Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor passed away on Friday, June 10th, at the age of 96.
Sir Patrick was well known for traveling across Europe in his teens and his World War II exploits behind enemy lines in Crete.
The British travel writer was born in 1915, of English and Irish descent. He was the son of the India-based geologist Sir Lewis Leigh Fermor and Muriel Aeyleen. As a child, he had problems with his academic structure. He was expelled from from The King’s School, Canterbury, when he was caught holding hands with a local greengrocer’s daughter. He read lots of texts about Greek, Latin and History, with the intention of entering the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Leigh Fermor began his big journey in December 1933, to Mount Athos for the trip written up as The Station (1931). His course took him across Hitler’s Germany to Transylvania, then through the Balkans to Constantinople.
Leigh Fermor completed his journey on New Year’s Day 1935, traveling across the militarized zone. He next visited the country with which he would become most associated, Greece, spending his 20th birthday at St. Panteleimon, the Russian monastery on Mount Athos.
Having not attended university, Leigh Fermor, who from a young age had been an avid reader, immersed himself in the literature of various cultures, including French, German and Romanian.
When the war broke out, Leigh Fermor first joined the Irish Guards but was then transferred to the Intelligence Corps due to his knowledge of the Balkans. He was initially attached as a liaison officer to the Greek forces fighting the Italians in Albania. He fought in Crete and mainland Greece.
In 1950, Leigh Fermor’s published his first book, The Traveller’s Tree, about his post-war travels in the Caribbean. Greece was the inspiration for his two other important books, Mani (1958) and Roumeli (1966).
Patrick Leigh Fermor was awarded a military OBE in 1943 and was appointed a Companion of Literature in 1991. He received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List, 2004.
Leigh Fermor’s war exploits and books about Greek travel made him highly popular in Greece, where he lived most of the year in a house he had designed in the 1960s near the southern village of Kardamyli.
A Greek Culture Ministry statement described him as, “perhaps the greatest contemporary travel writer, who loved Greece as his second country.”
He married, in 1968, Joan Rayner (née Eyres-Monsell), daughter of the 1st Viscount Monsell. She was his solid companion in all he did for more than 50 years. She died in 2003. There had no children.
Achilles Paparsenos, director of the Press and Communications Office in Geneva, profiles in a letter, published today in the local “24 heures” newspaper from Lausanne, Athens Special Olympics 2011. Mr. Paparsenos welcomes the Swiss participation, which includes 100 athletes and coaches, and states that 7,500 athletes will be present in Athens. He points out that 25,000 volunteers are ready to help the national teams, journalists, athletes and coaches, honoring the country that managed to keep the eternal values of democracy and Olympismus.
The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF) opened with the documentary “Pelican’s Watch” on June 9th at the Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood. Among the attendees there were prominent Greek-Americans of the entertainment industry. Watch the video below and get a taste of the red carpet.
Prime Minister George Papandreou invited opposition parties to offer proposals for a new mid-term austerity plan on Friday. He called for cooperation to improve Athens’ position in talks with the European Union.
“We have ahead of us fresh negotiations with the European Union… I call on party leaders to cooperate,” Papandreou said on public television.
“We must show that we are able to overcome party divisions.”
A national consensus “will be a guarantee to our partners” in the EU, said Papandreou, referring to ongoing talks on a second EU-IMF bailout package for Greece which is likely to be decided at the summit.
In a statement issued immediately after Prime Minister George Papandreou’s nationally televised address, Samaras said that “13 months after the ratification of the memorandum, the Prime Minister made an address today, to say the… same things he had said at the time.”
He added that the country “is in the same deadlock and that the credibility of the government’s economic policy has already been judged by its results.”
The central committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), said that “a proclamation was not necessary for George Papandreou to call on (main opposition New Democracy) ND party, (Popular Orthodox Rally leader George) Karatzaferis, (Democratic Alliance party leader Dora) Bakoyiannis and the other wiling, to support him more openly in the war he is escalating against the people.”
The left Coalition (Syn) party, stressed that, “the only consensus that is being given generously to the Prime Minister is that of the Troika and of the bankers.”
On Friday, June 3rd, CYPRECO of America, Inc., presented a new successful production dedicated to the folklore of Cyprus at the Stathakion Cultural Center in NewYork. Under the title, “Weaving Ladies of Cyprus”, the program featured the screening of a documentary named after the event and an exhibition of traditional embroideries and handicrafts.
The audience was comprised by Greek and Greek-Cypriot Americans and Americans of all ages who were truly fascinated with the program which was part of CYPRECO’s folk arts series, “Cyprus Its History and Culture Through The Ages”.
The 50-minute original documentary by Greek-Cypriot filmmaker Paschalis Papapetrou which highlighted and revived the most important aspects of the art of weaving in Cyprus was the result of seven years of recording on the Mediterranean island. Starting from the processing of raw materials and continuing with the actual weaving, the documentary provided an in-depth understanding how the traditional hand-woven products of Cyprus evolved. The film also refers to the customs and traditions relating to weaving in Cyprus, while it showcases and introduces some of the most significant and last weaving ladies of Cyprus.
The audience was truly moved as they watched the last remaining weaving ladies of Cyprus talking about their craft which will be lost after they are gone. It was even more compelling to watch the hard work that is required before weaving actually starts on the loom and how much sincere love and dedication goes into the preparation of the threats and thereafter to the actual weaving. This art which is threatened by extinction has survived over the centuries from mother to daughter or from grandmother to granddaughter. However, due to modernization over the years, the traditional everyday life, chores and priorities of Cypriot women have also changed. The new generations are no longer interested in the art which requires true dedication and hard work and thus the art will be lost with the last weaving ladies of the island when they are gone.
Guests were welcomed by the President of CYPRECO and Executive Producer of the program, Ms. Elena Maroulleti who after the screening of the documentary unveiled an exhibit of traditional hand-woven handicrafts from various areas of Cyprus. What was exceptional about the exhibition was the fact that it featured embroideries, handicrafts and other hand-woven materials which were shown in the film such as the renowned embroideries of “Phyti”, of the Karpass peninsula and materials such as the “alatzia” which were used to make the traditional dresses for women and vests for men in rural Cyprus. The exhibition is part of CYPRECO’s private collection acquired over the years from traditional weavers on the island of Cyprus, while Ms. Maroulleti also included some exhibits which are family heirlooms. Very moved, she explained that, after the July 20, 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, her late mother, Lucy Maroulleti, in risk of her life, returned to Famagusta few days after the city was taken over by Turkish troops with a sole mission of saving these and other precious family heirlooms.
This new folk arts program by CYPRECO was offered with free admission, as a public service to the community and it was made possible in part with the generous support of Arch Capital Services, the New York City of Cultural Affairs, with additional support from the Cyprus Federation of America and Astoria Federal Savings Bank, Ditmars Branch in Astoria, NY. The event was under the auspices of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York.
Continuing its cultural mission, CYPRECO of America, Inc., has lined up a new series of cultural and folk arts programs for Cyprus and Greece. On July 20, 2011 at 7pm at the Stathakion Cultural Center, 22-51 29th Street in Astoria, NY, on the occasion of the 37th tragic anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the organization will be presenting a special cultural program on Cyprus, entitled “July 20, 1974-We Never Forget”. The event will feature a screening of the original mini-documentary, “Pellapais” by Elena Maroulleti, a concert with songs that lament the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of Cyprus and poetry recital by Polys Kyriacou, poet/lyricist featuring his poems on Cyprus. It should be noted that, the village of Pellapais, under Turkish occupation since 1974, is among the most important villages in the northern-occupied part of Cyprus with a vibrant rich history and culture. The village gained importance and fame from the renowned medieval Abbey which is built within its vicinity. This event is offered for free as a public service to the community and it is under the auspices of the Consulate General of Cyprus in NY, the Cyprus Federation of America, the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) and the Federation of Hellenic Societies of NY.
On Friday, November 4, 2011 at 8pm also at the Stathakion, CYPRECO will be presenting another unique musical performance, a concert/tribute to the legendary composers of the last century, Apostolos Kaldaras and Stavros Kouyioumtzis. The concert will revive the most loved and everlasting songs of these great composer with a group of amazing musicians comprised by Christos Papadopoulos, bouzouki/vocals, Leda Maniatakou, vocals, Megan Gould, violin/baglama, Mathias Kunzli, percussion, directed by the renowned composer/guitarist Spiros Exaras. Admission for this event is $25 and it is offered to benefit the public service and non-profit bilingual Greek America radio AKTINA FM-WNYE 91.5FM
On Monday, June 20th, the Acropolis Museum is celebrating its 2nd anniversary by extending it’s opening hours. Visitors can enter the showrooms and restaurant from 8 a.m till midnight and admission will be reduced to 3 euros.
At 9:00 in the evening, in the courtyard of the Museum, the Symphony Orchestra of Athens Municipality will present works of Strauss, Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Tchaikovsky.
The admission for the concert is free.
The President of Democratic Alliance, Dora Bakoyiannis is asking for immediate elections after the announcement of the Medium Term Programme on Friday. Bakoyiannis emphasized that the country is now without a steering wheel and the government has actually collapsed.
She said that the policy of the increase of new taxes chosen by the government is unfair and unreasonable, while ND ”is transmitting its fantasies across Europe, where the European leaders are vainly trying to bring them down to reality.”
In conclusion, Bakoyianni claimed that none of the parties can negotiate the necessary changes and reforms on its own.
”In democracy there are no dead ends, that’s why the only option for the country is immediate elections. Elections now, so that this dead end in the political scene will be changed and all the necessary cooperation will dominate”, said the president of Democratic Alliance.
The Ministry of the Interior will support all the municipalities of the country with the amount of 1,227,850 euros, for the implementation of the programme of volunteer school crossing patrols, according to a decision of the under-Secretary of the Interior, George Dolios.
The financial aid concerns the months January until March of the running year.
On Friday, the government stated it had successfully concluded talks with the contractors of the country’s five largest national highways, paving the way for a reduction of road tolls.
The two sides reached a memorandum of cooperation and understanding envisaging the completion of national road works, while representatives of the banks funding the projects also expressed their support for the projects.
Speaking to reporters, Infrastructure, Networks and Transportation Minister Dimitris Reppas said the final agreement would be completed by the end of July, with road tolls expected to be cut by the end of summer, by 25-30 % throughout the network and by 50% on sections under construction. (source: ana-mpa)
“Our aim is the continuous decrease of the deficits” stressed Prime Minister George Papandreou on Friday, in parliament during the “Hour of the Prime Minister”, responding to current questions tabled by Popular Orthodox Rally (Laos) president George Karatzaferis and Coalition of the Left parliamentary group leader Alexis Tsipras.
“Our fundamental goal is that we will not need increasingly more loans in order to survive,” underlined Papandreou, adding: “This is my patriotic stance. No to creditors. We will change Greece.”
The Premier said that the reduction of the deficit by five percent is a “record” adding that “hope indeed exists that in 2012 we will have a primary surplus”. He also referred to great changes, such as privatizations, adding that these would be carried out “always with transparency and always at the best possible cost”.
Papandreou further said that emphasis will be placed on competitiveness, quality and exports, but also on education and health services.
“The greatest social injustice and counter-incentive to development is tax evasion” he reiterated, adding that “our aim is a wider political system that is trusted by the people. The debt will become manageable and we will proceed with changes in order for our economy to become viable,” the Premier stressed.
On the country’s future, he said “We will change Greece. Not only will we have a different Greece but we will also have solved the huge issue of the debt for the next generations, for a Greece never again to come under supervision.” (source: ana-mpa)
Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor passed away on Friday, June 10th, at the age of 96.
