‘OHI’ DAY PARADE

Every year on the 28th of October kids from Greek schools all over the world from elementary school to high school gear up for the ‘Ohi’ parade. The day commemorates Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejection of  the Italian Dictator Mussolini’s ultimatum on October 28th 1940.  This event  is very similar to the  Persian ultimatum to the Ancient Greek city states. The Persians asked for ‘earth  and air’ in exchange for submission to the Persian empire in the 5th Century B.C.. Modern Greece was once again faced with the same dilema.  Freedom was to be taken once again.  A proud Metaxas  rejected Mussolini’s ultimatum that if they are not allowed to occupy Greece then there would be war.  The rejection marked the beginning of Greece’s involvement in World War II. Greek troops-that included my grandfather and his brothers marched into Albania to fight the Italians who were with the Axis powers. The Greek army were to return from Albania victorious. Even though the Germans would later invade Greece no one forgot the heroism of  the Greek army and many believe that the victory helped to end the second world war.

After the war, my grandfather came back to Greece safely with his brothers with plenty of stories to tell..

‘ Watch this great video about ‘Ohi’ day:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkeiT8Gbysk

For a more informative read on this significant day read this very interesting article:

http://onemansblog.com/2009/10/28/oxi-day-how-the-greeks-helped-end-world-war-ii/

Iris the Rainbow

My Full Rainbow

In ancient times, the rainbows was thought to link Heaven and Earth.  In many ancient cultures, rainbows symbolized  promises and they were signs or messages from above.  In modern times, people have to work harder to make ends meet, as a result people lose  focus from what is most important.  People ignore the beauty of nature. Scientific explanations have ruined our imaginations. There seems to be an explanation for everything. But, try as some may there will always be a sense of mystery around us.

In Greek mythology, Iris was the Goddess of the rainbow, and she was the messenger for the Goddess Hera. Everything in nature mattered to the ancients. Nothing was ignored.

http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Iris.html

 

Iris

 

 

I love this song!!!

 

 

 

Global Crisis/Παγκοσμια Κριση

In the time of the ancient Greek Physician Hippocrates the Greek word ‘crisis’ (Gk.  Κριση) meant ‘a turning point in a disease’. This turning point can either lead to recovery or death.  Nowadays the word crisis means a crucial stage or an unstable period either in one’s personal life or in politics and economics. Many countries all over the world are at a turning point of a disease, the disease being greed. Corporations have exhausted the resources in our environment and left irreversible damages on the environment ex. the oil spill in the  Gulf of Mexico. People are losing their jobs at an alarming rate, and few people can look to the future with a smile on their face. This is the time when people have to stop to think about the future and to think abou the damage that was done, not only to society but to ourselves. People are suffering, we all know that, but not very many will recover. Those who are fortunate enough to  recover will venture into a stable phase; alot stronger and more prosperous than before.

‘If you have a crisis, whether on a ship or wherever, there are heroes who rise above it.’
American Director Jerry Bruckheimer

Metamorphosis/Mεταμόρφωση

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I saw, for the first time, the metamorphosis of a beautiful catepillar in my backyard. This is the mysterious and miracle of nature that some take for granted. Scientists have not figured out what exactly happens when a caterpillar changes in its cocoon and somehow becomes a butterfly. These insects need 12 days or more to churn out as butterflies from their dark cocoons.  During those days the caterpillar resembles a mummy and can become easy prey for insects .

I believe that we can all identify with the catepillar/butterfly. After a tough and challenging phase in ones’ life, a person may feel that they have reached the end . However,  it is not the end, but it this cocoon phase that transforms that person and he/she may turn into something new. As the snakes lose their skin and acquires a new one. A person can shed their old skin, come out of their cocoon of darkness and into the light as a new person transformed.

It is interesting to note that the ancient Greek word for ‘ butterfly ‘is the ‘ soul ‘ …

Είδα, για πρώτη φορά, τη μεταμόρφωση μιας όμορφης κάμπια στην αυλή μου. Αυτή είναι το μυστηριώδες θαύμα της φύσης που ορισμένοι θεωρούν δεδομένο. Οι επιστήμονες δεν έχουν καταλάβει τι ακριβώς συμβαίνει όταν μια κάμπια αλλαζει στο κουκούλι του και κατά κάποιο τρόπο γίνεται μια πεταλούδα. Αυτά τα έντομα χρειάζονται 12 ή περισσότερες ημέρες για να μεταμορφωσουνε ως πεταλούδες από το σκοτάδι των κουκούλιων τους. Κατά τη διάρκεια αυτών των ημερών η κάμπια μοιάζει με μια μούμια και μπορεί να γίνει εύκολη λεία για τα έντομα.

Πιστεύω ότι όλοι μπορούν να ταυτιστούν με την κάμπια / πεταλούδα. Μετά από μια σκληρή και δύσκολη φάση στη ζωή του, ένα άτομο μπορεί να αισθάνεται ότι έχει φτάσει στο τέλος. Ωστόσο, αυτό δεν είναι το τέλος,  αυτή ειναι η φάση ‘του κουκουλιού’ που μετατρέπει το εν λόγω πρόσωπο να μετατραπεί σε κάτι καινούργιο. Καθώς τα φίδια χάνουν το δέρμα τους για να αποκτά καινούργιο δέρμα. Ένα άτομο μπορεί να ρίξει το παλιό δέρμα τους, η και να βγει από το σκοτεινο κουκούλι του στο φως ως καινούργιος άνθρωπος μεταμορφωμενος για πάντα

Aξιοσημείωτο είναι το γεγονός  ότι η αρχαία ελληνική λέξη για τη « πεταλούδα » είναι η «ψυχή» ..

 

 

1000 Year Old Byzantine Church
The entry of King Otto of Greece in Athens and...

Image via Wikipedia

Για πολλα χρονια ψωνιζα στα μαγαζια στην Οδο Ερμου στο κεντρο της Αθηνας και περνουςα την μικρη εκκλησια, αλλα δεν ηξερα την ιστορια της. Λογο της περιεργιας μου εμαθα για το μικρο εκκλησακι.   Η εκκλησια ονομαζεται ‘Παναγια Καπνικαρεα’ και ειναι ενα απο της πιο σημαντικες Βυζαντινες εκκλησιες στην Αθηνα.

Το Βυζαντινο εκκλησακι χτιστηκε το 1050 μ.χ (!)  πανω απο τα συντηριμμια ενος αρχαιου ναου αφιερομενο ειτε στη Θεα Αθηνα η στην Θεα Δημητρα. Παραλιγο να γρεμιστει η εκκλησια μετα την επανασταση του 1821, ομως παρενεβει Ο Αρχιεπισκοπος της Αθηνας και ο Ludwig of Bavaria o πατερας του Βασιλια Οττο.  Το μωσαικο στην εισοδο τηn εφτιαξε Ο Elli Voila το 1936, και ειναι πολυ εντυπωσιακο.

For many years, I have walked passed the tiny old church pictured above. It is located in the middle of  the downtown Ermou shopping district  of Athens.   The church is always surrounded by people who like to sit on the ledge.  I have sat there many times and one day I decided to go in to light a candle.  I knew that it was an old church is but I did not know exactly how old.  Recently I decided to take photographs of the church and to do some research on it.  What I discovered surprised me the church named: ‘Panagia Kapnikarea‘ is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and it is one of the most important Byzantine churches in Athens.  The church dates back to 1050 (11th century)! It was built on the ruins of an ancient temple either dedicated to the Goddess Athena or Demeter.   Panagia Kapnikarea was almost destroyed after the Greek war of Independence of 1821, but the Bishop of Athens and Ludwig of Bavaria father of King Otto intervened and the church was saved.  The mosaic at the entrance was made by Elli Voila in 1936, and it is quite beautiful up close. In addition, the Northern side of the church is dedicated to Saint Varvara.

For more info:
http://www.athensinfoguide.com/gr/wtschurches/panagiakapnikarea.htm

http://www.focusmm.com/greece/gr_byza.htm

Poisonous Plant-Toξικο Φυτο!!

As I was taking a few photos in my backyard I noticed a white flower that I had never seen before. I was curious and I intuitively  decided to take a photo of it. But, not only did I photograph it, but I did a search for the flower on the internet.  To my surprise I discovered that I had an extremely toxic flower in my garden.  I asked my mother where this plant came from.  She said that she was given the seeds on her recent visit to  Canada.  The flower has many names;  jimson weed, stink weed, devils’ trumpet and loco weed etc. The whole plant is toxic not just the seeds.  One can go mad  and have hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms. There have even been cases of hospitalizations and deaths from the comsumption of this plant. Even smelling the plant and breathing into it for too long can cause a person to experience hallucinations.  In Greece, a family was admitted to the hospital when they had accidentally mixed the toxic plant with other weeds (that Greeks normally eat) and consumed it.  Some teenagers use the plant as a recreational drug by eating the seeds or drinking teas made from the plant, but it’s very dangerous because the side effects are unpredictable.  These plants can be found in your garden from bird droppings or by roadsides and wastelands. Get rid of it if you find it!  It looks like I have a lot of weeding to do this weekend!

Στην Ελλαδα το ονομαζουμε ‘βρομοχορτο’ οπως το ‘στινκ ουιντ’ στα Αγγλικα λογο τις ασχημης μηρουδιας που εκπεμπει το φυτο.