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THE TRIAL OF SOCRATES: 399 BC versus 2013 AD
Written by Terry Poulos
Was the great philosopher Socrates railroaded—again? That’s a rhetorical question, leading the witness I know. Though this is opinion and not a trial. But it’s serious business. A seminal figure was put to death at age 70 in 399 BC for asking questions. Or so history tells us. Nearly 2,500 years later, what have we learned?
Michigan-based film company, Mother and Midwife Pictures, is hosting a party on Feb. 21 to celebrate the recent completion of their cast for their upcoming feature film, Papou.
Join the Global Dance Party Series at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Friday, February 22, 2013, where Greek music and dance for all ages will be featured.
What does Athens have to do with America? Recovering Hope in Community Dialogue
Written by GuestOn Sunday, Feb 24, 2013, Hellenic Link–Midwest presents Professor Jennifer Hockenbery in a lecture titled “What does Athens have to do with America?: Recovering Hope in Community Dialogue”. The event will take place at 3 pm at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 10249 West Irving Park Road at Schiller Park (southeast corner of Irving Park Road and Mannheim Road). Admission is free for HLM members and $5 for non-members.
In the headlines, in Congress, in our schools, and in our public forums there seems to be a consensus that there is a crisis of community dialogue in the U.S. today. On one hand, this is a political crisis as our leaders struggle to find common ground to move our country forward towards debt reduction, a stronger economy, and a safer environment. On the other hand, this is a very personal crisis, as individuals lose hope at finding truths and values from conversations with their neighbors and colleagues. The depth of this crisis is profound if we believe, as Aristotle did, that all humans are, by nature, political animals with the desire to know. If our flourishing depends upon our ability to maintain healthy communities in which we can seek knowledge, we must regain hope in community dialogue.
Dr. Jennifer Hockenbery is Professor of Philosophy and chair of the philosophy department at Mount Mary College, where she teaches courses in Plato, Aristotle, and Ethics. She came to philosophy through her Classics major at Bowdoin college and strengthed her love of Greek philosophy by studying in Athens for a collegiate year. She obtained a Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston University where she wrote a dissertation titled: Redeeming Philosophy:Philosophy in Augustine’s Confessions in which she discussed the intersection of Greek Philosophy and Christianity in the late antique world.
Konstantin Zotos – The Unanswered Question from World War II
Written by Harriette Condes-ZervakisRiverside resident and former financial columnist for The Greek Star, Konstantin Zotos, continues to share his first-hand experiences of serving the Allied cause as an officer of the Hellenic army during World War II. As previously noted, Mr. Zotos’ service in the army had been deferred until he completed law school in 1938. Because of his education, he attended officers’ training school, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and was assigned the duty of training soldiers in Athens at the “Proto Sintagma Pezikou.” Honorably discharged in September of 1940, he was drafted again a month later when the Italian forces invaded Greece. His second honorable discharge did not come until 1945 when he was in Cairo.
MUSEUM….The National Hellenic Museum’s production of THE TRIAL of SOCRATES is the talk of the town! It received cross-country reviews and has given the Museum national recognition. The Museum’s Director CONNIE MOURTOUPALAS came up with the idea and received professional assistance from others, including Judge CHARLES KOKORAS --- all of whom deserve and have our heartfelt thanks for their efforts.
BOOK…HARRY MYLONAS is the author of The Politics of Nation-Building: The Making of Co-Nationals, Refugees and Minorities, published by Cambridge University Press. Mylonas attended the University of Athens, was accepted at the University of Chicago and then obtained his PhD at Yale with distinction in political science in 2008. He now teaches Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University in D.C. He is the recipient of a Fullbright Scholarship, Yale University Fellowship and many other awards and grants.
THEATER. . . LAUREN BLANE is appearing in the production of NOW & FOREVER (Marriott Lincolnshire). She is the daughter of ANNETTE ANDREAKIS SUTHERLAND and granddaughter of TESSIE ANDREAKIS. The cellist in the production is MARK LEKAS.
CHORAL. . . RACHMANINOV VESPERS – THE SACRED POWERS of the NIGHT will be presented by the Rockefeller Chapel Choir of the University of Chicago on Saturday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.00. JOHN SUTKO, Choir Director of the St. Peter and St. Paul Orthodox Church – (OCA) in Burr Ridge, will be singing with the Rockefeller Choir for this performance.
MARRIED. . .PATRICIA ANASTASIA GANAS to MARIANO LOCATELLI with SANDRA KOUMANDAROS as Sponsor at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto…ANGELA GIANAKOS and ERIC SCHINDLER with WILLIAM PETER GIANAKOS on January 19….ANNA DEMIR and KOSTAS ANEZIRIS…
40-DAY BLESSINGS….GEORGIA FOTIADIS, daughter of George and Patricia Cunniffe…ZOE, daughter of Dimitra Georganopoulos and Chris Hutchinson... ARIANNA LIA, daughter of Linda and Daniel Curcio…CONSTANTINE JOHN, son of Matina and Dean Marks…HARIKLIA, daughter of Debbie and John Drivas…TIMOLEON, son of Filisa and George Mantas.
KORAES NEWS….First place winners in the 2013 Science Fair were CONNIE KRUPA, 5th grade…GEORGIA LATTAS, 6th grade…MICHELLE LEN, 7th grade…ALEXA TSIAKOPOULOS, 8th grade. Graduate GEORGE WEBSTER was named as one of 22 Illinois State Scholars at Brother Rice High School, and graduate ALEXANDRA EKONOMOU was named to the 2012 Autumn Quarter Dean’s List at DePaul University.
FEBRUARY NAMEDAY WISHES for. . . Father SYMEON JOHNSON. . .HARRY BALASKAS…BOB PEPONIS…HARRY SECARAS…HARRIETTE CONDES-ZERVAKIS.
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS for. . . KAREN GATSIS ANDERSON on the 9th….PETER BACOS on the 24th…JIMMIE BLISS on the 18th…MICHAEL NICKOLAS CARSON on the 23rd…JAMES CHRONES on the 26th…ALEXA GANAKOS…REENEE GATSIS on the 2nd…ALEX GRAYES on the 28th…STELLA KAPSALIS on the 11th…MERAN KARRAS on the 7th. .. GEORGE A. KOUROS on the 16th…MARIA MANIATES on the 24th…GEORGE MARKS on the 14th…GEORGE PAPS…ted pnoplos ON THE 26TH…DR. DEBRA PRICEPRODROMOS…AMY SALLAS…CINDY VRANAS on the 16th...HARRIET CONDES-ZERVAKIS on the 13th…TOM VABAKOS.
FEBRUARY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CONGRATS for…CHRIS and ELAINE KOLLINTZAS DRIKAKIS on the 25th…TOM and MARY KOLLINTZAS on the 28th…PENNY and CHRIS LAGEOTAKES…JOHN G. and MARY GATSIS on the 12th…BLANCHE and DINO FRIAR on the 3rd…STEPHANIE and JOHN VLAHAKIS on the 3rd.
AHIF….DAN GEORGAKAS, who is editor of the Online Policy Journal and Director of the Greek American Studies Project, Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Queens College writes in his editorial foreword; “This issue of the AHI policy journal addresses a cluster of national and international issues pertinent to the interests of Greece, Cyprus and the United States. Our coverage offers a mix of strategy, documentation, tactics, and analysis that aims to enrich public discourse on these issues.”
CONDOLENCES to the family of the late JAMES M. MEZILSON who fell asleep in the Lord last month. May his memory be eternal!
A happy man or woman
is a better thing to find than a five-pound note.
He or she is a radiating focus of good will;
and their entrance into a room
is as though another candle had been lighted.
They practically demonstrate
the great theorem of the Livableness of Life.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Close up with Argentine Tango instructor Agape Pappas
Written by Diane AdamThe Greek Star editor Diane Adam recently sat down with Chicago’s very own Argentine Tango instructor Agape Pappas. Agape’s performances and classes have captivated students and onlookers alike across the United States, Canada and Europe. We talked about all things Tango and of course her favorite Greek dance.
Q&A with the Honorable Judge Charles P. Kocoras
Written by Maria A. KaramitsosThis week we caught up with the Honorable Judge Charles P. Kocoras,
US District Court Judge, Northern District of Illinois,
The first Greek-American Federal District Court Judge in Chicago
THREE HIERARCHS COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES FEAST DAY- HONORS CHRIS P. TOMARAS OF CHICAGO
Written by Maria A. Karamitsos|
New York City - In a church filled to capacity with faithful from Brooklyn and other parts of New York, the Vespers service of the feast day of the Three Hierarchs was held on Tuesday, January 29, at the Church of the Three Hierarchs in Brooklyn. The event was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios who, together with 14 priests, (six of which were Archimandrites) and two deacons, along with a glorious chanting team, offered an experience of religious splendor to all attendees. The church proistamenos, the Very Reverend Father Eugene N. Pappas, addressing the crowd noted: "His Eminence has been the celebrant of these Vespers every year for the last 14 years, ever since his enthronement as Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. We are deeply grateful for His love and attention to this church community." The Three Hierarchs, also known as the Great Fathers of the Church, who lived during the 3rd century AD, are recognized as the proponents, the protectors and the preservers of the Greek language and the Greek Letters in the largest dimension. But in a greater sense, they were also the great theologians and the educators of their time. To commemorate their accomplishments, their namesake church community in Brooklyn organizes an illustrious event each year immediately after Vespers service, and honors a member of the Greek American Community who has excelled in his or her field of endeavor with an award. This year, the honoree was Mr. Chris P. Tomaras who was selected for his dedication and contribution to education, and his support of Greek American college students.
Mr. Tomaras, a Chicago businessman, is the founder and chairman of the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation, which for years has been offering $250,000 annually in scholarships of $10,000 each to Greek American students from all over the U.S. In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Tomaras noted, "Our Foundation has a single mission: To promote education by providing scholarships and educational programs to Greek American students who, guided by the values of their Hellenic upbringing, have the potential to become life-long significant achievers and contribute meaningfully to society. Our goal is to help build a better America through Education and Hellenism and, in that spirit, help strengthen the civic fabric and deliverenlightened and engaged citizens." Tomaras continued, "The teachings of the Three Hierarchs are deeply revered and have been closely followed throughout the centuries including today. Of their monumental accomplishments, I would like to focus on their contribution to education. It is the one subject I am very close to, and the one I have been deeply involved in during the last 15 years. I created the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation with the goal of ensuring that financially challenged college students, whose outstanding academic performance merits recognition, have the support they need to complete their education and reach outstanding success." In his address to the audience, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios confirmed the successes of today's educated members of the Greek American Community, who are positioned in 2nd place in the U.S. following the Jewish Community, in the areas of education instruction, science, and business, among others. This was clearly demonstrated by the admiration and respect His Eminence and representatives of the Community received at the recent presidential inauguration.
A grand plaque with an icon of the Three Hierarchs and a congratulatory dedication was presented to Mr. Tomaras, who promised to share with his sister, also present at the event. Another plaque with a proclamation was offered to him by Domenic M. Recchia, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the City of New York. The Vespers and the event that followed were also attended by Consul Evangelos Kyriakopoulos of Greece, the Consul General of Cyprus, Koula Sophianou, the Parish President Jack Chrisomalis, and members of the Parish Council and the Community. |
Courtesy: PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation
Olympia and Apollo Dukakis Lead Cast in Getty Villa Theater Lab Series
Written by Diane AdamLOS ANGELES—The Getty Villa Theater Lab Series returns in early February with sibling-actors Olympia and Apollo Dukakis, as they lead the cast of Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble’s Lysistrata Unbound.
