brings people together, and of which I am a willing victim – in Crete, and Melbourne.

‘It’s all about the glendi,’ John says. opamagazine.com.au

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Trish 62 |

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Stratus

THE FIGHTING SPARTAN

“Yia Sou Ti Kanis ?” was what I was greeted with when I called Trish’s cell number; this proud Greek was just as excited as I was to connect.

As one of the biggest names globally in wrestling, the fitness world and now yoga, I was very excited to be making this call (perks of the job I guessLol) and as soon as we discovered the Greek connection it was as if we had known each other all our lives.

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Trish

stratus Trish Stratus has achieved and accomplished so much in a relatively short period of time, becoming a household name across the globe and one of the most recognisable faces in the both the fitness and sports entertainment world. But how did it all begin, what inspired this pocket dynamo to take on the world and come up trumps?

“Well, I’m Spartan, so it’s all about rising to the challenge and fighting for what you believe in,” she began as we chatted about how it all began. “ To be honest, I was dead-set on becoming a doctor and was pre-med at York University in Toronto, totally focused and determined to succeed in what I thought was my destiny.”

After a series of apparently chance events which began with a university strike in 1997 Trish ended up being scouted by one of the founding fathers of the then new phenomenon of fitness modelling.

Publishing mogul, the late Robert Kennedy instantly knew that Trish would be hit with her beautiful features and naturally athletic shape.

“Being 5’4” I knew I’d never be a supermodel,” giggled Trish, but fitness modelling was all about displaying an ultra –athletic physique and an achievable look, Trish was perfect – she was the ultimate archetype.

“As a teenager I was approached to be in the Miss Teen Canada pageant, but I was a real tomboy, I didn’t like being a girl much,” explains Trish.

Being the oldest of three girls, with a bunch of boy cousins her age, she would hang out with the boys and do “boy things.”

“We used to all hang out and watch wrestling together, I loved it. Who knew that one day I’d be in the ring, doing the thing that we loved watching while we were growing up.”

“Preparedness meets Opportunity, is my life’s motto and mantra and at this stage of my life I was prepared to do whatever it took to not miss this opportunity that had presented itself.”

As the publisher of the world’s best known fitness magazines, like OXYGEN Magazine, Robert immediately recognised Trish’s potential after her first shoot and offered her a contract. “He threw me the ball, I took it and ran with it. At 22, I had to choose between this opportunity of entering the modelling world or continuing my studies to become a doctor, which I always thought was my destiny. But I believe everything happens for a reason, and I was being presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity. So, I made the choice – and the rest is history.”

Within two years of taking up fitness modelling and almost 20 magazine covers later, Trish had the attention of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) who recognised her natural charisma and stunning beauty. She signed with them in 2000 and only two years later she was the WWE Women’s Champion.

“It was great fun,” recalls Trish, “like a dream sequence, and I don’t regret a minute of it, but it did take a toll on me physically with over 300 days of the year on the road touring. But looking back now it was all worth it, as it allowed me to indirectly discover my life’s path, find yoga, and get to where I am now back in touch with the fitness world, spreading the word of health and wellness.”

After retiring from wrestling in 2006 after a long and distinguished career including winning the WWE Women’s Championship a staggering 7-times, Trish turned her focus to building her brand - Stratusphere. After traveling the world while producing a travel show she called Stratusphere, Trish then settled down in Toronto and opened up what is Canada’s biggest and most well regarded yoga studio, also called - you guessed it, Stratusphere.

“I discovered the joy and beauty of yoga through wrestling, as I used it to heal myself from injury and remedial therapy and then quickly realised that yoga is something that will never leave me. It is what grounds me and keeps me centred and able to keep up with the hectic pace of my life.”

Trish has definitely come full circle and has not looked backed since embracing the joys of yoga. She has made it her mission to spread the word of the positive benefits of yoga and the importance of living a healthy and balanced life through Stratusphere. Whether its with her DVDs or her ever growing line of products or locally at her studio, Trish hopes to touch the world and really make a difference.

“It feels as though my original calling to help and heal as a doctor has actually come to fruition with the path I have taken.

With the reach of WWE and through yoga, I am now able to spread my message far and wide and touch people across the globe.”

Once again it was all about preparedness meeting opportunity when it came to Trish embarking on this latest stage of her career.

A true entrepreneur and visionary if there ever was one, Trish has managed to turn her passion into an opportunity that will ultimately help her spread her message as she has become North America’s number one yoga advocate.

Trish along with her family have embraced her own culture and followed traditions to this day. Name-days, Greek Easter, huge family get togethers, it’s like a continual big fat Greek wedding.

“One of the things on my bucket list was to bring my entire family to Greece so we could all be together with my Grandparents in their hometown just outside of Sparta. We actually did that three years ago and it was amazing, something I will never forget.”

“I love Greek food,” she laughs coyly. “My ultimate cheat food is tiropita, but Greek cuisine is actually also the best menu for clean eating, the Mediterranean diet is amazingly good as a healthy choice.”

Trish’s life has certainly been blessed, a series of seemingly chance encounters and coincidences. It’s definitely been a matter of seizing every opportunity that came her way.

So what does the future hold for this pint-sized princess who certainly has the world at her feet?

“It’s all about spreading the message, spreading the love and making sure that the whole world is 100% Stratusfied!”

But what about her heritage and background, what about being Greek?

“Even though I am only half Greek, mum is actually Polish, I grew up Greek and loved every minute of it. Canada, like Melbourne is a melting pot of cultures and I along with all my extended family are very proud of our heritage.”

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Travel Tips

Without a travel agent, you’re on your own!

“Calling passenger Ms. Jaqueline Preketes – Ms. Preketes, your flight is now boarding. Please make your way urgently to gate number 353 for immediate boarding.” Did I really hear my name? How could I have screwed up like this? But I had checked the gate number as soon as I had arrived – I was sure it was gate number 303 – there was no 5 between the two 3’s! I was on the opposite side of Abu Dhabi Airport, one of the largest in the world, and my heart sank to my gut – that feeling of “Oh – My – God” spoken in syllables.

I clumsily gathered my belongings, making a pathetic attempt to make a run for it, tripping over my long black overcoat, handbag on my shoulder, pulling my carry-on bag behind me. Panting, dodging other pas66 |

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sengers who were idly window-shopping in the many stores within the transit lounge, I spotted the walking travelator. “Great” I thought “This might save me all of about 2 minutes, if I can squeeze past that idiot who is just standing there like it’s a casual ride – Move mate!.” I was focused, determined, like a panther on its prey “Excuse me” I said as I doubled the guy over onto the moving rubber rails to get in front of him. He swore in Swahili, probably something about some dumb white woman with no manners ... yes, you’re right, probably something worse. I didn’t care. My flight was about to leave without me, and I had appointments upon arrival in London. I was the only one that mattered right now!

“This is the final boarding call for all passengers to London Heathrow

on flight EY 45. Please make your way immediately to gate 353 for departure.” By now, I was not only sweating, I was busting to go to the toilet – “just hold ... and keep running!”

I said to myself.

But hang on ... I could now see gates 360 through to 380 – what the? Where did I take a wrong turn? I couldn’t have taken a wrong turn – because I didn’t turn!

“This is the final call for Ms. Jaqueline Preketes. Ms. Preketes, your flight has now boarded and will be departing in 15 minutes. Ms. Jaqueline Preketes, if you are in the terminal, please make your way immediately to gate 353.

Ms. Jaqueline Preketes. Thank you”. Hot, sweaty, exhausted, embarrassed, lost, cursing myself, and overloaded with unnecessary stuff (I knew I didn’t need the extra bottle of Chanel No.9 from the Duty Free shop), I just stood still and dumped my things – right there, in the middle of the airport, hand on my forehead, in utter despair.

You know that feeling, when everyone around you looks so calm, but your own inner world has just been shaken by one of your own vlakies? That was the moment I had to think in syllables again – “Calm – Down - Breathe.”

Thankfully, an airport official noticed me looking like the proverbial “vregmeni gata”, asked me what the problem was, and promptly escorted me to my gate within 3 minutes of the flight being closed. Gate 303 (where I was when I heard my name called for the first time) was the departure for a different flight on its way to London’s Gatwick Airport, not Heathrow where I was heading.

Like many airports around the world, the city of London itself has 3 major airports – Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead. New York too, has three major airports – Newark, JFK and La Guardia. In Australia too, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide are the only cities where the international and domestic terminals are under the same roof. In other cities, domestic to international connections mean a transfer from one terminal to the next.

When travelling, whether domestically or internationally, it is essential to know not just the city where you are headed, but also the name of the airport you will be flying into. It can, on odd occasions, make the difference between making it to your gate on time, or experiencing the embarrassment of walking onto an aircraft when all the other 250 passengers have settled in their seat, just waiting for your little face to appear down the aisle.

It is also essential to ensure you have all the correct documentation prior to boarding. This is the difference between using a registered, licensed travel agent who gives you professional knowledge, or the internet, that cares not whether you have a valid passport, and which does not check whether you require a visa for entry into a certain country. The introduction of the internet has been both, a blessing and a curse to passengers.

It gives passengers more autonomy over their own travel

plans, and helps to make the journey smoother in some ways.

You can check-in on-line with most airlines these days, and verify if there are schedule changes. You can pre-pay excess baggage charges, and you can choose your own seat.

What the internet cannot tell you, however, is that you need a visa to enter certain countries, and that failure to comply with such documentation will result in your being denied boarding in Australia, even before your holiday has begun.

The U.S.A. and Egypt to name just a few, require the pre-arrangement of visa documentation before you fly. It is your travel agent who will advise you on this essential documentation, and guide you on how to go about obtaining this.

Furthermore, whilst the internet is a useful tool to research your travel plans, it is your travel agent that will make professional suggestions based on their own personal experience and their educational trips overseas – that is the purpose of such trips. They are not just junket industry holidays. During educational trips, your agent performs hotel inspections of 10 – 15 hotels each day, ensuring that the hotel standards meet the needs of Australian travellers.

Hotel standards in the Australasia region are far superior to those in Europe, and clients can sometimes feel disheartened when they book a 4* hotel in London that feels more like a 3* hotel in Australia. Similarly, hotel standards in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman far outdo those in the Australasia region.

Despite their popularity, websites such as those that claim they rate hotels based on popular opinions from past passengers are often inaccurate. I have had the experience where, to prove this point, someone I know got onto such a site whilst we were in Vietnam, rated a property in Paris he had never been to, and within 48 hours, this fake hotel judgement was posted on the internet.

In short, everything looks great on the web. But you cannot smell the garbage from the Chinese restaurant next door on the internet! This is where your travel agent’s advice and knowledge is invaluable.

As the slogan of the Australian Federation for Travel Agents states “Without a travel agent, you’re on your own!”.

Jaqui Preketes is the Managing Director of Cosmos Tours and Touchdown Tours. Both companies were founded

by Jaqui and her father Arthur Preketes in 1991 after Jaqui completed her B.A. at the University of Melbourne.

The family company has grown and established its roots based primarily on strong business ethics and a desire to create unique and memorable travel experiences tailored for each individual. Touchdown Tours prides itself in exceptional customer service and responsible tourism initiatives. Touchdown Tours is a member of IATA, and Jaqui is the Vice President of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (Aust.).

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Legal Eagle Obtaining a Greek/European Passport.

By John M. Tripidakis

Today, Greek Australians, especially those of the ‘second generation’ are often asking themselves whether they should or could get a Greek Passport.

The answer to this common question is often dependent on the characteristics of each individual, their age, career, travelling activities abroad, etc.

Why should I acquire a Greek Passport for myself, my children or my grandchildren?

It is a matter of honoring our special national descendency for all Greeks who are born abroad and wish to maintain their Greek national identity for themselves or their descendants.

The Greek passport allows the holder to travel and reside in all 26 countries of the European Union without any other visa required.

The Greek passport allows the holder to work and enjoy the social benefits in all 26 countries of the European Union, a market of 460 million people.

The Greek passport is one of the most welcoming passports worldwide.

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Who can acquire a Greek Passport?

It can be issued only for a Greek citizen who is registered with a Greek municipality. Therefore, it is necessary that the person interested proceeds first with the recognition of his/her Greek citizenship and his/ her registration with a Greek Municipality. Then he/she can also proceed with the issuance of a Greek passport and/or an identity card.

According to Greek Law (Article 1 of the Greek Nationality Code), the child of a Greek male or female obtains the Greek nationality at birth. By virtue of this article, every person can be registered as a Greek citizen if his/her ancestors or one of them, was a Greek citizen, provided that the person requesting the Greek citizenship follows the procedure required

by Greek Law in order to prove the Greek citizenship of his/her ancestors and the sequence of Greek origin (ius sanguinis).

The application and the certificates issued by the Special Registry should then be submitted to the municipality with which the ancestor of the applicant is registered. The competent authority for the recognition of Greek nationality, the Region (Perifereia), issues the Decision recognizing the Greek nationality of the applicant and orders his/her registration with the Greek Municipal Rolls. Men must be registered with the Greek Male Rolls as well.

Finally, the Municipality issues a certificate, which certifies that the person is a Greek citizen. This certificate is necessary for the issuance of a Greek identity card and/or a Greek passport. After the registration with a Greek Municipality and the issuance of a Greek passport, the person obtains officially the Greek citizenship and all the rights of a Greek/ European citizen. Young men (18-45) are not obliged to serve in the Greek military, as long as they reside permanently abroad.

How can I acquire a Greek Passport?

The first step is to locate the registration of one of the ancestors with the Greek Municipal Rolls. Then, he/she should procure a relevant certificate and proceed with the application for the recognition of his nationality. All the certificates of marriages and births that took place abroad and have not been registered in Greece should be registered with the Greek Special Registry in Athens. For this purpose, original certificates are required that should be Apostilled according to the Hague Convention. In case that there is a Divorce, the relevant judgment should be recognized as valid in Greece through the relevant Greek Court procedure.

Who can assist me with all the procedures required as described above?

All the above procedures that may require diversified documentation and actions as well as a frequent communication with the competent Greek Authorities, can be accomplished through a limited Power of Attorney to a specialized Greek law firm, for more information: www. greeklawyers.com.au or email: info@greeklawyersonline.gr

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s riva G m

i

by J

It’s All Greek to Me An expression that is incomprehensible due to the complexity or impression, generally with respect to verbal expressions with excessive jargon of dialect, mathematics or science.

of the

mon

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to es lost i t i n u Proverbthe opport be bad” o r reek G n ove rtunities t a o m o never e opp “Men od, only th do go

Wisdom of the Ancients The first person to propose that everything is made of atoms was Democritus in 440 BC. He reasoned that, if he were to attempt to cut an object in half over and over again, he would eventually reach a tiny grain of matter that could not be cut in half.

Democritus called these hypothetical building blocks of matter "atoms", after the Greek atomos meaning ‘uncuttable’.

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as going why we refer to some people Could the Greeks be the reason d, No Fear!!)

‘NUTS!!? ?’ (Not in right min her life at ee from Iowa constantly puts “A 44-year-old mother of thr ts, been aul ass s and has suffered variou risk because of her condition a ling fee t hou d with a knife, all wit held at gunpoint and threatene thing, (the Telegraph reports) udonym who is known only by the pse After each attack the woman, ice if other pol to nts y reports the incide SM, simply walks away and onl y may the ed iev dying SM, scientists bel people push her to. After stu post m fro g erin and other people suff be able to help treat soldiers SD). traumatic stress disorder (PY led Urbach-Wiethe which has cal SM suffers from a condition her brain a. Almonds Nuts) the part of destroyed her ‘Amygdala’ (ak is an la’ gda my rning and fear, The ‘A associated with emotional lea al lobe por tem the located deep within almond shaped mass of nuclei of the brain…

Sayings of the Month: ‘Siga ta lahana’ Literal translation - Slowly the cabbages Meaning: You’re over exagge rating, cut the crap ‘Spoudaia ta lahana’ Literal translation - Important the cabbages Meaning: Your problems are insignificant, big deal!

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IN THEIR OWN IMAGE GREEK AUSTRALIANS w w w. p h o t o w r i t e . c o m . a u

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