Greek-Australian Sentenced to 15 Years for Raping Women During Prayer Sessions

Tony Golossian, the famed “holy man” of Sydney, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for repeatedly raping two women during religious prayer sessions.  He told the women at the time that they had been cursed and that he could purge them of their sins. In prayer sessions between 2001 and 2008, demonic voices told the women that if they did not participate, their families would fall ill and die.

As a result, the women were repeatedly raped at different hotels in Sydney’s inner-west. Golossian who was considered a holy man that could cure black magic curses through prayer, assured the victims that the rapes had just  been a dream.

His co-accused, Greek-Australian, Arthur Psichogios, was also convicted of raping the women and jailed for 12 years. His wife, Frances Psichogios, was sentenced to at least five years over the drugging and assault of one of the victims.

Judge Penelope Hock said the men had carried out a deliberate and calculated plan to take advantage of the women’s vulnerability and their faith. All the offenders maintained their innocence, which indicated bleak prospects for their rehabilitation, Judge Hock accounted.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Murder Plot Linked to Erdogan Coup Probe

Turkish prosecutors added a probe to their investigation into an alleged coup plot against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Radikal newspaper stated. They are now interested in investigating the possibility of a plot to assassinate Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I.
The cases were united at the request of a prosecutor who said Ismet Recber, the man allegedly chosen to kill the Istanbul-based patriarch and six other priests, was part of an armed group, Radikal said, citing a letter sent to the court.
The so-called Ergenekon trial alleges that military officers, journalists, professors and others were part of a widespread conspiracy to create havoc that would justify a coup to overthrow Erdogan’s government.
Patriarch Bartholomew I is considered “first among equals” in the leadership of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Agion Oros Rare Manuscript Maintained by Central Archaeological Council

One of the rarest manuscripts preserved in Greece and abroad, the Code “Geography of Claudius Ptolemy” of the library of the Monastery of Vatopedi will be maintained in accordance with the opinion of the Central Archaeological Council (KAS), which has approved the study. The code dates back to the late 13th and early 14th century and includes the sections “The Geographical Lecture” of Claudius Ptolemy, the “The Moral Learning from Geography” of Strabo and the “Geography” of Strabo.
With external dimensions 37X27CX8, 5 cm. and internal 35,5X26, 5X8 cm., it is one of the few codes with secularism that exists in the Peninsula of Mountain Athos.  Its story could well be a source of inspiration for the production of a monastic era film such as “Name of the Rose.”
The code consists of 297 parchment sheets, front and back, including a small text, full-page miniatures and decorative motives. The Department of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments and the members of the ACTC deemed necessary its maintenance because of the heavy damage at the parchment body from stains, wax, moisture, acidity and ink, and because of the holes and losses suffered during its adventurous life.

Greek Cultural Center Dedicated to 9/11 Victim Danielle Kousoulis, NJ

The New Greek Cultural Center which was built in the Greek Community of St. Thomas in Cherry Hill, has been named in commemoration of 29-year-old Danielle Kousoulis.  She was killed in the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. The Cultural Center, as reported in the “National Herald”, was built thanks to a large donation from her family, worth $175,000.
Her parents, George and Zoe Kousoulis, felt emotional and deeply moved when they arrived at the cultural center.  A  large banner, along with the  flags of America and Greece, bore the words: “Danielle Kousoulis Will Live in Our Hearts Forever.”
“Ten years later, our community continues in the best way to keep the memory of Danielle who was born and raised here alive”,  quoted  the “National Herald” on behalf of the chairman of the Community and the Chairman of the Federation of Greek Associations of Greater Philadelphia and Delaware, George Choriatis.
At the opening of the center there were  former federal senator Paul Sarbanes, the Metropolitan of New Jersey, Euaggelos, and many other people from the community.
Danielle Kousoulis was the third of  four children of George and Zoe Kousoulis. On that dreadful day, she was working in her office, on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Despite her young age, she was the Vice President of the company Cantor Fitzgerald.

Greek-Lebanese Romance “Alex & Eve” Filmed in Canterbury

When Alex Lykos, who is Greek Orthodox and was brought up in Australian society, fell in love with a beautiful Lebanese Muslim woman named Eve, he didn’t realize that this brief cross-cultural romance would end up wowing audiences across Australia. Unfortunately in real-life, the love- affair ended when Eve returned to Lebanon. Alex, however, wanted to tell his story about how two people from different backgrounds met during a soccer championship tournament, and he does so with gentle humour.  “Alex and Eve” is now set to be shot at various locations around Canterbury, where there is a representative of multicultural societies.

Producer and writer Alex Lykos, who will play himself in the movie, stated that he has worked very hard to show the generation gap and changes in society.  He adds that there is definitely ethnic flavors throughout the whole story. However, in real life, he claims he would have been very cautious about his traditional parents’ reaction, if he had introduced his former girlfriend to them.

Papandreou Outlines Tourism Sector Policies

Prime Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday, outlined government policies in the sector of tourism at the annual General Assembly of the Federation of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE).
Papandreou focused on the simplification of licensing procedures for enterprises. As he said, the founding of a Special Service for Serving and Licensing Tourist Investments for investments that cannot be included in the Fast Track is being examined.
Regarding investments for tourist accomodation, Papandreou stressed that its development will take place in four or five star hotels, while indicating in advance the change in the system of hotels’ quality criteria.
The Prime Minister also announced the abolition of dues for third parties in coastal shipping tickets and the decrease of the “spatosimo”at the country’s airports in the winter months.
(source: ana-mpa)

Double Victory for Olympic Gold Winner Lydia Ierodiakonou

Lydia Ierodiakonou-Lasila in Herald-Sun

Olympic gold medal winner in Aerial Skiing, Lydia Ierodiakonou, is getting prepared for her biggest achievement yet, the birth of her first child.  The baby is expected to arrive next weekend in time for Mother’s Day.  Lydia said that winning an Olympic gold medal was a great achievement, but having a baby will be even greater. The Greek – Cypriot athlete says that she intends to start training again in August. She wants to be the first to win gold medals in successive Winter Olympic Games.

Lydia was born in Melbourne and studied at the University of RMIT where she got a diploma in Applied Science (Human Movement). Her grandfather, Giorgos Ierodiakonou, was one of the founders of St. Andrew’s church. Lydia won the gold medal during the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Hellenic Foundation for Culture Organizes Tribute to Michael Cacoyiannis

The Alexandria branch of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture organized a tribute to the cinema trilogy of Michael Cacoyiannis (“Iphigeneia”, “Electra”, “The Trojan Women”), with the sponsorship of the Michael Cacoyiannis Foundation for the Arabic subtitles of the films. The aim of the tribute is to make known the cinema version of the three tragedies, especially to students whose studies are relevant to Greek culture and classical literature. The lecture will take place at the branch of Alexandria, on the 9th of May, at 7:30 p.m. There will be a presentation of Michael Cacoyianni’s three films at the cinema hall of the French Cultural Center of Alexandria. The films will also be presented at the University of Alexandria, at the Universities of Cairo Al-Azhar and Ain Sams and at the School of Cinema of Cairo’s Arts Academy.

“The Ecumenical Patriarchate” Turkish Book Released

The leading Publishing House “Ιletisim”, promoting democracy in Turkey, has published a new book in the Turkish language titled “The Ecumenical Patriarchate”.  The book aims to inform the public regarding the real and deep meaning of the controversial “Ecumenical”, which is deliberately distorted and avoided within Turkish society.

The book includes texts by: Bishop Panteleimon Rodopoulos, Ambassador Alexis Alexandris, Baskn Oran, Cem Murat Sofuoglu, Cengiz Aktar, Elcin Macar, Emre Oktem, Kurat Demirci, Samim Akgonul and Paraskevas Konortas.

The official book presentation will take place on May 24th in Istanbul. At the reception held at the Patriarchate, writers, academics, journalists, as well as the Patriarchate’s and religious minorities’ representatives were present.

Greece Sends “Attenberg” to the Oscars; Lanthimos May Walk the Red Carpet Again

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“Attenberg” directed by Athena Rachel Tsagkari was selected by the Greek Film Academy to be submitted in the Foreign Film category for Oscar consideration. In the film stars Yorgos Lanthimos, director of this year’s Oscar nominated “Dogtooth.”

The story is about love, death, obsession and family ties that motivate the characters in this offbeat drama. Marina (Ariane Labed) is an eccentric woman in her early 20s who has few friends and is physically repulsed by men, though she isn’t satisfied by sex with women. One of the few things that bring Marina happiness is a high-rise block of flats in the industrial town where she was born; while the building is plain and unexceptional, there’s something about the place (built to house the workers at an aluminum processing facility) that fascinates her.

The cast includes, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ariane Labed, Vangelis Mourikis, Evangelia Randou among others.