THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN VEMA. Raising of children in the training of the Lord

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1 THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN VEMA The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece OCTOBER 2010 Tel. (02) Fax: (02) A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE Raising of children in the training of the Lord PAGE 3/21 Reflections at the Close of the St Andrew s Pastristic Symposium 2010 PAGE 7/25 ORTHODOX Julia Gillard invites Papandreou to Australia Newly elected Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has invited Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to pay an official visit to Australia. PAGE 6/24 CHRISTIAN UNITY ACROSS ALL JURISDICTIONS Orthodox Bishops of Australia & New Zealand region speak with one voice TRAVEL Antiparos: Declaration of independence PAGE 16/34 Following the proposal of the 4th Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Meeting held in Chambesy, Geneva last year, and in continuation of the guidance of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod, the 1st Assembly of all Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania took place in Sydney between 16th-18th October, 2010, under the ex-officio chairmanship of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia. On Sunday 17th October, the Divine Liturgy was concelebrated by all Bishops in the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, Redfern, after which a reception was held for all the faithful in the adjacent Main Hall of St Andrew s Theological College, followed by an official meal for the Hierarchs. Cont. p

2 The Greek Australian VEMA OCTOBER /20 TO BHMA ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN UNITY ACROSS ALL JURISDICTIONS Orthodox Bishops of Australia & New Zealand region speak with one voice Cont. from page 1/19 On the evening of the same day, the Assembly commenced at the Millennium Centre of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (Brighton-le-Sands, Sydney), with proceedings taking place according to the following programme: SUNDAY pm Opening - Prayer Welcome and Address given by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia 8pm Following the brief Address by Archbishop Stylianos, Their Eminences and Their Graces each spoke for 5-7minutes, according to the order of the Diptychs. Discussion regarding the speeches. Dinner MONDAY am Prayer The meeting continued in the same manner. Namely, Their Eminences and Their Graces each had the opportunity to speak for 5-10 minutes initially, according to the order of the Diptychs, and of course were able to make comments wherever necessary am 11.30am 1pm 2.30pm Morning tea - coffee Continuation of proceedings Lunch Continuation of proceedings, and election of the Secretary of the Executive Committee Communiqué The members of the First Episcopal Assembly of all canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania welcomed the opportunity to meet in Sydney from October, 2010 under the chairmanship ex officio of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia. The Assembly commenced with a Divine Liturgy manifesting our essential eucharistic unity at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, Redfern, Sydney. In accordance with the decisions of the pre-conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference convened in Chambésy, Switzerland from 6-13 June, 2009, the canonical Orthodox Bishops met in a brotherly spirit, and after lengthy and edifying discussion centered on issues of mutual concern, such as pastoral care, catechesis and liturgical life, reaffirmed the unity of all canonical Orthodox Churches. Consequently, we strongly condemn all of those who attempt to destroy the precious unity of our Church through adherence to new or existing schismatic groups and sects in our region. In order to safeguard and contribute to the unity of the Orthodox Church in Oceania, the members of the Assembly unanimously agreed upon the formation of the following three Committees relating to: 1) Campus Ministry: cultivating the Orthodox faith amongst our University students and shielding them from the effects of proselytism, co-chaired by Their Graces Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Church and Bishop Ezekiel of the Greek Archdiocese. 2) Inter-Orthodox Liturgical Services: embracing common Pan-Orthodox services and adopting a unified approach to pastoral and liturgical issues, co-chaired by Their Graces Bishop Mihail of the Romanian Church and Bishop Seraphim of the Greek Archdiocese. 3) Canonical Issues: compiling a list of all canonical bishops and other clergy of Oceania and a secondary list of schismatic groups and sects which attempt to promote themselves as being canonical Orthodox. This Committee is chaired by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos and consists of representatives from each Orthodox Church. The Assembly looks forward to meeting in years to come to continue working for the good of Orthodoxy in our region. 4.00pm 4.30pm 5pm Afternoon tea - coffee Conclusions - Communiqué of the Assembly Official closing of the Proceedings of the Assembly by its President, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia The Communiqué produced and published by the Assembly reads as follows: Their Eminences and Their Graces during dinner after the first day of the proceedings On Sunday 17th October, the Divine Liturgy was concelebrated by all Bishops in the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, Redfern.

3 OCTOBER 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21 Editorial Meritocracy is the key For decades Greek governments have stressed the importance of decentralisation and local government. The ambitious Kallikratis plan - passed into law earlier this year - was an important step as it did away with the 76 prefectures that spanned the country and replaced them with 13 larger regions. Similarly, 1,034 municipalities were reduced to less than 370. The plan s goal is simple: to streamline and thus empower local government. Prime Minister George Papandreou said this would bring about fundamental and much-needed reforms to public sector administrative structures. Calling it a new start, he said it would allow Greece to shed its reputation as the European Union s most centralised state. The stakes are high, given that a centralised and inefficient state has been a major cause of Greece s problems. The government appeared so serious about decentralising the state that it even formed a ministry of decentralisation, headed by one of Papandreou s closest aides, Yiannis Ragousis. Local elections on November 14 will be a litmus test of sorts. However, for all the government s good intentions, the plan will amount to a drop in the ocean if political parties do not ensure that candidates running for office are selected on the grounds of merit and not just on party colours. Nepotism and rampant partisanship have been a bane of the political system for generations. Given that most local authorities are heavily in debt - Athens and Piraeus between them have a debt of more than a quarter of a billion euros - it is blatantly obvious that bad management and incompetence have tended to be the norm rather than the exception. Opposition leader Antonis Samaras decision to force Thessaloniki Prefect Panayiotis Psomiadis to drop his brother from his election ticket on the grounds of nepotism is indeed encouraging. But there still appears to be a long way to go. For a country to rid itself of a highly centralised system of government is a daunting task. Ridding itself of a political culture bred on partisanship and nepotism will take a generation, at least. No matter how good the ship, if its crew can t navigate rough waters, it is bound to founder. ATHENSNEWS A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE Raising of children in the training of the Lord By PETER MAVROMMATIS The Bible gives parents the responsibility of bringing up their children in the training and admonition of the Lord (Deut 6:6-9; Eph 4:6). The aim of this month s column is not to provide an exhaustive list of things to do and avoid. Rather, it sets out to explore some basic principles derived from Ephesians chapter 6 where Saint Paul explains the relationship between parents and their children. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:1-4). Principle No. 1: Children must obey their parents. Obedience is not a favour children do for their parents but something God has commanded them to do because it is right for them to do it. Children must be made aware of this responsibility. Parents (or anyone in authority over children) who allow their children to be badly behaved are not doing what God expects them to do. They are failing to exercise their Godgiven authority and role. They fear that discipline might break down the relationship they strive to develop and that, since God is a God of love, they must show grace and mercy. But God is righteous as well as loving and so a correct balance needs to be maintained. There should be neither legalism nor permissiveness. Parents are placed over children for their own good and must not renege on this responsibility. Principle No. 2: Children have a responsibility to honour and respect their parents through both their attitudes and acts. The fact that this was one of the Ten Commandments reminds us that it is foundational to a stable society and to proper relationships with others and towards those in authority over us. Without this, society would tend towards anarchy. Disrespect would undermine every home. Respect is not based on fear and dread but on the commandment of God. Parents must expect and demand respect from their children. Not to do so goes against the will of God. Principle No. 3: Parents are not to exasperate their children in the exercise of their authority. Children are likely to feel exasperated: If they are treated arbitrarily. If the reasons for rules and expectations are not correctly explained to them. If they feel that they are being disciplined for our own convenience and/or pleasure. If they believe that they are being treated unjustly. God is just, and as a consequence, we as Christians need to reflect this justice. Any punishment must therefore be just. When we seem to be harsh and unremitting and lack the quality of mercy. God is merciful to us and, by extension, we must show mercy (see the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant - Matt 18:23-35). If we seem to care more about our rules than we do for them as people, i.e. if we fail to show real love in our discipline. Children pick up as much from the tone of our voice and expression as they do from our words. Principle No. 4: Parents are to discipline in love. God is love (1 John 4:8) and in our discipline, more than ever, we must show love. We read in the Epistle to the Hebrews that whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives (12:6; Prov 3:11-12). Because we love our children, we sometimes need to discipline them. In order for this discipline to be effective - and not hurtful because this would only cause resentment - we must discipline in a loving way, all the time being models of the love described in the First Epistle to the Corinthians (13). Some implications of this are listed below: Parents must demonstrate patience and kindness, without becoming irritable or resentful, despite the severity of the situation or level of frustration. Do not discipline in a hurry, in the heat of the moment. If you feel you are losing your temper, give yourself some time before you discipline a child. By the same token, do not discipline a child who is angry. Any punishment must recognise the age and maturity of the child, not belittling him/her in word or deed. Needless to say, the punishment must fit the crime. Parents must display good manners. Do not attack the dignity or self-worth of the child. Remember, it is the sin that you hate, not the sinner! Any discipline should be aimed at helping the child improve behaviour. Parents must not show satisfaction when their children are caught out doing something wrong, as if to say, I knew you would let me down again. As soon as possible, after disciplining a child, make the opportunity to interact with the child in a positive way. Parents must show joy when children who had done wrong, begin to do good. In other words, try to catch your child doing something right! Parents retain optimism without bringing up past wrongs continually. Principle No. 5: Children are to be brought up in the training and admonition of the Lord. The word training in Ephesians 6:4 refers to the whole education of a child, while the word for admonition, νουθεσία, means to set in the mind. Training in the Lord can be described as what Saint Paul says, Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Cor 11:1). Here we see, as was written in last month s column, that our own example is most important. Values are best learnt when there is a good example to follow. This was further elaborated by St John Chrysostom in his First Homily on Hannah, where the saint emphasises the need for parents to set the standard, to become the example for children. Interestingly, we are often concerned about the people our children may mix with, even when we ourselves are not the ideal example! Children are of course impressionable, so we need to be very careful that we ourselves do not lead them astray and cause them to stumble (Matt 18:5-7). All parents want what is best for their children. Sometimes however, we may not be aware of our own responsibilities as parents, believing that our role is simply to show love and provide for the needs of our children, forgetting that we are also charged with their spiritual formation. It is the role of each and every Christian to encourage family, friends and colleagues to fulfil their responsibilities. Let us encourage and support each other to draw nearer to God and His Holy Church, and in so doing empower one another to fulfil our spiritual obligations towards all children. To comment, agree or disagree, visit Peter Mavrommatis is a teacher of Orthodox Studies and Personal Development at St Spyridon College Senior School, Sydney.

4 The Greek Australian VEMA 4/22 TO BHMA OCTOBER 2010 Letter from Maroubra THE POWER OF BICYCLES If Australians ever think of bikes they see them as a cheap way of commuting and as a way to minimise pollution. Like me, quite a few cycle for some exercise or for leisure. But I had never thought about the capacity of bicycles to provide an access to education. Neither did I consider the potential for bicycles to liberate people throughout the world. The fact is that bicycles are a simple technology which is vastly underestimated. Who could imagine that bicycle programs would be used to provide poverty relief throughout developing nations? An excellent example is World Bicycle Relief. World Bicycle Relief By JAMES ATHANASOU This organisation has given 24,400 bicycles for tsunami relief in Sri Lanka, 23,000 bicycles to health workers and health educators in Zambia and around 50,000 bicycles are proposed for children in rural Zambia to help them get to school. Why bicycles? For a start they give women and girls in particular a safer way to travel. They are inexpensive to run and maintain. They provide mobility. World Bicycle Relief indicated that bicycles can increase carrying capacity five times as much when com- pared with walking; or increase the distance a person can travel by four times; and save around three hours for every 15 kilometres travelled. This charity is the brainchild of Chicago businessman Frederick Day and was founded by SRAM Corporation and Trek Bicycles in 2005 ( They started by improving bicycle design because most bicycles imported into Africa were not strong enough. They fell apart on the rough roads and tracks. So they designed a 25kg one-speed bicycle that needed little tinkering. Each bicycle costs around A$140 to place in the field. This includes the manufacturing costs, delivery and transport plus training one bicycle mechanic for every 50 bicycles. They actually train mechanics in the villages and townships to repair the bikes. Charity through education But why are bicycles important for education? Bicycles increase access to school for children in rural areas. Some walk 20km to and from school in rural areas. In some regions less than half of all primary school pupils will go on to complete high school. Girls in these remote areas have even less opportunity for schooling right from the start. And as every Greek-Australian immigrant knows, schooling has been important to overcome poverty. Philanthropic Orphan School Last Sunday a lunch was held at Sydney s St Stylianos parish in aid of St Clements Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya. The funds raised support the meal program. For many children the free meal provided through St Stylianos is their only meal for the day. The school was founded by the local Orthodox Metropolis in September 2002 and it caters for orphans, refugees, children from single-parent families and HIV / AIDS victims. The aim of the school is to give freedom from poverty through education. It provides schooling to approximately 125 children who otherwise would not have been able to afford education in Kenya. It is described as a unique school in Kenya: there are no fees charged whatsoever; writing material, uniforms, educational resources, are all offered freely; and enrolment is based on socio-economic need. By all accounts it is worthy of support. The students of the school come from the villages on the outskirts of Nairobi. Some children walk up to 50 minutes to get to school each morning. A bike would also be great! James Athanasou athanasou@gmail.com For all donations to St Clements Primary School - the account details are: LAIKI BANK, Parish of Sutherland KENYA Account, BSB: Account number: The views expressed in Letter From Maroubra are those of the contributor and not those of the VEMA or St Andrew s Press. Greece plans diaspora bonds The Greek Government plans to sell bonds to the millions of Greeks resident abroad as it eyes a return to international bond markets some time next year, the finance minister said recently. Greece is keen to return to markets after plunging into a debt crisis last year, when its budget deficit hit 13.6 percent of GDP, driving borrowing costs to prohibitive levels and prompting a three-year 110 billion euro rescue plan from the International Monetary Fund and European Union. We are talking at the moment and designing what is called a diaspora bond to tap Greek money that is abroad and we feel that we will be quite successful, Finance Minister Yiorgos Papakonstantinou told Reuters Insider TV. Analysts said details were needed to see what amount Greece could raise from a diaspora bond and what would make it more attractive than other Greek debt offerings. It would need to be made clear what benefit Greek expats would gain by buying these bonds as opposed to existing Greek government paper in the secondary market, said Miranda Xafa, senior strategist at IJ Partners, an asset management firm based in Geneva. Will they be trying to appeal to their patriotism or will there be a tax advantage? Government officials said the diaspora bond was still in the planning stage and details had not been decided yet. Every little thing helps, said Kornelius Purps, an analyst at Unicredit in Munich. (But) with Greek debt we are always talking of billions; it is more important to convince those who really have the money, European institutional investors, to purchase Greek debt instead of individuals. Papakonstantinou said financial markets remained cautious on Greece and were just beginning to believe it would stay the course of fiscal consolidation and continue to implement reforms after seeing some first results. He again ruled out default and vowed to stay the course on the big changes in the Greek economy - pension and labour markets, opening up closed professions, reforming the tax system, cracking down on tax evasion. Papakonstantinou said public protests, although sometimes violent, have been smaller than in other countries as people realise tough measures are necessary. The Greek public understands perfectly well that what is being done is absolutely needed. It is difficult, it is often harsh, people are hurting, however, in the situation that we were in and to avoid bankruptcy we have to take the decisions we are taking, he said. Reuters

5 OCTOBER 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 5/23 A Power of Attorney "Power of Attorney" is a phrase that many of us know but may not fully understand. In this edition of Investment News we will be providing some answers to the common questions regarding Powers of Attorney. It is important to keep in mind that this paper is only a brief outline of powers of attorney in Australia and that slight differences can occur from state to state. Please note that this newsletter is not legal advice. You should seek your own advice before entering any Power of Attorney. What is a Power of Attorney? A Power of Attorney is a legal document that is made by one person, (known as the "principal") which permits another person (known as the "attorney") to do things on the principal's behalf during the principal's lifetime. A principal is sometimes also referred to as a "donor" and an attorney as the "donee". The purpose of a Power of Attorney is to provide proof of an attorney's powers. The Power of Attorney allows the attorney to sign any document or do anything which the principal can do legally, subject to any conditions or limitations stated in the document. Why would I want to have a Power of Attorney? A Power of Attorney enables your affairs to be managed by a person of your choice in instances where you are unable to conduct your affairs, for example if you are travelling overseas, are ill or become mentally incapacitated (enduring Powers of Attorney only). Powers of Attorney may be used for almost any purpose, including authorising the attorney to collect debts, vote at meetings, operate a financial institution account or to carry out any other function which can be lawfully delegated. Can anyone make a Power of Attorney? To make a valid Power of Attorney you must be at least 18 years old and must understand the nature and effect of the document creating the power. Who can be my Power of Attorney? The word "attorney", when used in relation to "Power of Attorney", does not mean that the person appointed is a solicitor. The person appointed as your attorney can be any person over the age of 18 who is able to assist you. It can easily be a friend, family member, the Public Trustee or a trustee company or a trusted professional such as your Accountant or Solicitor. What types of Powers of Attorney are there? Powers of Attorney can be specific or general with the authority conferred by the Power of Attorney being limited to specific acts or unlimited. The circumstances relating to why the Power of Attorney has been created often dictates the structure. For example, if you are going overseas, you may wish to make a Power of Attorney so someone can look after your finances during the period you are away. As noted earlier, Powers of Attorney can vary from state to state. Broadly speaking, however, they can be categorised into four types: 1. General Powers of Attorney - which allow you to choose someone who will make specified financial and legal decisions on your behalf, keeping in mind that the power ceases if you lose the capacity to make your own decisions; 2. Enduring Powers of Attorney (financial) - which allow you to choose someone to make financial and legal decisions for you if you become unable to make these decisions; 3. Enduring Powers of Attorney (medical treatment) - which allow you to choose someone to make decisions about your medical treatment if you become unable to make these decisions; and 4. Enduring Powers of Guardianship - which allow you to choose someone who can make lifestyle decisions for you. It is important to remember that if you want to choose someone to make decisions for you in case you lose your capacity to make your own decisions you may need to make one or more enduring powers of attorney. Enduring powers are an option all people should consider because anyone can become ill or have an accident that may affect their ability to make decisions. If you only want someone to make financial and legal decisions for a limited time such as when you are travelling you will need a general Power of Attorney. No further bailout needed for Greece Greek finance minister George Papaconstantinou says that there will be no need for a new emergency bailout loan when the current one expires in 2013 but refuses to rule out extending the repayment period. Papaconstantinou says in an interview published in newspaper Real News that extending the repayment period of 110 billion euros ($A156 billion) in loans provided by the EU and the IMF "if it is ever decided, will be a proof of trust and a recompense for our current efforts". He adds that it would be premature to say if an extension is necessary. He says that "by 2013, Greece will be a country with better public finances and a stronger economy". He says "we will not need further (bailouts) but to preserve what we will have accomplished by then". AP How do I make a Power of Attorney? To make a Power of Attorney you can either engage a solicitor or use a trustee company to draw up the Power of Attorney document. You may also able to purchase forms from your local newsagency, Australia Post shops or specialised stationers. Where a trustee company is used you will need to nominate the company as the attorney. Do I have to register my Power of Attorney? It may not be necessary to register a Power of Attorney, however, by registering a Power of Attorney it will be: On record as a public document; Safe from loss or destruction; and More easily accepted as evidence that the attorney is allowed to deal with your assets. It is important to note that where the Power of Attorney permits the sale, mortgage, lease or other such dealing with real estate it will usually be required to be registered before it becomes effective. Can I cancel a Power of Attorney? Generally, a Power of Attorney remains in force until it is terminated by the death, bankruptcy or insolvency of the principal or the purpose or time for which it was created has been fulfilled or has passed. However, a Power of Attorney can be cancelled at any time as long as the principal still has mental capacity to do so. If the Power of Attorney has been registered it is advisable that its cancellation also be registered. If third parties have been provided details of the Power of Attorney they should also be notified of its cancellation. What are my Attorney's obligations? An attorney must not exceed the authority given under the Power of Attorney. If Serengeti, Maui Jim, Fendi the attorney does exceed their authority, he or she may be liable for any damages suffered by the principal or others. An attorney is under a duty to act in the best interests of the principal at all times. An attorney may pass on his or her powers and duties to another person only if authorised to do so by the Power of Attorney document. Do I have to pay my Attorney? Except where the Power of Attorney document states otherwise, the attorney is not paid for his or her work as your attorney. However, they can claim any reasonable out of pocket expenses directly connected with carrying out the Power of Attorney duties. If the Public Trustee, Trustee Company or professional is your attorney, the Power of Attorney document will usually contain a clause allowing them to charge a fee for their services. Can I use my Power of Attorney if it was made interstate or overseas? Generally speaking, Powers of Attorney from overseas or other states may be able to be used. You should make your own enquiries in relation to this, however at minimum your Power of Attorney document must have certain basic features such as being in English (or translated by a qualified translator), show the date it was made, detail the name of the principal and attorney, include a statement that the attorney has the power to act for the principal and be signed by the principal and witnessed by an appropriate person. For more information: Christian Dior, Gucci, Ted Baker Katerina + Kyriacos Mavrolefteros 874 Anzac Parade, Maroubra Junction (at bus stop, on RTA block) JORDAN & DJUNDJA LAWYERS SUITE 1, 23A REGENT STREET, KOGARAH, N.S.W TEL: (02) FAX: (02) Tel: (02) service@maroubraoptoms.com.au Nina Ricci, Oakley, La font Rodenstock, Ray Ban

6 6/24 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA OCTOBER 2010 Facts & Stats A new Greece emerging Greek PM George Papandreou with Australian PM Julia Gillard at the ASEM Summit Julia Gillard invites Papandreou to Australia Newly elected Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has invited Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to pay an official visit to Australia. In statements to Australian media, Gillard expressed her pleasure over her first meeting with the Greek premier in the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and noted her desire boost trade ties between the two countries. There is much room for improvement she said. I invited the Greek Prime Minister to visit Australia, where 600,000 Greeks live. In Melbourne, which is my home town, and in Australia generally, there is a very strong Greek community, and I m sure that he (Papandreou) would be given a very, very enthusiastic reception if he was able to visit, said Gillard The last Greek Prime Minister to visit Australia was Costas Karamanlis in She further said that Australia could contribute with its knowhow in many sectors in Greece. (ANA-MPA) Australian tourism to Greece up 15% in Jan-July Defying forecasts, tourism from Australia to Greece marked an impressive rise in the first seven months (January-July) of the year, according to Greek National Tourism Organisation (GN- TO) Australia director Christina Kalogera, citing data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. More specifically, the number of Australian visitors to Greece in the first seven months of 2010 rose by 15 percent against the corresponding period last year, she said, noting that a total of 600,000 Australians visited foreign destinations in August. Kalogera also said that, according to forecasts, Australian passenger movement to Europe will increase by 4 percent in 2011, which also means an increase towards Greece, too. Greece, she continued, offers many kinds of tourism year-round and for everyone. Kalogera attributed the rise in travelers to Greece to the high parity of the Australian currency and the availability of airline seats and affordable ticket prices, given the heavy competition in recent years among the various airlines that carry out Australia-Greece itineraries. She also noted the large Greek community in Australia. (ANA/MPA) By Joanna Papadimitropoulou The breeze of optimism that blew during the past few days concerning the upturn of the Greek economy was helped even further by the recent announcement of a venture of great historical and diplomatic importance. The preparations for holding, next spring, at the renowned Ashmolean museum of the University of Oxford - the world s largest centre of classical studies- the exhibition From Hercules to Alexander: the legend of Macedonia is the last thing we expected in such hard times and moving in itself. In the context of the exhibition, 550 items found in the excavations of the Aiges palace during the last 20 years will make their public debut in the renovated halls of the university museum. Along with them, we look forward to freeing ourselves from the misery induced by economic insecurity, the devaluation of politics and the rubbish served as the new television season s programming. Aiges is of course the birthplace of the royal Macedonian dynasty, since the times they settled in the northern edges of Olympus. As for the undisputed leader of this bold initiative, it is the excavator Angeliki Kottaridi, a lone scientist, for whom the constant querulousness about the crisis and insufficient funding wouldn t cut it. At the same time that contract workers of the Ministry of Culture were blocking access to the Acropolis demanding to get paid, Kottaridi was explaining in what ways this exhibition, in a time of insecurity and uncertainty, will try to establish on an international level the scientific truth, invoking a global discussion. The findings at Aiges prove that Macedonia has been Greek since the Geometric Age. They also prove that the Macedonian kingdom was just another one of the many Greek states of the Geometric Age, one that maintained Homeric political and societal structures while Athens and other city-states were establishing democracy. Let s hope that, until April, when the exhibition is set to open in Oxford, the climate change regarding the Greek e- conomy will have been completed. The recent scaling down of loaning spreads is clearly an effect of the positive opinion that starts to spread in the world markets about the prospects of the Greek economy. This means that, if all goes well, sometime in 2011 Greece will be able to return to the global markets and foreign investors will take a rekindled interest in Greek bonds. ATHENSNEWS Search in Greece for legendary treasure A Greek-Australian treasure hunter has begun a search in the mountains of central Greece for the treasure of a notorious 19th century Ottoman pasha believed to be enough to plug the country s vast debts, state TV says. Vangelis Dimas is financing the excavation to locate the hoard of Ali Pasha near the village of Vassiliki, 352km northwest of Athens. The sensors show me that there is great treasure hidden below, Dimas told state television NET on Friday as a crew manned a heavy drill on a small hill a few metres from the local road. Advertisement: Story continues below According to Dimas, the treasure could be worth millions of euros, NET said. Vassiliki mayor Vaios Ziakas told AFP the state-approved operation is proceeding slowly and would likely extend into next week. So far we have drilled to a depth of 23 metres but the rock is very tough, he said. If at 30 metres we have a breakthrough, it will mean that there is an underground chamber below. A drill has been brought from Athens for the purpose and cameras will be inserted to help locate the chamber believed to hold the treasure. Ali Pasha was an Albanian-born potentate who ruled the area for the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century, shortly before the Greek revolution that ended the country s fourcentury Turkish occupation. He was killed in 1822 in an unsuccessful revolt against the Ottoman Sultan but his treasure was never found. Prior attempts to locate it near his stronghold in the northwestern city of Ioannina have been fruitless. The village of Vassiliki is named after the pasha s Greekborn wife who hailed from the area, and lies on his old tax caravan route to Ioannina. The Greek state is entitled to 50 per cent of the finds and the municipality will also be given a percentage, officials say. Greece is battling a debt crisis and growing recession after coming close to bankruptcy earlier this year. The Greek debt stands at more than 300 billion euros ($A426 billion). SMH Turks to return Prinkipo orphanage to Patriarchate Prinkipo According to a newspaper report, the Turkish state organisation just barely met a three-month European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) deadline to re-register the property, following a relevant ECHR ruling last June. If confirmed, the development would mark the first time that such a property has been returned to a recognised religious minority by the Turkish foundation. According to the same report by the Haberturk newspaper, registration of the property at the Turkish cadastre office in the name of the Patriarchate is expected to take place next week. Ecumenical Patriarchate Vartholomeos has previously stated that the orphanage - billed as the world s second-largest wooden structure - will be turned into an inter-faith centre for dialogue and peace. The orphanage was originally built as a hotel by renowned French architect Alexandre Vallaury in the 1890s; it was subsequently bought in 1903 and donated to the Patriarchate by Helene Zafiropoulo-Zarifi, the wife of Ioannis Zarifi, a banker to then Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid ll, with the stipulation that it be used as an orphanage for ethnic Greek children. The orphanage was closed in 1964 at the height of tensions over Cyprus. (ANA-MPA / A. Abatzis)

7 OCTOBER 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 7/25 LEFT: Visiting scholar from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Emeritus Professor Georgios Mantzaridis during his speech. RIGHT: Part of the audience. Reflections at the Close of the St Andrew s Patristic Symposium 2010 Doru Costache Philip Kariatlis St Andrew s Greek Orthodox Theological College, a member institute of the Sydney College of Divinity, hosted for the second year in a row a patristic symposium, between 1 September and 6 October This new celebration for the heart and mind, as the logo of our Symposia goes, was dedicated to the personality and ecclesial significance of St Gregory the Theologian. The theme of the event was The Poetry of Theology, which allowed for a wide range of viewpoints on the crucial contributions brought by the fourth century Cappadocian Father. Indeed, the papers offered throughout the six nights addressed the saint s contributions in a cross-disciplinary manner, in light of the expertise and interests of the presenters. Along with the presentations by members of the Faculty and a number of our graduates, this year s Patristic Symposium hosted three keynote papers, marking an obvious progress from the last year s event. The Symposium was inaugurated on Wednesday, 1 September, by the first keynote paper, offered by the College s Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, who addressed various aspects pertaining to the personality of the great ecumenical teacher under the title Spiritual Portrait of St Gregory the Theologian. On the same night, Dr Anna Silvas (Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities; University of New England, Armidale NSW) offered the second keynote paper, Expeditions to Sites Connected with Sts Basil the Great, Macrina and Gregory the Theologian. The second night, Wednesday, 8 September, hosted the papers presented by Revd Gerasimos Koutsouras, lecturer in Church history (Sermon to Song: Transforming St Gregory s Orations into Hymn) and Revd Dr Doru Costache, senior lecturer in Patristic studies and co-convenor of the event (Seeking Out the Antecedents of the Maximian Theory of Everything: St Gregory the Theologian s Oration 38). On the third night, Wednesday, 15 September, two more papers were presented, by Sister Dr Margaret Beirne, senior lecturer in Biblical studies (Scripture in the Works The College s Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia Professor Mantzaridis answered many questions from students of St Andrew s Theological College His Eminence presented Professor Mantzaridis a memento for his visit to Australia of St Gregory the Theologian), and Mario Baghos, graduate of the College and assistant lecturer in Church history (Working towards an Existential Metanarrative of History in the Writings of St Gregory the Theologian). Wednesday, 22 September, hosted the third keynote paper offered by a visiting scholar from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Emeritus Professor Georgios Mantzaridis. This paper was presented in Greek, under the title Aνθρωπογνωσία καί Θεογνωσία εiς Aγ. Γρηγόριον τόν Θεολόγον (Knowledge of the Human Person and God according to St Gregory the Theologian), with a simultaneous English translation by Dimitri Kepreotes (lecturer in Canon Law). On Wednesday, 29 September, Revd Alan Galt, lecturer in Pastoral Care and Counselling (Comparing Wesley s Christian Perfection and Gregory s Theosis ), and Anthony Papantoniou, graduate of the College and assistant lecturer in Patristic studies (Christological Insights from St Gregory the Theologian s Letters to Cledonius) presented. The last night of the Symposium, Wednesday, 6 October, hosted the papers offered by Peter Mavrommatis, graduate of the College and teacher at St Spyridon s College in Maroubra NSW (Beyond Rhetoric: Elements of Pedagogy in the Works of St Gregory the Theologian), and Dr Philip Kariatlis, lecturer in Systematic theology and co-convenor of the event ( What then? Is the Spirit God? Certainly! St Gregory s Teaching on the Holy Spirit as the Basis of the World s Deification). The sessions were well attended by a broad public, comprising academics from various Universities in Sydney, the Sydney College of Divinity and other member institutions of the consortium, clergy from various Orthodox jurisdictions and other Christian denominations, monks, students and lovers of the Church Fathers. The wide attendance pointed out once again the relevance of the St Andrew s Patristic Symposia to both Church and the academia. All the podcasts of the papers offered have been promptly uploaded on the College s website ( edu.au/ downloads.html) by the Registrar, Anastasios Kalogerakis, where from they can be freely downloaded or listened to. The event has been advertised through a variety of channels, including the Facebook Group St Andrew s Patristic Symposium Like for the last year s Symposium, a number of papers will be published in a special edition of our theological journal, Phronema, in After the next year s Symposium, which will explore the personality and contributions of St Gregory of Nyssa, the College intends to publish a collective volume reuniting the contributions presented at the first three Symposia (2009, 2010 and 2011), dedicated to the Cappadocian Fathers. We are delighted to announce that for the St Andrew s Patristic Symposium 2011 there are already confirmed two keynote papers, which will be offered by two eminent Australian scholars and friends of the College, Dr Anna Silvas (University of New England, Armidale NSW) and Dr Bronwen Neil (Catholic University of Australia, Brisbane QLD). Dr Silvas will present the paper entitled Revisiting St Gregory s Letter to the monk Philip: Christological considerations from the Syriac version. Dr Neil s paper will be entitled Gregory of Nyssa on Divine Providence. We hope to see you all next year!

8 The Greek Australian VEMA 8/26 TO BHMA OCTOBER 2010 Contrary to people s negative perceptions about Dingos, the research shows otherwise. Professor Robert Mulley from the University of Western Sydney gave a fascinating talk at All Saints Grammar s annual Science Fair. His research work on the numbers and behaviour of Dingos in the Blue Mountains World Heritage area was received with great interest by the school s top Science students, who asked a considerable number of questions. Dingos are the apex predators in this ecosystem. They eat swamp wallabies, brushtail possums, Eastern Grey kangaroos, rabbits, wombats and Ringtail possums. They tend to eat the smaller dietary items during months when they are training their pups in predatory skills during the months of September and October. They are highly territorial and regularly patrol the perimeter of their AMAZING DINGO RESEARCH territory. Very few were found to have predated domestic animals. Professor Mulley was impressed with the scientific literacy of the students and the strength of All Saint Grammar s Science Faculty who encourage students to apply the scientific method in their thinking and research. Students are doing some excellent project work and show great maturity in their presentations, stated Professor Mulley. Mr Bill Sofatzis, Head of the Science Department, agreed. I tell students to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary: a leaf, a raindrop, a spec of dust may hold the answer to one of life s mysteries. Stop and wonder why and don t let the world pass you by. This year s finalists impressed the audience for the breadth of their research from the Social Sciences to Physics: false memory syndrome, mental health among youth, the effect of musical vibrations on plant growth, aerodynamics and the science of spherical objects, the power produced by a solar collector, and the effect of magnetism on mobile phones and i-pods. Elly Paxinos, Coordinator of Gifted & Talented Programs at All Saints Grammar stated that it was important for gifted and talented Science students to have a real audience for their independent research. Each year she invites a visiting scientist to address the finalists at the Science Fair. She praised the school s Science teachers for mentoring students in their scientific research. Nobel Prize for Economics awarded to Christopher Pissarides The award of the Nobel Prize in Economics to Professor Christopher Pissarides (photo) constitutes the highest possible honour for Cyprus and its people, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias stressed in a written statement. The President praised the Cypriot born Nobel Laureate saying the award of the Nobel Prize translates to international recognition both for his excellent scientific work as well as for his lifetime achievements in the demanding area of Economics. President Chirstofias extended his heartfelt congratulations to Pissarides, who has truly made us all proud. The Economy Nobel Prize for 2010 was awarded jointly to Professors Peter Diamond, Dale Mortensen and Christopher Pissarides for work focusing on problems like unemployment. Pissarides who is currently a Professor of Economics and Norman Sosnow Chair in Economics, at London School of Economics is due to hold the Marfin Laiki Chair at the University of Cyprus starting January The prize amount is approximately one million euro and will be shared equally between the Laureates.

9 OCTOBER 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 9/27 ST SPYRIDON COLLEGE I n v i t a t i o n v i i t a o n t i n a o Celebrate the P&F Spring Fair at the Junior School. Think fun. Live Music. Dance. Rides. Pony Rides. Animal Farm. Christmas Novelties. Face Painting. Stalls with great gift ideas and much more. This is a Fair with a distinctive Greek flavour. Great food. Great music. Lamb souvlakia. BBQ Octopus. Sizzling sausages. Greek cakes. Homemade jams. Fairy floss. Homemade lemonade. Gourmet Coffee. See just what a great Collegee you have here, right in the heart of Kingsford. For more information call or visit Sunday 31st, October Gardeners Road, Kingsford NSW am 5 pm

10 The Greek Australian VEMA OCTOBER /28 TO BHMA Longer living on a Greek Island Ikarians have an afternoon habit of picking fistfuls of garden herbs and steeping them in boiled water for an evening beverage Dan Buettner, holder of three separate world Guiness World Records for distance biking: a 15,500-mile ride from Alaska to Argentina in 1987, when he was 27; a 12,888-mile journey across the Soviet Union in 1990; and a 12,172-mile jaunt through Africa completed in 1992, an American explorer from Minnesota, performed a study on longevity with his team of scientists, after a series of journeys worldwide, including the Greek island of Ikaria, first published in National Geographic. Dan Buettner and his associates studied the way of life in areas known for the longevity of their natives (i.e. the percentage of locals who live up to the age of 100 is greater than in other areas around the world, combined with a low rate of hear diseases and cancer). These areas became the subject of his book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People who Lived the Longest (National Geographic). Among the Blue Zones are Sardinia, Okinawa, Costa Rica, Loma Linda, California and Ikaria. Despite the tremendous cultural and geographic differences between these distant lands, Buettner has identified common practices that seem to aid in extreme longevity. He calls these The Power Nine, or the nine rules any person can follow in the hopes of emulating the world s longest-living humans. Grecian formula for longevity More specifically, Dan Buettner in a National Geographic article referring to the Grecian formula for longevity stated that for the past eight years, I ve led expeditions to regions I call Blue Zones, places around the world where people are living measurably longer. Contrary to popular opinion, genes dictate as little as 2 percent of our life expectancy, so studying the lifestyles in these spots offers clues as to what we can do to live better, longer. Since 2008, with funding from National Geographic and AARP, my team has been investigating the Greek island of Ikaria, some 35 miles off the coast of Turkey, where more than a third of the residents reach age 90. The locals here suffer 20 percent less cancer than Americans, half the rate of heart disease, and, most surprisingly, none of the dementia. The author continues that Long-living Ikarians, we discovered, observe about 150 days of religious fasting a year, stay up past 2a.m., sleep late, and nap. They eat mostly leafy greens, potatoes, and beans. All of these factors, by varying degrees, add years to life. But there is another shared trait, one we hadn t seen in other Blue Zones. Ikarians have an afternoon habit of picking fistfuls of garden herbs and steeping them in boiled water for an evening beverage; at breakfast, they drink tea from other dried herbs. This was an important lead. I immediately contacted pharmacologist Ioanna Chinou, Ph.D., at the University of Athens, who agreed to unleash her lab s resources to help. I sent her several Ikarian herbs commonly used as teas: wild mint, spleenwort, rosemary, and purple sage. It is also important to note that, as the author points out, some Ikarian herbs can be hard to find outside of Greece, but other healthy herbs are readily available in the U.S. BOTANY CEMETERY OPEN DAY EASTERN SUBURBS MEMORIAL PARK 11am to 2pm - Saturday, 30th October 2010 ALL WELCOME! You are invited to our Open Day where you can meet our friendly team, join our Park tours and learn about the many services we provide to families and friends throughout our community. Here are some examples: Free flower arranging workshop Our on-site florist will be running a free workshop teaching you how to create beautiful flower arrangements which you can then enter in our best bouquet competition! Free sausage sizzle Enjoy a free sausage sizzle provided by our local 1st Little Bay Scout Group. Pioneer Memorial Park History Tours We will be conducting bus tours of our beautiful Park where you can stop at Centenary Park and enjoy a walk through its tranquil watercourse or continue on to Pioneer Park where you can explore Sydney s history with members of The Cape Banks Family History. See our new Funeral Home You can also join our tours of our new funeral home where you can inspect all of its modern facilities including the beautiful chapel, condolence and arrangement rooms, mortuary and hearse. Relax at our new café and condolence centre Enjoy a relaxing cup of tea or coffee or a refreshing drink served by the friendly staff at our new café and condolence centre. See the displays We have organised interesting displays of headstones, urns, caskets and coffins which demonstrate a large variety of designs and options. The suppliers will be able to provide you with a wide range of information. The Park is set in peaceful surrounds overlooking Botany Bay and we are close to major transport links with frequent public bus services (routes 309, 391 and L09). We hope you can visit us on our Open Day! Bring your family, bring your friends! Everyone is welcome! 12 Military Road Matraville NSW 2036 T. (02) F. (02) E. enquiries@esmp.net.au

11 OCTOBER 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 11/29 Health HEALTH NEWS WITH DR. THEO PENKLIS * ATRIAL FIBRILLATION This week a 74 year old patient of mine with a history of high blood pressure was found to have an irregular heart beat on a routine check up. This man was surprised because he felt very well. Clinically, he was in atrial fibrillation and this was confirmed on an ECG (electrocardiograph). Last week I saw a 65 year old lady with symptoms of weight loss, diarrhoea and palpitations (an awareness of her heart beating or racing). An ECG confirmed she was in atrial fibrillation. This lady was diagnosed with hyperthyroid disease (i.e she had an overactive thyroid) which was the cause of her atrial fibrillation. Here are two entirely different presentations of the same medical condition. Both these patients had an irregular heart beat or problem with their heart rhythm. In medical terminology we call this an arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation is one of a number disorders commonly referred to as arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation occurs because there is a disturbance of the heart s electrical system. And the heart s upper chambers or atria do not beat normally. The disturbance causes the atria to fibrillate or quiver, rather than pump the blood regularly between the atria and the heart s lower chambers, the ventricles. The heart still pumps blood, but not as efficiently as normal. The symptoms of atrial fibrillation The most common symptom of atrial fibrillation is palpitations. That is, an awareness of the heart beating or racing as with the lady, the second patient that I mentioned above. Sometimes people may have atrial fibrillation and have no symptoms as with the first man I mentioned above who was noted by the doctor at the time of a routine check up to have an irregular heart rhythm. Palpitations are not the only symptoms of atrial fibrillation. Sometimes the patient may complain of dizziness, weakness, tiredness, chest pain and tightness, shortness of breath or even feeling faint. These symptoms occur because the heart is not pumping efficiently as it should. Incidence of atrial fibrillation Atrial fibrillation occurs in about 2% of the general population and can affect about 10% of people over 75 years. Causes of atrial fibrillation The common conditions that lead to a patient developing atrial fibrillation are: coronary artery disease (reduced blood flow to the heart due to narrowing of the arteries of the heart) with or without a previous history of heart attack; hypertension or high blood pressure; valvular heart disease (ie due to disease of the valves in the chambers in the heart) and hyperthyroidism (which is due to an overactive thyroid gland). This is the cause in the lady mentioned above. Other less common conditions associated with atrial fibrillation include chest trauma, chest surgery, excessive caffeine intake, excessive consumption of alcohol, some medications. Other diseases such as pneumonia can cause atrial fibrillation. Sometimes atrial fibrillation can occur without an obvious cause. Some people may have a one off episode of atrial fibrillation. Some people may get recurrent episodes. We call this paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and in most people the condition persists. The risks of not recognising and treating atrial fibrillation When the atria fibrillate, the blood does not flow normally through the heart allowing the blood to collect or pool in the atria which leads to an increase risk of clot forming. If a clot forms, then a piece of it can break off and travel through the blood vessels, through smaller and smaller vessels until they get stuck and block the blood supply to important organs. If the blockage occurs in a blood vessel supplying the brain, it can cause a stroke. So it is important to recognise and treat atrial fibrillation in order to prevent strokes. If atrial fibrillation is suspected and it is usually first suspected if the patient s pulse is irregular, atrial fibrillation is confirmed by performing an ECG. The presence of thrombus or clot in the heart can be confirmed with a cardiac echo or ultrasound of the heart. The treatment of atrial fibrillation Atrial fibrillation will sometimes resolve on its own. That is, the heart will return to a normal rhythm without treatment. On many occasions, the patient will be given medications to try to control the heart rate, as well as the heart rhythm. Sometimes a decision may be made to perform an electrical cardioversion. In this case, an electrical direct current shock is given under a light anaesthetic. Ablation is another procedure which involves the physical interruption of the electrical circuits that sustain atrial fibrillation and ablation of these circuits will help people remain in a normal rhythm. Sometimes atrial fibrillation can be fixed by correcting the underlying problem. For example, if the patient has an overactive thyroid, treating the thyroid problem may resolve the atrial fibrillation. However, in many cases atrial fibrillation may recur, or may not respond to medication or electrical cardioversion or ablation, thus placing the patient at risk of having a stroke. Preventing strokes in people with atrial fibrillation Most people with atrial fibrillation will be prescribed medication to thin the blood in order to prevent clotting. This will decrease the risk of stroke. The most common medications used for this purpose are warfarin and aspirin. The decision to prescribe these medications will be based on a balance between reducing the risk of blood clots and emboli forming, and the likelihood of excessive bleeding in an individual patient, which can be assessed by the person s doctor. People taking warfarin need to be careful about taking the dose they are prescribed at the same time each day, and regular blood tests are done to make sure the dose is correct. This means that the recommended dose may change. The frequency of blood tests will be high initially until the dose is stabilised; but even after this, blood tests will need to continue at regular intervals (usually monthly) indefinitely to ensure that the dosage is effective without unduly increasing the risk of side effects. * The information given in this article is of a general nature and readers should seek advice from their own medical practitioner before embarking on any treatment. By Danny Rose, Medical Writer World holding its breath on stem cells The world is holding its breath, Australian experts say, as the first major embryonic stem cell trial in humans, approved by the US government, is underway. A US biotech firm has announced the enrolment of its first spinal injury patient, in a trial that could show whether a stem cell-based therapy can restore lost feeling or movement in paralysed limbs. The initial phase of the study will primarily assess its safety but, as Australia's Professor Andrew Elefanty explained, it signalled an important shift from "laboratory to the clinic". It should also show whether embryonic stem cells, which show promise for treating a range of human disease and injury, can live up to the hype. "The world will now watch with bated breath to see the outcome... will the cells be safe? Will we see a hint of clinical benefit?" said Prof Elefanty, who is Group Leader of the Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Group at Monash University in Melbourne. "The commencement of this trial marks the transition of human embryonic stem cells from laboratory to the clinic. "Whatever the outcome, other trials for different conditions will probably quickly follow." Stem cells are the equivalent of cellular blanks, as they are capable of developing into any of the roughly 200 types of cell which make up the body's tissues. Around 10 patients with recent spinal injury will take part in the trial by the US's Geron Corporation, which is hoped to show how they can be used to safely regenerate nerve cells and repair damage in a spinal cord. The first patient is receiving hospital treatment in Atlanta, Georgia, it was announced this week, and more people who have suffered a severe spinal injury are to be recruited. They will start treatment with a single injection of Geron's stem cell-based product, called GRNOPC1, within seven to 14 days of their injury. The patients will be followed up for a year to monitor safety and also to watch for any return of lost feeling or limb movement. US regulators approved the trial in early 2009 but it was delayed until the end of legal challenges to the overturning of the US's 1996 ban on federal funding for such research. "The fact that this trial is taking place under full ethical and medical supervision in top American hospitals, run by recognised experts, is very important," said Professor Bob Williamson, Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of Melbourne. The huge potential of stem cells has seen private clinics offering related therapies in countries with less regulation. There are reports of Indian clinics offering a starting round of stem cell injections for $US20,000 to $US30,000. "Until now, some people have gone to expensive private clinics where the cells were not prepared properly and there were no ethical controls," Prof Williamson said. "Everyone who works on stem cells hopes (Geron's) very preliminary research will not only show that the cells are safe to use, but also may give help to those who have suffered severe spinal injuries." AAP

12 The Greek Australian VEMA 12/30 TO BHMA OCTOBER 2010 RELIGIOUS LESSON FOR MINISTER For more than 130 years, religious denominations in New South Wales have the right to teach special religious education (or Scripture as it is better known) in State Schools. This was honoured at a special function organised by the Inter Church Commission on Religious Education. Ann Maree Whenman, Chair of the Commission welcomed the gathering of around 500. Ms Wenman described the occasion as a true celebration. It brought together Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists in a common cause. It was held at the Department of Education in Sydney in September and was also attended by the Minister for Education, the Hon. Verity Firth. Father Constanine Varipatis represented His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos and the Orthodox Church. Speaking privately to the VEMA after the ceremony, he paid tribute to the dedicated teams of Orthodox volunteers that have visited schools throughout Sydney each week for over half a century. Father Constantine is also the representative of the Archdiocese on the Director-General s Consultative Committee and a Board Member of the Inter-Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools. Father Constantine said that all religious faiths were united in their support for Scripture classes. He referred to the Education Act 1990 which states that: In every government school, time is to be allowed for the religious Hon. Verity Firth, Ann Maree Whenman, Rev Fr Constantine Varipatis education of children of any religious persuasion. Mr Yair Miller, who represented the Jewish Board of Deputies, left no doubt about the importance of these classes for the Jewish community. He pointed out that they paid their teachers and had organised their program under a Jewish Board of Education. He argued coherently for special religious education as a key factor in maintaining Jewish identity. He said that it was important for those students who could not attend a Jewish day school. Cardinal Pell also spoke and noted that more than 40 percent of Catholic Youth are in State Schools. He described the special service held each year to acknowledge the efforts of the estimated 6000 Catholic volunteers. Cardinal Pell also referred indirectly to the controversial trial of ethics classes in some schools. He referred to the agreement for special religious education which does not allow for any other form of instruction in ethics or values at the same time as scripture classes. The audience responded positively to the presentation of the Honourable Verity Firth. She described her own family s religious background. To the surprise of many, she recalled the names of her scripture teachers in primary and high school. She said that there would always be a place for Scripture Teaching in government schools and that it was never under threat. At the same time she hinted that the evaluation of the trial ethics classes would guide any government decision. On this special occasion all faiths were united in a show of strength to remind the Minister for Education of the value of these religious classes throughout New South Wales. At the conclusion, the Minister was presented with 6000 bound letters from students emphasising how Scripture classes had affected their lives. In one sense it ended as an occasion when the Minister received some religious instruction. James Athanasou St Andrew s Greek Orthodox Theological College athanasou@gmail.com The views expressed are those of the author and not those of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, St Andrew s Greek Orthodox Theological College or the VEMA Newspaper. NEW FROM ST ANDREW'S ORTHODOX NEW FROM PRESS ST ANDREW'S ORTHODOX PRESS CD-BOOK: LEARNING GREEK ORTHODOX HYMNS CD-BOOK: LEARNING GREEK ORTHODOX HYMNS A great new tool to learn the exact words and meaning of the most popular hymns A great of the new Orthodox tool to learn Church. the exact words and meaning of the most popular hymns of the Orthodox Church. Why use it? Because Orthodox hymns express the depth of Christian faith in musical Why use form. it? Because They are Orthodox worth knowing hymns express by heart! the depth of Christian faith in musical form. They are worth knowing by heart! This This 100-page 100-page book book contains contains the the inspired inspired words words of 40 of 40 major major hymns hymns with with accompanying CD CD in in Greek Greek by by Basilios Basilios Psilacos, lecturer in in Byzantine Music at at St St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College and Chanter at at St St Andrew's Parish, Gladesville. Hymns Hymns of of the the Resurrection, the 12 Major Feast Feast Days, Days, the the Patron Patron Saints Saints of of Day Schools in in Australia and and segments segments of various Services, are all included in the book's three of various Services, are all included in the book's three categories: categories: 1. Greek lyrics 1. Greek lyrics 1. Greek lyrics 1. Greek lyrics 2. English translation 2. English translation 2. English translation 2. English translation 3. Transliteration 3. Transliteration 3. Transliteration 3. Transliteration 'I am certain that, among the faithful, there will be many interested listeners 'I am who certain will benefit that, among from this the devoted faithful, effort there of our will beloved many co-worker' interested listeners who - will Archbishop benefit from Stylianos this of devoted Australia effort of our beloved co-worker' - Archbishop To order, Stylianos go to: of Australia To order, go to: To order, go to: To order, go to: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia The CENTRAL PHILOPTOCHOS (Welfare) in conjunction with The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of St Euphemia Bankstown in aid of the Registration: GREEK WELFARE CENTRE Starting Time: Finishing Line: 34th Walk-A-Thon Sunday, 31 st December :00 a.m. St Euphemia Church 1:00 p.m. St Euphemia Church 6-12 East Terrace, Bankstown Terrace, Bankstown WIN LOTS OF PRIZES!!! 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13 OCTOBER 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 13/31 GROWING UP FAST AND FURIOUS By Deacon George Liangas Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matt 5:28). The media has become one of the most powerful gents in educating and influencing young people about sex. One noted researcher has observed that long before many parents begin to discuss sex with their children, answers to questions such as When is it OK to have sex? and With whom does one have sexual relations? are provided by messages delivered on television 1. Modern media bombard the viewer with countless jokes and innuendoes about all aspects of human sexuality 2, without ever discussing the moral and ethical dimensions of sex. It is used to sell everything from shampoo, office machinery, hotel rooms, and beer, to prime-time series and made-for-tv movies, and with celebrities engaging in increasingly outrageous and provocative behaviour to maintain popularity 3. Research has shown that the amount of sexual content on television has increased significantly in the last few years. Seventy percent of all shows in 2005 had sexual content, up from 56% in This proportion was greater for prime-time television, with 77% of prime-time shows having sexual content. This proportion is even greater for the top teen programs. Considering the number of sex-related scenes per hour of television viewing, there was an average of 5.0 sex-related scenes per hour overall, 5.9 per hour in prime-time Media s impact on our children: Sexual content shows, and 6.7 sex-related scenes per hour of the top teen programs. Of all types of TV shows, movies were the worst offenders, with 92% of movies shown on TV having sexual content. The most common types of sexual content were talking about sex (68% of shows), followed by sexual behaviours (35%) and sexual intercourse (11%). At the extreme end of sexual content is pornography, and the internet has become the mode by which young people can gain easy, and often inadvertent access to pornography. In one random sample of 1500 youth aged 10 to 17, 42% had viewed pornographic material, 66% of whom viewed it by accident5. The risk was increased with the use of file-sharing programs to download images, with those who were being bullied or harassed, and with those who were depressed. The risk decreased with the use of filtering and blocking software. Teenagers being exposed to sex in the media are more likely to perpetrate sexual harassment (in the case of males), have more lax sexual norms, be more sexually active while in high school, be more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy as a teenager, and to acquire sexually transmitted diseases 6. The media appear to give a consistent message to adolescents that sex is normal for them, risk-free, and associated with being popular. It also shapes their beliefs about how males and females should behave in personal relationships. In a national American survey of teenagers, the media outranked parents or schools as sources of information about issues such as pregnancy and birth control. The greatest danger of this constant exposure to the current sex-soaked media is that children grow up with distorted views about relationships, sexual urges, sex, and marriage. As one social science researcher has written, In any given society, at any given moment in history, people become sexual the same way they become anything else. Without much reflection, they pick up directions from their social environment. They acquire and assemble meanings, skills, and values from the people around them. Critical choices are often made by going along and drifting. People learn when they are quite young the few things they are expected to be, and continue slowly to accumulate a belief in who they are and ought to be throughout the rest of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood 7. These distorted views affect the quality and nature of relationships, and these altered relationships affect individual well-being, communities, and ultimately, the way that society functions. The media themselves are showing increasing rates of sexual scandals affecting celebrities, often also showing their consequent demise. These increasing rates of problematic sexual behaviours are following the same trajectory as the overall increasing rate of sexual content that electronic media show to our children. All this shows that media have become a dangerous teacher of sexual behaviour. One can safely say that classification ratings systems have become much less helpful in guiding parents and children to determine safe media exposure. It is imperative to replace heavy exposure to the media with more meaningful pursuits, and to be more proactive about infusing our children with more healthy and edifying perspectives about sex. 1 Kunkel D, Cope KM, Biely E. Sexual messages on television: Comparing findings from three studies. Journal of sex research 1999; 36; Strasburger VC, Wolson BJ, Jordan AB. Children, adolescents, and the media. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Deveny K, Kelley R. Girls gone wild: what are celebs teaching kids? Newsweek 2007; February 12; Kunkel D, Eyal K, Finnerty K, Biely E, Donnerstein E. Sex on TV 4: A Biennial Report to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation; Available at: Accessed August 25, 2010: Wolak J, Mitchell K, Finkelhor D. Unwanted and wanted exposure to online pornography in a national sample of youth Internet users. Pediatrics 2007; 119; Strasburger VC, Jordan AB, Donnerstein E. Health effects of media on children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2010; 125; Roberts, E. Teens, sexuality and sex: our mixed messages. Television and Children 1983; 6; British library posts Greek manuscripts to web One of the world s most important caches of Greek manuscripts is going online, part of a growing number of ancient documents to hit the Web in recent years. The British Library said that it was making more than a quarter of its 1,000 volume-strong collection of handwritten Greek texts available online free of charge, something curators there hope will be a boon to historians, biblical scholars and students of classical Greece alike. Although the manuscripts - highlights of which include a famous collection of Aesopic fables discovered on Mount Athos in have long been available to scholars who made the trip to the British Library s reading rooms, curator Scot McKendrick said their posting to the web was opening antiquity to the entire world. McKendrick said that London could be an expensive place to spend time poring over the Greek texts tiny, faded script or picking through hundreds of pages of parchment. Not every scholar can afford to come here weeks and months on end, he said. The big attraction of browsing the texts online is the ability to do it at your own desk whenever you wish to do it - and do it for free as well. Although millions of books have been made available online in recent years- notably through Google Books mass scanning program- ancient texts have taken much longer to emerge from the archives. They don t suffer from the copyright issues complicating efforts to post contemporary works to the Web, but their fragility makes them tough to handle. They have to be carefully cracked open and photographed one page at a time, a process the British Library said typically costs about 1 pound ($1.50) per page. John Franklin, an associate professor of classics at the University of Vermont, said that the British Library s efforts were part of a quite general move to making manuscripts available online. Hundreds of institutions have done or are doing the same, he said, including his university. Franklin said it was wonderful that the general public can have an intimate view of so many manuscripts, but stressed the material s academic applications, noting that it could serve as a teaching aid for students learning to unravel medieval Greek handwriting, for example. The British Library has worked aggressively to put much of its collection on the Internet, from 19th-century newspapers to the jewels of its collection - The Lindisfarne Gospels, a selection of Leonardo da Vinci s sketches and the Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest surviving complete copy of the Christian Bible. The library s Greek manuscript project was funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which supports Greekrelated initiatives in arts and culture. Another batch of about 250 documents is due to be published online in SOURCE: AP

14 The Greek Australian VEMA 14/32 TO BHMA OCTOBER 2010 By Dr Ann Coward This week I was fortunate enough to attend the Sydney Opera House for a performance of Verdi s Rigoletto, with the role of Gilda being sung by Australian coloratura soprano, Emma Matthews. The Opera Theatre was almost filled to capacity, or so it seemed from our lofty seats high up in the gods, but the mood was initially subdued; information having been released in the press that day that one of the 20 th century s greatest singers, our very own Dame Joan Sutherland, had died. Dame Joan who was 83 years old, had first performed the role of Gilda for an international audience back in 1957 in London, although it was her role as Lucia in Donizetti s Lucia di Lammermoor, which she first performed in London in 1959, that was to bring her the greatest acclaim. The 1959 performance was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and it was this particular performance at the Royal Opera House which established Joan as an international star. Franco Zeffirelli went on to direct Joan in a number of opera s and to design some of her costumes. Another name, usually associated with film is Luchino Visconti who directed Joan Sutherland in Bellini s La Sonnambula in La Scala Milan in Between 1952 and her retirement in 1991, Dame Joan performed in opera theatres throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Italy, Austria, Canada, Holland, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, South Africa and Denmark. Her roles, which required her to sing in German, Italian, English and French, were drawn from all the great operas: Norma, from Bellini s opera Norma, Leonora from Verdi s Il Trovatore, Violetta from Verdi s La Traviata, Desdemona from Verdi s Otello, Euridice from Haydn s Orfeo and Euridice, Micaela from Bizet s Carmen, to name but a few. Écoutez! Arts Review Joan Sutherland Recordings Opera is, by its nature larger-than-life from the characters, plots and lavish costumes sets to the magnificent music. The sheer breadth of components that go into opera and music theatre are equalled perhaps only by films. While nothing can come close to the thrill of a live performance of an opera we are fortunate today to be able to look back at the legacy of great singers of the recent past recorded in music and film. Although Joan Sutherland was famed, in particular, for her performances of the mad scene from Donizetti s Lucia di Lammermoor, it is perhaps something which needs to be seen as well as heard. The audio recording, which stands out to my mind, as exemplifying her extraordinary abilities as a singer, her bell-like tone, amazing agility and accuracy, is her recording of the doll s song Les oiseaux from Offenbach s Tales of Hoffman, Re-released in 1999 as part of a compilation of Tales of Hoffmann highlights (DECCA ),* which includes performances by Placido Domingo and others, Sutherland s performances on this entire CD in particular are a wonderful reminder of the beauty of opera sung by magnificent singers. Well worth adding to any collection. I.C. * Offenbach: Les Contes d Hoffmann - Highlights DECCA , released 1999 or download from DECCA < Arts, Food & Wine Editor: Imogen Coward La Stupenda Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE ( ) Dame Joan was born in 1926, and when she performed at concerts after leaving school at the age of 16, she was sometimes accompanied by a young pianist, a student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, by the name of Richard Bonynge. Joan left for London in 1951, after winning the Sun Aria competition. In 1954 she married Richard who was to make his mark in the world of conducting from 1962 onwards, and their careers became entwined; careers which were recognized with the awarding of many honours from not only the British and Australian governments but others also, including the French who created them Commandeurs des arts et des letters. In 1956 their only child, Adam, was born. It was in 1952, after becoming a member of the Company of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, that Joan first sang with that other great 20 th century diva, Maria Callas, when they appeared together in Norma in London. Later they were to appear together in a Gala performance in As Moffatt Oxenbould notes in his Tribute to Joan Sutherland, Callas was the world s reigning prima donna, Sutherland about to become the leading contender for her throne.* Unlike with Callas, however, we are fortunate to have recordings of the young Sutherland. Sadly, the earliest recordings of Callas do not do Callas justice and often we need to rely on the reports of those who attended her performances to grasp the extent of her mastery. In Venice, in1960, after performing the role of Alcina in Handel s opera of the same name, Dame Joan was acclaimed as La Stupenda, a title which was to remain with her throughout the rest of her career. Like the woman herself, and her voice, the costumes worn by Joan were breath-taking, and members of the public are fortunate to be able to view the costumes gifted to Opera Australia 50g cocoa powder 120ml hot water 225g dark couveture chocolate, cut into blocks 225g butter 6 eggs separated 2 ½ cups brown sugar 200g almond meal 150g whole, dry-roasted hazelnuts extra cocoa for dusting Preheat oven to C.* Grease a deep 22cm springform tin and line base and sides with paper. Melt the butter in a small pan and set to one side. In a large bowl, blend the cocoa with the hot water, stirring constantly until smooth - set to one side. Melt the couveture chocolate over low heat (set the bowl over warm water), then add chocolate to the cocoa-water mixture. Add the melted butter, sugar, almond meal stirring well, which are housed in Sydney. Opera Australia is well aware that it owes a lot more to both Dame Joan and her husband Richard Bonynge. In 1965 they appeared in seven operas, co-produced by the Sutherland - Williamson International Grand Opera Company. This followed in the tradition of Melba-Williamson Opera seasons, with our other great, Dame Nellie Melba. The Elizabethan Theatre Trust was a partner of J.C. Williamson s Theatres in presenting the season of Sutherland s operas, and the opera audience grew noticeably as a result of the opera tour. As one of those who took part in the productions remembered, The response of the general public, that came to see and hear the return of a local girl made good, but enjoyed the complete operatic experience, swelled the ranks of the young Elizabethan Trust Opera Company s audiences in subsequent seasons. ** The Elizabethan Trust Opera Company was the beginning of what is now Opera Australia. Some readers may also remember that it was the Elizabethan Trust which was responsible for bringing professional Greek dance groups to perform at their theatre in Newtown (since demolished) in the 1960s and early 1970s. Although the Sydney Opera House was opened in 1973, Joan, accompanied by Richard, could not appear there until 1974 due to other commitments. Members of what was then The Australian Opera recall how both visitors, although by then world-renowned, were generous in their encouragement of young members of the company, as they had been during their tour in The connection with Australia and the Australian opera-going public was never to be broken, and Richard Bonynge, even after his wife s retirement, has continued to conduct in Australia. This week s performance of Rigoletto at the Sydney Opera House was dedicated to the memory of Dame Joan Sutherland. No doubt, there will be many tributes paid to her over the coming weeks and months. The opera world mourns her passing, as do all of those who have marveled at the beauty of her singing. Her voice was a gift, and we have had the privilege of hearing her sing, if not in person then at least through recordings. References: ** The Joan Sutherland Society of Sydney website, Opera Australia Food & Wine *Moffatt Oxenbould, Joan Sutherland: a Tribute. Pub d by the Art Gallery of NSW, The ultimate flourless chocolate cake then add the egg yolks. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the dryroasted hazelnuts. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour at C,* and then turn the oven down to C* and bake for a further 30-45mins. The cake is finished when the top of the cake is firm to the touch and once a skewer inserted into the middle comes out with crumbs of cake attached rather than runny cake mixture (it is a moist cake - be careful not to overcook). Remove cake from oven and allow to cool in the tin for approximately 20 minutes. Turn cake out onto a wire rack and cool. Dust top of the cake lightly with cocoa before serving. May be served warm or at room temperature. Serves approximately 12 people. *for fan-forced ovens reduce temperature by 20 0 C.

15 OCTOBER 2010 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 15/33 Roy and Diana Vagelos have donated $50 million to Columbia University Medical Center Roy and Diana Vagelos (photo) have taken their donation efforts further uptown with a $50 million gift to the Columbia University Medical Center to support the construction of a new building for medical and graduate education. The major gift is the largest received for CUMC s fundraising campaign.. Greek Roy Vagelos, an alumnus of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Diana Vagelos, are known in Morningside for their $15 m. donation to Barnard s new student center, now called the Diana Center. The new medical education building will ensure that Columbia continues to produce superior doctors and researchers trained in the latest techniques, as medicine continues to evolve rapidly throughout the 21st century, said University President Lee Bollinger in an announcing the gift. Roy and Diana s generosity of spirit is truly inspirational. Generations of future medical and graduate students will benefit from their support and vision for Columbia, the University President said in the . NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group now established The special relationship of Greece with Australia has been formalised with the formation of a New South Wales Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group. Co-President of the group, John Turner MP said that New South Wales had a Greek population of about 190,000 and that the Greek culture has very much been part of Australian culture. The New South Wales Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group was officially formed on Tuesday 21st September 2010 at a function in the New South Wales Parliament. In attendance at the inaugural meeting was the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Vassilios Tolios and Mr John Pandazopoulos MP, President of The World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association, who both addressed the group. The Consul General spoke of the special relationship between Australia and Greece during World Wars. The elected committee is: Co-Presidents - John Turner MP, Member for Myall Lakes and Matthew Morris MP, Member for Charlestown. Secretary/Treasurer - Andrew Fraser MP, Member for Coffs Harbour. Committee Members - The Hon. Sophie Cotsis, MLC and The Hon. Lynda Voltz, MLC The group consists of 34 charter members from the NSW Parliament with many other Members of Parliament indicating they wish to become members of the newly formed group OCTOBER 2010 The 7 th annual Australian Hellenic Golf Open The Australian Hellenic Golf Federation (AHGF) is organising the seventh annual Australian Hellenic Golf Open (AHGO) to be held at Moonah Links on 23rd and 24th of October The tournament will be a handicap stroke format staged over two days. The winner will be the player with the best total handicap stroke score over the two rounds of the tournament. Moonah Links is the home of Australian Golf, and consists of two magnificent courses, designed by Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett. The Open Course measuring 6,783 metres in championship set up is the first ever 18 holes built and prepared for a national championship. The Legends Course at 6,135 metres stands in contrast to the Open Course as a more friendly golfing experience. The course follows the valleys through a range of landscapes from ancient Moonah woodlands to open links land. Both courses will be played during the event. Moonah Links is located in Melbourne s Mornington Peninsula, a renowned golfing destination, just over an hour from Melbourne s CBD. The entry fee for the tournament is $310 for adults, $280 for adult AHGF members, $165 for juniors (under 18 years). This includes all green fees with shared golf cart, light meals on course each day and gift pack. For bookings and more information visit Peppers Moonah Links resort Peninsula Signature Package Includes: * Luxury Overnight accommodation * Breakfast for 2 in Pebbles Restaurant * Public Access Bathing Passes at Peninsula Hot Springs * Wine Tasting with our neighboring vineyard - The Cups Estate $ per room based on Twin Share Indulge in the best the Peninsula has to offer all in one place... Stay in luxury at Peppers Moonah Links resort, with a full buffet breakfast in Pebbles Restaurant. Visit our neighbors at The Cups Estate for your complimentary wine tasting or sample their daily Tappas style menu and finally immerse yourself in the therapeutically warm waters of the bathing areas at Peninsula Hot Springs. Weekends will never be the same...

16 The Greek Australian VEMA OCTOBER /34 TO BHMA Antiparos Travel Declaration of independence As opposed to its trendy neighbors, this small island retains the originality of the days before tourist development BY H. ARGYROPOULOS The name Antiparos, one of the smallest inhabited Cycladic islands and just a stone s throw away from Paros, the third largest in the group, could not be more descriptive of the contrast in holiday styles with its trendier neighbor. Nightlife, for a start, is not Antiparos s strongest point. Not that Paros on the whole rivals Myconos in terms of hordes of reveling, raving wannabes (although a couple of its nightspots do), but, quite simply, Antiparos can be described as the alternative, indie Greek scene. Here, you won t meet or hear about celebrities and you can pay reasonable prices for drinks; you re more likely to run into old hippies or the kitesurfers whose colorful sails cloud the air over the seven-minute crossing from Pounta beach on Paros like parachutes. This low-key island of 37 sq. kilometers retains the archetypal Cycladic atmosphere - a sedate and idyllic coastline, including golden beaches, scattered chapels, farm dwellings and white houses. But this is being eroded rather fast. Recent years have seen the proliferation of private villas - many of which, stringed along privileged stretches of the coastline, block access to swimmers - as well as commercial accommodation facilities. Architectural specifications, however, have prevented unsightly developments. Antiparos has diehard fans who love the ambience of the self-contained, laid-back and yet 1 Where to stay Area phone code: Book luxury villas at More economical options include Mantalena (tel 61206) and Galini (tel 61420) at the port, as well as a number of rented rooms, studios and a- partments which are certain to have ample availability and more reasonable prices this month. Most accommodation facilities close after the end of September. Traveling options to Paros include airplane (Olympic Air, tel ) and ferry (Blue Star Ferries, tel ; Hellenic Seaways, tel , Aegean Speed Lines, tel 13855, ). bustling port village of Hora, with 1,000 permanent inhabitants, where you are likely to bump into most of the people you met the night before. A stone-paved alleyway leads from the port to Kastro - a Venetian fort built in 1440 to protect against pirate raids. Today, only parts of the central tower 2 Where to eat Kapetan Pipinos, Aghios Georgios (tel 21823), is an excellent fish taverna, supplied by a family-owned boat; for meat dishes go to Giorgis (tel 61362) in Hora, or Peramataki (tel 61211) in Soros, which also has good Greek dishes and pies; the traditional dishes at Pavlo s Place, at the Galini hotel, are probably the island s bestkept secret; Kappari (tel 61616) on the main street, has good Mediterranean cuisine made with local produce and serves breakfast; the menu at Still Waters (tel 24537), on Apantima beach, includes Indian cuisine; also Apanemo, on the main street. and the base of the walls remain. The entrance to Kastro, which is out of bounds to vehicles, is on the central square, next to the Cathedral of Aghios Nikolaos. Stroll around the whitewashed alleyways with geraniums and hanging bougainvillas, and continue along the pedestrian way to Sifneikos Yalos to watch the sunset. Antiparos has been inhabited since prehistoric times and its ancient name was Oliaros - meaning forested mountain. Significant finds are housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Work in recent years on the adjacent uninhabited islet of Despotiko (8 sq. km) has revealed an ancient complex built around a temple to Apollo and much earlier Cycladic remains. Despotiko, reached by small boat from the scenic beach of Aghios Georgios, has some lovely beaches of its own and can be explored by boat. However, Antiparos s main highlight is its famous cave, located 9 km south of Hora, at an elevation of 175 meters. The island s beaches are mostly on the western coast. The only one with organized facilities is Psaralyki - the nearest to Hora, with shade-providing trees, beach bars and some sports facilities. The most scenic is Soros, on the southeastern coast. Apantima is less impressive but has a great advantage: the Still Waters cafe-restaurant - shaded and ideal after an afternoon dip. Another option well worth considering is taking a boat for a trip around the island, which will include a long stop on the southern side of Despotiko for swimming and a lunch of barbecued octopus and souvlaki. It s also an ideal way to see the impressive rugged southern promontory of Antiparos. Other beach options are Aghios Sostis, with turquoise waters, as well as pristine Glyfa and the small but sandy Livadi, with juniper trees, on the western side. There is another beach called Livadi next to Aghios Sostis. Evening options on laid-back Antiparos include an open-air cinema. Alternatively, the more energetic can head to the legendary La Luna disco, near the campsite, which may still dispel the view that Antiparos s night-life leaves something to be desired: Closing time is around 8am. ATHENSPLUS