Argyris Chionis passed away on Christmas day at the age of 68. A Poet, a novelist and translator, born in Athens in 1943, who spent much of his life in the countries of North-West Europe. He began to write poems at the age of 14, influenced by the “mantinades” of Crete and “Erotocritos” sung by his Cretan mother.
His poems were first published in 1963 in the journal “Dodekati Ora” and “Nea Estia” in 1964. His first collection of poems was published in 1966, titled “Apopeires Fotos” (Attempts of Light), while in 1967, shortly after the establishment of the dictatorship, he went to Paris, whereby he worked hard and attended French classes in the evenings.
In early 1969, his poems were translated and published in literary magazines in Holland, a country bound to become his second destination. In Amsterdam, Argyris Chionis spent eight and a half years working hard and studying the language, efforts that were subsequently recognized; as he earned a scholarship from the Society of Writers, was accepted in literary circles, published his works in journals, two of his books were published, two of his theatrical plays were awarded, he was appointed instructor for Greek classes at the People’s Open University, and enrolled at the Italian Literature Department of the University of Amsterdam.
He returned to Greece in 1977 and for the next five years he worked as a translator, worked on a series of children’s programs for the radio, and represented our country at the annual University of Iowa International Writing Program in the States.
In 1982, he was hired as a translator at the European Union Council and settled in Brussels. In 1992 he resigned and retired to Throfari, a small mountain village in Corinth, where he was involved with poetry and agriculture. He was a member of the Society of Writers.
Greek Novelist Argyris Chionis Passes Away
Greek Filmmaker Lucia Rikaki Passes Away
Greek film director, documentarist, writer and producer Lucia Rikaki passed away in Athens on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.
The 50-year-old played a pivotal role in raising awareness through her documentaries and using social networking to encourage young people to take up filmmaking. She was instrumental in the organisation of film festivals such as Ecofilms and Kos International Health Film Festival.
Her feature films include “Trip to Australia” (1990), “Quartet in Four Movements” (1994), “Dancing Soul” (1999), “Hold Me” (2006) and “What We Hold in Common” (2007).
Rikaki also served as president of the European Producers Network, on the governing board of the Greek Film Directors and Producers Union and as cinema coordinator for the 3rd World Summit on Media for Children.
Greek MP Asks Parliament to Give Greeks Abroad Political Rights
Greek MP of Dimokratiki Symmaxia Party, Lefteris Avgenakis asked Greek parliament to find all the alternative proposals so that the Greek Language Schools abroad are not to face closure.
Moreover, Avgenakis discussed the bill concerning the Greek Language Education abroad and the potential giving of political rights to Greeks abroad.
Avgenakis emphasized that Greeks abroad support Greece and struggle for the progress of Greece, stating that the new provisions of the bill regarding Greek Language Education abroad has caused outrage to Greeks abroad but even worldwide.
Mammoth Cyprus Natural Gas Deposits
A natural gas deposit of 5 trillion to 8 trillion cubic feet has been located in an offshore Cyprus field, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said on Wednesday.
This figure was based on what a government spokesman said was “a moderate estimate” by Noble Energy, a U.S. company that has just completed an exploratory drilling 165 km south of Cyprus.
The mean average of the gas deposits could be 7 trillion cubic feet, enough to cover Cyprus’s needs for almost 200 years, Christofias said at a televised press conference.
He said the gas deposit was 100 meters thick and covered an area of 103 square km at a depth of 5,861 meters.
Plans for exploiting the gas involve building a 185-km pipe jointly with Israel to convey both Cypriot and Israeli gas to the south shore of the eastern Mediterranean island and setting up a liquidation plant at an estimated cost of 10 billion euros (13 billion U.S. dollars).
Liquefied gas would eventually be sent to countries of the European Union (EU) which are keen on securing alternate sources of energy.
Christofias called the finding a “historic development” which would create conditions of prosperity for Cyprus and its entire population.
Gas exploration had been undertaken despite strong opposition by Turkey, which claimed that it violated the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
However, both the EU and the United States came out strongly in support of Cyprus and its rights to act within the scope of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The president also announced that following the confirmation of the gas deposit, energy companies would soon be invited to a second round of bidding for the lease of hydrocarbons exploratory drilling rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
Hadjipateras Secures 1st Position in 200-Meter Fly in Greece
Colgate swimming and diving captain Costas Hadjipateras recently competed in the ‘International Meet at Alexandria’ in Athens, Greece, and earned a first-place finish in the 200-meter butterfly.
Hadjipateras swam in three different events, but his best performance came in the 200-meter butterfly. The top A final consisted of two Greeks, three Hungarians, a Bulgarian, and two Italians. He took first with a winning time of 2:05.00.
The win grants Hadjipateras a position the next European Grand Prix in Munich, Germany, in March. With the time, he is now the fifth seed in the event for Greek Olympic Trials, which are in Athens next May.
He also placed fourth in the 200-meter freestyle in a time of 1:56.09 and fifth in the 100-meter butterfly in 57.76 seconds.
Trade Deficit Down 27.3% in October
Greece’s trade deficit shrank by 29.6% in October, reflecting higher exports and lower imports because of a deep economic recession in the country, Athens News Agency reports quoting data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
The statistics service, in a report, said the value of import-arrivals – excluding oils – totaled 2.43 billion euros in October, down from 3.045 billion euros in the same month last year, a a decline of 20.2%. The value of exports-deliveries – excluding oils – totaled 1.316 billion euros in October from 1.463 billion euros in October 2010, a decline of 10%.
The country’s trade deficit fell to 1.114 billion euros in October, down from 1.582 billion euros in the same month last year.
The value of imports fell 12.4% to 26.904 billion euros in the January-October period, while the value of exports rose 11.7% to 13.093 billion euros in the same period, leaving the trade deficit 27.3% lower compared with the same period in 2010, to 13.811 billion euros.
(source: ana-mpa)
St. Prokopios Icon at the Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens
Visitors at the Byzantine and Christian Museum will have the opportunity to witness a Byzantine icon of St. Prokopios, measuring 91,5cm x 62,5cm, which had been stolen from the Church of St. Prokopios in Veroia, over the 1967 – 1974 period. The icon dates from the 14th century and serves as an excellent example of the northern Greek workshop of that time.
The icon, which was recently repatriated from London, belongs to the private collection of Athanasios Martinos, who intends to donate it to the Greek State. The location of the icon and documentation of its origin was achieved thanks to the coordinated efforts of relevant agencies of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It is also a good example for other collectors and museums abroad possessing objects that are proven products of smuggling.
The icon will be exhibited for the very first time in a museum, and it will remain on display at the Byzantine and Christian Museum for a month. After this period, the icon will return to Veroia to become a permanent exhibit of the Byzantine Museum in the city.
(SAE)
Cyprus Says Turkey is a Destabilizing Factor in the Region
President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, Yiannakis Omirou stated after visiting the “Michalakis Parides” military camp that Turkey is a real threat against the Hellenism of Cyprus, adding that the EU and the international community must understand that the neighboring country is a destabilizing factor in the broader region.
According to Famagusta Gazette, Omirou expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to Greek officers, permanent staff and soldiers serving in Cyprus and referred to the multiple links between Cyprus and Greece throughout the years.
Omirou also made reference to Turkey’s former PM Mesut Yilmaz statements that Turkish agents had set forest fires around Greece in the 90’s, while he also expressed his wish that the EEZ of Cyprus will contribute in finding a “proper solution” to the Cyprus Problem.
“We do not wish to maintain bad relations with Turkish people on the contrary we want friendly relations. But we must realize that the prevailing state of affairs in Turkey, unfortunately, still maintains an expansive state, conspiring against the interests of Hellenism”, said House President Omirou, cited in Famagusta Gazette, December 29.
Russian Patriarch Asks Greek President to Release Abbot Efraim
Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill asked from the Greek President Karolos Papoulias to intervene and release Archimandrite Ephraim, superior of the Mount Athos Vatopedi Monastery, since he is no threat to the public and is willing to cooperate with the authorities.
In the message posted on the Russian Orthodox Church website, the Russian Patriarch expresses his worries about the pretrial detention of Efraim due to the latter’s health problems, which have not been taken into account when he was arrested.
“In Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and other countries, whose peoples are the traditional flock of the Russian Orthodox Church, millions of believers are alarmed by the police measures taken as regards the hegemon of the famous Athos monastery well-known to the entire Orthodox world on the days Orthodox Greece celebrates Christmas,” he said.
The message of the Russian Patriarch has been repeated by all Russian media.
Metropolitan of Piraeus Opposes Mosque Building Bill
Metropolitan of Piraeus Seraphim filed an appeal to the Council of State asking from the Greek government to withdraw a bill about building a mosque in Athens.
The Orthodox Metropolitan made an extensive reference to the wars Christianity has faced over the years, from 325 B.C. with Arios until today’s Jehovah Witnesses, which only aimed at “annihilating the Christian dogma”.
Moreover, he mentioned the centuries-long struggles of the Greek nation and the thousands of dead patriots and Christians, who lost their life defending their religion and country against the Muslims.
“This bill is based on the ‘democratic sensitivities’ of our state. The truth is that is degrading our religious beliefs, the history and our ancestors who fought for freedom” wrote Seraphim in his appeal.
After many years, the Greek government has decided to pass a bill allowing the building of a mosque in the Votanikos region of Athens, in order for the Muslims living in Greece to have a proper place where they can practice their religious rights.
The Greek Muslims’ Union stated that it is open to discussion and condemned the Metropolitan’s comments on the violent nature of Muslims.