NEW YORK – Dimitrios Zias of Astoria was arrested for an attack on two women he thought were Muslim and was brought before the Criminal Court of Queens County, where he was charged with assault as a hate crime, aggravated harassment, and harassment.

The incident, as reported in the police report before the Court, occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 2 PM on the M and R line at the 67th Avenue station in the Forrest Hills section of Queens ​while the two women were getting off the M train at the stop.

The Greek-American, as police officer Gina Brown said, initially attacked the mother and daughter, yelling at them to go back to their country because he thought they were Muslims. The mother and daughter are, in fact, Jewish. The daughter, deeply annoyed by his behavior, asked him to repeat the phrase again. The accused allegedly spat on her and punched her, slamming the 37-year-old into the ground.

Her 57-year-old mother hurried to defend her daughter from the perpetrator’s fury and was attacked and injured.

Zias, 40, was reported to be under the influence and when he was arrested on the scene, told the police officers, “I don’t understand why I’m being arrested. Is it because I’m rich and white?”

The National Herald contacted the Queens Public Prosecutor, who confirmed the case, shared the court documents, and pointed out that the judge had decided to release him with either $50,000 bail in bonds or $25,000 in cash.

At the same time, he ordered the defendant to return to court on September 27th.

TNH contacted his lawyer, Dawn Martin, but has yet to receive an answer to our phone message.

The accused, as reported on the website www.dnainfo.com, was arrested in 2015 for illegally photographing a woman under her skirt while she was shopping in a Fifth Avenue clothing store, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to a suspended 5-year prison sentence.

The post Dimitrios Zias Arrested for Hate Crime against Two Women appeared first on The National Herald.

ASTORIA – Assemblymember Aravella Simotas hosted a free seminar on September 14 for pregnant women and expecting parents to help them negotiate and interact more effectively with their employers and health insurance companies. The seminar armed the people who attended with the information they need to exercise their rights to paid family leave and health insurance coverage for prenatal care.

“I am committed to helping pregnant women and new parents navigate laws and understand their rights to protect their jobs and the health of their new babies. We need healthy families to be a healthy community,” said Assemblymember Simotas.

Alex Berke and Rosa Alberti of the woman-owned law firm Berke-Weiss and co-creators of the Pregnancy Project were the presenters at the seminar. The team provided vital information on how to tell your boss you’re pregnant, how to ask for an accommodation at work, how to use benefits under the state’s new Paid Family Leave law, and health insurance issues. Ms. Berke’s law firm launched the Pregnancy Project as a way to improve the lives of working mothers-to-be and working parents.

“Too many pregnant women do not understand their rights to take leave and use their health insurance,” said Berke. “Our Pregnancy Project seminar helps pregnant women and their families understand their rights and empowers them to have necessary conversations with their employers and health insurers. Thank you, Assemblymember Simotas for hosting us!”

Assemblymember Simotas, Berke, and Alberti were joined by Rasel Rahman, a Director at the City Human Rights Commission’s Queens Community Service Center. Rahman explained the protections for families under the NYC Human Rights Law, which makes it illegal to discriminate because of a woman’s pregnancy in the workplace, in housing or in any place of public accommodation.

The Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens provided the space where the seminar was held.

The 2016 Paid Family Leave law goes into effect on January 1, 2018. The law will provide job protection and paid leave for new parents, for employees who need to care for a loved one with a serious health condition, and to help with family pressures when someone is called to active military service.

In 2015 the state enacted legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Simotas that made pregnancy a qualifying event for getting health insurance outside the designated enrollment periods. This change to the law now enables women to gain access to prenatal care they might not otherwise have.

Simotas began serving in the State Legislature in January 2011 and represents the 36th Assembly District of western Queens. She has a five-year old daughter, Eleni Evangeline, who was born during her second year in office.

The post Simotas Hosts Free Seminar on New Paid Family Leave Law appeared first on The National Herald.

BROOKLYN – Maria Ikonomidis, the mother of the slain Manos who was murdered on June 19 in Brooklyn’s Park Slope spoke with The National Herald asking for legal assistance from Greek community lawyers and demanding justice for her son.

“It’s already been three months since I lost my child, and nothing has yet been done about his murderers. The two arrested are still being held in prison without leave, but I do not know when their trial will take place, while the third killer is still not captured, although they know who it is from the released video and his whereabouts are known. As far as the girl who participated in the crime is concerned, she is still free.”

“Every day I call the Police and the detectives who have taken the case and never get a specific answer, either they avoid talking to me or they tell me to be patient. But I have no more patience. I want all the murderers to be arrested, the trial to begin, and for the guilty to be condemned for this to come to an end and for my Manos to rest in peace,” she told TNH.

In response to TNH’s question on whether or not she has hired a lawyer to represent her, she replied, no, and asked the Greek community to help her.

“I am a bereaved mother who needs support, a lawyer to advise me, to help me get justice as soon as possible. All I can do is pray and think about my boy constantly.”

It should be noted that Maria, along with the loss of her son, was facing a serious health problem, which she said fortunately has stabilized.

“For the moment, I’m in good health, though since I lost my Mano nothing matters anymore to me,” she told TNH in a trembling voice.

“Every day I look for him and I’m looking for him. I think I hear his voice, I feel him next to me, touching me. I’m constantly thinking about the tragic moment when the detectives came to the shop and told me that my child was killed. I wish no parent ever has to live through what I’m going through. I ask God to give me strength and courage to care for my little daughter, who loved her brother so much and needs me more than ever before,” she noted.

“I would like to mention that Manos’ relatives and friends in order to keep his memory alive will gather and walk to Staten Island’s Clove Lake Park on Sunday October 8 at 10:45 AM. I invite those who can come to support us.”

“A great thank you to the Greek community for their love and support, as well as to the National Herald, the only news source that I consult, for its humane coverage of the drama my family and I are experiencing.”

The post Mother Demands Justice for Slain Manos Ikonomidis appeared first on The National Herald.

Easy and common phrases you may use to describe in Greek your Greek class.

DO YOU LEARN GREEK?

Greek phrase            Pronunciation          Translation

Μ: Εγώ μαθαίνω Ελληνικά eYO maTHEno elliniKA      I learn Greek

από την εφημερίδα   aPO TEEN efimeREEda from the newspaper

Εθνικός Kήρυκας.    ethniKOS KEErikas. The National Herald.

Εσύ μαθαίνεις Ελληνικά; eSEE maTHEnis elliniKA      Do you learn Greek?

Ε: Ναι, μαθαίνω Ελληνικά   NE, maTHEno elliniKA       Yes, I learn Greek

στο σχολείο.  STO shoLEEo.         at school.

Μ: Τι κάνετε   TEE KAnete? What do you do

στο μάθημα των ελληνικών; STO MAthima TON elliniKON      at the Greek class?

Μ: Μαθαίνουμε γλώσσα      maTHEnoome YLOsa         we learn the language

Γραμματική,   yramatiKEE   Grammar

Ιστορία και     istoREEa KE History and

Θρησκευτικά.            thriskeftiKA   Religion.

Ε: Έχετε βιβλίο Ehete vivLEEo      Do you have a book

για το μάθημα            yiA TO MAthima for the Greek class?

των ελληνικών;         TON elliniKON?

Μ: Έχουμε     Ehoome         We have

βιβλίο,                        vivLEEo         a book

τετράδιο, teTRAdio   a note book

ντοσιέ ntosiE a binder

για τη γραμματική     yiA TEE gramatiKEE           for the Grammar

και στυλό.      KE stiLO        and pens.

BASIC VOCABULARY

Greek word    Pronunciation          Meaning

Εγώ μαθαίνω            eYO maTHEno         I learn

Εσύ μαθαίνεις           eSEE maTHEnis      you learn

Εσύ μαθαίνεις;          eSEE maTHEnis?   do you learn?

Η Μαρία μαθαίνει     EE maREEa maTHEni       Maria learns

Εμείς μαθαίνουμε     eMEES maTHEnoome       we learn

Εσείς μαθαίνετε        eSEES maTHEnete            you learn (Plural, polite)

Τα παιδιά μαθαίνουν            TA pediA maTHEnoon The kids learn

Ελληνικά        elliniKA          Greek

Ναι      NE      yes

Το σχολείο     TO shoLEEo school

Το μάθημα των ελληνικών  TO MAthima TON elliniKON Greek class

Η εφημερίδα  EE efimeREEda newspaper

Από την εφημερίδα  aPO TEEN efimeREEda from the newspaper

Εθνικός Kήρυκας     ethniKOS KEErikas The National Herald

Ποιος  piOS who (male)

Ποια    piA      who (female)

Τι κάνετε;        TEE KAnete? What do you do? (Plural, polite)

Κάνουμε         KAnoome We do

Έχετε; Ehete?           Do you have? (Plural, polite)

Έχουμε          Ehoome         we have

Έχω    Eho     I have

Η Γλώσσα     EE YLOsa     language

Η Γραμματική            EE yramatiKEE        grammar

Η Ιστορία       EE istoREEa history

Τα Θρησκευτικά        TA thriskeftiKA         religion

Το βιβλίο        TO viVLEEo  book

Το τετράδιο    TO teTRAdio note book

Το ντοσιέ        TO ntosiE binder

Το μολύβι       TO moLEEvi  pencil

Η γόμα           EE GOma eraser

Ο στυλός        O stiLOS pen

GREEK WORDS USED IN ENGLISH

Many of the above Greek words are familiar to you from their English derivatives. Γλώσσα, which in Greek means both the language and the tongue, is the root of the word glossary, the dictionary, the vocabulary.

Γραμματική deriving from the word γράμμα,(=letter), and the Ancient Greek verb γράφω, which then and now means I write, is the root of the English word Grammar. In most European languages a similar word is used for Grammar, a fact that directly shows the debt to Greek for the structure and the morphology of the European languages. History comes from Ιστορία. The words μαθαίνω (I learn) and μάθημα (class, lesson) are to be found in the word Mathematics. The word βιβλίο is the first compound of the word bibliography, the second being the verb γράφω, I write.

MAIN PHRASES

Try to match the phrases in English with their translation in Greek:

1. Μαθαίνεις Ελληνικά; 1. I learn History and Religion.
2. Μαθαίνω Ελληνικά στο σχολείο. 2. I have a book, a note book and a pen.
3. Μαθαίνω Ιστορία και Θρησκευτικά. 3. I learn Greek at school.
4. Έχω βιβλίο, τετράδιο και στυλό. 4. Do you learn Greek?

PRONUNCIATION KEY

i (idiom), ee (needle), e (energy), o (organism), oo (boot), y (yes), h (helium), th (theory), d (the). The capitalized syllables are accented.

The post Our Everyday Greek: This September we Speak in Greek about our Greek Classes appeared first on The National Herald.

Giorgos Seferis, Nobel laureate and one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, regardless of nationality, continues to be a beloved poet to the present day. His work is available in Greek and in translation, as well as in bilingual editions for those who can read both Greek and English. Seferis passed away on September 20, 1971. At his funeral in Athens, the crowds of mourners following his coffin sang the Mikis Theodorakis arrangement of his poem Arnisi (Denial) which was banned at the time by the junta.

The poet, who was also a career diplomat in the Greek Foreign Service, serving in his last post before retirement as Royal Greek Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1961, denounced the regime of the colonels in a statement read on the BBC on March 28, 1969 and released to all the newspapers in Athens the same day. Seferis said, “I am a man without any political affiliation, and I can therefore speak without fear or passion. I see ahead of me the precipice toward which the oppression that has shrouded the country is leading us. This anomaly must stop. It is a national imperative.”

The full statement may be found online at aphelis.net reminding readers and fans of his poetry that Seferis stood up against the oppression and became a hero to those resisting the dictatorship, censorship, and the political imprisonments and torture. In honor of his memory 46 years after his death, here are a few books to add to your reading list.

George Seferis: Collected Poems 1924-1955 is a bilingual edition and revises the two earlier editions published in 1967 and 1969. It presents, for the first time, the complete Notes for a Week,Three Secret Poems, and three later poems that were not collected by the poet himself but whose English translation he authorized during his lifetime.Originally published in 1982, the latest edition of thebook was published in 2014 by the Princeton Legacy Library.

Though known primarily as a poet, Seferis also wrote the novel Six Nights on the Acropolis, posthumously published in 1974. The English translation by Susan Matthias won the 2006 Elizabeth Constantinides Memorial Translation Prize from the Modern Greek Studies Association.A tragic love story and a tale of artistic maturation played out in the Greek landscape, the book offers “a portrait of Athens, a chaotic modern metropolis seething with refugees after the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, populated by a host of minor characters adding a tragic dimension, comic relief, and a hauntingly real sense of time and place,” as noted in the book’s description. Seferis writes as the protagonist of thisnovelabout love, sex, and art in ways perhaps not possible in his poetry, or other prose works.

A Poet’s Journal: Days of 1945-51 by Giorgos Seferis, translated by Athan Anagnostopoulos with an introduction by Walter Kaiser. It wasn’t until 1967 that Seferis decided to publish his journals, but it became clear that the political climate in Greece during the junta would make it difficult to publish there. Just before his death, he entrusted his journals to be translated and published by his friend Anagnostopoulos and requested that Kaiser write the introduction for the U.S. edition. The volume covering 1945-51 was first published in 1974 and gives a unique perspective on post-war Greece and its struggles during that time.

The post Remembering Giorgos Seferis 46 Years after His Death appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW HAVEN, CT – The bright yellow church with a dark red roof stands as a testament to a Greek Orthodox parish’s commitment to the city that has welcomed Greek immigrants since the early 20th century, New Haven Register reported.

St. Basil’s Greek Orthodox Church, which has worshiped for years in a building that was built as a community center, held a procession Sunday with the parish’s icons to the new basilica-style church on Church Street South, modeled after St. Ann’s Church in Kifissia, Greece, a suburb of Athens.

“On Sunday, September 17th we will have a procession into the new church! This will be the historic first Divine Liturgy in the new Church. Please come to church by 10:00 am so you can participate in the walk over to the front doors of the new church and enter through those doors for the first Liturgy,”according to the website of the church.

St. Basil is located in downtown New Haven just off Church Street at 1 Tower Lane across from Tower One/Tower East.

The post Permanent Home for St. Basil’s Greek Orthodox Church in New Haven appeared first on The National Herald.

MALIBU, CA – The twelfth annual outdoor theatrical production in the Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater at the Getty Villa  features Euripides’ ancient tale of power, revenge and sacrifice. Iphigenia in Aulis is produced by the Court Theater, the professional theater of the University of Chicago, on a translation by its founding director Nicholas Rudall. The invitation to bring the production to the Villa “is a very unique honor for the company because the Getty invites only the finest international and national companies to perform.”

Award winning director Charles Newell says that the Getty is the “Mecca of classical theater, the only place I know that offers exclusively Greek and Roman classics.”

In Euripides’ play we find King Agamemnon’s army stagnant on the shores of Aulis as a result of an insult the King has committed to the goddess Artemis who now demands the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia in order for her to release the winds that will allow Agamemnon’s army to sail to Troy. Faced with the impossible decision Agamemnon, portrayed skillfully by Mark Montgomery, cannot bring himself to tell his wife Clytemnestra the truth and instead tells her to bring Iphigenia to Aulis as she is to marry the legendary Greek hero Achilles. Ridden with guilt Agamemnon has a change of heart and sends a second note to his wife to disregard the first one but she never receives that note because it was intercepted by Menelaus. It was the abduction of Melenaul’s wife Helen that was the pretext to the war and initially Menelaus in infuriated with Agamemnon’s change of mind only to find himself reversing his position and suggesting that the Greek army disband rather than sacrificing his niece.

But it is too late as the Greek army had learned of the goddess wish and now demands Iphigenia’s sacrifice. Achilles who felt that he has been used as a prop in this ploy vows to defend Iphigenia but finds himself unable to do so when even the Myrmidons who are under his personal command turn against him and narrowly escapes to be stoned. Director Charles Newell said that this play “is not just a play about power and sacrifice. It is also about family disfunctionality and the price the kids pay as a result.

As a child of a divorced family I have experienced that in my own life and in people around me, and I try to bring those experiences in directing this play” he told TNH.

Sandra Marquez delivers a passionate and powerful portrayal as Clytemnestra. Initially she and her daughter  Iphigenia plead with Agamemnon to reverse course but to no avail. Soon Iphigenia sees the implausibility of the situation and asks Achilles not to intervene in a lost cause. “The daughter sees no way out, she must solve her father’s problem and proceed with the sacrifice” Newell said.

Iphigenia quickly transitions to a heroine who is willing to be sacrificed if that will help bring victory to the Greek army. Did Agamemnon make the right choice? ” I change daily on that answer, the director said. It is a gut wrenching decision for a father who is also a commander in chief of the Greek army.” This is the second time that Newell has directed the play. “This production is very different than the first production that was indoors in 2014.

The text is the same but the design and staging is different, we have taken advantage of the theater’s architecture. Even the chorus is transformed, there is more singing than speaking since the space allows for that” Newell told TNH. Ralph Flores the Senior Program Specialist for the Getty flew to Chicago to see the 2014 performance and that sealed the invite, “I was taken by the accessibility and straightforwardness of the production as well as powerful performances of the characters. I also felt that Nick’s translation was beautiful and very playable for actors” Flores said.

The Getty Villa is the ideal place to perform classical plays as the art in the galleries allows the modern audience to have a deeper connection  to relate to the mythical stories. “I hope the play creates an emotional experience, and that the audience will connect the heroes lives in the play with their own” Newell concluded.  The performance overall conveys that emotional experience but two elements of the production worth commenting about. The costume designer’s choice of a “casual” contemporary style clothing, that is not what you expect on a classical production portraying royals.

Also on the stage the mounts of black electrical cords brought question marks, and even though at the end the purpose becomes clear the theatrical aesthetics did not match. But those elements do not take away from a fine overall  theatrical production that is worth experiencing.

Performances will be held Thursdays through Saturday, September 7 through 30, 2017 at 8:00pm, and information can is available at www.getty.edu.

Next year’s performance will be another Euripides play, The Bacchae.

The post Iphigenia in Aulis Opens at the Getty Villa appeared first on The National Herald.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA – Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church hosted its annual San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival Sept. 16-17. Each year, the free weekend-long event invites the public to celebrate all aspects of Greek culture and cuisine—from dancing and live Greek music to wine tasting, Greek pastries and Byzantine art, The Capistrano Dispatch reported.

Guests were able to sample a range of savory and sweet Greek treats, including gyros, lamb chops, souvlaki, and pastries like baklava, made with old family recipes. Throughout the festival, live Greek music was performed and, for those not familiar with Greek dance, lessons were offered. Dancers performed traditional Greek folk dances throughout the weekend.

The post Saint Basil Hosts Annual San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America has called an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council at the Archdiocese headquarters in New York for Tuesday September 19, 2017 at 3 PM.

The Executive Committee presided by Archbishop Demetrios is comprised by the hierarchs members of the Holy Eparchial Synod, Methodios of Boston, Isaiah of Denver, Alexios of Atlanta, Nicholas of Detroit, Savas of Pittsburgh, Gerasimos of San Francisco and Evangelos of New Jersey, George Tsandikos Vice President, Michael Psaros, Treasurer, Catherine Boufides-Walsh Secretary, George Behrakis, Theofanis Economidis, James Fountas, Louis Roussalis, George Matthews, George Vourvoulias, His Grace Bishop Andonios of Fasiane, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, and Jerry Dimitriou who was recently dismissed form his position of executive director of the Archdiocese.

Although the Archbishop has not issued an agenda for this emergency meeting, TNH has learned that he will attempt to pacify the members of the Executive Committee about the multiphase crisis at the Archdiocese due to the $8.5 million dollars deficit as TNH has revealed in its previous editions. The Archdiocese is at a bankrupt stage which has prompted personnel dismissals and budget reductions of the various departments.

The post Archbishop Demetrios Calls Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON – The emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan council continuous at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese for many hours. The meeting was scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

One of the most crucial subjects that was expected to be discussed is the dire financial situation of the Archdiocese with a deficit at $8.5 million dollars

The post Emergency Meeting Continues at the Archdiocese for Many Hours appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – On September 18 and 19, the Concordia Annual Summit takes place at the Grand Hyatt in Midtown Manhattan. The preeminent nonpartisan forum takes place alongside the United Nations General Assembly, bringing together over 4,500 participants, including 50 current and former heads of state, 600 international and Fortune 500 C-suite executives, prominent nonprofit leaders, and senior Congressional and Administration officials.

Since 2011, the Concordia Annual Summit has convened the world’s most prominent business, government, and nonprofit leaders to foster dialogue and enable effective partnerships for social impact. The Annual Summit plenary stage features some of the foremost thought leaders, providing valuable insights into the current state of world affairs as they relate to public-private partnerships.

Among those in attendance at the Summit were Concordia Co-Founders Matthew Swift and Nicholas Logothetis, whose roots are in Chios and who presented the Leadership Award to Paul Bulcke- Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nestlé. Bulcke spoke about the ways Nestlé is tackling the problem of youth unemployment around the world through its apprenticeship program. Logothetis noted concerns about the high unemployment rate among young people in Greece, while Bulcke observed that the problem is not only in Greece, Spain, or Portugal, but in many countries globally.

The post Concordia Summit in Manhattan Brings Leaders Together appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON, MA – Fr. Christopher Metropulos, president of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC) in an interview with TNH spoke about the new academic year, the number of students, the finances, the visions, and aspirations of the two unique schools. “It is amazing every year the Lord continues to send us young people for HCHC” he said.“We are like every other university in the country and it is always difficult to recruit students. There are 3000 colleges and universities in America, 1200 of them are faith-based and we (Greek Orthodox) have one school and we have to grow that school.”

They have a total of 180 students this year, including 57 freshmen almost evenly split between the College and the School. He said that “out of 28-30 students, 22 or 24 at the School of Theology will aim for the Holy priesthood for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.”

Fr. Metropoulos wants to bring students from Greece to study at HCHC. He said “we have students from Greece and from Constantinople. I am trying very hard to reopen the ability to bring in students from Greece. I would like to see 20 per year. There are certain scholarships we can offer them. I traveled to Greece last year and visited seven high schools, and I am returning to those schools again to visit and offer students the opportunity to come here.

“It is a very good option, because the situation as you know is very difficult in Greece. I feel it is my duty to do that because I know there young men and women over there who want to get an education, and we also know that once they graduate from a university in Greece it is very difficult to get work there.”

When we asked him is the total number of 180 in both schools is representative of the Greek-American Community and its resources, he said, “absolutely not, my goal will be, let us say in ten years, to have 500 students. I think in five years we should have 300 students at least. Part of the issue for many, many years was finances and enrollment. I am trying to recruit the right students, but also we look at partnerships with local universities, which will allow us to have programs whereby when students graduate from here they will be able to earn their master’s degree within one year thereafter.

“We are in the process of announcing in a month or so the partnerships that have been established and try to offer new programs in the sciences. We can’t afford to create new majors on campus, but we can easily use them in Boston,the ‘Athens of America.’”

In recent years there was trimming of the budget. He said, “over the years I have worked with the Board of Trustees to cut the budget here. We have eliminated 17 positions, three of which were senior cabinet positions so we can live with our means, we cannot spent more than we are taking in. Those are tough things to do, but I feelif you pull back on that, you build a solid foundation and then you march forward.”

Metropulos reveled that “we had a deficit when I started three years ago (he did not disclose the number) but next year we should be running in the black.”

In terms of personnel, he said “when I came there were 62 now we have about 50. If we don’t have a successful year I would have to eliminate more positions.”

Via TNH, he asked the Greek-American community to support the HCHC. “I want the people to visit the school, to visit the website and see what is going on, and I am trying to be as transparent as possible. We ask that they help us with whatever they can give: $5, $10, or $1 million. Get the entire community behind this school. We only have one College, one school of Theology; I am asking them to send their children to HCHC.”

He also wants to take HCHC students to Greece “because I want them to experience Greece, the Holy Land, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

The post Hellenic-College & Holy Cross President Fr. Christopher Metropulos Speaks to TNH appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW MEXICO – There are no casualties among the members of the Greek Community in the city of Mexico after 7.1 on the Richter scale the president of the community Georgia Boutsiani said on Wedneday in statements to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency’s radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM.

No one in the community was hurt, Boutsiani said, adding that she has been in contact with the embassy and the members of the Greek community.

She said that the Mexican authorities have been constantly providing advice and guidance to citizens on what to do. “We have been kept very well informed,” Boutsiani said, adding that the authorities have recommended that citizens avoid streets and remain in safe places.
She also stressed that the public is helping those in need “with food, clothes and bottled water, and private hospitals have opened their doors …”

For relatives who wish to find out more information about family members, Boutsiani provided her mobile phone number, 005217222549194.

The post Mexico: No Casualties among Members of the Greek Community appeared first on The National Herald.

BROOKLYN – The Brooklyn Book Festival took place on September 17 drawing bibliophiles from all five boroughs and the New York tri-state area. This year’s festival included a reading of a scene from the ancient tragedy Ajax by Sophocles who was himself a general as Bryan Doerries noted in his introduction to the presentation in Brooklyn’s Borough Hall Courtroom. The Brooklyn-based writer, director, and translator, currently serves as Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions which presents programs that address the enduring impact of war as well as broader community issues such as gun violence, mental health, addiction, prison reform, sexual assault, and domestic violence.

As noted on their website, “Theater of War presents readings of Sophocles’ Ajax and Philoctetes to military and civilian communities across the United States and Europe. These ancient plays timelessly and universally depict the visible and invisible wounds of war. By presenting these plays to military and civilian audiences, our hope is to de-stigmatize psychological injury, increase awareness of post-deployment psychological health issues, disseminate information regarding available resources, and foster greater family, community, and troop resilience. Using Sophocles’ plays to forge a common vocabulary for openly discussing the impact of war on individuals, families, and communities, these events will be aimed at generating compassion and understanding between diverse audiences.”

The powerful presentation at the Brooklyn Book Festival was only a brief glimpse of the vital work being done through this extraordinary program to benefit the community and especially veterans. Actors Jumaane Williams as the Chorus, Zach Grenier as Ajax, and Amy Ryan as Tecmessa- Ajax’s wife, even in the brief reading demonstrated their skill and the raw emotions of the ancient play. The timelessness of Sophocles’ work moved the audience who participated in a Q&A session led by Doerries in which many noted how little has changed for veterans in the 2,500 years or so since the play was first performed in ancient Athens. In the discussion that followed, Doerries, who has been called “the Phil Donohue of ancient Greek tragedy,” pointed out that three tragedies followed by a satyr play were performed during the ancient drama festivals so that Sophocles’ Ajax was only one part of the four part argument with comedy always at the end.

Over 80,000 service members, veterans, and their families have attended and participated in Theater of War performances and discussions, Doerries noted. He mentioned the response of one veteran who noted that the Greek plays tell the truth about war and the experience of veterans and their families. Actor Zach Grenier said of the constancy of human nature from ancient times to today, “We haven’t changed one bit, one iota, in 2,500 years.”

The New York City Department of Veterans’ Services and Department of Cultural Affairs named Doerries the City’s newest Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) at an event on March 1 at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central branch. The two-year residency, which brings theater-based projects to all five boroughs, marks the second collaboration between the two agencies as part of the expanded PAIR program, created to enhance the City’s services through creative practice. The project, made possible through a $1,365,000 grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), is the first city-wide public health program implemented by the Department of Veterans’ Services.

Doerries was selected to be the City’s latest PAIR based on the broad impact of his work as co-founder of Theater of War Productions. Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is a co-producer of the residency as part of its commitment to being a resource and advocate for civic engagement, education, artistic expression, and a safe haven for public discourse. The project will combine theater and public forums that engage both veterans and civilians in community-specific performances that foster health and healing through open discussion and exchange. Over the next two years, the free events will take place in more than 60 venues across New York, including public libraries, with each of the projects tailored to the needs of different communities.

More information on the Theater of War is available online at: theaterofwar.com.

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Dennis C. Droushiotis will be laid to rest on Thursday, September 21. The former Trade Commissioner in the United States for the Republic of Cyprus, Droushiotis, 64, passed away on September 14 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Polly, their two children Dennis Jr. and Maggie, and his brother, retired Ambassador James Droushiotis.

The funeral service will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1033 West Park Avenue in Ocean, NJ. The burial will take place in a closed family circle. Relatives, friends, and colleagues are invited to attend the makaria at 2:30 PM at The Breakers Hotel,1507 Ocean Avenue in Spring Lake, NJ.

The family invites relatives and friends to donate to the Dennis C. Droushiotis Scholarship Fund at the Rahway High School, P.O. Box 1024 Rahway, NJ 07065.

The late Droushiotis fought with passion for the Cyprus issue and for the promotion of Cypriot products in the American market. With perseverance and patience, he managed to make halloumi known to American consumers who can find it on the shelves of the major supermarkets.

His colleagues and friends recognized his efforts to promote halloumi and Commandaria wine and called him Mr. Halloumi.

According to his biography, Droushiotis established the first Cyprus Trade Office in the U.S. and implemented export promotion programs that saw Cypriot Exports to the United States increase from $700,000 to over $32 million. He was as professional as few and most importantly maintained good relations not only with the Greek and Cypriot community but also with American journalists who covered the tastings he organized with Michael Psilakis and other distinguished chefs and oenologists aiming at promoting Cypriot products and the Cypriot gastronomy.

Droushiotis also helped found the Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce, inaugurated in 1998, and served as president and later chairman of the board of directors of the organization. He was also involved in bilateral trade negotiations with the United States Office of the Special Trade Representative and at the international level as well as a delegate to the World Trade Organization and other multi-lateral conferences. He was an adviser to the Central Bank of Cyprus, served as a Director of Tourism for North America 1980 – 1990, and as Economic Counselor of the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations.

Droushiotis served on a number of associations, including the International Olympic Committee, the European Travel Commission, the American Exporters and Importers Association, American Cheese Society, and was a founding member of the European Wine Council headquartered in New York. However, his greatest achievements was the registration of the designation of origin for halloumi in the United States and the promotion of the sweet dessert wine Commandaria and other Cypriot wines.

Following his retirement from the Department of Commerce he founded Equis Trading Inc., which undertook a campaign to promote halloumi and Cypriot wine in the United States.

Droushiotis received honors of excellence by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and from private industry for his contribution to the fostering of trade between the United States and Cyprus. In recognition of his service, Droushiotis received the 2000 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award and the Evagoras Pallikarides Award of Merit in 2003. He held a master’s degree in International Economics from Columbia University.

The deceased participated in the election campaigns of Greek and Philhellenic candidates. He was a coordinator of John Catsimatidis’ campaign for New York City mayor.

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RICHMOND, VA – Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Richmond is celebrating its 100^th anniversary with events which took place throughout the year which will culminate in the Centennial Gala at the Omni Hotel on October 7.

Among the events held to celebrate the historic milestone were the Faith Night at the Baseball Diamond with the Flying Squirrels on August 8 at which the Very Rev. Nicholas G. Bacalis, Cathedral Dean, threw out the first pitch, SingTennial: Orthodox Hymns Through the Centuries on April 18, and the exhibition Spanning the Centuries & Finding a Home In Richmond which opened on February 4.

Fr. Nicholas offered the opening prayer onJanuary 30 at the Virginia House of Delegates, where a resolution was passed honoring the 100th Anniversary of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.

The Centennial Weekend, October 6-8 continues the celebration with a welcome reception at Dombalis Hall on Friday, Oct. 6, the community’s black tie optional Centennial Gala at the Omni Hotel, 100 South 12th Street, on Saturday, Oct. 7, and the Hierarchical Liturgy and Memorial Service for the Parish Founders and Forefathers on Sunday, Oct. 8, followed by the Centennial Picnic at the Carillon Shelter at Byrd Park. A commemorative album is also being compiled in honor of the community and the centennial.

Fr. Nicholas spoke with The National Herald about the year-long celebration, noting that the decision was made to celebrate with a variety of activities throughout the year instead of one gala. He told TNH, “We’ve already had 16 events.”

When asked about the response from the community and the parishioners, Fr. Nicholas said “It’s been wonderful,” adding that the varied activities have whetted everyone’s appetite for the upcoming gala. He told TNH that the sold-out gala was initially planned for 300 people. The response was so positive that thankfully, the hotel agreed to set more tables to accommodate the maximum of 450 guests.

According to the Cathedral’s history, the first known Greek Orthodox Christians in the Richmond area arrived in 1896. By the turn of the 20^thcentury many more arrived and a Greek Benevolent Society was established in 1906. Many of the early immigrants came from Asia Minor in search of a better life in Richmond with its thriving economy.

As the immigrants began congregating for fellowship and celebration of Church and Greek holidays, it was decided to form a Church community. This took place in 1917, when a priest was assigned and the community began to worship in rented facilities. The parish purchased its own worship center in 1920, and a decade later moved to a larger facility, which had previously housed an Episcopal congregation.

Many priests contributed to the growth and early success of the new community, but only served for short periods of time. With the arrival of Fr. Theodoros L. Sideris in 1937, greater stability prevailed. When he was elevated to the episcopacy in 1954, Fr. Constantine N. Dombalis began his ministry, which would last for forty-one years. Under his guidance, the Church grew and took on an active role in ecumenical and civic affairs.

Fire destroyed the sanctuary in 1957 and the national leader of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the late Archbishop lakovos, blessed the grounds for a new facility on Malvern Avenue in 1959. The former pastor, Bishop Theodosios of Pittsburg, returned for the first service in the new structure in 1961. The Church was designated the Cathedral of Virginia in the bicentennial year 1976. Two former communities previously served by Saints Constantine and Helen, namely Charlottesville and Fredericksburg, now have thriving communities of their own. The Greek School and fraternal organizations promote the Greek cultural heritage of the community.

Fr. Nicholas G. Bacalis began his service at Saints Constantine and Helen in 1996. We wish the community all the best through the next 100 years.

More information is available online at vagocathedral.org.

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CAMPBELL, Ohio – This is a small town of only 8,325 people, but it has 12 bridge painting companies – all of them Greek-American owned – proud of a heritage of maintaining bridges across the country, now featured in a documentary about their work, entitled Bridge Brothers.

The workers are from different ethnicities and countries: Greek, Brazilian, from New Jersey and Florida and across the country but they have a job akin to being a steelworker high on a skyscraper, but with painting equipment in hand, with the water far below to remind them of where they are.

One of the companies, Corcon, produced the 100-minute film about the work the painters do while trying not to look down, detailing the heritage of the companies.

CEO Lou Lyras is a first generation Greek American. He was born, raised, and still lives in Campbell. His company has become one of the nation’s leading painters of bridges, which led him to produce the documentary, WKNB.com reported on one of Campbell’s own.

He said people driving by don’t see what’s under the curtains being put up for the massive preparatory work that includes cleaning before the first coat is put on to protect the steel from the ravages of weather, wind and water.

“They see the curtains up, but they don’t know. You have no idea what is inside or what it takes. That is why I wanted to do the documentary,” Lyras said. “That is far and above the hardest painting that our painters anywhere in the union do is industrial painting and bridges.”

Bridge Brothers was shot during the painting of two Philadelphia bridges – the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry and shows the grunge work of decking, tarping, and recycling equipment creating an enclosed area where the deleading, sandblasting and painting occurs. Lyras said the setup alone for the tower on the Walt Whitman Bridge took months.

“Three to four months to set it up and do the painting and cleaning in less than a month. Then, it will take another month and a half to take it down,” Lyras said.

Bridge Brothers shows the lives of the men and women who paint the bridges, in dangerous conditions and with a special kind of dedication.

“If you’re not cutting yourself or bruising yourself every day then you are not doing something right,” Lyras said. “Mostly we like to say everyone who works on a bridge has to be a little bit crazy.”

An excerpt hints at the story:

“As they preserve America’s bridges they also battle Mother Nature – and each other – racing against the clock to get work done under the exacting eye of their foreman and company bosses. They are also forced to confront the personal toll of this work on their family life back home – whether home is New Jersey or Florida; Brazil or Greece. They may not be related by blood but they are brothers nonetheless. Bridge Brothers.”

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NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the indictment and arrest of Suffolk County residents Richard Bivona, owner of Southampton Princess Diner (“Princess Diner”), John Kalogeras, manager of Princess Diner, and the corporation, RJT Food & Restaurant, LLC d/b/a Southampton Princess Diner. Bivona and Kalogeras are charged with repeatedly failing to pay thirteen restaurant workers over $82,000 in wages, in addition to allegedly scheming to defraud those workers by continually lying to them about eventually receiving full compensation. Bivona and Kalogeras are each charged with separate counts of harassment for intimidating and threatening workers and their families when the workers asked to be paid.

“A worker’s most basic right is the right to be paid for his or her work,”Attorney General Schneiderman said. “These defendants allegedly engaged in a long running scheme to not only steal their employees’ hard-earned money, but to intimidate and harass their victims when they attempted to speak up. We will not allow New York workers to be exploited and demeaned.”

To date, Attorney General Schneiderman has won back nearly $30 million in stolen wages for over 21,000 workers across New York.

The indictment and statements made during today’s arraignment allege that between August 15, 2016, and December 31, 2016, Bivona took over as owner of the Princess Diner from Kalogeras who had been the owner for many years. Kalogeras stayed on as the manager to run the day-to-day operations of the diner, located at 32 Montauk Highway, Southampton, New York.  Restaurant employees, including cooks, dishwashers, bussers, and servers, many of whom had worked for the diner for over ten years, continued to work under Bivona’s stewardship. The workers were allegedly paid far less than minimum wage and were often not paid any of their hourly wages on a weekly basis or at all. Prosecutors also allege that none of the workers received overtime pay of time and one-half of their pay rate for their work, despite regularly working more than forty hours per week. In total, the defendants allegedly cheated thirteen employees out of over $82,000 in wages.

As alleged, the investigation revealed that Bivona and Kalogeras made repeated promises to the workers that payment was imminent and asked the workers to be patient; however, after the workers waited for weeks to be paid, payment was sporadic or never came at all. Bivona and Kalogeras would also allegedly intimidate and threaten workers and their families if they spoke up and asked for their wages.

Defendants Bivona and RJT Food & Restaurant, LLC are separately charged with failing to secure workers’ compensation coverage, failing to make unemployment insurance contributions to the New York State Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Fund, and failing to provide proper employment records to the NYS Department of Labor.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

The 35-count indictment filed in Suffolk County charges all three defendants, Bivona, Kalogeras, and RJT Food & Restaurant, LLC, with 9 counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a Class E Felony; three counts of Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor; and thirteen counts of Failure to Pay Wages in accordance with the Labor Law, an unclassified misdemeanor. Defendants Bivona and RJT Food & Restaurant, LLC, are charged with one count of Failure to Secure Workers’ Compensation Coverage, a Class E felony; one count of Failure to Keep Records in accordance with Article 19 (“Minimum Wage Act”) of the Labor Law; and two counts of Willful Failure to Pay a Contribution to the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Bivona and Kalogeras were each charged separately with two counts of Harassment, a violation.

The Attorney General thanks the New York State Department of Labor, specifically Deputy Commissioner for Worker Protection James Rogers, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Worker Protection Milan Bhatt, Labor Standards Division Investigator Jeyce DeClue, under the supervision of Angela Dean and Chief Nancy Gao, and Unemployment Insurance Division Auditor Peter Dixon, under the supervision of Louis Adinolfi, Ilan Basch, and Lynne Camileo for their assistance in this investigation and prosecution. The Attorney General also thanks the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board, specifically Senior Investigator Gregory Holmes, under the supervision of Teri Cooper. In addition, the Attorney General thanks the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Southampton Police Department, specifically Detective Kevin Gwinn, Detective Sergeant Lisa Costa, and Chief of Police Steven E. Skrynecki.

The investigation was handled for the Attorney General’s Office by Investigator Melissa Kaplan and Supervising Investigator Sylvia Rivera, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Investigator John McManus and Chief Dominick Zarrella.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Jennifer S. Michael and Rachael C. Anello, with the assistance of Yadira Filpo, Tyisha Bedford, and Joan Johnson, and being supervised by the Labor Bureau’s Criminal Section Chief Richard Balletta, Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Suffolk County Regional Office Kimberly Kinirons, Labor Bureau Chief ReNika Moore, Chief Stephanie Swenton of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau, Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Alvin Bragg, and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Martin J. Mack.

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NEW YORK – Faith: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism announced that 65 graduating high school seniors received its Scholarship for Academic Excellence in 2017. In its 13th year supporting young people in the Greek and Hellenic community through sponsoring this competitive merit-based scholarship series, Faith received a record-breaking number of applications from qualified candidates ranked within the top of their graduating class at high schools in the United States and across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

“I am very pleased to recognize the exceptional talents and accomplishments among this year’s candidates who will be preparing to take on the many challenges facing people around the globe,” said Faith Founder Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, Retired CEO of Merck & Co., Inc., Chairman of the Board of Regeneron, philanthropist and member of the National Academy of Sciences He chairs the Faith Review Committee, which evaluated the applications.

Faithsaid the Scholars demonstrated their readiness to pursue a diverse set of majors, from Biomedical Engineering and Agribusiness to Economics and English, at the country’s top universities by displaying a high-level of academic achievement, a commitment to leadership and a strong spirit of community service and good citizenship.

“Growing up Greek Orthodox, I have looked up to Greek-American philanthropists like the Founders of Faith as role models through their generous contributions to the many Greek American organizations around the country. Through the help of my education and future endeavors, I strive to one day have the opportunity to give back to my Hellenic roots,” said scholarship recipient John Melizanis, who will attend the University of California, Berkeley.

On average, each 2017 Faith Scholar scored within the 95th percentile for ACT and SAT college readiness tests, maintained an A average and took seven to nine Advanced Placement courses. More than 60 percent founded school clubs, interned in a field related to their proposed college major, served in student government and joined multiple academic honor societies. Committing to over an average of 350 hours of community service, the 2017 Faith Scholars organized blood drives, volunteered at children’s hospitals and community clean-ups, and tutored their peers through mentorship programs.

The new class of Faith Scholars joins a network of over 300 young people who have been recognized for excellence in academic achievements and leadership in the Greek and Hellenic community.

“The Faith Scholarship for Academic Excellence provides a network of other awardees with whom I can collaborate professionally. Achievement of this goal strengthens the reputation and prominence of the Hellenic community and serves as an example to its younger generation. Personal success in this area allows me to follow the long line of Greek-American philanthropists who have supported the Church and the broader society,” said Loukas Carayannopoulos, a 2017 Faith Scholar and Nuclear Engineering major at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kyriaki Pagones, who plans to major in nursing at Purdue University, said, “I am so thankful for an opportunity like the Faith Scholarship for Academic Excellence that recognizes dedication to our education, our Hellenic heritage and our philanthropic Orthodox faith.”

Additionally, 23 Faith Scholars from previous years received the Faith Scholarship for Excellence in STEM, bringing the grand total of scholarships Faith awarded in 2017 to 88. This special scholarship series supports all four years of candidates’ undergraduate studies if they major in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering and math), maintain a 3.6 minimum GPA and participate in organizations related to the Greek and Hellenic Orthodox community throughout their college career.

“A background in STEM subjects will be critical for obtaining graduate training and jobs in science, technology and engineering in the future.  Our nation needs and will need people well trained in these fields in order to remain globally competitive, and it’s important to support young Greek Americans in these fields,” said Dr. Vagelos.

Faith was founded in 2004 with the core mission to promote an understanding of the Greek Orthodox faith, Hellenism and excellence through a series of high quality, innovative educational programs, and cultural initiatives.

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MIDDLESBURG, VA – The Horse in Ancient Greek Art exhibition opened on September 9 at the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM), 102 The Plains Road in Middleburg, the heart of Virginia horse country, and runs through January 14, 2018. The exhibition focuses on the powerful symbol of the horse in ancient Greece and its depiction on vases, coins, and in sculpture and other media.

Conferring wealth and status, the horse was depicted by ancient artists in a variety of scenes including everyday activities and daily care, dramatic moments in combat and chariot races, as well as the more fanciful, equine incarnations from mythology such as the winged horse, Pegasus, and the half-man, half-horse hybrid centaurs and satyrs.

The exhibition which was organized by the NSLM and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) displays objects demonstrating the ancient equestrian life in all its glory, highlighting the many similarities to the care of horses and horsemanship today.

As noted on the VMFA website, “From myth and legend to warfare, sport, and transportation, the horse played an integral role in ancient Greek culture. Wealthy Greeks belonged to the social class of knights and hunted to develop skills for fighting in the cavalry. Horses were among the earliest subjects explored by Greek artists and remained the most commonly depicted animal in the Archaic and Classical Periods. Artists and writers celebrated horses as symbols of wealth, power, and prestige but also as cherished companions of humans, heroes, and gods.”

Greek vases, sculpture, and coins from the 8th through the 4th centuries BC are included in the exhibition bringing together artifacts and objects from private collections, the VMFA, the Tampa Museum of Art, and other museum collections. The exhibition and its companion book “explore the significance of the horse in ancient Greek culture, and imagery of the horse in ancient myth, war, sport, and competition. From some of the earliest examples of the horse in Greek art, to stunning examples of black and red-figure vases,” as noted in the VMFA’s online description.

While donkeys, mules, and oxen were the more common work animals on farms in ancient times, horses, expensive to maintain, were used in war and in sports. Owning a horse was a status symbol reserved for the elites of society. Depictions of the cavalry going into battle or exciting chariot races were also coveted and collected by horse enthusiasts much like today.

The VMFA will host the exhibition at its location, 200 N. Boulevard in Richmond, February 17-July 8, 2018. The Horse in Ancient Greek Art is co-curated by Dr. Peter J. Schertz, VMFA Jack and Mary Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Nicole Stibling, curator at the NSLM. Published by NSLM in partnership with VMFA and distributed by Yale University Press, the illustrated exhibition catalog, The Horse in Ancient Greek Art, was edited by Schertz and Stribling and includes essays by notable scholars of ancient Greek art and archaeology Seán Hemingway, Carol Mattusch, John Oakley, Seth D. Pevnick, and Schertz and as well as images of over 80 objects. The book is available for pre-order online and is due to be released on October 17.

More information is available online at www.nationalsporting.org and https://vmfa.museum.

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