To many Pontic Greeks, Trapezounta is the capital of their forgotten and lost homeland; a center for Hellenism that lasted centuries. Until the 1920s, tens of thousands of Pontic Greeks resided in the area around the city, and at one point even tried to create a political independent Greek Pontic entity. That all changed in 1923 with the exchange of populations that occurred between Greece and Turkey, with the majority of the Greeks being sent off to other countries.
Recently however, Pontic Greeks and their descendants have made it a point to take the annual pilgrimage back to their mother monastery, Panagia Soumela, on the feast of The Dormition of Theotokos. A great article in BBC, and some great photographs from Greek American photographer Eleutherios Kostans, captured the gathering.
The group, about 30% from Greece; 30% Pontic Greeks from Russia; and about 30% from Pontic Greeks that still reside in the area; make the trek to the monastery every year. The article in BBC brings to light the efforts that are being made by locals, and Pontic Greeks abroad, to build bridges between the communities that exist throughout the area. The Pontic Greek spirit still lives in the mountains of Trapezounta.
A great read below.
BBC
Eleutherios Kostans
posted on Monday, February 8
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There was a lot going on towards the end of the week and here is a brief recap. Kalo Savatokuriako.
PIIGS being slaughtered - Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain being blamed for market woes around the world on Thursday.
Tsiknopempti celebrated: Greeks packed bars, cafeterias; restaurants and family homes to partake in the annual Tsiknopempti celebration prior to the begin of Lent. More on Tsiknopempti here.
Sydney's Greek Community to raise funds for upcoming Greek Festival. On the 12th of February there will be a fundraiser at The Grand Roxy to help raise funds for the 28th annual Greek festival that Sydney hosts. More info here.
Greece makes a presence in Danish show. The International Tourism Exhibition "Ferie 2010" in Copenhagen's Bella Center concluded last Sunday with Greece taking part of the exhibition. The Greek National Tourism Organisation pavilion centered on the slogan of "5,000 years of History".
Hotmail.gr comes to life. Microsoft announced on Monday the operation of a hotmail.gr domain, the Greek-language edition of the Widows Live Hotmail service. Greek-language users can include unlimited email accounts in a single hotmail.gr account.
Off the coast of Somalia, the Greek-owned cargo vessel "Filitsa" on Tuesday was released by Somali pirates after receiving an unspecified ransom.
posted on Friday, February 5
A newly renovated Rizari Park was unveiled a couple of days ago. The park includes 10,000 sq m of green space - namely 98 trees, 406 bushes and 9,000 sq m of grass and the installation of three new sculptures.
The new park is actually part of a broader plan that unites Rizari with the nearby Byzantine Museum of Athens and the Lyceum of Aristotle via pedestrian walkways.
The park's regeneration was made possible through the sponsorship of the Pateras Foundation.
cityofathens
posted on Thursday, February 4
Argo Airways recently launched its hydroplane service linking Athens with Volos in central Greece.
The weekly flight linking Athens International Airport with the port of Volos will depart every Tuesday using a de Havilland DHC-3 that can land both on the water and on the ground.
About two weeks ago Argo Airways started flying from Volos and the nearby island of Skiathos to Thessaloniki, services that are already proving popular due to the problems on the national highway at Tempe. There are four flights per week between Thessaloniki and Volos and two between Thessaloniki and Skiathos. Tickets cost about 100 euros and the flight time is about 50 minutes.
The company plans to make Thessaloniki a hub with future destintations to include other northern Aegean Islands as well as points in the Balkans.
Kathimerini
posted on Wednesday, February 3
The good news coming out of the Greece tourist office is that the number of visitors expected to reach Greece this year is expected to increase about 2-3 percent. The bad news is that overall revenues from the tourism sector are expected to decline.
Greek tourist arrivals dropped 7.8 percent year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2009. Athens, Mykonos and Santorini were particularly hard hit.
We don't have to tell you how important tourism is to the Greece's economy. About one in five jobs in Greece is directly tied to the sector.
...via Finacial Mirror
Quick hits:
» Silver lining? Word is European policymakers are debating how a solution to Greece's debt problems could serve as a platform for boosting economic policy co-ordination in the 16-nation eurozone. ...via FT
» Heading for default? A dour view ...via WSJ
» D-Day for Giannoulias. Voters in Illinois (USA) head to the polls to fill president Obama's old senate seat.
» Audio slideshow. Dozens of ancient treasures - including a Roman version of the Swiss Army knife - are going on display in Cambridge, in a newly refurbished Gallery of Greek and Roman antiquities at The Fitzwilliam Museum. Click below to view. ...via BBC
posted on Tuesday, February 2
A 4-alarm fire ripped through Chicago's Greektown late last night. The fire is still considered a danger, 45 fire companies and over 150 firefighters are still on the scene as of this morning putting the blaze out. Flames burst through the roof of Costa's restaurant and spread to nearby storefronts Athens Grocers, the and Greektown music.
Update 5:00 PM CST: Visit our facebook page for the latest pictures...
We have received many requests from readers all over the world about updates for the fire that hit the heart of Greektown this morning. No one has been hurt but three stores have been destroyed. Costa's Greek Dining, Greektown Music and the Athens Grocery have been heavily damaged. Our thougths are with our friends in the area. - DF
wgntv
posted on Monday, February 1
Women took 'control' of villages in Thrace this past weekend as part of the old tradition of Gynaikokratia. This tradition, which dates way back to the times of the Ottoman Days, is a day where the roles reverse in small communities and women take the role of a man and vice versa. Men are seen cleaning houses, washing dishes, and tending to other house choirs; while women congregate in cafenia, socialize, play cards and enjoy the day. The tradition still has a strong following in the villages of f Monoklisia, Petra, Kamila and Charopo or northern Greece.
Other Greek related news:
Detroit's Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Celebrated its 100th Year With Commemorative Services, Events and Family Reunions. The Cathedral was first founded in 1910.
posted on Monday, February 1
Greek Letters Day is the celebration of the Three Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church:St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. The Orthodox Church considers the Three Hierarchs the most important Teachers and Fathers for the development and growth of the church.
The Three Hierarchs have been credited with working diligently to see the development of Greek literature and education. Greek Letter Day celebrates the use and promotion of the Greek language abroad.
posted on Saturday, January 30
Prime minister Papandreou is going on the offensive. Taking advantage of the spotlight on the World Economic Forum in Davos, he is attempting to calm jittery investors by promoting his economic policies and debunking rumors. It's great that he's making himself available to the press - we'll have to wait and see how it works...
Click below to watch the Financial Times interview (opens new window).
Also, click below to watch the "Closing Bell" interview on CNBC Financial network (USA)
posted on Friday, January 29
Greeks are among the most pessimistic citizens of the in EU both by the economic condition of the country and the development of the European economy. This according to a recent Eurobarometer survey that shows 92% of the Greeks are dissatisfied by the economic condition of Greece (about 75% in Europe) and 78 percent concerned about the global economy. A stunning 94% expressed dismay about the labor market, compared with the the EU average of 85 %.
In other news
» China to the rescue? All parties are denying that Greece is looking to China for financial help. ...via FT
» "You are another Greece" 150 youths of the Greek Diaspora, from countries of the Southern Hemisphere flock to Greece ... via SAE
posted on Thursday, January 28
