In an interview with Sports Excellence Center’s magazine, E-mag, the Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Andreas Dracopoulos, answered questions about a comprehensive list of topics.

He discussed the vision that has guided the SNF since its inception to effectively support the common good, the importance of cooperating with organizations that exhibit sound management, and maintaining open communication with the general public.

Furthermore, Mr. Dracopoulos talked about the current Health Initiative, and the organizations and programs supported by the SNF in Greece and abroad that aim to cultivate the long-standing values of sports and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. He stressed the importance of the collaborative programs implemented with the NGO “Regeneration & Progress,” such as Sports Excellence, and the Mobile Medical Units program.

“We always try to do as much as we can, and in the best way possible. We have high expectations – primarily for ourselves – but also a heightened sense of responsibility and ethical obligation to contribute towards achieving a better tomorrow for all of us”, he states in his interview.

Read the entire interview here (in Greek).

Source: SNF

BALTIMORE, MD – With the season of Great Lent upon us, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has published a printed booklet of weekly reflections on the theme of service as a vocation.

Designed as a resource for Orthodox Christians to use during the Great Fast, the booklet opens with a message on “the work of love” from His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, liaison bishop to IOCC from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.

Reflections follow for each Sunday of Lent, penned by IOCC staff members based in the United States and in overseas field offices. The contributors, women and men who have chosen careers in the humanitarian sector, share ways their daily work is an offering of Christian service but also a humbling experience of God’s love for all humankind.

“St. Maximus the Confessor teaches that we find God as we comprehend His love for us and learn to love each other,” His Eminence writes.

Each staffer’s brief reflection brings a unique perspective to the idea of service as almsgiving. The personal approach invites readers to collaborate with the women and men of IOCC in service, working to meet the physical and emotional needs of people facing hardship.

IOCC’s print booklet of Lenten reflections can be requested by phone: 877-803-4622 (IOCC) or by email: relief@iocc.org. A digital version is available at iocc.org/lent.

IOCC is the humanitarian and development agency of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States of America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has provided more than $661 million in humanitarian relief and sustainable development programs in over 60 countries worldwide. Today, IOCC applies its expertise in humanitarian response to human-caused and natural crises in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, offering assistance based solely on need.

Follow: @IOCCRelief on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

BOSTON – Professor James Skedros, former Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology delivered a thoughtful and informative lecture at the St. Philip Greek Orthodox parish in Nashua, NH titled “The History of Great Lent.”

The lecture was attended by approximately 30 congregants and prior to the lecture a Lenten meal was offered by the choir of the church.

Professor Skedros made reference to a hymn chanted in the Presanctified Liturgy that speaks about not only food-related fasting but also its spiritual side. He made reference to the late distinguished professor of Liturgics Fr. Alexander Schmemann and his book Great Lent: Journey to Pascha, and said, “fasting helps us to live the life that we should live…the reality of Lent is a calling to fasting, prayer, and repentance. The calling to become the human beings that we had been called to become.”

Skedros also pointed out that “we all were created in the image and likeness of God but with uniqueness.”

He explained that “the word Lent is an Anglo-Saxon word which means Spring and he added that in the Greek Orthodox Church the word used is “Tessarakosti”, which comes from the number 40, a highly symbolic number; by the 4th century in the East Lent was called Tessarakosti.” He also said, “the earliest reference to Lent in Christianity is associated simply with Easter, which was simply called Pascha, from the Hebrew Pasch for Passover.”

In speaking about Easter he pointed out that “in the synoptic gospels, the last supper is a Passover meal; Jesus is the new Passover. In the Gospel of John the last supper was a regular meal; Jesus was crucified on a day of slaughtering of the lambs for Passover; Jesus is the Lamb of God for John.”

Regarding the history of fasting Skedros said that “in the 3rd century, Dionysios of Alexandria, wrote a letter noting that the fast for Easter should be one week long.”

Skedros added that “Saints Augustine and Jerome both claim that the extension to a 40-day fast was instituted during the reigns of the emperors Galerius, Maximinus Daia, and Licinius (306-323 AD). By the end of the 4th century pre-paschal Lent was in practice almost everywhere, an outgrowth of the preparation for baptism at Easter.”

He emphasized that “the duration of Lent and the ways of calculating it have varied. Originally the whole period lasted six weeks. Where Saturdays and Sundays were not fast days (except for the Holy Saturday), this amounted to only 36 days of fasting in Lent plus Holy Week; thus these day were called “the tithe of the year. Soon literalism and the desire to have 40 actual fast days led in the 6th and 7th century in Constantinople to the addition of another, pre-Lenten tyrine, or “Cheesefare Week” of fasting that, with six weeks of Lent plus Holy Week, makes a total of eight weeks, each with five fast days, 40 days in all.”

Dr. Skedros also spoke about the Book of Triodion the Lenten liturgical hymn book, and said that “the current Triodion begins with the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee and ends with Vespers of Great and Holy Saturday.”

BOSTON – Demetrios and Penny Christoforou have dotted the state of Massachusetts and the beautiful city of Boston with a chain of Greek restaurants featuring authentic homemade tastes that attract thousands of Greek-Americans and fellow American citizens.

They started with the Brothers Kouzina in Peabody, MA and now they have opened two more stores under the name Gyro City in Boston. One is located at 88 Peterborough Street in the heart of Boston and the other at 181 Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton, a short distance from Boston College.

Their son Polyvios manages the two Gyro City restaurants in Boston and Penny said during an interview with The National Herald, “we are going to continue to open more.” They are presently searching for the right locations.

Polyvios is a young man with vision and ambition. Asked how many more Gyro City venues he was planning to open, he said, “we don’t have a specific number in mind.”

Penny comes from Kalavrita and Demetris from Kalamata; they have worked, and continue working very hard.

TNH found Penny at the Gyro City in Brighton, working tirelessly. She told TNH, “initially I was going to take half of the space in this store, but I thought about the future for a moment, about my son Polyvios, and I said to myself, ‘we will take the other half as well and we are going to make it a preparation unit, and that is what we have done. We prepare all the food here and we will transport it to the other stores that we going to open in Boston,” and she added – “in good locations.”

The Gyro City restaurants specialize in authentic gyros, souvlakia, biftekia, chicken, keftedes, lamb chops, dolmades (grape leaves) just to mention a few items. Penny said, “we are what our slogan says “a taste of Greece in the heart of Boston.”

She emphasized that “everything is made here fresh with authentic ingredients as in Greece.”

It all started when her daughter Angeliki was studying Law at Boston College. Penny said, “I knew the area because we use to visit our daughter when she was a student and she always used to tell me there was no Greek restaurant around there. That stuck in my mind and as soon as I saw this store in this location I said to myself ‘this is it we are going ahead’ and the rest is history.”

ATHENS – The Lifeline Hellas Humanitarian Organization held a Humanitarian Dinner on the occasion of International Women’s Day in aid of the State Hospitals in Greece on March 6 at Hellenic Armed Forces Officers Club.

The event was held in the presence of TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, founder of Lifeline Hellas, UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, and the spouse of H.E. President of the Hellenic Republic Mrs. Vlassia Pavlopoulou who honored the event with her presence and her speech.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander welcomed and thanked the attendees for their support of the important humanitarian work that Lifeline Hellas has contributed to Greece.

Dr. Zisis Boukouvalas warmly thanked the main sponsor Mrs. Alexia Stella Mantzari of AS Marine Company, as well as the other sponsors, the friends and the Board of Directors. He made an extensive report on the humanitarian work that Princess Katherine has contributed over the last 20 years through Lifeline Hellas.

The spouse of the H.E President of the Hellenic Republic, Mrs. Vlassia Pavlopoulou, in her wonderful speech emphasized the position of woman today, the low birth rate and mentioned the importance of women in our society.

Also, Princess Katherine thanked Mrs. Pavlopoulou for her continued support to Lifeline Hellas and along with the Board of Directors presented her with an honorary plaque.

In her speech, Princess Katherine touched the attendees with her words in reference to the value of charity and clarified that the purpose, success, and happiness of life is to contribute to our fellow humans in need.

General Secretary of Bodossaki Foundation Athena Desipri spoke about the great contribution Lifeline Hellas in collaboration with Bodossaki Foundation made to the fire victims of Attica, thanks to the event Lifeline New York organized in New York. She also referred to the general collaboration that Bodossaki Foundation has with Lifeline Hellas regarding the donations of medical equipment by the Project Cure Foundation in the USA.

Last but not least, she mentioned the support to unaccompanied refugee children, thanks to the event that was held by Lifeline New York in New York.

The attendees enjoyed the wonderful decoration of the evening that was offered by Emi Tricardos and her company Artemide. The participants received gifts from Anna Maria Mazaraki and Vichy.

Virtuoso violinist Yaroslava Tokarev, pianist Alexandros Farris, and baritone Nikolaos Karagianouris amazed the attendees with their performance. The presenter of the event was the journalist Maria Nikoltsiou.

Sponsors of the night were the companies AS Marine, Medical Anti – Aging Center, Artemide, Beat be spoke events & services, Vikos Mineral Water, Ellinika Kelaria Wines, MyCatering, Vichy, Anna Maria Mazaraki, Attitudes, Skinos Mastiha Spirit, Otto’s Athens Vermouth, Nikotian, Ioanna Efthimiou, Gioula Theodoropoulou.

The event was attended by Princess Katherine’s son David Andrews along with his spouse Dr. Angie Margariti Andrews, the members of the Board of Directors of Lifeline Hellas, Dr. Alkistis Prinou Boukouvalas, Yannis Sahinis, Dr. Fay Peskesi Papadopoulou, Ersi Tsakiroglou, Dr. Fofi Kamposiora, Nasia Papamanolis, Roi Kostantas, and the Honorary President of Lifeline Hellas Ioannis Tricardos.

Also among the attendees were the President of the United States Council on Competitiveness Deborah L. Wince – Smith, Vice Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis HN, Professor of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and important Philanthropist who has donated more than 15,000 surgeries Afksendiyos Kalangos with his spouse Dr. Nataliya Shatelen, Alexia Stella Mantzari with her mother Nena Papamanolopoulou, former Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni, Areti Aggelidou – Stasinopoulou, Mr. and Mrs. Marmaridis, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Thomas, Dr. and Mrs. Aggelidi, the Papapostolou family, Mr. and Mrs. Lavdas, Elena Makri Lyberis, Mr. and Mrs. Moraitakis, George Papagiannopoulos, Despina Portokali, Anna Maria Rogdaki, Eleni Raikou, Arous Nikotian, Dr. and Mrs. Damangas, Trifon Theodoros, Dora Psaltopoulou Dimopoulou, Xenia Papastavrou, Goran Vlaovic, Olga Karaververis, Dr. John Xenelis, Mr. and Mrs. Adonopoulos, Liza Evert, Irene Daifas, Irene Vasilopoulou, Niki Paximadaki, and many more.

NEW YORK (AP) — Put a handle on it.

If you don’t know what that means, you might not call elders by “Mr.,” ”Miss” or “Mrs.,” insist that your children do the same or demand it for yourself. If you’ve heard the term, you’re likely familiar with the history of the politics of respectability and what that means to some African-Americans, pro and con.

Are you from the North or the South? A small town or big city native? From a religious, school or immigrant community that uses elder honorifics? Perhaps you’re Professor, Doctor or Judge.

All of the above were widely debated on social media last week, focused on an old talk-show clip of the late Maya Angelou sharply chiding a young woman for addressing her as Maya rather than Miss Angelou before asking the poet and memoirist for her views on interracial marriage.

“I’m not ‘Maya.’ I’m 62 years old. I have lived so long and tried so hard that a young woman like you, or any other, you have no license to come up to me and call me by my first name. That’s first,” she said to claps from the audience. “Also, because at the same time, I am your mother, I am your auntie, I’m your teacher, I’m your professor. You see?”

Angelou, who was black, apologized later in the show to her questioner, also black.

Pierre Phipps, who tweeted the snippet, has heard from all sides since then and said opinions are varied and plentiful. After his March 14 tweet sent Angelou’s name trending on Twitter, Phipps said the Kim in the clip reached out.

Turns out she’s Kim Watts, 49, an educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. Watts told The Associated Press by phone Wednesday that she doesn’t have a Twitter account but friends and family alerted her to the hub-bub. She said she was a 20-year-old college student in 1989 when she went on a class trip to San Francisco to sit in the audience for a taping with Angelou of the talk show “People are Talking.”

“Her response threw me off. It was a little awkward for me, but at the same time it was like, oh my God this is Maya Angelou,” Watts said. “I remember feeling like, oh my gosh I insulted one of my icons, a person I look up to.”

Watts said she got a kick out of people new the clip thinking she was still a teen.

The 29-year-old Phipps, whose Twitter handle is @PrinceCharmingP, can’t remember where he found the vintage exchange when he tweeted it out with: “I can’t wait to turn 30 so I can read one of yall for calling me by my first name like this:”

He told the AP in an interview that he was surprised at the attention the tweet has received, especially among young people who disagreed with Angelou. She died in 2014 at age 86, and also favored the title Dr. in light of her numerous honorary doctorates.

“They think Miss Angelou’s response was very elitist. They were really, really pissed about it,” said Phipps, who lives in Los Angeles and writes for television. “We’re living in progressive times and a lot of people said once they turn 18, they feel like they have an even platform no matter how old you are. History is no longer playing a part in how we go about our everyday lives. History is becoming history.”

Phipps grew up in Chicago, but he has plenty of older female relatives from the South, including Mississippi and Alabama.

“It’s an unwritten rule on respect for elders in which a lot of us were born and raised to ‘put a handle on it,'” he said. “Me personally, coming from a strong black Southern family, I didn’t see anything wrong with her response. Everyone is raised differently.”

Watts, who was adopted as a child by white parents, said she was not raised with the courtesy title tradition or practice for elders in her life.

“I wasn’t thinking about that in the moment,” she said of her encounter with Angelou. “I like that this conversation, though, is focused on respect. Given my age now, I can see both sides of it.”

Carrie Salow is a 55-year-old mother of two girls in Phoenix, where she moved from Grand Rapids, Michigan, when she was 15.

“I absolutely expect my teen daughters to call their friends’ parents Mr. and Mrs., and I expect the same,” said Salow, who is white. “The kids who live across the street from us are now young adults, in and out of college. They still call me Mrs. Salow and I feel it is appropriate.”

Valencia Bey, 49, was born and raised in Chicago and now lives in nearby Oak Park, Illinois. She spent most of her summers in Shelby, Mississippi, with her maternal grandparents and extended family.

“You just did NOT call elders by their first name,” said Bey, who is black. “I was taught by folks who felt the way Ms. Angelou did. Addressing someone as Mr. or Miss was a sign of respect, especially those who came from the Jim Crow South, where calling a grown black person by their first name was a sign of disrespect. White people would purposely not call them Mr. or Mrs. or Miss to reinforce that they were considered inferior.”

Against the backdrop of African-American history, such honorifics are heavy indeed.

“Like Angelou, our elders have lived lives some of us can only imagine, especially if they grew up in a society that was founded on white supremacy,” wrote Britni Danielle, in a piece about the tweet at Essence online.

“Often times, they weren’t given the respect they were due by the outside world, which regularly sought to humiliate and dehumanize them at every turn. Those who did dare speak up and demand their propers did so knowing the price could be steep,” she wrote.

The 55-year-old Lucy O’Donnell, with a nearly 18-year-old daughter and a 21-year-old son in Los Angeles, was raised in Arlington, Virginia.

“Two of my daughter’s friends initially addressed me as Mrs., and I have to say I hadn’t even given it a thought until then. I told them that they were welcome to call me by my first name but that if it was important in their households to address adults more formally that was fine, too,” said O’Donnell, who is white. “Both switched to Lucy pretty quickly. The only tradition I can’t abide is Mrs. and a husband’s first and last name.”

Danielle acknowledged young blacks responding to Phipps’ tweet who thought Angelou was out of line, writing:

“We live in a time where some people don’t really value the things and people who came before them. That’s how we get shirts declaring, ‘I’m not my ancestors,’ or people looking to cancel dead Black writers like Angelou because they do not like an answer they’d given decades ago without understanding the context of the times.”

In 1951, Angelou married Tosh Angelos, a Greek electrician, former sailor, and aspiring musician, despite the condemnation of interracial relationships at the time and the disapproval of her mother.

—
By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press

NEW YORK – Entrepreneurship, investment, and new growth opportunities for young professionals and their firms in the context of globalization were the topics of a fascinating and timely recent panel discussion in Midtown Manhattan.

The event was hosted by GreekTech, a start-up organization created last August by Marios Nicolaou, to support start-ups from Greece and Cyprus that want to expand to the United States through New York.
The panel was made up of three young entrepreneurs who have already taken the big step from Greece or Europe to America. Among them were John Papadakis, Pollfish Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Boloudakis, Founder of Kinems Inc., and Hector Kolonas, Founder of Included.co (not .com). Lia D’Alessandro moderated the debate.

GreekTech’s goal is to empower companies interested in entering the U.S. market by providing extensive practical guidance, free office space, and direct access to an existing business network.

Nicolaou said to The National Herald, “We are a non-profit organization. Our goal is to give a choice to startups from Cyprus or Greece that want to come to America, and want to accelerate their journey through New York. We are not the pioneers. There are others such as Peter Polydor, with Accelerate Greece, and Marina Hatsopoulos, based in Boston. We want to strengthen this communication channel with twenty-five mentors of Greek origin. The purpose of today’s event is for the three young entrepreneurs to talk about the experience of setting up and expanding their businesses.”

Boloudakis, founder of Kinems Inc., which has been operating in America for six years, told TNH, “Tonight is an opportunity to meet with other business people to discuss ideas and our businesses. I moved here from Greece, thanks to my business. As soon as we developed sufficient capital, we ‘landed’ in New York. It was a difficult decision but ultimately only your personal fears can prevent you from succeeding. Everything can be made easier, of course, with support and connections.”

Boloudakis explained that, unfortunately, when he was starting out, such a framework of support was not available in Greece.

It was emphasized that stories of successes by people who have expanded their businesses to the United States which help create a different collective experience and a climate of optimism do not easily reach the ears of other entrepreneurs.

The evening’s discussion ranged from the personal backgrounds of each entrepreneur to the history of their business to the challenges and the opportunities for expansion from Europe to the United States.

Panel participants shared advice and ideas and answered questions from attendees. The speakers seemed to agree that the essential ingredients for success include a good lawyer specializing in immigration, smart money, and the identification of angel investors who can provide startup capital in exchange for equity in the new venture.

Kolonas said, “It is important to remember that people who decide to help want to see you succeed, because success brings more success,” for all.

Above all, and beyond the financial gain, the most essential component of a business’s success is always the entrepreneur’s pursuit of personal happiness. “The road is more important than the destination. One has to find what it is that will make him happy when he is working late into the night,” said Boloudakis.
More than one hundred and twenty people were present at the discussion; among them were the Consul of Greece in New York Lana Zochiou, the Head of the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Greek Consulate Georgios Michailidis, attorney George Zapantis, attorney Tasos Pardalis and his wife, entrepreneur Maria Pardalis, Hellenic Professional Women President Maria Frantzis, and the President of the Cypriot Young Professionals Jovanna Tannousis.

ATHENS – Eight distinguished Greek nationals living abroad on Thursday received the first “Argo” prizes in a ceremony held at the Athens Concert Hall on Thursday evening, under the aegis and in the presence of President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

The Argo prizes were introduced to help the achievements of Greeks abroad become more widely known in Greece and were instituted roughly 10 months ago by the “Network of Greeks of the European Union” based in Brussels. The eight prizes will be awarded each year to outstanding Greeks who are not involved in activities that get worldwide coverage and whose achievement are therefore not known at home.

The eight individuals awarded in 2019, the inaugural year for the prizes were:

Mary Katrantzou, fashion designer (UK) – Entrepreneurship prize
Auxentios Kalagos, cardiovascular surgeon and professor (Switzerland) – Humanitarian Contribution prize
Katerina Stefanidi, Olympic medallist (US) – Sports prize
Maria Themeli, professor of medicine (Netherlands) – Innovation prize
Athena Kousteni, astronomer specialising in space exploration (France) – Science Prize
Yorgos Lanthimos, film director (US) – Culture and Arts prize
Andromache Karakatsani, Supreme Court judge (Canada) – Contribution to Public Affairs prize
Konstantin Filippou, celebrity chef (Austria) – Gastronomy prize

BOSTON – The faculty of the Holy Cross School of Theology wrote a letter dated March 8, 2019 addressed to Archbishop Demetrios of America and to the chairman of the Board of Trustees in which it expressed its great concern regarding three ‘notations’ imposed on the School by The Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools Commission on Accrediting.

The professors wrote to the Archbishop “these three notations is of great concern to the faculty of Holy Cross.”

They are also asking for a financial audit: “The first steps to address this notation would be to conduct a transparent audit, by outside experts, of the structural budgetary operation of the institution. This audit should be shared with administration, faculty and staff as well as trustees. We also recommend the immediate recruitment of highly qualified past and new high impact board members, either to serve on the board of trustees, or even as part of a presidential financial advising committee to assist in the strategic planning process with the board.”

The faculty’s letter is printed in its entirety below:

“A Letter of Concern from the Faculty of Holy Cross regarding the
Imposition of Notations by the Association of Theological Schools
Addressed to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America,
Chairman of Hellenic College Holy Cross Board of Trustees

March 8, 2019
Your Eminence,

We greet you in the spirit of humility and forgiveness associated with the beginning of the Lenten season. It is with our deepest respect for your ministry to the Church of Christ and our acknowledgement of your love and concern for Holy Cross that we ask for your archepiscopal blessing and provide you with this letter.

The recent decision (February 7-8, 2019) by the Board of Commissioners of the ATS Commission on Accrediting to impose three notations is of great concern to the faculty of Holy Cross. The imposed notations highlight three significant areas of concern, namely, finances, governance and institutional planning. These decisions are based upon the comprehensive evaluation conducted by peers from ATS Schools who visited Holy Cross from November 12-15, 2018, for which Holy Cross produced a detailed self-study.

In response, the faculty has met several times (Nov. 20th, 2018; Dec. 11th, 2018, Jan 8th, 2019; Jan 29th, 2019; Feb. 26th, 2019), in regular and special faculty meetings, to discuss the November 2018 visit, and to carefully examine both the ATS Report of a Comprehensive Evaluation Visit for

Reaffirmation of Accreditation 11/12/18-11/15/18 (Visitation Report) and the decisions of the ATS Board of Commissioners (ATS Commission Letter) dated February 15, 2018.

Based on our understanding of the assessment and accreditation process, we recognize the seriousness of the three notations we have received as an institution (N1.b; N7.a; and N8.b). As a faculty we are committed, as Your Eminence is, to the success of the School and recognize that these ATS notations require immediate and comprehensive action. Per the ATS Report, failure to immediately and properly address these notations within the next 19 months (no later than November 1, 2020) will result in “an adverse action [i.e., withdrawal of accreditation]” (ATS Commission Letter, p. 3).

A Letter of Concern from the Faculty of Holy Cross March 8, 2019

We are alarmed because we do not see proper and appropriate steps being taken by the leadership of HCHC and the board of trustees to respond to these notations in a manner consistent with the expectations of ATS and best practices in higher education. We have yet to see the administration provide a plan of action to address these compliance issues and we are frustrated due to the lack of communication between the administration and faculty on common issues related to the ATS report. Further, we are disheartened in that Holy Cross had previously received a notation from ATS on insufficient institutional strategic planning processes in 2012 that ATS removed in 2014 only to have it reinstated in 2019. We are concerned that we do not repeat the very practices and mistakes that ATS has identified as insufficient and ineffective.
We understand that the current administration is under enormous pressures to attend to the immediate financial concerns of the School, also noted by ATS (ATS Commission Letter, p. 2, no. 7a). These immediate and urgent financial stresses have the potential to distract us from the important and urgent issues raised by ATS. Based on our years of work with ATS, we know that we can implement a comprehensive process of responding to the important issues raised by ATS. A proper response to the issues raised by ATS is the most effective means of addressing the immediate financial concerns of the School.

At this time, the faculty has put in place a process for responding to those aspects of the ATS Visitation Report and the ATS Commission Letter that fall directly under our responsibility. Specifically, we have taken the following actions in response to the Commission’s decisions regarding assessment of student learning and program assessment:

1. Adoption of a summative exercise to incorporate into the MTS program along with
review of MTS program goals and learning outcomes. Report on adoption of a MTS
summative exercise is due, October 1, 2019 (ATS Commission Letter, p. 2., no. 7.a).
Additionally, we will review program goals and learning outcomes for the ThM
program along with consideration of additional summative tools for the ThM. A
report on MTS and ThM program goals and leaning outcomes is due, April 1, 2020.
2. Establishment a committee to develop a timeline for faculty to address educational
assessment (Educational Standard, section ES.6) to complete the work of the Faculty
regarding learning outcomes, assessment tools, rubrics and benchmarks, and
evidence of assessment-based changes within each degree program (ATS
Commission Letter, p. 2, no. 7.c). Report due, April 1, 2020. Further, we intend to
procure the assistance of an assessment consultant who can provide clarity as to the
best practices and assist faculty in developing appropriate benchmarks and
measures for formative and summative student learning outcomes.

We acknowledge that the responsibility for addressing the imposed notations (N1.b; N7.a; and N8.b) falls upon all of us who are invested in the institution: the faculty, the administration, and A Letter of Concern from the Faculty of Holy Cross March 8, 2019
the board of trustees. ATS understands the process of responding to notations to be a collective response by the major stakeholders that must include the board of trustees. Below are some of our thoughts concerning the three notations issued by ATS and some of the parameters within which the School’s response ought to be undertaken.

Notation N1.b:“The Institution’s planning processes are insufficient or ineffective.”

In the Visitation Report, ATS identifies their expectations for proper strategic planning as well as their concerns about our insufficient and ineffective institutional planning processes.

“The Institution is encouraged to develop an institutional strategic plan including relevant, prioritized, and measurable goals that are linked with a long-term financial plan, and a revised system of ongoing institutional evaluation that will assist administration and board of trustees in the effective decision-making processes essential to the future success of the institution.” (Visitation Report, Section 1)

Further, the report indicates our intent to develop a 2019-2024 strategic plan which is “under consideration by the board of trustees who will appoint a steering committee as well as subcommittees responsible for new strategic initiatives and goal structures.” (Visitation Report, Section 1) We see little or no evidence that a strategic planning process has been initiated either by the president, the administration, or the board of trustees.
We, as a faculty, are alarmed because a process of developing a strategic plan should have been initiated in 2016. The previous 5-year plan was for 2013-2018, and a proper process for developing a new strategic plan requires an 18-24 month process of active involvement of the board of trustees, faculty, and administration through a deliberative process that reflects best practices.

Properly responding to this notation would consist of initiating a strategic planning process that reflects best practices, and engages the faculty, administration and the full board of trustees. This would require, initially, such things as the establishment of a genuine steering committee, in-depth conversations with the faculty regarding current and future academic programming, the hiring of a strategic planning consultant, the establishment of subcommittees, and the development of a time-table for a proper strategic plan.
I

nformation on the process of strategic planning can be found at the website of In Trust, an organization focusing specifically on developing board of trustee leadership for theological schools (http://www.intrust.org/Topics/Strategic-planning). A Letter of Concern from the Faculty of Holy Cross March 8, 2019

Notation N7.a“The institution does not adequately or appropriately define, exercise, or implement the roles, responsibilities, and structures of authority and governance.”

ATS has demonstrated a respect for the unique relationship between the School and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. From our vantage point and that of the ATS Visitation Report, this notation indicates that we as an institution have failed to clearly define and adequately implement the roles of the board of trustees, the president, the deans and the faculty within the overall context of shared governance (see Section 7 of the Visitation Report).
ATS has expressed concerns, that “…the board may not be exercising its authority only as a group (Standard 7, section 7.3.1.8), and found inadequate evidence that the board has created and employed adequate structures for assessing the performance and accountability of chief administrative leadership (Standard 7, section 7.2.1.6)” (Visitation Report, Section 7). In Trust provides guidelines on how to effectively evaluate an institution’s chief executive officer (http://www.intrust.org/Portals/39/docs/presidential-evaluation.pdf). In addition, ATS noted their concern that the board of trustees did not exercise “adequate financial oversight” of the School (Visitation Report, Section 7).

The ATS evaluation committee recommended “the institution would benefit from a review of the operative structure of governance to ensure it is clear where the authority for maintaining the integrity and vitality of the school resides, and how that authority is exercised in actual practice” (Visitation Report, Section 7). We as a faculty welcome such a review and encourage that such a review would incorporate the review of the Faculty Handbook which Hellenic College and Holy Cross faculty began in Fall 2017. Further, we encourage the board of trustees to read carefully Section 7 of the Visitation Report.

Properly addressing these concerns would include such things as: an assessment of board membership to ensure adequate depth and expertise on the board to guide the work of the School; detailed reports informing the board on all aspects of the issues currently facing the institution (ATS notations, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, NEASC/NECHE, etc.); and special meetings of the entire board to address the immediate and long-term issues facing the school (Bylaws of Hellenic College, Inc., 2014, Article 2, Section 10).

These initial steps related to the expansion, education, and engagement of the board represent significant and critical first steps in addressing all imposed notations. We fear that failure to implement even these basic steps is evidence of repeated poor practices.

Notation N8.b.“The institution’s financial resources are not adequate for long-term institutional viability and there is no credible plan to address this in a timely and effective manner.”

While the administration is taking action to address the short-term financial issues at this time there is no evidence of any steps toward long-term financial viability. ATS explicitly identified A Letter of Concern from the Faculty of Holy Cross March 8, 2019
the failure of the board regarding the long-term finances of the school: “Although the president has implemented austerity measures to bring expenditures in line with revenue, the team saw little evidence of board actions to address the long-term viability of the institution” (Visitation Report, Section 7). As Your Eminence is aware, this particular issue is not new. This was identified more than a year ago by former members of the board of trustee and reaffirmed by the ATS review committee.

The first steps to address this notation would be to conduct a transparent audit, by outside experts, of the structural budgetary operation of the institution. This audit should be shared with administration, faculty and staff as well as trustees. We also recommend the immediate recruitment of highly qualified past and new high impact board members, either to serve on the board of trustees, or even as part of a presidential financial advising committee to assist in the strategic planning process with the board. ATS expects that we would recruit, in addition to clergy with pastoral experience, experts from various fields, committed to the life and ministry of the Church and School, who possess expertise at taking vision and mission and laying out an operational plan to meet those goals (ATS Standard 8.2.3). These individuals would have expertise in, for example, finance, strategic planning, real estate, higher education, administration and operations.
Conclusion

ATS has indicated that they are keenly aware of our inadequate processes and our pattern of failing to engage in best practices, or take proper steps, specifically regarding strategic planning, governance, and finances. Any deviation from their expectations of real and appropriate action, at this point, will most likely result in the withdrawal of accreditation, independent of the shortterm efforts currently underway. These simple and basic first steps, at this time, represent the critical steps necessary to respond to ATS.
The faculty is prepared to participate in, and contribute to, an appropriate, open and transparent process of responding to the ATS notations. Time is of the essence. We would welcome a meeting with Your Eminence to discuss any of the issues we have identified.

Respectfully,
The Faculty of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
cc Vice-Chair, HCHC Board of Trustees
Executive Committee, HCHC Board of Trustees
Full-time Faculty of Holy Cross.”

THRU MARCH 23
MANHATTAN – Garden Muses, a solo exhibition of recent paintings by Greek-born artist Margaret Tsirantonakis is on view February 23-March 23 at the Prince Street Gallery, 530 West 25th Street in Manhattan. A reception will be held on Saturday, Mar. 2, 3-6 PM. The gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 AM-6 PM. More information is available online: princestreetgallery.com and by phone: 646-230-0246. For more information about the artist, visit: mtsiran-art.com and Instagram: @mtsiran.

THRU MARCH 31
ASTORIA – Re-Tied Red Thread, adapted and directed by Fotis Batzas, opens March 9 and runs through March 31 at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 27-09 Crescent Street in Astoria. Performances are Saturdays, 8 PM, and Sundays, 5 PM. The cast features Ioanna Chasta, Fanis Gkikas, Mantalena Papadatou, and Theodore Petropoulos. More information is available online: ft2sny.com and follow: @f2tsny. Tickets are available on brownpapertickets.com, search Red-Tied Red Thread.

THRU APRIL 14
BROOKLINE, MA – Greek Music Education Program is being presented by Boston Lykeion Ellinidon and the Malitiotis Cultural Center with six master classes March 3-April 14. Upcoming classes include: Panayotis League of Harvard University speaking about Music and Oral Poetry of Kalymnos Island on Sunday, Mar. 17; Chris Pantazelos on Greek Stringed Instruments: History and Construction on Sunday, Mar. 24; Vasilis Skoulas on Cretan Music and the Cretan Lyra on Sunday, Mar. 31. Classes take place at 2-4:30 PM in the Maliotis Cultural Center, 50 Goddard Avenue in Brookline. More information is available by phone: 617-522-2800 and online: bostonlykeion.org.

MARCH 19-APRIL 4
MANHATTAN – The art exhibition apóllūmai featuring works by Giorgos Taxidis, curated by Tiffany M. Apostolou, is on view at the Consulate General of Greece in New York, 69 East 79th Street in Manhattan, March 19-April 4, opening reception on Friday, Mar. 22, 6 PM. More information is available online: www.giorgostaxidis.com.

MARCH 21-31
ASTORIA – The 9th Annual Queens World Film Festival takes place March 21-31 at the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI), 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria. Films from around the world will be screened, including Greek films on Saturday, Mar. 30 in MOMI’s Bartos Screening Room with the documentary Yia Yia: A Portrait, directed by Greg Sego and the short narrative films Vous, directed by Pari Antoniou, Play, directed by Vangelis Liberopoulos; Semele, directed by Myrsini Aristidou; and Fig, directed by Nicolas Kolovos. Films to be screened starting at 3:30 PM. More information is available online: queensworldfilmfestival.com.

MARCH 24
ASTORIA – The Parade & Cultural Committee of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York presents Greek Opera and the Greek Revolution, featuring works by Pavlos Karrer and Spyros Samaras, on Sunday, Mar. 24, 6 PM at the Stathakion Center, 22-51 29th Street in Astoria. Free admission. For VIP seating: rsvp@hellenicsocieties.org.

HOLMDEL, NJ – The Hellenic Dancers of NJ will be offering a free Intro to Greek Dance Workshop on Sunday, Mar. 24, 3:30-4:30 PM, at the Kimisis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church Community Center, 20 Hillcrest Road in Holmdel. Basic Greek dances will be taught that are danced at every Greek Festival, wedding, and all festive occasions. A brief history and cultural introduction to each dance will also be provided. The family-friendly workshop is free and open to the public. Walk-ins are welcome, registration is encouraged. More information is available via email: info@hellenicdancersofnj.org.

MARCH 26
MANHATTAN – Remaking Cyprus: A New Era of Vertical+Horizontal Development takes place on Tuesday, Mar. 26, 6:30-10 PM at MEET @ Soho, 466 Broome Street, 4th floor, in Manhattan. The Architecture Engineering and Construction Committee of the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to our inaugural industry event which will consist of short topical talks by industry experts in Cyprus, focusing on how high rise tower and marina projects are affecting Cyprus’ economic and physical landscape. Featured speakers: CEO of Ayia Napa Marina Stavros Caramondanis, Despina Chrysochos PE of Cyfield Group, and Tasos Papathanasiou of Langan. After a Q&A session, the event will shift to networking with food and beverages provided by the Host Committee. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite, search: Remaking Cyprus. Parking is available on the street after 6 PM. More information is available online: cyprususchamber.com.

MARCH 27
BROOKVILLE, NY – The Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University kindly invites you to the 2019 Lenten Lectures. “The Akathist Hymn as Biblical Fan-Fiction” will be presented by George Demacopoulos at the Church of the Holy Resurrection 1400 Cedar Swamp Road in Brookville on Wednesday, Mar. 27, 7 PM. More information on the complete schedule of lectures is available online: fordham.edu, search: Orthodox Christian Studies Center.

MARCH 28
MANHATTAN – In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Officers and Directors of the Association of Greek American Professional Women (AGAPW) present the Greek American Woman of the Year Award Gala Honoring Dr. Stella Lymberis on Thursday, Mar. 28, 7-9 PM at the 3 West Club, The Lounge Room, 3 West 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan. AGAPW’s Excellence Tuition Scholarships will be awarded in honor of Dr. Stella Lymberis. Nektarios Antoniou will perform classic Greek songs. Wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. RSVP on Eventbrite. Requested donation $150. For further information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dr. Olga Alexakos via email: oalexakos@agapw.org or by phone: 917-405-6833.

MANHATTAN – EMBCA’s The State of NYC Development, Design & Construction-2019 Spring Panel Discussion in Honor and Memory of Faith Hope Consolo will be held at the Russian Tea Room, 150 West 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan, on March 28, 6-8 PM. More information is available online: embca.com.

MARCH 30
NORRISTOWN, PA – George Demacopoulos will moderate the discussion “Reviving the Female Diaconate in the Orthodox Church: Has the Time Come?” Part of the 2019 Lenten Lectures presented by the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University and the Archon Lenten Symposium, the discussion takes place on Saturday, Mar. 30, 8:30 AM-3 PM at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 900 S Trooper Road in Norristown. More information on the complete schedule of lectures is available online: fordham.edu, search: Orthodox Christian Studies Center.

APRIL 2
MANHATTAN – Hellenic Professional Women in collaboration with the Archdiocesan Cathedral Philoptochos Society cordially invites you to our Empowering Women Series with a presentation on The Importance of Financial & Estate Planning in Growing and Preserving Wealth featuring Ekaterini Ferentinos, Constantina S. Papageorgiou, Esq., and Joseph Trotti, Esq., on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 6-8 PM, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Chiotes Family Ballroom, 337 East 74th Street in Manhattan. The discussion focuses on the importance of saving money and planning for retirement and why formulating an estate plan is an integral part of personal and financial planning to protect yourself and your assets before or during marriage. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free; registration is required in advance to attend. Registration ends on March 29 at 4 PM. More information is available online: hellenicprofessionalwomen.org.

MANHATTAN – EMBCA presents The Impact of Ancient Hellenic Culture in Modern Hellenic Jewelry Design on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 6-8 PM, at the 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street in Manhattan. Net proceeds from the auction of the jewelry items to benefit the fundraising Campaign for the Home Expansion Project of the new site of the St. Michael’s Home and to facilitate the rehabilitation of the 11-acre property located in Uniondale (Hempstead), NY which includes independent and assisted living apartments as well as nursing care facilities. EMBCA will be hosting the event for AHEPA Delphi Chapter #25 and the Daughters of Penelope Evriklea Chapter #36. More information is available online: embca.com.

APRIL 3
GREENLAWN, NY – “Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs” will be presented by George Demacopoulos on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 7 PM, at St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church, 1 Shrine Place in Greenlawn. Part of the 2019 Lenten Lectures presented by the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University. More information on the complete schedule of lectures is available online: fordham.edu, search: Orthodox Christian Studies Center.

WYCKOFF, NJ – “Forgiveness is not Forgetting” will be presented by Aristotle Papanikolaou on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 7:30 PM, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 467 Grandview Avenue in Wyckoff. Part of the 2019 Lenten Lectures presented by the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University. More information on the complete schedule of lectures is available online: fordham.edu, search: Orthodox Christian Studies Center.

NEOFOTISTOS, ANGELLA
DRACUT, MA (from the Lowell Sun, published on Mar. 13) – Angella (Mellious) Neofotistos, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 11, 2019 at her home with her family by her side. For 58 years she was the beloved wife of the late Stavros “Steve” Neofotistos who passed away June 22, 2018. She was born in Kalamata, Greece, a daughter of the late Nikitas and Christina (Stathopoulos) Mellious. Angie immigrated to the United States in 1956 where she worked as a seamstress. She was a longtime resident of Dracut where she and her husband owned and operated Pete’s Grain for many years. Angie was a member and volunteered much of her time at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell. She enjoyed cooking and baking many of her special dishes and created many handcrafted items for events and fundraisers for the church. She was a member of the Daughters of Penelope and the Ladies Philoptochos Society. Angie was a loving and kind mother and a good friend to all who knew and met her. She is survived by her daughter, Anna Neofotistos and son, Louis Neofotistos, both of Dracut; a sister, Anna Kolovos of Greece; a brother-in-law, Christopher Neofotistos; sister-in- law, Georgia Neofotistos; a brother-in-law, Charles Booras; her godsons, Louis Neofotistos and Dimitri Jouvelis of Greece; also many nieces and nephews and a dear family friend, Chris. She was the mother of the late Peter and Nikitas Neofotistos and sister of the late Athanasia Jouvelis, Maria Kondiche, and George and Louis Mellious. Her Funeral Service was held at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Holy Trinity Church, 62 Lewis St., Lowell, Ma. 01854. To share your thoughts and memories of Angie, please visit www.laurinfuneralhome.com.

PETRIDES, FEDON
JUPITER, FL (from The Palm Beach Post, published on Mar. 13) – Fedon Nicholas Petrides, age 89, of Jupiter, Florida, and Waterloo, Iowa died in the care of TrustBridge Hospice in Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center on March 12, 2019. Survived by his wife of 25 years, Pat, his former wife Florence Petrides, their daughter Dr. Eugenia “Jean” Pallotto, son-in-law, Terry Pallotto, and grandchildren Isabella, Nicholas, and Jonathan. Predeceased by his parents, sister, and beloved Aunt Katie. Fedon was born in Constantinople on February 13, 1930 to Greek parents Nicholas and Eugenia Petrides who were part of a Greek shipping family. He spent his early life in Greece, France, and Constantinople. His grade school to high school education was in French schools. He completed Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering, Hydrogeology, and Mathematics and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering at Istanbul Technical University prior to emigrating to the United States in 1958. He was hired by Robert L Brice & Associates in Waterloo, Iowa where he became Partner in 1963. Fedon fell in love with Waterloo and Iowa because of the friendships and community spirit he experienced. He completed his PhD coursework at the University of Iowa. Following the death of his partner in 1967, he became the sole owner, building the business into a major engineering firm. He directed the engineering and planning of many major transportation, airport, structural and hydraulic projects. In 1983, his firm merged with Donohue & Associates of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Fedon served his community as a member of many state and community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, the Waterloo Industrial Development Association, and the State Aeronautics committee. His greatest involvement was as Chairman of the Board of Schoitz Hospital, and, during his time, the two local medical centers merged to become Covenant Medical Center. His service to the two hospitals spanned 35 years. He was a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Waterloo, Iowa for almost 60 years. Fedon’s professional and community work was acknowledged by numerous awards including the Donohue Award of Management Excellence, The Distinguished Service Award from the Northeast Chapter of the Iowa Engineering Society, Engineer of Distinction by the American Association of Engineering Societies, and the Award for Valuable and Devoted Service to the City of Waterloo, Iowa. In 1996, he retired and began enjoying his little slice of paradise in the Florida home he acquired in 1979 in the community of Jonathan’s Landing he loved so much. He became an avid, talented oil painter with his paintings receiving many local honors. They will forever be cherished by his family and will continue to decorate our lives. He was on the board of the Jonathan’s Landing Yacht Club and served as the Commodore from 2002-2003. The lasting friendships and most memorable trips he and Pat cherished involved the Yacht Club. On February 9, 2019 he had his last dance at the Commodore Ball. The funeral service was conducted at the Aycock Funeral home by Father Andrew from Saint John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church of Martin County on March 16. Please send memorials to J.L. Cares 16823 Captain Kirle Drive, Jupiter, Florida 33477 or St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 613 West Fourth Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50702.

SMITH, KRISTINE
VALPARAISO, IN (from the Northwest Indiana Times, published on Feb. 27) – Kristine Angela Smith (nee Coveris), age 72, of Valparaiso, passed away on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at University of Chicago Medicine. Kristine is survived by her children: Nicholas (Tiffany) Smith, Christopher (Cindy) Smith, Marika “Margaret” (Jordan) Pierson, Samuel (Vanessa) Coveris; grandchildren: Collin, Caden, Kendall, Bryce and Theo; brothers: Dean (Shawn) Coveris and George Coveris; nieces: Meredith (Anthony) Mansch and Kaitlin Coveris; numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins; and husband: Kendall G. Smith. Kristine was preceded in death by her parents: Stamatios and Mary Coveris. Kristine was a graduate of Merrillville High School – Class of 1964. She received her Nursing Degree from Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s, working as Head Nurse of ICU. She continued her education to receive her Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Degree from the University of Michigan. Kristine was the Past State President of AANA – American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and served on the Scholarship Board. She was an active member of Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, previously serving as camp nurse at Fanari camp in Wisconsin and at Ionian Village in the Peloponnese of Greece. Kristine was friends to some, but family to everyone – she will be greatly missed on this Earth. Funeral Services were held on Friday, March 1 at Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Merrillville, IN with Fr. Ted Poteres and Fr. George Pappas officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Kristine’s name to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (www.netrf.orgonate). Sign Kristine’s online guestbook and view directions at www.GeisenFuneralHome.com – (219) 769-3322.

STAMATIS, NICK
AMHERST, OH (from The Plain Dealer, published on Feb. 27) – Nick Stamatis, age 87, of Amherst passed away Monday, February 25, 2019. He was born on September 20, 1931 in Hostia, Greece to John and Venita Stamatis. In 1951, at the age of 20, he immigrated to the United States. Nick worked at U.S. Steel as a crane operator in the Lorain 3 Seamless Pipe Division for 19 years. Upon leaving U.S. Steel, he and his wife Coula, opened Casey’s Drive-In of Lorain where they worked side by side for nearly 20 years. Nick was a member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. He served on the Parish Council, was President of AHEPA Chapter 144, and also President of the St. Nicholas Senior Group. He enjoyed his daily coffee gatherings with his friends at McDonalds and especially loved spending time with his grandchildren. With a real skillset to fix almost anything, he was an avid do-it-your-selfer with a genuine love for carpentry. Nick is survived by his children, John (Fay) Stamatis, Bonnie (Tim) Uhr, Peter (Rene) Stamatis, and Sam Stamatis; grandchildren, Nick, Peter, Alex, and Nicholas. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 34 years, Coula, in 1990 and brother, Seraphim Stamatis. funeral service was held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Lorain, Ohio. Rev. Michael C. Gulgas, Pastor, officiated. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in memory of Nick Stamatis to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Lorain. Online condolences may be left for the family at: www.dovinreberjones.com.

STATHIS, DEMETRIOS
ST. JOHN, IN (from the Northwest Indiana Times, published on Mar. 3) – Demetrios Stathis, age 61, of St. John, born and raised in Athens, Greece, passed away February 19, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Janina Stathis (nee Wyrostek) for 38 years. Loving father of Panagiotis (Sarah Lidster) Stathis and AnnaMaria (Chase Dunlop) Stathis. Dearest brother of Aristotelis (Marina) Stathis. Closest friends of Andreas Glastras, Triantafylli Panagi, and Stelios Kouvelis. Loved by many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. Demetrios is also survived by his loving dog Foxy Lady. He is preceded in death by his parents Panagiotis and Maria Stathis and his former wife Deborah Ann Stathis. He will always be remembered for his love for his family, and passion for the outdoors, traveling, spontaneous road trips, stories, sense of humor, jokes, spending time with family and friends, fixing anything, his garage, selflessly helping others, being proud of his Greek heritage, and his infectious smile and laugh. Memorial will be held privately. Arrangements entrusted to Elmwood Funeral Chapel, St. John, IN. For more information 219-365-3474 or www.elmwoodchapel.com.

STEFANOU, CONSTANTINE
HONEOYE FALLS, NY (from the Rochester Democrat And Chronicle, published on Feb. 27) – Constantine “Gus” Stefanou passed away on February 22, 2019. Gus was a kind gentleman, loving husband, father and papou (grandfather), who always put family first. With his drive, determination, respect for others and integrity, Gus was provided the opportunity to share a beautiful life with his wife and five children. Gus could be found cheering on his children, then the grandchildren at their soccer, baseball, and hockey games or track meets, listening to his children and grandchildren performing around the piano for family concerts, playing their instruments at school concerts or performing a capella in college. Papou’s garden drew many a fan each summer as it was a family affair to ready, plant, tend, and finally harvest the crop from an amazing planting of over 100 pepper, cucumber, and tomato plants. He was born in Drosopigi, Greece and seized the opportunity to come to the United States in the early 1950’s through a sponsorship from AHEPA, of which he was recognized as a Life Member for over 50 years of service and dedication to the organization. Self-educated in his early years and driven throughout his life, Gus built very successful businesses in building construction, commercial/residential real estate, and insurance. Gus is a 1957 graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Building Construction. He was very active in the real estate community. Gus earned his Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and served as President of the New York State CCIM Chapter. He also served as President of the Commercial and Investment Division for the New York State Association of Realtors and held Emeritus member status with the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors. Along with his business accomplishments, he was a very active member and benefactor of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, serving on the Parish Council multiple terms, including in the capacity as Parish Council President. Gus is predeceased by his loving spouse of 57 years, Florence; his parents, Dimitrios and Kleonicki Stefanou; and brother-in-law Spiro Mitrousidis. He is survived by his children, Elaine (Jerry) Sackleh, Christine (Geoff) Perry, Stephanie (Adam) Templeton, Anastasia (Walter) Turek, Dimitri (Maja) Stefanou; 11 grandchildren, Demetra, Anastasia, Sophia, Olivia, Athena, Jonathan, Nicholas, Emma, Ava, Constantine, Hudson; brother, Damianos (Petroula) Stefanou; sisters, Agora Mitrousidis, Mary (George) Tegas and many other family members. The funeral service was held on Saturday 1 PM at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation and he was interred at White Haven Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Gus to Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit – Friends of the Metropolis Fund, 2560 Crooks Rd., Troy, MI 48084. To share a memory of Constantine or send a condolence to the family visit www.anthonychapels.com. Gus’ bright blue eyes, heart-warming smiles, big hugs, and soft spoken demeanor are truly missed. May His Memory Be Eternal.

YOUNG, MARY
SAN LEANDRO, CA (from the East Bay Times, published on Mar. 13) – Mary P. Young, August 6, 1933-March 10, 2019, resident of San Leandro, beloved wife, mother, Yiayia and Thia, Maria Patrikiou Young, born August 6, 1933 on the island of Kalamos, Greece, died March 10, 2019 In Castro Valley. Predeceased by her beloved husband of 60 years, George Geronikakis Young. Survived by her daughters Stamatula (Yannis) Sgouros and Anastasia (Dan) Gellepes, Grandchildren Angelo (Lainie), Christina Sgouros, Constantine and Maria Gellepes, Great Grandsons Alexander, Daniel and Yannakis, brothers Pete (Elleni), Spiro (Nitsa) and sister Hermioni and numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral was held March at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Resurrection in Castro Valley. Contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated in lieu of flowers.

March was the month of the theatrical competitions in ancient Athens. Theater began as a dialogue between one performer and the chorus, which represented the citizens of the city state. It was the time when democratic discourse was also developing.

ENGLISH WORDS FROM GREEK
English word Greek word Pronunciation
Drama το δράμα TO DRAma
Dramatic δραματικός DramatiKOS
Theater το θέατρο TO THEatro
Theatrical θεατρικός, ή, -ό theatriKOS, -EE, -O
Tragedy η τραγωδία EE trayoDEEa
Tragic τραγικό TRAgic
Comedy η κωμωδία EE komoDEEa
Ode η ωδή EE oDEE
Odeum το ωδείο TO oDEEo
Melody η μελωδία EE meloDEEa
Satyr ο σάτυρος O SAtiros
Satire η σάτιρα EE SAtira

DRAMA AND SATYRS
Besides theatrical play, δράμα means a sad situation. “Είναι δράμα” means “Ιt is sad. It is horrible.”
Τραγωδία is the tragedy. It is a compound word from τράγος (=billy goat) and ωδή (=hymn, song), a reference to the early Dionysiac rituals, from which drama was born. We characterize as tragedy a tragic situation, as the loss of beloved persons.
Κωμωδία (κωμός+ ωδή) is the comedy. Κωμός was a late night parade of drunken men. Their jokes and laughter echoed in the city.
The Satyrs were Dionysus followers, half men half goats. The ancient Greek satire would judge and make fun of Athens’ respectful citizens, like Alcibiades, Euripides, Pericles etc. The word satire derives from the Satyrs.
MELODY AND HONEY
From ωδή (ode) derive melody (μέλος+ωδή) and the Odeum Μέλος was called in ancient Greek any musical composition. Interestingly enough, the honey in ancient and modern Greek is μέλι. Odeum (Ωδείο) was the place where music performances took place; in modern Greek it is a Music school.
Now, let’s use this vocabulary in our everyday Greek dialogues. The vocabulary below will help you build sentences.
GREEK VOCABULARY
Greek word Pronunciation Meaning
Απόψε aPOpse tonight
Πάω PAo I go
Θα πάω THA PAo I will go
Θα δω THA DO I will see, watch
Για να δω yia na DO let me see, watch
Το έργο TO Eryo the play
Ένα έργο Ena Eryo one play
Το μέλι TO MEli the honey
Μου αρέσει moo aREsi I like
Στη/στο STEE / STO at
Αυτός afTOS this (male gram. gender)
Αυτή afTEE this (female gram. gender)
Αυτό afTO this (neuter gram. gender)
Είναι EEne is
Με ΜΕ with

Έργο means the play, the creation, the result of a work. The word is familiar to you from English words like ergo+nomic.

EXERCISE
Can you translate the sentences below in English?
1.Μου αρέσει το θέατρο.
2. Αυτό το έργο είναι δράμα.
3. Μου αρέσει αυτή η μελωδία.
4. Είναι τραγωδία.
5. Αυτό το θεατρικό έργο είναι τραγωδία.
6. Αυτό το θεατρικό έργο είναι κωμωδία.
7. Μου αρέσει η κωμωδία.
8. Μου αρέσει η σάτιρα.
9. Αυτό το έργο είναι σατιρικό.
10. Θα δω μία τραγωδία.
11. Απόψε θα πάω στο θέατρο.
12. Απόψε θα πάω στο θέατρο, για να δω μία κωμωδία.

Now try to say in Greek.
1. Tonight, I will go to the theater.
2. Tonight, I will see a theatrical play.
3. Tonight, I will watch a tragedy.
4. I like drama.
5. I like theater.
6. I like this theatrical play.
7. I go to the Odeum.
8. I like this melody.
9. I like honey.
10. It is tragic.

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

HOLDEN – Joanna A. (Tsagarelis) Tsandikos, 84, of Holden and West Harwich, passed away Sunday, March 17 surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, the Very Reverend Fr. Solon Tsandikos; her son George S. Tsandikos of New York City; two daughters, Kathryn A. Tsandikos and her husband, Harry Kokkinis of Worcester and Dr. Stephanie D. Tsandikos of Hudson, NY and her two grandchildren, Alexis Kelleher and her partner, Nathan Rossi and Solon Kelleher all of Worcester; as well as her dear friend, Dominica Lizzi; and her devoted aides.

She was born in Worcester, the daughter of George and Catherine (Angelopoulos) Tsagarelis, owners of George’s Coney Island on Southbridge Street, now currently operated by Joanna’s daughter, Kathryn. In 1955, she and her husband moved to Athens, residing there until 1958, when they returned to Massachusetts to serve the Orthodox Communities in Worcester, Fitchburg, and Clinton. Joanna was a longtime member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral and a 50-year member of its choir and the Ladies Philoptochos Society.

Her funeral was held on Thursday, March 21 at the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell Street. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the St. Nicholas Shrine, c/o the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021.

The HCGM (Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal) Annual Greek Independence Day Parade will be held on Sunday 24 March at the Parc-Extension borough.

More than an estimated 30,000 spectators are expected to attend the event where Montrealers of Greek descent pay tribute to the ancestors that fought for their identity, values and freedom within an independent Greece, during the 1821 revolution against Ottoman rule.  The parade will showcase approximately eighty groups and over 3,000 participants from all HCGM schools and departments, Greek associations, educational institutions and various cultural communities, a Canadian armed forces brigade and other officials.

With this parade, the HCGM continues its 40-year-plus tradition of organising a series of events to commemorate Greek Independence Day.

NEW YORK – New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio hosted a celebration of the 198th Anniversary of the Greek Revolution March 19 at Gracie Mansion, welcoming Greek-Americans and Community leaders, including Ariana Huffington, who was honored for her contributions to the mass media industry.

The event marked New York’s official recognition of the March 25 Greek national holiday and began with a speech by Archbishop Demetrios. He referred to the Greek Revolution as a miracle and praised the Greek fighters who, without substantial means and with more hostility than support from European powers, challenged and defeated the Ottoman Empire.

The Mayor thanked Archbishop Demetrios for “everything that he has done for the city of New York,” and turning to the rest of the Greek-Americans present he noted that they constitute the largest Greek community in the United States and that the city is graced by their presence.

He thanked all those attending the celebration including the president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York Kleanthis Meimaroglou, Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras, the Consul of General of Cyprus Alexis Phedonos-Vadet, and everyone who helped organize the event before speaking about the meaning of democracy.

“It is something that has to be earned and it’s earned only by the participation of people who struggle for democracy and who encourage others to fight for it too. New York is a democratic city – a city of immigrants – that gives everyone a chance to participate in everything that is going on. On behalf of all New Yorkers I say, “Long Live Greece.”

De Blasio then introduced Ariana Huffington, saying that if in ancient Greece there was a Goddess of Mass Media, she would be it.

“It is a great honor to be here with you and celebrate this day,” she said, adding, “I wish my mother were here, who taught me to fight and never surrender. The Mayor mentioned the values we inherited from ancient Greece, like drama and democracy. It’s true we invented democracy, and it finds it’s true meaning in the city of New York, where hundreds of different languages are spoken.”

Huffington spoke about her life, and then she highlighted other values, besides democracy, that the world has inherited from ancient Greece and its philosophers such as, “living in the moment” (parousa stigmi) with calmness (ataraxia). She added that that people must never forget hospitality (philoxenia) and then analyzed the meaning of “living well” (ef zin), which in modern times has been falsified, she said, to the point where people allow daily anxieties to alter the meaning of their being. She proclaimed the Mayor an honorary Greek, and joked about his nominating her as the woman who modernized mass media.

Koutras addressed the importance of celebrating the day that officially marked the beginning of the Greek revolution against the Ottoman Empire: “It is a great honor for Greece that we are today in the residence of New York’s Mayor, where the Mayor honors the anniversary of the Greek Revolution. Yesterday there was also an event in the White House, and I believe that Greece is one of the few countries that has its national holiday being so honored in the United States, and for that we feel proud. I have to stress the fact that the relations between the United States and Greece are great and we look forward to the future with optimism.”

Dr. George Tsioulias, Co-Chairman of New York’s upcoming 2019 Greek Parade, was also invited to address the gathering.

“The parade is the most important event for the Greek-American community every year,” he said, “and we are very proud because in this hospitable country we have the opportunity every year to declare how happy and proud we are to be Greek. I hope this year’s parade will be the most impressive and grand of all time.  Our country is in need of support now more than ever, and the parade is an important way for us to honor our homeland.”

Earlier Archbishop Demetrios told a story from the Greek Revolution that illustrated the spirit of the freedom fighters. He explained, “There were times when the Revolution was in danger of failing, due to the lack of financial means to support the fight. At some point all the fighters, along with the priests, the nuns, and the civilians decided to gather everything valuable they owned made of silver or gold. They melted them down, made coins, and used them as money. That saved the Revolution at that point. This is what we celebrate today! The achievements, the spirit, the generosity, the inventiveness and mostly the devotion of the fighters to the sacred slogan: Freedom or Death!”

The celebration was also attended by the Greek Consul Lana Zohiou, the president of the 2019 parade Petros Galatoulas, United Nations Military Advisor Master Dimitris Efstathiou, Paraskevi Strataki, the military recruiting officer at the Greek Consulate, representatives of Greek organizations, and Community business leaders.

NEW YORK – A fundraiser was held at the Russian Tea Room in Midtown Manhattan on March 21for New York State Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis who is now running for Congress. Lou Katsos, founder and president of the East Mediterranean Business and Culture Alliance (EMBCA), AHEPA Delphi Chapter #25 President and Empire District 6 Lt. Governor, hosted the event and gave the welcoming remarks. The fundraiser was well attended by a cross-section of business leaders from the community.

Chairwoman of the Manhattan Republican Party and Vice Chair of the New York State Republican Party Andrea Catsimatidis, daughter of billionaire John Catsimatidis, served as co-host and organizer of the fundraiser.  Known for her community service and philanthropy, Andrea Catsimatidis, is an executive in her family’s company, the Red Apple Group, one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. She said of Malliotakis, “Nicole has been an inspiration to me for her strength and fierce determination for public service. I’m happy and proud to support smart women like Nicole, who have what it takes to win elections. And this seat is winnable for the Republican Party in New York City. Nicole can win this seat!”

Malliotakis thanked both the Democrat and Republican contributors at the event. She appealed to a need for diversity in Washington, so that both parties can represent New Yorkers at the Federal level. “It’s unacceptable that there are currently only Democrats elected to represent New York City at the National level.”

She appealed to a need for greater oversight and common sense on decisions impacting New Yorkers, such as government expenditures, property taxes, and infrastructure investments.

Malliotakis spoke about her record, for over ten years in the NYS Assembly, fighting against Albany corruption, and for greater transparency, lower taxes, and oversight of the MTA. She spoke about some of the success she had in her Mayoral run, winning her district by a large margin and continues to hold Mayor de Blasio accountable for his abysmal record on the deteriorating quality of life in New York City.

Malliotakis pledged to work with the Congressional Co-Chairs of the Hellenic Caucus, in Washington: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) upon winning her District’s seat. She will engage with the members of the Hellenic Caucus on key diplomatic, economic, and military issues of cooperation and shared interest. She voiced concerns about rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and recent Turkish and Russian aggressions. Greece, Cyprus and Israel, the Nations of the “Energy Triangle” represent vital U.S. interests. It is the sovereign right of these nations, to explore energy reserves especially in the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without hostility from neighbors.

Malliotakis, whose district includes parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island, has been elected to the board of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA), an international organization of elected officials of Greek heritage with representatives from Australia, Canada, South Africa, United States, Zimbabwe, and across Europe. The WHIA’s mission is to bring together members, of Greek descent, of legislatures from around the world to strengthen the relationship between Greece and their respective countries and serve as a think tank.

The daughter of immigrants, Malliotakis’ father is from Crete and her mother is a Cuban exile of the Castro dictatorship. Her parents came to New York in search of the American Dream, and through their hard work, they attained a modest living as owners of a small business in Brooklyn. Their dedication and entrepreneurial spirit instilled a sense of ambition in Nicole that has inspired her life in public service.

Katsos remarked that “New York is sorely lacking in common sense candidates with common sense solutions to problems. New Yorkers need someone like Nicole Malliotakis in Congress. She has the grit, determination, and problem-solving skills to get things done for all constituents, not just the few.”

Malliotakis thanked her supporters and urged them to invite friends to also join in supporting, “Nicole for New York,” before the March 31 filing date and help her meet early fundraising goals to empower her run for Congress.

More information is available online: nicolemalliotakis.com.

WASHINGTON, DC – Michael Kratsios was nominated by President Donald Trump as U.S. Chief Technology Officer (CTO) on March 21, Bloomberg Businessweek reported. Kratsios was the Deputy CTO and Deputy Assistant to the President at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) appointed two years ago. Upon assuming his new post, Kratsios will also be an Associate Director of the OSTP.

A former venture capitalist, Greek-American South Carolina native Kratsios is just 32 years old. Before his appointment as Deputy CTO, his only other job in politics was during his time studying political science at Princeton when he interned for South Carolina’s Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, Bloomberg reported, adding that Kratsios’ record as deputy is encouraging even for Trump critics.

Aneesh Chopra, a Democrat who served as the first U.S. CTO under President Obama, told Bloomberg, “It gives me some hope. I’ve had no conversations with him that make me think he’s partisan.”

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty called the nomination “great news,” Bloomberg reported adding that she “credits Kratsios with ‘strengthening America’s leadership in technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence.’”

Kratsios said his goal is “to take the president’s message and map it to a tech agenda,” Bloomberg reported.

“He’s been trying to devise policies to counter Made in China 2025, the Chinese government’s plan to develop the world’s top AI and 5G technologies,” Bloomberg reported, adding that “in February, Trump signed an executive order on AI that, among other things, directs government agencies to release data sets that scientists and private companies might be able to use to train machines.”

Of China, Kratsios said, “They have CCTV cameras on every corner and funnel that data into private AI companies, that doesn’t mean we don’t have data sets that are extraordinarily valuable,” Bloomberg reported.

About concerns over civil rights and liberties that could be threatened, Kratsios said that “the White House will protect privacy,” Bloomberg reported.

Kratsios graduated from Princeton in 2008 with a degree in political science and a certificate in Hellenic Studies.

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – On March 20, the National Register of Historic Places officially listed Cycadia Cemetery in Tarpon Springs, Pinellas County as a Traditional Cultural Property with state and local significance on the basis of Greek cultural practices. Cycadia Cemetery had previously been deemed eligible for listing on the National Register by Florida’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on November 8, 2018.

Cycadia Cemetery was nominated to the National Register for a period of significance ranging from 1905 into the present. It is a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) due to its direct association with ongoing Greek-American cultural and religious funerary practices and grave markers. Although not physically contiguous with the Greektown Historic District (also a TCP), Cycadia Cemetery has always been part an integral part of its cultural complex. In earlier days, they were physically connected by funeral processions that proceeded by foot from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral to Cycadia Cemetery; today they cover the same route in cars. Priests from Greektown perform Greek Orthodox burial rituals at Cycadia, and residents perform other folk rituals. Gravesites include culturally prescribed accessories such as candle holders, Greek or Byzantine crosses, and other items. In addition to Orthodox symbols, gravestone designs often incorporate images of boats, divers, and other items that reflect the foundation of Tarpon Springs’ Greek community in the sponge industry. In addition, the graves of celebrated Greek musicians, grave markers are often engraved with Greek instruments.

Folklorist and City of Tarpon Springs Curator of Arts & Historical Resources Tina Bucuvalas initiated, researched, and wrote the nomination. She also researched and wrote the nominations that listed the Greektown Historic District (2014) and Rose Cemetery (2016) on the National Register. Tarpon Springs’ Board of Commissioners and Historic Preservation Board approved the nomination. Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation Survey & Registration Supervisor Ruben Acosta worked closely with Bucuvalas to ensure that the application fulfilled state and national requirements.

The National Register of Historic Places, a list maintained by the National Park Service, includes historical, archaeological, or cultural properties (buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts) considered worthy of preservation because of their local, statewide and/or national significance. The Traditional Cultural Property designation was created in 1990. According to National Register Bulletin 38, a property is eligible for consideration “because of its association with cultural practices or beliefs of a living community that (a) are rooted in that community’s history, and (b) are important in maintaining the continuing cultural identity of the community.” Florida nominations are first submitted to Florida’s Division of Historical Resources/Bureau of Historic Preservation, which reviews the nomination, and submits it to the National Park Service if eligible for listing.

For further information, contact: Tina Bucuvalas, tbucuvalas@ctsfl.us, 727-927-1130.

NEW YORK – Dr. Leah Houston is an Emergency Medicine Physician practicing precision medicine in New York. She is also the founder of HPEC.IO (Humanitarian Physician Empowerment Community) a Blockchain technology that has major implications for physicians and the health care system at large. Dr. Houston took time out of her busy schedule to talk with The National Herald about Blockchain and health care, as well as her Greek heritage.

TNH: Could you tell us a bit about your background, where is the family from originally?

Dr. Leah Houston: Both my great grandparents on my mother’s side were Greeks from Asia Minor. My great grandfather was from Unye, and immigrated here in 1909. He came following his brother, a physician who graduated from Albany Medical College, the same medical school I went to. He returned to Greece in 1927 where he met my great-grandmother. She had been born in Fatsa (present day Turkey) in 1905, but was exiled at the age of 17, back to Katerini, Greece in 1922 during the population exchange that took place after the war. She married my great-grandfather in Katerini, and they returned to upstate New York together in 1927. My father was second generation Norwegian, and his family settled in New Jersey and New York as well but he met my mother when they were both living in California. He converted to Greek Orthodox to marry my mother, and they both returned to New York after I was born.

TNH: Did you always want to go into medicine?

LH: I always had an aptitude for science and was fascinated by it. I also was drawn to politics and advocacy. I realized that as a physician you are both a scientist and an advocate for your patients- so that is what led me to choose this career.

TNH: You contributed a chapter to the first Blockchain and healthcare text book, Blockchain in Healthcare: Innovations that Empower Patients, Connect Professionals and Improve Care, published in January by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a non-profit organization which promotes “better health through information and technology,” according to its website. Tell us how you became involved with the project.

LH: I’m the founder of HPEC, a company that is working towards an identity solution for physicians. We all know healthcare is expensive, administrative waste is one large contributor to the expense. As medicine advances, identifying and organizing those who are contributing to the healthcare system is becoming a large contributor to administrative waste. Identity solutions for physicians will eliminate that waste, reducing not only the cost of healthcare but also time-consuming burdens physicians experience in practice that contribute to burnout. HIMSS noticed the project and thought that was important to include, so they asked me to write a chapter.

TNH: What’s the most important thing people should know about the subject?

LH: About the subject of Blockchain, it is similar to the Internet- it’s going to change how we do things, and it’s going to be applied across industries, commerce, finance, healthcare, education, etc. All will be implementing blockchain projects in the near future.

In regards to healthcare, Blockchain has the ability to alleviate some of the most pressing issues. Examples of potential applications include promotion of price, transparency, improving administrative waste, and alleviating many privacy and security concerns.

Right now, we are on the development side of the project, working on forming alliances with the Blockchain development firms who will help us build the project. We are also crowdfunding from physicians. Our goal is to keep this physician-owned in order to keep it integrity-based.

TNH: What inspires you most in your work?

LH: The same thing that inspired me to become a physician in the first place. I went to medicine to help people, to put patients first. While practicing I saw an ongoing consolidation and vertical integration of healthcare which is placing a wedge between doctor and patient. I know that this technology has the ability to remove that wedge and bring the humanity back to healthcare.

TNH: Does your Greek heritage inform your work and if so, how?

LH: I think so- I’m a Pontian woman. The ancient Greek Pontian women were called the Amazons, and they were warriors. I am a healthcare warrior, a fierce advocate for the patient and physician. I am a defender of the Greek oath of Hippocrates against the special interest invasion on the doctor-patient relationship.

More information is available online: www.hpec.io by signing up for Dr. Houston’s newsletter, and by following on Twitter: @LeahHoustonMD and @HPECDAO, as well as on Instagram and Facebook.

The Blockchain and healthcare text book, Blockchain in Healthcare: Innovations that Empower Patients, Connect Professionals and Improve Care is available online through CRC Press: www.crcpress.com.

ATHENS – The children of the Diaspora are learning about the heroes and heroines of the Greek Revolution this week, but it’s one thing to hear about them in a classroom, and another to walk in the shadows of the Acropolis that inspired them, feel the breezes on Mt. Parnassus that soothed their wounds, and taste the food and hear the music that nurtured their bodies and souls.

The most visionary parishes and organizations in the Community know they must get their children to Greece during their most impressionable years and among the leaders are the clergy, teachers, and parents of Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn and its Argyrios Fantis parochial school.

For the children lucky enough to go, their recent annual midwinter excursion to Greece – and being able to see the mythic land with their best friends – was a blessing and the trip of a lifetime.

Father Evagoras Constantinides, Dean of the Cathedral, told TNH, “this trip is about more than visiting Greece. It’s the culmination of what we have been trying to do at A. Fantis for the entire breadth of their education…from pre-Kindergarten they are learning Greek every day, taking Hellenic studies and religion once a week, participating in holiday shows – and this brings it all together. They see the posters on the wall and read about the history, but to actually come and experience it doesn’t only make it part of their identity as Hellenes and Philhellenes, it really ties their whole education together.”

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The success of the venture has inspired Fr. Evagoras to want to share it. “We are blessed to be able to do this, but I also think about the other schools in Brooklyn and in Queens, and it makes me wonder – as someone involved in camping all these years [Fr. Evagoras is the director of the Archdiocese’s Ionian Village summer camp in Greece] what this would be like if it included all the 8^th grade students of all our Hellenic schools in New York.”

Aggeliki Maniscalco was thrilled about the trip. “I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for my daughter Katerina to experience Greece with her classmates.” And it has been. “We are all really close,” Katerina said of her classmates. She and her mother will share their views about how important this trip was and urge other families to do it. “Especially for the kids who have no other connection with Greece,” Aggeliki said.

Ioanna Glava has taught at Fantis for nine years. She said the trip was conceived two years ago with the aim of putting children in direct contact with Greek history and contemporary Greek life, and to introduce American and Greek students to one another to learn about each other’s lives. “And year by year we are building bridges with other schools. Last year we began with The Moraitis School and when they return home the students will communicate though skype and other means,” working on projects and continuing their relationships.

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The one thing that has not come to fruition so far is their effort to find benefactors, especially to help families of more modest means to make the trip. School Principal Theodore Tasoulas has reached out to various foundations and companies, and that effort continues.

When Steve Giannakouras, whose wife is Russian, took their son William to Greece before, they skipped Athens and went straight to his family’s roots in Githion, “So now he has seen Athens – and so have I!” William enjoyed being there with his friends.

Achilles Zarbas, who loved the Acropolis Museum, said “this trip is amazing.” Lucas Moda has been at Fantis for 10 years, “but it’s my first time in Greece, so I’d like to cherish it as long as I can. The view at Delphi was astounding.”

It was also Avery Birney’s first time. “It’s an amazing country. I love the food and the people are nice.”

Amaya Ortiz, who has been to the Dominican Republic and Peru, liked the ruins most of all, and Lily Torre said, “to see all the beautiful part of Greece with my best friends is wonderful. The view at Sounion was amazing.”

Yaretzi Moreno said she will cherish her many memories of the trip, which Codie Williams said was “pretty cool,” and Xavier Webb loved Acropolis and the trip to Delphi.