NEW YORK – Eleftheria Astrinaki, filmmaker and Visiting Assistant Professor at New York University, College of Arts and Science, A.S. Onassis Program in Hellenic Studies, originally from Heraklion in Crete, recently shared her most recent project with The National Herald.

An article on Aljazeera about Kilis, a small town at the Turkish Syrian borders described as a prototype community of refugee integration inspired the conception of a documentary film called Small is Beautiful which wrapped filming about a month ago, she told TNH. Small is Beautiful is funded by Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, produced by Oh my Dog Productions, and directed by Astrinaki.

She told TNH, “Kilis paradigm has led our research for other model communities of refugee integration at the gates of Europe, where the so called refugee ‘crisis’ has formed its focal point, namely in Italy and Greece.

“We pitched our documentary project to Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in May 2018. We were green-lit in July 2018 to document refugee integration in three small communities at the external borders of the European continent: Riace, at the region of Calabria, in southern Italy, Tilos island at the south east of Aegean Sea in Greece and Kilis, at the south east of Turkey, 80 km away from the town of Aleppo, Syria.

“Two months before principal photography, the Italian and the Greek community were crushed, while the PM of Turkey threatened to attack Syria, once again, from the region of Kilis. Those unique communities that are to set an example against the European border policy were to cease to exist. Matteo Salvini, the far right wing Minister of Internal Affairs of the newly elected Italian government, has placed in house arrest and later in exile the Mayor of Riace, Mimmo Lucano, accusing him of aiding illegal migration and fraud. Salvini ordered the removal of all refugees from Riace. On Tilos island, the NGO Solidarity Now has started transferring refugees from the island during the summer of 2018 and terminated its operations on Tilos in December 2018, a month after the denial of UNHCR to green light the social enterprise of a dairy farm where refugees and locals would work together.”

She continued, “Committed to our documentation of refugee integration, we captured the rally of refugees and locals celebrating new years in Riace holding placates reading: ‘Riace Non Si’ (Riace doesn’t get arrested), shouting and writing with candles on the central Square ‘Mimmo Libero,’ asking the government to free the mayor. But, Riace, that little medieval town covered with political graffiti and signs of refugees welcome indicating 20 different nationalities hosted, was sadly empty; the grand majority of refugees had been transferred to Italian city centers. All the social enterprises of refugees and locals that formed the base for the model community Riace used to be were locked. We were able to locate a couple from Eritrea that has been living in Riace four years already. They were the only ones still working voluntarily, hoping that the Mayor will return and things will get back to normal.

“The Tilos Community was totally crushed. We wandered around Greece for more than two months to find refugee integration among the Estia Program of UNHCR, but it proved to be rather difficult to locate. We ended up shooting in Anogia, a village on the island of Crete, where the first Center for Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum was founded back in 2001. The society of Anogia that has experienced dislocation during World War II has been embracing and integrating refugee minors for over a decade. We were able to locate many refugees who claim to have found home, life and work in Anogia. Samir, a 26-year-old from Afghanistan has been living in Anogia 11 years now working as a farmer, but, lately, he sings in Greek songs written and composed for him by a famous artist of the community.

“Mr. Tayyip Erdogan didn’t end up attacking Syria, at least not at the beginning of 2019, and although it took almost four months to acquire a shooting permit in Turkey, we were fully compensated. In Kilis, the only little town that refugees have outnumbered the locals, Turks and Syrians live together in harmony. The local authorities encourage the Turkish-Syrian enterprise, support Syrian organizations like Kareemat, a women’s center run by Najjlla, a women’s rights activist. Everyday life, friendships, mixed weddings and solidarity to the refugees, because ‘Syrians are our brothers and dislocation can happen to all of us, anytime.’”

Astrinaki said, “Small is Beautiful (SB) aims at shifting the narrative in both content and form. The majority of European film productions with and about refugees after 2010 and mostly after 2015, year that marked the refugee ‘crisis,’ tell stories of harsh refugee journeys and/or their inhumane detention in refugee camps, thus keep problematizing the refugees. The film focuses on what European and national policies should have focused from refugee reception: integration. At the same time, the ‘white saviors’ perspective is what’s mostly presented, frequently in talking-heads documentaries, employing manipulating directors voice-overs, The protagonists in SB are the refugees themselves, their own voice over when needed, their working life and activities in welcoming communities that can show the way; because wars never stop, but neither human mobility.”

Astrinaki also curates NYU’s Greek Cinema Today screening series which presents the unique vision of contemporary Greek filmmakers.

The post Astrinaki on Model Communities of Refugee Integration: Chronicle of a Documentation appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON – According to an official News Release issued by the Archdiocese on Wednesday, May 1, Archbishop Demetrios of America is scheduled to travel to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople on May 2 in order to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Specifically, the News Release says the following: “His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, accompanied by Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, will travel to the Phanar (Istanbul, Turkey) tomorrow May 2, 2019 where he will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in order to inform His-All Holiness about current affairs of the Holy Archdiocese of America. His Eminence will return on Saturday, May 4.”

The National Herald has learned that Archbishop Demetrios requested the meeting with the Patriarch. Since the Patriarch will be returning to Constantinople from Krakovia on Friday night, he will grant an audience to Archbishop Demetrios on Saturday, May 4.

Sources knowledgeable about the ecclesiastical issues told TNH that there are two potential reasons for the Archbishopric trip to Constantinople: the first is for Archbishop Demetrios to submit his resignation as it was agreed with Patriarch Bartholomew in November of 2018 in Geneva, and the second is to request from Patriarch Bartholomew a new extension, which will be the fourth one, to stay on his Archbishopric Throne of America.

TNH was informed that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew appears to be annoyed with the Archbishop’s motion to travel to the Phanar because the agreement was for Archbishop Demetrios to submit his resignation immediately after Pascha.
The next meeting of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate is scheduled from May 9 to 11.

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NEW YORK – The New York Post, in an article dated April 27, 2019 written by Melissa Klein, addressed issue of the unfinished nave of St. Nicholas at Ground Zero and stated that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo “has pushed for seven heavy hitters to join a group trying to restart the stalled construction.” Among them is supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis who said, “he (Cuomo) wants the church finished.”

Catsimatidis, who heads the Gristedes supermarkets, said donors were ready to step in, but only if a new group was in charge. “If the Archdiocese is in charge, they’re not giving the money,” he said. He said no state money would be involved.

The Post reminded also that, “The U.S. Attorney has been probing the project.”

It is reminded here that The National Herald has written extensively on the issue. Specifically, on December 9, 2018 we revealed the letter of Richard Cotton, Director of the Port Authority New York and New Jersey addressed to Archbishop Demetrios and the Archbishop’s reply to him. TNH had written that “The Executive Director of The Port Authority (“Agency”), Richard Cotton, wrote a letter dated November 6, 2018 to Archbishop Demetrios of America and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressing the Agency’s concern about the status of the St. Nicholas church at Ground Zero, stressing that, “I believe we can all agree that the status quo cannot continue as it is a negative for all involved.”

In his letter, which the National Herald has obtained a copy of, Cotton also emphasized that the unfinished nave “affects the totality of the neighborhood.”

Cotton offered to help with the completion of St. Nicholas, and added, “I would like to meet with both of you at your convenience to see how we can conclude this matter.”

Archbishop Demetrios replied to the Port Authority on November 14, 2018, stating, among other things, that “no one is more concerned about the interruption of construction than myself.” He continued, “Since the destruction of this house of worship on September 11, 2001, it has been a priority of the Archdiocese, and myself personally, to see that the church is rebuilt not simply to meet the needs of our faithful who have worshiped there for decades, but also as a symbol of dynamic ‘rebirth’ after the terrorist attack.”

The Archbishop also wrote, “we discovered in 2017 the mismanagement of the finances of the Archdiocese that not only impacted the operation of the national Church but as well the rebuilding of St. Nicholas. Much to our dismay and surprise it was discovered that by the end of December 2017, approximately $8.5 million was owed to contractors and others for work which had been completed on the St. Nicholas project.”

The information about the mismanagement of the finances was first revealed by the National Herald.

Archbishop Demetrios informed Cotton that “in light of this challenge, immediate actions were taken to address what had occurred and thanks be to God, the Archdiocese has stabilized Her finances and fulfilled all past due obligations. To get to this point required dramatic cutbacks, careful controls on spending and a bank loan to address legacy obligations.” He also added that he has appointed a new Board of Trustees as well as that a new independent entity was formed, “The Friends of St. Nicholas,” to raise the necessary funds.”

It is noted here that since then nothing has taken place.

The New York Post article dated April 27, 2019 with this headline and byline: “Cuomo makes construction push for stalled Ground Zero church – By Melissa Klein, follows:

“Gov. Cuomo has pushed for seven heavy hitters to join a group trying to restart the stalled construction of a Greek Orthodox church at Ground Zero, The Post has learned.

“’He wants the church finished,’ said supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis, one of the seven.

“The moves come as the parishioners of St. Nicholas church are celebrating their 18th Easter this Sunday without a home, following the destruction of their former Cedar Street church in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“The rebuilding of the more elaborate replacement church, known as the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, stalled in December 2017 when the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese ran out of money for the $80 million project.

“Some of the money meant for the grand church went to shore up the Archdiocese’s finances. The US Attorney has been probing the project.

“The half-built church has become an eyesore at Ground Zero. It sits on land owned by the Port Authority with a nominal rent of $1 a year.

The Archdiocese said it would take nearly $40 million to finish the church, which was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and is supposed to glow at night and provide ‘a spiritual beacon of hope and rebirth.’

“Catsimatidis, who heads Gristedes supermarkets, said donors were ready to step in, but only if a new group was in charge.

“’If the Archdiocese is in charge, they’re not giving the money,’ he said.

“He said no state money would be involved.

“Cuomo’s other recommendations to join the non-profit Friends of St. Nicholas include Democratic donor Dennis Mehiel, and Madeline Singas, the Nassau County District Attorney, sources said.

Bishop Andonios Paropoulos, the chancellor of the Archdiocese, said it “had absolutely no problem” with Cuomo’s picks.

“He said the group had done no active fundraising since it was formed at the end of last year.

“A spokesman for Cuomo said the governor ‘reached out to the Port Authority, which is trying to help the project that has been stalled for years.’

The post New York Post on St. Nicholas and Statements by John Catsimatidis appeared first on The National Herald.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — After years of pressure to crack down on hate and bigotry, Facebook has banned Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and other extremists, saying they violated its ban on “dangerous individuals.”

The company also removed right-wing personalities Paul Nehlen, Milo Yiannopoulos, Paul Joseph Watson and Laura Loomer, along with Jones’ site, Infowars, which often posts conspiracy theories. The latest bans apply to both Facebook’s main service and to Instagram and extend to fan pages and other related accounts.

Decried as censorship by several of those who got the ax, the move signals a renewed effort by the social media giant to remove people and groups promoting objectionable material such as hate, racism and anti-Semitism.

Removing some of the best-known figures of the U.S. political extreme takes away an important virtual megaphone that Facebook has provided the likes of Jones, Yiannopoulos and others over the years. But it does not address what might be done with lesser known figures and those who stay on the margins of what Facebook’s policies allow.

Critics praised the move but said there is more to be done on both Facebook and Instagram.

“We know that there are still white supremacists and other extremist figures who are actively using both platforms to spread their hatred and bigotry,” said Keegan Hankes, senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups in the U.S.

Dipayan Ghosh, a former Facebook executive and an internet policy expert at Harvard, said the ban isn’t as big a step as Facebook appears to be painting it — it’s just enforcing its existing policy.

“There will always be more purveyors of hate speech that try to come on these platforms,” he said. “Will advocates have to push year after year just to get (a handful of) individuals off? At this rate it seems likely. And this doesn’t address the problem of what happens at the margins.”

Facebook has previously suspended Jones from its flagship service temporarily; this suspension is permanent and includes Instagram. Twitter has also banned Loomer, Jones and Yiannopoulos, though Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam long known for provocative comments widely considered anti-Semitic, still had an account Thursday. So did Watson, who rose to popularity as editor-at-large at Infowars and has nearly a million followers on the site.

Facebook said the newly banned accounts violated its policy against dangerous individuals and organizations. The company says it has always banned people or groups that proclaim a violent or hateful mission or are engaged in acts of hate or violence, regardless of political ideology.

It added that when it bans someone under this policy, the company also prohibits anyone else from praising or supporting them.

In this case, though, the company said people can speak positively about the six banned individuals as long as what they’re saying otherwise complies with Facebook policies.

For years, social media companies have been under pressure from civil rights groups and other activists to clamp down on hate speech on their services. Following the deadly white nationalist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, Google, Facebook and PayPal began banishing extremist groups and individuals who identified as or supported white supremacists.

A year later, widespread bans of Jones and Infowars reflected a more aggressive enforcement of policies against hate speech. But Facebook instituted only a 30-day suspension (though Twitter banned him permanently).

It is not clear what events led to Thursday’s announcement. In a statement, Facebook merely said, “The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and it is what led us to our decision to remove these accounts today.”

Last month, it extended its ban on hate speech to prohibit the promotion and support of white nationalism and white separatism. It had previously allowed such material even though it has long banned white supremacists.

Asked to comment on the bans, Yiannopoulos emailed only “You’re next.”

Jones reacted angrily Thursday during a live stream of his show on his Infowars website.

“They didn’t just ban me. They just defamed us. Why did Zuckerberg even do this?” Jones said, referring to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Jones called himself a victim of “racketeering” by “cartels.”

“There’s a new world now, man, where they’re banning everybody and then they tell Congress nobody is getting banned,” he said.

Watson, meanwhile, tweeted that he was not given a reason and that he “broke none of their rules.”

“Hopefully, other prominent conservatives will speak out about me being banned, knowing that they are next if we don’t pressure the Trump administration to take action,” he wrote.

Farrakhan, Nehlen and Loomer did not immediately return messages for comment.

Harvard’s Ghosh said kicking off individuals with big followings, such as Jones, goes against Facebook’s commercial interest.

“As soon as they kick Alex Jones or Laura Loomer off their platform, it immediately ticks of a huge number of people,” he said.

___
By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer

Associated Press Writers Tali Arbel in New York and Michael Kunzelman in Silver Spring, Maryland, contributed to this story.

The post Facebook Bans Yiannopoulos, “Dangerous Individuals” Cited for Hate Speech appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON – Interim Deans of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Dr. Bruce Beck and Rev. Thomas FitzGerald, respectively, sent a joint letter dated April 24, 2019 to all students attempting to pacify them regarding the situation at both Schools.

They emphasize that, “during the coming academic year, all the majors in the College will remain the same, and all current students will be able to complete the majors in which they are currently enrolled.”

The deans also informed the students about a recent note issued by academic authorities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, writing, “we also want you to know that this week, the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), issued a formal communication to our School based on their Fall 2018 site visit. The communication re-affirmed our accreditation.”

It is reminded here that Demitrios Katos, prior Dean of Hellenic College, resigned almost a year-and-a-half ago – leaving the School altogether – and that Jim Skedros of the School of Theology also resigned as Dean, but remained at Holy Cross as a professor.
Newly appointed interim HCHC President Metropolitan Methodios of Boston has not responded to a written request of The National Herald since Wednesday April 24, 2019 to inform the Greek-American Communality through an interview about what is going on at Hellenic College and Holy Cross.

The letter of the Deans to the students reads as follows:

“Dear Students:

As you know, Pre-registration for Fall 2019 courses began April 16 for both Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

With the leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, we look forward to welcoming new students in the Fall into all of our current programs, including the Semester of Faith and Byzantine Chant Certificate students. The recently completed work of the ReImagine Committee, comprised of trustees, faculty, and administration, resulted in setting the foundations for the Hellenic College faculty to work in the upcoming year on analyzing and enhancing its programs while making immediate expenditure modifications. During the coming academic year, all the majors in the College will remain the same, and all current students will be able to complete the majors in which they are currently enrolled.

The faculties will be working with the Academic Affairs committee of the Board of Trustees during the coming academic year on revising our current programs in order to help our students explore, choose, and prepare for their vocations.

We also want you to know that this week, the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), issued a formal communication to our School based on their Fall 2018 site visit. The communication re-affirmed our accreditation and it stated that our School continues to meet their standard on institutional resources. They also noted the serious attention that our School is giving to the challenges confronting us.

We continue to work with NECHE regarding institutional resources and planning. Although much work needs to be accomplished, we want you to know that the Faculty, Administration, and Board of Trustees are working hard to ensure that you receive the best education possible.

Wishing you and your families a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Pascha.

Rev. Thomas FitzGerald, ThD., Dean, SOT

Dr. Bruce Beck, ThD., Dean, Hellenic College.”

The post Interim Deans of HCHC Send a Letter Attempting to Pacify Students appeared first on The National Herald.

DENVER (AP) — A Denver landlord who was recorded telling her tenant to find an “American person … good like you and me” to sublease her property instead of a Muslim father and son seeking to open their second restaurant must pay the men $675,000 under a settlement.

The three men sued last year, generating local news coverage and online pleas to boycott the woman’s business, which mirrored the response to racist comments captured on tape or video across the U.S. in recent months. Public attention soon faded, and attorneys said they were headed for trial until the night before jury selection was set to begin in Denver.

The parties finalized the settlement in April. Rashad Khan said it was a relief after more than a year of reliving his first experience of someone refusing to work with him and his father, Zuned, because of their faith and race.

“My dad and I just wanted to know that there’s justice, that she can’t do this,” said Khan, 36.

The dispute focused on a building in the Denver neighborhood of Capitol Hill, surrounded by homes, coffee shops and grocery stores.

Craig Caldwell began renting the building on a corner lot in 2016 but decided to close his fried chicken restaurant there in late 2017. Caldwell had to continue paying rent for the five-year lease unless he could find someone to sublease it.

The Khans seemed like his solution. They hoped to open a second Indian restaurant, replicating a fast-casual model that proved popular in the nearby city of Boulder. Caldwell was sold after checking their financial records, trying the family recipes and seeing both father and son working the counter at their business.

But weeks went by without approval of the sublease agreement by the building’s owner, Katina Gatchis. Caldwell said he was shocked when the woman’s son blamed the Khans’ Islamic faith.

“I didn’t believe it, and I didn’t think anybody would believe me,” said Caldwell, who is 71 and white.

He decided to use a voice recording app on his cellphone during his next conversation with Gatchis. In Colorado, it is legal to secretly record a conversation if at least one participant consents.

“American person!” Gatchis said in the recording, provided to The Associated Press by Caldwell’s attorneys. “American person, I need. Good like you and me.”

Caldwell returned to see her a few days later. He hoped Gatchis would change her mind, but she remained insistent in a recording of that conversation.

“They bring all the Muslims from the Middle East, and then I have a problem around here, bam boom, bam boom,” she said.

Attorneys for Gatchis did not return phone or email messages seeking comment on the recordings and settlement. In a court document filed in March, they said Gatchis admitted making the statements “and that the recordings are accurate.”

Gatchis acknowledged in the document that she “unlawfully discriminated” against the Khans’ company but said Caldwell could not sublease to them without her approval under the terms of his original lease.

Caldwell took the recordings of Gatchis to his business attorney. He referred Caldwell to Denver attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai, whose firm often handles discrimination claims and other civil rights cases. Mohamedbhai said proving discrimination is often difficult and credited Caldwell for speaking up.

“Businesses in Colorado and across the country should know that these laws are on the books, they are highly enforceable, and that if they will discriminate, people will stand up against them and tell them it is wrong,” Mohamedbhai said.

Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission, which investigates discrimination complaints, does not track incidents by specific religions or race. According to its most recent annual report, the commission received 96 complaints of discrimination based on religion and 432 complaints based on race during the last fiscal year.

Khan said his father did not seem surprised by Gatchis’ remarks, but he himself was shocked.

“Just to look at my name and assume everything in my life, everything that I am,” he said. “I was angry, I was disappointed. I started to have a little bit of self-doubt. It kind of creeps into your mind: Who else is thinking these things? Is she the only one?”

Khan came to the United States when he was 11, sponsored by his father, who had a green card and was then working in Phoenix. They later moved to Boulder.

Khan earned a degree at the University of Colorado Boulder and worked in information technology before teaming up with his dad. Their restaurant’s recipes are influenced by the family’s roots in Bangladesh and England, where Khan was born.

On a typically busy weekday, staff at Curry n Kebob carried platters of naan, basmati rice and varieties of meat and curry to customers waiting for lunch.

Khan said he received constant support from customers and friends as the suit wrapped up and still hopes to find a Denver location to grow the family’s business.

“If it weren’t for me being (in America), I wouldn’t have the life I do,” he said. “I wouldn’t enjoy the freedoms I have, and I wouldn’t have the justice system that allowed her to have the consequences for acting like she did.”

—
By KATHLEEN FOODY Associated Press

The post Landlord Katina Gatchis Who Refused to Rent to Muslim Men Settles Lawsuit appeared first on The National Herald.

LONG ISLAND CITY – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris called on the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) on May 3 to create more poll sites for voters in Queens. The borough, with the second highest population in the state and largest geographic area in the city, will have only seven sites according to a new plan issued by the board.

“Seven polling sites for more than two million people is an affront to democracy. The Board of Elections plan deserves a recount,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “We passed this law to make it easier for millions of New Yorkers to vote. The Board of Elections needs to step up so more New Yorkers will vote.”

Earlier this year Senator Gianaris and his colleagues passed a law providing for nine days of early voting across the state and mandating a minimum number of early voting poll sites per county, while establishing a standard of at least one poll site per 50,000 voters.

“The Board of Elections (BOE) is doing the bare minimum to implement early voting, especially in Queens where there are more voters assigned to each polling site than any other borough. This is not only inexcusable, but likely a violation of state law. We need between 50-100 voting centers across the city to serve New Yorkers in non-traditional locations, close to transportation, borough-wide, and including city and state facilities. Both the city and state have devoted millions of dollars to make early voting a success, it’s time for the BOE to step up,” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York. 
Senator Gianaris’ full letter to the Board can be found below.

May 3, 2019

Michael Ryan
Executive Office
32 – 42 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10004

Dear Mr. Ryan,

I write upon learning the early voting sites selected for the borough of Queens. The Board of Elections initial submission reveals too few sites in the and the few sites chosen are not even convenient for many residents.

Earlier this year, my colleagues and I passed New York’s first ever early voting law. As you know, the enacted law envisions one poll site for every 50,000 voters while establishing a minimum of 7 poll sites per county. Unfortunately the New York City Board of Elections submitted the minimum necessary for legal compliance, in the process setting the stage for failure of the early voting process by only having one site for every 337,000 Queens residents.

Early voting should enable the most people possible to cast ballots prior to Election Day and that requires more sites, in more neighborhoods that are easily accessible to public transportation.

I urge you to amend your plan and open more early voting poll sites throughout the borough of Queens-the second most populous county in the state, and the largest by land area in New York City.

I stand ready to work with you to identify additional and more suitable locations and look forward to voting early this November along with my neighbors.

Sincerely,

Senator Michael Gianaris
Deputy Majority Leader

The post Gianaris Calls for More Poll Sites to Meet Demand for Early Voting  appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – In an exclusive interview to The National Herald, John Catsimatidis, one of the most prominent global businessmen, as well as a widely-known and respected Greek-American, spoke about Archbishop Demetrios – describing him as “a wonderful person, but not a builder” – referring to the St. Nicholas church.

He also spoke about the “squandering” of millions of dollars to what he called “nonsense expenses” and emphasized that “the Authorities of New York want to finish the project as soon as possible.”

Mr. Catsimatidis believes that it is imperative that the Archdiocese “regains the trust of the faithful.”  To the question of what to make out of the Archbishop’s trip  to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew one more time, he said “Well, we have several problems: Archbishop Demetrios is a wonderful person, a Harvard professor, very educated and actually very well-meaning, but he took on a task that they weren’t capable of, rebuilding the church of St. Nicholas. It became a mess, $38 million dollars were squandered without being able to finish the church. By comparison, other churches like Fr. Alex’s [Karloutsos’] church in Southampton, which I go to on Sunday, cost $18 million dollars and it is a wonderful facility. [The Archdiocese] had to spend $38 million [on St. Nicholas] and then estimated that they will need another $40 million to finish the project. This is something that we have to carefully look at. Fr. Alex believes that the monies to finish the church are available in the community. Once confidence is back, it will be worked on properly.”

Speaking about the trust of the people, Mr. Catsimatidis said, “I think they have lost trust in the Archdiocese. They are capable of religion but they are not capable of building another church. Nobody at the Archdiocese gave them a diploma in building churches.”

When asked about what the Authorities of New York have been telling him, Mr. Catsimatidis responded, “the Governor of New York and The Port Authority that owns the land want to finish the project as soon as possible. They don’t want to be embarrassed. The Port Authority is taking a hard look at it and they are willing to go along with the Committee that was recommended by the Governor and by The Port Authority. The Committee knows how to complete the project. I, myself, brought new counsels onto the board because we have built almost $2 billion worth of real estate in the last five – six years. [W]e know how to build and build efficiently. What the Archbishop should have done was to bring people like that in the mix before the problem occurred. I have a lot of respect for His Eminence. He is wonderful man but he is a wonderful religious man, he is not a builder, and I think this is the nicest way we can say it.”

Regarding the investigation by the Attorney General into the matters of the Archdiocese and St. Nicholas, he said “I don’t know details about it but if someone stole money for their personal use, then they should be punished.  There is a difference between stealing money and squandering money. Lawyers don’t go to jail for squandering money but this is nonsense, stupidity.”

To the question about the $3.5 million the Archdiocese took out of the accounts of St. Nicholas for operational expenses and the other missing money, Mr. Catsimatidis said, “squandering I understand, but Michael Psaros knows more than I do. I understand that $8 million was squandered up for professional fees and for some reason lawyers don’t go to jail – $8 million for professional and lawyers fees is foolishness. The other factor is with the professional contractors. There is an old expression my mother and father used to tell me that ‘[contractors] drink your blood.’”  Mr. Catsimatidis continued, “when [the Archdiocese] made some changes, for instance the change to the dome, there was an increase in price to $15 million for the new dome. Here are the figures $15 million for the dome, $8 million for lawyers – that’s $23 million out of the $38 million. We are talking about a huge silliness.” He added, “the big mistake is that the Archdiocese and the Archbishop didn’t bring in construction people that do this thing every day.”

When asked about whether he still stood by the letter he had written a few months ago reverently asking Archbishop Demetrios to retire, Mr. Catsimatidis said, “I believe that to regain confidence in the Archdiocese, I have recommended that the Patriarch either retire His Eminence or make him Ambassador at large of the entire Church.”

Shortly before our interview, Mr. Catsimatidis had lunch with Henry Kissinger. He said, “I have known Henry Kissinger since my daughter married President’s Nixon grandson and he is a very good friend. He is 95 years old but he is very sharp. The luncheon was with some other very important people, about ten of them. We discussed the problems in dealing with China and North Korea.” When asked if they spoke about Greece, he said, “We didn’t talk about Greece but I brought up the discussion of Turkey being an ally to the U.S. and a member of NATO – or not really a member of NATO. We also spoke about Japan and the Ottoman Empire having the same DNA – different than China.”

The post John Catsimatidis Speaks Exclusively to TNH about St. Nicholas, Archbishop appeared first on The National Herald.

ASTORIA – A new coffee house that focuses on small pastries and traditional coffee opened in Astoria the first week of March.

Sweet Habit is located at 45-11 Broadway. The new spot specializes in all kinds of coffee, but what stands out is the freddo espresso (essentially a double espresso shaken and poured over ice) – a favorite in Greece.

The coffee shop is owned by two friends, Christopher Petropoulos and Iraklis Ramadhis, who immigrated to Astoria about 10 years ago. The two met while working at the same real estate office in Manhattan, and then teamed up again at Astoria’s Caprice NYC bar. Both of them say that the coffee business came to them by luck.

It just so happened that they were both near Anastasio’s Hair Salon when the salon owner said he was looking to sell the space that was soon to become Sweet Habit. Last year, another store called New York Coffee Time opened in the same location, but it closed quickly. The two friends grabbed the opportunity, changed careers and started their new business.

“Everything has to do with how much you like what you do,” said Petropoulos, adding that he wanted to break out of the nightlife. His passion for coffee was what led him to open the shop.

“Greeks are curious about coffee,” said Petropoulos. “For them it is a sort of ritual. They may have a million things to do, but they will sit down, they will slowly drink their coffee, and they will discuss. Good coffee is highly appreciated and respected.”

The coffee shop can accommodate about 12 people inside and as spring and summer approach, the owners have planned to put some tables and chairs outside.

The store is open seven days a week from 6 AM until 7 PM. On Saturdays it is open from 7:30 AM until 7 PM and Sundays from 8 AΜ until 7 PM.

The post Sweet Habit: Coffee in Astoria by Two Greeks who Emigrated 10 Years Ago (Video) appeared first on The National Herald.

Composer Mike Georgiades has been nominated for his role in helping produce the score for the Greek-inspired video game Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which is up for the Ivor Novello Award, the Ivor Academy said, Variety reported.

The Ivors award excellence in songwriting and screen composition in the United Kingdom. The Ivor Academy initially holds a public call for entries and all eligible submissions are reviewed by juries specifically appointed by the Academy.

Georgiades teamed with producer-composer duo Joe Henson and Alexis Smith, known for their work on Horizon Zero Dawn and with singer Lana Del Rey, are up for nomination for Best Video Game Score following their work on the 2018 Ubisoft title.

Winners will be announced during The Ivors on May 23. Q.U.B.E. 2 composer David Housden and Sea of Thieves composer Robin Beanland are also nominated.

The post Composer Georgiades Up for Best Video Game Score Award appeared first on The National Herald.

This month’s unit is about the summertime Greek Vocabulary you already know from English.

Καλοκαίρι is the Greek word for the summer. You probably don’t realize it but you already know the Greek compounds of this word from English nouns.

ΚΑΛΟΚΑΙΡΙ IS SUMMER

Το καλοκαίρι (TO kaloKEri) is a compound word from the adjective καλός (kaLOS) and the noun ο καιρός (O keROS).

ΚΑΛΟΣ MEANS BEAUTIFUL

The adjective καλός occurs in English words like calligraphy. Calligraphy was a common word during our grandparents’ time, when beautiful and clear handwriting was important. In our time – because we mostly write on our computer – calligraphy has lost its importance. Calli- comes from the Greek word το κάλλος, which is related to the adjective καλός, -ή, -ό, which means good in the soul, kind, and beautiful in body as well. Therefore, both the noun το κάλλος and the adjective καλός refer to internal and the external beauty as well. Το κάλλος is visually represented in the sculptures of the classical era. Classical sculptors’ main concern and objective was how to embody the beauty of one’s soul –mainly the gods’ divine spirit – in a harmoniously in a marble body.  You may wonder why καλός is written with one Λ, λ and το κάλλος with two. Το κάλλος derives from the superlative degree of the adjective καλός, the best, which in ancient Greek was κάλλιστος, -η, -ον, and was written with double Λ,λ.

-GRAPHY MEANS WRITING

-Graphy comes from the Greek noun η γραφή (EE yraFEE), which means the writing and the Greek verb εγώ γράφω (eYO YRAfo), which means I write. Calligraphy means “very beautiful handwriting.”

ΚΑΙΡΟΣ MEANS WEATHER

The second compound of the word το καλοκαίρι is the noun ο καιρός (O keROS). Many languages have adopted this Greek word to indicate the right time to do something. In ancient Greek it had both meanings. The right time and the weather as well – probably because “the right time” was then closely connected to good weather. During the winter, the ships didn’t sail and wars were avoided.

Καλοκαίρι (καλός + καιρός) is the season, when the weather is good. All seasons are of neuter grammatical gender in Greek, therefore το καλοκαίρι takes the article το. The plural is τα καλοκαίρια.

Ο καλός καιρός. O kaLOS keROS. The good weather.

Ο καιρός είναι καλός. O KeROS EEne kaLOS. The weather is good.

Το καλοκαίρι ο καιρός είναι καλός. TO kaloKEri o keROS EEne kaLOS. In the summer the weather is good.

Το καλοκαίρι κάνει καλό καιρό. TO kaloKEri KAni kaLO keRO. In the summer the weather is good.

Note that unlike English, in Greek we don’t use a preposition before a season’s name – as “in the summer”. We just say το καλοκαίρι and we mean in the summer.

BASIC VOCABULARY

Greek word Pronunciation    Meaning

Το καλοκαίρι     TO kaloKEri       the summer

Ο καλός, -ή, -ό  O kaLOS    the good

Ο κάλλιστος, -η, -ον O KAlistos   the best

Το κάλλος   TO KAlos    the beauty

Η καλλιγραφία   EE kaliyraFEEa the calligraphy

Καλλιγραφικά    kaliyrafiKA   calligraphically

Η γραφή     EE yraFEE  the writing

Εγώ γράφω       eYO YRAfo I write

Ο καιρός     O keROS    the weather, time

Κάνει    KAni     is (for the weather, does)

Είναι     EEne    is

EXERCISE

Can you say in Greek?

1. In the summer the weather is good.
2. I write calligraphically.

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.

The post Our Everyday Greek: The Greek Word for the Summer is Already Familiar to You from English appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany David Gill along with Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras hosted a Salon with author Amanda Michalopoulou on May 2 in Manhattan.

Consul General Gill gave the welcoming remarks in German, at first, a little Greek, and then in English for the international audience assembled at his residence on Park Avenue. Consul General Koutras also made remarks in German and then in English, noting that he studied in Germany and received his PhD there.

New York Institute of Technology Professor Lissi Athanasiou-Krikelis gave a presentation on Michalopoulou and her book Baroque before the author read excerpts from the fascinating work of auto-fiction. The book begins with the author at age 50 and recounts the life story backwards with the character aging in reverse. Each chapter begins with a photo and captures the voice of each specific age from the adult to the teenager to the toddler.

When asked how long it took to write the book, Michalopoulou told The National Herald that it took four years. Her process involved yellow post-it notes all over the room, mapping out the story. She noted that once she decided to tell the story backwards, the writing flowed more easily than if she had tried to write it chronologically.

Michalopoulou also read an excerpt from her novel God’s Wife which will be published by Dalkey Archive Press in English translation and released in September.

Amanda Michalopoulou is one of Greece’s leading authors. She has published eight novels, three short story collections, and a successful series of children’s books. Michalopoulou studied French Literature and worked as a columnist for Greek newspapers for many years. She has won prestigious literary prizes, including the Academy of Athens Prize and the Diavazo Award. The English translation of her book I’d Like won the International Literature Prize from the National Endowment for the Arts. The same book was also nominated for Best Book in Translation (University of Rochester).

Most of her books were written during residences abroad as a fellowship holder – for example, in 2004 when she was participating in the Berlin Program for Artists hosted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). While reflecting on this she said, “It feels closest to being an actress; foreign countries give me the freedom to invent other identities – and yet I cannot escape my Greek identity.”

Michalopoulou has both demonstrated a sharp eye for details in her literature as well as in her work for the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. In 2015, she depicted the everyday life of people during the years of economic crisis in Greece. Michalopoulou’s novels, stories, and essays have been translated into sixteen languages and have appeared in the Harvard Review, Guernica, World Literature Today, PEN Magazine, The Guardian among others.

Among those present at the event were Popita Pavli, Consul of Greece Lana Zochiou, Consulate of Greece in New York Cultural and Public Relations officer Evelyn Kanelleas, Greek Press Office Attache Dora Trogadi, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Chief Administrative Officer and Co-Chief Operating Officer Vasili Tsamis, President of the Hellenic Medical Society of New York Dr. Panagiotis Manolas and his wife Dr. Katerina Georgantza Manolas, Prof. Demetrios Argyriades, Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance President Fanny Trataros, Queens College Sociology Professor Nicholas Alexiou, Chryssa Avrami, artists Giorgos Taxidis and Lilia Ziamou, as well as many members of the community.

The post A Salon with Author Amanda Michalopoulou in New York   appeared first on The National Herald.

MAY 3-11
NEW YORK – The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the New York Greek Film Expo May 3-11at the Directors Guild Theater 110 West 57th Street in Manhattan, the Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, and the Bow Tie Cinemas 430 Plandome Road in Manhasset. Topical offerings reflect the Greek and Greek-American experience with films that capture the current political and social transitions in Greece, the life stories of 20th century cultural giants, a love story set against the backdrop of the Greek War of Independence, and a documentary that explores women’s issues. Greek language films are shown with English subtitles. For further information, to purchase tickets or for information on how to become a Hellenic Film Society USA sponsor, please visit https://hellenicfilmusa.org/ or email info@hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.

MAY 3-19
ASTORIA – The Greek Cultural Center, 26-80 30th Street in Astoria, presents the contemporary Greek comedy Ftistos O Makaritis by Penny Fylaktaki, directed by Ioanna Katsarou. The play debuted in Thessaloniki and has since toured throughout Greece with great success, and is now in Astoria running Friday and Saturday, 8 PM and Sunday, 5 PM through May 19. More information is available by phone: 718-726-7329 and online: greekculturalcenter.org.

MAY 5-11
PITTSBURGH, PA – St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 419 S. Dithridge Street in Pittsburgh, holds its annual Greek Festival May 5-11. Enjoy delicious “homemade” Greek food at the festival open for lunch through dinner with outdoor grill, dining under the tent, live Greek band, nightly dancing by the youth of the community, and wonderful camaraderie. Hours: Sunday, May 5, Noon-8 PM; Monday, May 6-Thursday, May 9, 11 AM-9 PM; Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11, 11 AM-10 PM, music ’til midnight. More information is available by phone: 412-682-3866 and online: stnickspgh.org.

MAY 9-23
MANHATTAN – The opening of the art exhibition titled Mythology featuring paintings by Andreas Kontellis takes place on Thursday, May 9, 6 PM, at the premises of the Consulate General of Greece in New York, 69 East 79th Street in Manhattan. Curated by Louiza Karapidakis, the exhibition runs from May 9-23, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-2:30 PM. RSVP for the opening by May 6: rsvp.nyc@mfa.gr.

MAY 9-12
WATERBURY, CT – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 937 Chase Parkway in Waterbury, holds its 47th annual Greek Festival. Enjoy homemade Greek food and pastries, jewelry, raffles Church viewing and tours. Entertainment includes live Greek music in the evenings, Greek dancing by the youth of the church and Kids’ corner. Free parking and free admission. Hours: Thursday, May 9, 11 AM-9 PM; Friday, May 10, 11AM-11 PM; Saturday, May 11, 11 AM-Midnight; and Sunday, May 12, 11 AM-3 PM. More information is available by phone: 203-754-5189 and online: holytrinitywaterbury.org/greekfest.

MAY 10-11
ASTORIA – The Theatrical Group of St. Demetrios Astoria presents H Theia apo to Sikago (The Aunt from Chicago), the comedy by Alekos Sakellarios, directed by Apostolos Mavrommatis and Stavroula Tsoutsa, on May 10 and 11, 8 PM at the Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center, 30-03 30th Drive in Astoria. Free admission.

MAY 11
MANHATTAN – The Ronald McDonald House New York Greek Division invites you to its 24th Annual Niki Sideris Walk-a-thon on Saturday, May 11, starting off from Ronald McDonald House New York, 405 East 73rd Street in Manhattan. Registration: 9 AM; Walk: 11 AM. $20/participant. Please visit www.rmh-newyork.org/events/greek-walk-a-thon for details.

GLEN COVE, NY – Nepomak USA/FCAO Membership Drive/Networking Event takes place on Saturday, May 11, 5:30-8:30 PM at Cove Restaurant in Glen Cove. Complimentary open bar and appetizers. Free admission. Please contact Martinos Kyprianou at 551-206-0471 or Argyris Eleftheriou at 201-956-1044 for details.

FAIRVIEW, NJ – Vocalist Eleni Andreou together with a select group of musicians is hosting a musical concert, Tribute to Vicky Mosholiou at the Community Center of the Ascension Greek Orthodox Church, 101 Anderson Avenue (corner of Henry Street) in Fairview on Saturday, May 11, 7:30 PM. Enjoy two hours of Vicky Mosholiou’s unforgettable songs that will remain with us for years to come. For reservations call 201-264-3196 or 347-201-1821, for further information contact Dimitri Kontolios dimitri62@gmail.com or Despina Kolokithas dkpatra1@yahoo.com. Donation $40 per person. All net proceeds will be given to the Hellenic Relief Foundation to purchase food for the needy families in Greece during this time of economic crisis. A reception will follow the concert.

MAY 13
MANHATTAN – The American Hellenic Institute Business Network requests the pleasure of your company at its Monthly Informal Networking Reception at Avra Restaurant, 141 East 48th Street in Manhattan, on Monday, May 13, 5:30-7:30 PM. Please RSVP to csirigos100@aol.com.

MAY 15
MANHATTAN – The East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA) invites you to “Financing Your Next Construction Project Panel Discussion – Using Tax Exempt Bond Financing and Other Economic Development Incentives” at the 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, May 15, 6 PM. Please visit www.embca.com for details.

MAY 16
ASTORIA – The Hellenic Medical Society of New York invites you to its scholarship fundraiser Spring Fling at the Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria on Thursday, May 16, 7:30 PM. Please visit www.hmsny.org for details.

MAY 19
MANHATTAN – Kehila Kedosha Janina hosts its 5th Annual Greek Jewish Festival at Broome Street between Allen and Eldridge Streets on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on Sunday, May 19, 12-6 PM. The synagogue community along with numerous community partners will celebrate the unique culture and heritage of the Romaniote Jews in New York City. Experience authentic kosher Greek foods and homemade Greek pastries, traditional Greek dancing, live Greek and Sephardic music, an outdoor marketplace full of vendors, arts and educational activities for kids, and much more! Performers include: Stavros Theodorou Orchestra, Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey, Noga Group with Avram Pengas, Hillary Coniglio Lit, Scott Wilson & Efendi, and Axion Estin Panegyris. More information is available online at www.kkjfestival.com and by phone: 212-431-1619.

EASTCHESTER, NY – The 5th Annual Loukoumi Dance Party & Make A Difference Awards take place on Sunday, May 19, 5-9 PM at Mulino’s at Lake Isle, 660 White Plains Road in Eastchester. This year’s Inspiration Award will be presented to
Grammy Award-winning legend Gloria Gaynor, best known for her hit song, I Will
Survive. Loukoumi Make A Difference Awards will also be presented to The Sweet Treat Girls, The Mint Brothers, The Hellenic American Academy, The Immaculate Conception
School, Our Lady of Grace School, St. Paul School, The Waverly School, Julia Arditi
and Malia Hernandez, and Sammy Cook. Online auction is now open: www.biddingforgood.com, search Loukoumi Dance Party. More information is available online: www.LoukoumiFoundation.org.

JUNE 5
MANHATTAN – New York-based composer and performer Pericles Kanaris returns to his New York residency at Drom with three concerts for the Spring and Summer seasons. The theme for the new performances is “Road to Athens,” as the series will culminate in a concert at the prestigious NOSTOS Summer Festival at the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center in Athens, Greece on June 30th. The upcoming New York show is Wednesday, Jun. 5, 8 PM. Also featured are the musicians Ben Butler (guitars), Richard Hammond (bass), Peter Douskalis (guitars, assistant director), Agapitos Maganaris (bouzouki, vocals), Gary Schreiner (accordion, harmonica), Jamie Eblen (drums/percussion) and Jessie Reagen Mann (cello). More information is available online: dromnyc.com.

The post Going on in Our Community appeared first on The National Herald.

As part of its broader support to students, young professionals, and early-career academics through fellowships, internships, and professional development programming, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) supports internship opportunities for Greek nationals at one of the world’s top modern art museums.

Applications for internships beginning this fall at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) are now open.

In addition to a number of other general internship opportunities at MoMA, four twelve-month internships, one each in the Department of Film, the International Program, Public Programs, and Research and Development, will be offered to graduates and young professionals with Greek nationality. Those interested must apply online by June 7, 2019.

SNF launched its support for MoMA internships in 2013 as part of its major Recharging the Youth initiative, an effort to open up new opportunities for the generation of young Greeks severely impacted by the country’s economic crisis. In 2017, SNF furthered its support to extend the internship program through 2022.

SNF support for MoMA extends back to 1997, nearly to the Foundation’s beginning. In February 2019, SNF’s Board of Directors approved a significant new grant in support of MoMA’s push to increase accessibility and expand its critical community programs by 70%. The effort includes programs such as Art inSight (for blind or partially sighted individuals), Interpreting MoMA (for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing), Create Ability (for individuals who have learning disabilities), and Meet Me at MoMA (for individuals with dementia and their caregivers), among others.

Read what a few past MoMA interns had to say about their experiences here.

*The SNF is not involved in the process of candidate selection and evaluation, for which MoMA is solely responsible.

Source: SNF

The post 12-Month Internships for Greek Nationals at MoMA: Apply Now appeared first on The National Herald.

CHICAGO – A sea of blue and white took over some Chicago streets Sunday for the Greek Hellenic Heritage Parade, NBC Chicago reports.  Hundreds of schools, fraternities, churches, all types of groups and all age groups, dressed in their costumes, participated at the parade.

Chicago Greek Heritage Parade. #stgeorgenwi https://t.co/GEbanEJDrR

— St George GOC NW IN (@StGeorgeGOCNWIN) May 5, 2019

The post Greek Heritage Parade Took Place in Chicago (Vid) appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – A day before His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America resigned, His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane submitted a letter announcing his intent to begin his retirement process.

His Grace did not cite a specific reason for his retirement, but did mention his age, challenges and stresses of his work, as well as his health. During his retirement, Bishop Andonios promised to devote himself to the completion of St. Michael’s Home, an assisted living/retirement home for the aging Greek-American community.

The full text of his letter follows:

May 3, 2019

My dear Fathers,

CHRISTOS ANESTI!  Having celebrated the glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you, your loved ones and all those entrusted to your spiritual care a blessed and joyous Paschal Season!

I also wanted to personally share with you that last November I submitted to His Eminence a letter expressing my intent to begin the retirement process as of my 66^th birthday which was this past January.  After my November 2017 surgery to repair my mitral valve, I had intended to step down the previous January on my 65^th birthday but in light of the difficulties of 2017, I postponed that action so that I could do what I could to help the Archdiocese.  The overwhelming majority of my “ordained years” have been spent at East 79^th Street, where I started in 1984 as a layman.  Like any ministry, my time here, especially as chancellor for 10 years, has had its challenges, STRESSES & yes, taken its toll (including on my health), but also has had many blessings, joys & fond memories. 

While I have made the commitment to His Eminence to remain on as long as he holds the Office of the Archbishop, the time has arrived for me to gradually begin the transition and allow others, with new ideas and energy, to assume more and more of my tasks at the Archdiocese. 

With that in mind, I recently sold my home in Westchester & will be moving during the summer.  Ultimately leaving the Archdiocese will allow me to focus my time & energy on the completion of St. Michael’s which is so critically important to the elderly of our community & a priority for me.  If allowed, I would like to also assist with the project at the Warren, CT. property.  Both these ministries, to opposite ends of the age spectrum of our community, are a source of so much fulfillment and joy to me personally.

It has been my honor to serve in various capacities at the Archdiocese, and with any position I held, I can sincerely say that I tried my best, even if I wasn’t always “successful”.  I can say that I leave with a clear conscience & hope with all my heart that I was able to have some positive effect & impact on our Church & community.  Above all, I trust I was able to be of support & assistance to you, the beloved clergy of the Direct Archdiocesan District. 

Keep me in your prayers!  I trust that our paths will cross from time to time, for I truly enjoy the fellowship with the brothers.  Know that even if not holding an “official” position here at the Archdiocese, I will always be available to each and every one of you if the need ever arises and I can be of assistance or support to you.

The post His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane Announces Intent to Retire appeared first on The National Herald.

Fifteen months after the noted Australian NGO Blueprint for Free Speech set up Blueprint Greece to fight corruption, money laundering and fraud, the Melbourne-based group helped pass wider protection for whistleblowers in the European Union and was jointly awarded a prestigious Financial Times award.

Blueprint for Free Speech partnered with India’s Nishith Desai Associates law firm to develop the Perugia Principles, 12 Ways Journalists Should Protect Their Sources, which won the Financial Times’ Asia PacificLawyers Awards 2019 in the category of Innovation in the Rule of Law and Access to Justice.

Blueprint Greece last year, with its parent organization, organized appearances in Athens of CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou and another in Thessaloniki, co-sponsored by Transparency International and the American College of Thessaloniki and has built a worldwide following on Twitter, reporting as well on wrongdoing, hacking, cryptocurrency and the massive $230 billion Danske Bank money laundering scandal.

In Greece, it has followed the alleged scandal around the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and reported on issues as well on Cyprus, including EU worries about the Golden Visa scheme giving wealthy foreigners residency permits and passports for the bloc.

“Blueprint for Free Speech was set up to defend and expand protections  for freedom of expression. Protecting whistleblowers is one part of this. The NGO also does other work to defend free speech,” said Executive Director Suelette Dreyfus.

She has built an international reputation in the field and her specialities of  technology research, journalism, writing, information systems, digital security and privacy and the impact of technology on whistleblowing, featured in international media, including being interviewed on Deutsche Welle.

Often in Europe, she delivered testimony in favor of whistleblower protections that were recently adopted by the European Parliament where she has worked with lawmakers there including former Greek journalist Stelios Kouloglou.

She noted that whistleblowing has emerged as a counter to corruption that has become even more prevalent with the emergence of cryptocurrency as a way to launder dirty money and criminals becoming more tech-savvy and sophisticated.

“Whistleblowing is an emerging form of free speech – it is the right to  dissent from wrongdoing. We now know much more about secret deals and bad behavior done for decades behind the scenes; the public’s appetite for better ethical behavior is strong.” A recent survey showed Americans believe corruption is the top problem for them.

“People also realize that means defending the truth-tellers. That’s why there is a mood for change in Europe – and why whistleblower protection laws have been being passed around the globe, from Australia to Lithuania to the EU Parliament itself,” she said.

Blueprint, extending to Blueprint Greece’s role, is to insure that truth reaches from whistleblowers to the public, including through journalists who are turning to more elaborate methods of obtaining information online.

“It’s no good having a great law on the books protecting the media’s freedom to  publish if journalists are cowering in the corner, fearing for their  lives, in the real world,” she said.

With frequent reprisals against whistleblowers, and journalists coming under target as well from governments, she said Blueprint’s mission is more critical in a digital world where surreptitious methods can be used to uncover people who report wrongdoing and journalists working with their confidential sources.

“Free speech isn’t just a human right – it’s a corrective mechanism in our society when things start to go rotten. That’s why it’s worth defending with all the fierceness of a lioness protecting her treasured cub,” she said.

She said she was especially pleased with the award for the Perugia Principles that were presented at the International Journalism Festival in Italy, showing how journalists can interact with whistleblowers and tying together law, technology and ethics.

Laws that protect journalists have not kept pace with advances in technology. Proper encryption of digital communication is a concern for anonymous sources and whistleblowers in particular, with the risk of being uncovered by a digital footprint of the slightest kind, the paper said of the Perugia Principles, with the world now different than the Watergate days of journalists meeting sources in parking garages and dark places.

The new EU directive was a hard battle, she said, with some lawmakers wanting to keep whistleblowers from being able to report wrongdoing to external sources such as journalists. “There is now third-tier whistleblowing protection under that directive and that’s a super big win for journalism,” she said at the Perugia event.

The post Blueprint Greece’s Parent Aussie NGO Wins Financial Times Award appeared first on The National Herald.

CONSTANTINOPLE – Archbishop Demetrios of America submitted his resignation in writing to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Saturday, May 4, 2019 according to an official Communique

of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Patriarch will present the Archbishop’s resignation at the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Phanar on Thursday, May 9.

Demetrios returned to New York on late Saturday night and he Liturgized the following day at the Church of the Resurrection in Brookville, Long Island. He was accompanied by Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh.

The National Herald has learned that Demetrios tried to obtain another extension for a few more months but this time Bartholomew declined.

The Archbishop didn’t make any mention at the Eparchial Synod’s meeting two weeks ago that he intended to resign. Neither had he informed the Archdiocesan Council. On the contrary, he scheduled meetings of the Archdiocesan Council in Atlanta May 7-11, the same days that the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will convene at the Planar.

It is reminded here that Bartholomew three times urged Demetrios to submit his resignation voluntarily, as The National Herald had revealed, because he had led the Archdiocese into financial, administrative, and spiritual bankruptcy, but the Archbishop refused.

Specifically, the Patriarch proposed a voluntary resignation to Demetrios on September 3, 2017 and his election as Metropolitan Geron of Herakleia which is considered a prominent Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that was destroyed during the Asia Minor Catastrophe in the early 20^th century.

The second time was on May 30, 2018 when Demetrios showed complete defiance toward the Patriarch. The Archbishop refused to resign after Bartholomew invited him to do so officially at the meeting of the Patriarchate’s Holy Synod on May 30.  He said that he wanted to stay to fix the problems of the Archdiocese. Bartholomew invited Demetrios into his office for a private discussion and told him it was time to think of resigning. The Archbishop refused. Then, the Patriarch put the issue to the Holy Synod, inviting its members to assume their responsibilities.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers’ report about the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine was read at the Synod and was discussed extensively. Many members pointed out contradictions in the report. The Patriarch said people do not give money [toward the rebuilding] when they have lost their trust [in the institution].

The third time was November 20, 2018 when Bartholomew gave the Archbishop a new extension. The Patriarch notified the Holy Synod of the Phanar on Tuesday, November 27 that he has accepted the request of Demetrios of America to grant extension for his resignation until Easter. This development was made during the second round of a meeting held in Geneva on Tuesday, November 20 as The National Herald had exclusively revealed.

The official announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate regarding the written resignation of the Archbishop has as follows:

“Ecumenical Patriarchate Communique

Herein it is announced that today, Saturday May 4, 2019, His All-Holiness received in audience His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America, who informed Him of various matters involving his God-saved Eparchy.

Furthermore, His Eminence the Archbishop submitted his written resignation from the throne of the Holy Archdiocese of America, which he shepherded with godly love for twenty years. The Patriarch will bring the resignation before the Holy and Sacred Synod in its upcoming meeting on May 9th.

From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod.”

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CHICAGO – The Enosis Federation of Hellenic American Organizations of Illinois honored Hellenic heritage, the history of Hellenism in Asia Minor, and distinguished guests at its annual gala on Saturday, May 4 at the Fountain Blue Banquets and Conference Center in Des Plaines, Ill.

The event commenced with an introduction by Evangelia Sourounis and the invocation offered by Frs. Chrysanthos Kerkeres and George Kostopoulos. The national anthems of Greece and the United States of America were then sung by Eftihia Papageorgiou and George Giannetos, followed by passionate performances by members of the Pontian Society of the Chicago Xeniteas Dance Troupe.

In her opening speech to guests, Consul General of Greece in Chicago Ekaterina Dimakis stressed the significance of preserving the Hellenic language, noting it as the most important part of Hellenic identity. Enosis President Kostas Chaniotakis then took the stage to welcome guests and introduce this year’s Hellenic Heritage Parade Grand Marshals.

“Greek people, all over the world, every year in their national parade declare their ethnicity and their strong beliefs in democracy and deep devotion to the values of liberty and social justice,” Chaniotakis said in a statement. “Here in the United States, we proudly showcase our Hellenic identity and how it has been shaped by and expressed in the American culture.”

Grand Marshals of this year’s Chicago Hellenic Heritage parade were MIT Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Dr. Constantinos Daskalakis, and Chicago native, entrepreneur and new majority owner of Greek Soccer Team OFI, Mike Bousis.

“It’s an honor to be here because Greeks abroad and Greek-Americans preserve Hellenism…that includes memories and identity,” Daskalakis said in his speech to guests, in Greek. “Hellenic heritage is truly a heavy one. To be Greek is a rarity, and also bears much responsibility.”

A renowned theoretical computer scientist, Daskalakis, who has roots in Crete and grew up in Athens, said it has always awed him how the small geographical area of Greece has produced so many bright minds throughout history and in modern times.

Also in attendance were Cook County Judge Tom Sianis and Illinois District Judge Jesse G. Reyes, as well as Mariyana Spyropoulos, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, among others.

Chicago’s Hellenic Heritage Parade was blessed with warm, sunny weather the following day, Sunday, May 5, as Greeks, friends and locals gathered in the city’s famous Greektown to celebrate.

Over 35 floats represented local schools, church parishes, organizations, associations, clubs and foundations including the Greek American Restaurant Association (GARA), the Greek American Motorcycle Association (GAMA), the Pan-Laconian Progressive Brotherhood of Illinois, the National Hellenic Museum and the Pan-Hellenic Scholarship Foundation.

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MEDIA, PA – The community of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Media, Pennsylvania, originally from Chester, celebrated its 75th anniversary with a weekend of festivities.

The celebrations started with a Welcome Party on Friday evening, May 3. The church hall was transformed into a giant photo album with over 1,000 photos and artifacts, some from as early as the 1930s, displayed on over 50 collages which adorned the walls while a video loop played on the big screen.

On Saturday morning, May 4, almost 100 parishioners traveled to the City of Chester to visit the church edifice built by the founding families. Tears flowed as they were welcomed into their old home by the members of the Temple Baptist Church. Father Anastasios Bourantas lead the congregants in a short service of thanksgiving with everyone singing Christos Anesti (Christ Is Risen) which was followed by the two communities sharing a lovely breakfast in Christian fellowship.

By Saturday evening, everyone was ready to party. It was an evening filled with joy, love, music and dancing at the Concordville Inn.

The celebratory weekend culminated with the Divine Liturgy at Saint George and Artoclasia in thanksgiving for the community. The final activity was a wonderful family picnic.

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