LIFE & CULTURE

XpatAthens
Plásmata: Bodies, Dreams, & Data
-
What kind of bodies do machines imagine?
-
Where does the digital self begin and the physical one end?
-
How do disability, gender, and labor intersect in the digital age?
-
What happens when technology reshapes our identity—or our planet?
Santorini Experience Returns For Its 8th Year On October 10-12, 2025


- Gold award in the “Individual Sports” category
- Platinum & Gold awards in the “Best Sports Culinary Sponsorship” category with Miele Hellas
- Gold award in the “Most Innovative Use of Content Creators & Influencers for a Sports Related Activity” category with MOTODYNAMICS Group
- Gold award in the “Best Real-Time Response / Occasion-based Marketing” category with MOTODYNAMICS GrouP
- Gold award in the “Best Experiential Marketing - Best in Sports Culinary Marketing” category with Miele Hellas
- Silver award in the “Best NEW Sponsorship” category with MOTODYNAMICS Group
- Bronze award in the “Best Sports-Related CSR Campaign / Activity” category with the MOTODYNAMICS Group

The Wonder Wanderers IV

The Wonder Wanderers IV invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and be fully present through a carefully curated experience of nature walks, movement practices, storytelling, and community connection.

Retreat Info
When: October 8-12, 2025
Where: Vitsa, Zagori
Pricing: Single room ensuite: €899 | Double room ensuite: €739 | Bed in dormitory: €499
Email: bookings@epekeinahora.gr
Contact Number: 698 667 9192 & 698 564 5430
Organizer: The Land Beyond
Please CLICK HERE to visit the organizer's page!
Agora Pitching Forum Open Call
How to participate at the Agora Pitching Forum & the International MIFA Campus?
Learn more at animasyros.gr!
How To Become A Greek Citizen: A Guide To Naturalization
Greece is more than a beloved travel destination; it’s also a country that offers the security, opportunity, and cultural richness of EU citizenship. With a Greek passport, you gain the right to live and work not only in Greece but anywhere in the European Union. While many pursue citizenship through descent, naturalization offers another powerful path, open to anyone who meets the legal requirements, regardless of heritage.
Greek citizenship through naturalization is available to foreign nationals who satisfy a number of legal conditions. To apply, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have no irrevocable convictions for serious crimes in the past 10 years
- Prove continuous legal residence in Greece:
- 7 years for general applicants
- 5 years if residency began before March 24, 2010
- 3 years if you're an EU national, married to a Greek citizen, a parent of a Greek minor, or a recognized refugee/stateless person
- Hold a valid Greek residence permit (e.g., long-term permits, EU/EFTA family cards, refugee certificates)
Your application must be supported by a complete and properly certified file. Key documents include:
- Naturalization Statement signed at your local municipality, in front of two Greek witnesses
- Valid passport and residence permit
- Certified birth certificate, translated into Greek
- Proof of income or tax return from the previous year
- Greek social security number (AMKA)
- Certified translations and authentications of all foreign documents
The road to Greek citizenship involves several official steps:
- Sign and submit the Naturalization Statement
- Collect and file all required documentation
- Demonstrate continuous, legal residency
- Take language and integration assessments
- Complete an interview with the Naturalization Committee
- Await the committee’s decision
- If successful, take the oath of allegiance and be registered as a Greek citizen
The interview is a critical part of the process. It assesses:
- Language proficiency – both verbal and written Greek
- Knowledge of Greece – its history, culture, and democratic system
- Personal background – your life in Greece, reasons for applying, and long-term intentions
- Community ties – evidence of social and cultural integration
While it’s possible to apply on your own, working with a legal expert like Expat Law can save time, prevent costly mistakes, and increase your chances of approval. Their team provides:
- Up-to-date guidance on all legal requirements
- A customized application strategy based on your background
- Careful review of documents to avoid delays
- Representation in legal proceedings if needed
- Full support from start to finish
End-to-end assistance tailored to your case:
- Document preparation and legal verification
- Application submission and follow-up with authorities
- Legal representation in appeals or complex scenarios
- Ongoing guidance throughout the process
Claiming Greek Citizenship By Descent: What You Need To Know
Thinking about reconnecting with your Greek roots? Here’s a simplified breakdown of how you might be eligible for Greek citizenship by descent:
- Parental Heritage: If your mother or father is a registered Greek citizen, you qualify automatically.
- Born in Greece: If you were born in Greece and one parent held legal residency for at least five years before your birth, you're eligible.
- Out-of-Wedlock Birth: If your parents weren’t married, citizenship is granted through a Greek mother. If the father is Greek, legal proof of paternity is required.
- Adoption: Adopted by a Greek citizen before turning 18? You’re entitled to Greek citizenship.
- Third-Generation Greeks: If a grandparent was born in Greece or naturalized, you may apply—though your parent might need to claim citizenship first.
Your eligibility may also depend on when you were born and your parents' marital status at the time. To avoid pitfalls, consult Expat Law early on—accurate legal advice can save time and money.
Building Your Case: The Required Documentation
Once eligibility is confirmed, the next step is to secure your Certificate of Registration, the official record of your status as a Greek citizen. Here's what you'll need:
- Valid passport and birth certificate
- Christening/baptism certificate (if applicable)
- Passport-sized photo that adheres to official guidelines
- Your children's birth and baptism records (if applying for them too)
- Parents’ marriage certificate, indicating civil or religious union
- Parents’ and grandparents’ birth certificates (plus death certificates, if needed)
- Proof of Greek municipal registration
- Divorce or name change documentation (if applicable)
- Recent criminal record certificate
- Certified Greek translations of all documents
- Registration of foreign marriages in the Special Registry of Athens.
Once everything is in order, you will book an appointment with the Greek consulate closest to you and submit your application along with a €150 fee. Keep in mind, though, that processing may take up to two years, so plan ahead.
The Application Process
With documents in hand, you’re ready to submit your file to Greek authorities. A carefully assembled application boosts your chances of approval—every accurate document and form gets you closer to reclaiming your heritage.
The Perks of Greek Dual Citizenship
Greece allows dual nationality, meaning you don’t have to give up your existing citizenship. As a Greek citizen, you gain:
- The right to live and work in Greece and across the EU
- Access to Greek public healthcare and education
- Voting rights in Greek elections
But citizenship also comes with duties. Be sure to understand any tax obligations or, for male citizens, mandatory military service requirements.
Let Expat Law Guide You
The journey to Greek citizenship can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. Expat Law offers personalized legal support tailored to your unique background, including in-depth guidance for more complicated cases like asylum, deportation defense, and dual nationality.
Contact Expat Law here:
📧 kyveli@expatlaw.gr
📱 +30 694 555 1914 (call or text)
Have questions or need guidance tailored to your case? Don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’re here to help!
Writing With Purpose: Timothy Jay Smith On Greece, Social Justice & Storytelling
After reading Fire on the Island, a suspenseful, heartfelt novel set in a Greek village, I was immediately intrigued by the man behind the story. My review barely scratched the surface of what Timothy Jay Smith brings to the page, and I couldn’t help but want to learn more about this fascinating writer and person.
So, we sat down for a long and heartfelt conversation. Timothy opened up about his life, his work, and his enduring bond with Greece. From planting tens of thousands of trees in Tanzania to founding a prize for political theater, to crafting layered characters drawn from real people, he offers the kind of perspective only a true global citizen can.
We began with the big question...
I’d say for myself: empathetic. I care about people, especially the disenfranchised and that has motivated drives what I do.
For Greece: welcoming.
Thank you, Tim, for sharing your stories, your passion, and your heart with us. It’s been a pleasure getting a deeper look into the life behind Fire on the Island, and the purpose behind every page!
Want to learn more about Tim? Visit his website and grab your copy of Fire on the Island HERE!
Pilates Retreat For Wellness & Renewal
Retreat Info
When: October 10-12, 2025
Pricing: Double Room: €355 per person | Triple Room: €345 per person | Quadruple Room: €340 per person |Single Room: Available upon request
Language: Greek
Contact Info PilatesLife Studio - Kelly Petridi: pilateslifekp@outlook.com, 697 885 2602
Contact Info Studio PilatesLife - Nadia Petridi: nad.petridi@gmail.com, 697 475 2212
Align By Alin - Holistic Wellness & Movement Studio

Alin Batanian - Yoga & Pilates Instructor

As a dancer, she has taught classical ballet at the Gymnastics Club of Irakleio Attikis (2010–2011) and contemporary dance at The Henny Jurriëns Foundation in Amsterdam (2012). She has performed in productions across the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Portugal (2012–2014) under the choreography of Manuel Ronda.
In Greece, she has collaborated extensively with choreographer Menti Mega on projects such as Unlimited Access—a European program supporting professional dancers and individuals with motor, cognitive, or visual impairments (2014–2016); the educational program Triples and Triplets (2017–2018); and the performance Sweet Abyss (2015). She also participated in the 3rd Young Choreographers Festival at the Onassis Cultural Centre (Fläche en Handfläche by Ioanna Angelopoulou, 2015) and in Stavros Petropoulos’ documentary I Am a Dancer (2016), all produced by the Onassis Foundation.
In recent years, she has worked closely with Irini Kourouvani, organizing dance workshops and performances in public primary schools across Attica. These initiatives, part of the International Olympic Truce Centre’s educational programs, aim to help children reconnect with their bodies, explore rhythm and movement as forms of expression, and embrace the diversity of every body.
She also volunteers with the “Pisti” Association at the “Agia Sofia” Children’s Hospital in Athens, offering dance therapy and yoga sessions to young patients and their families in the Pediatric Oncology-Hematology Unit (POAIM – K.E.TH.).
Certifications
-
Professional Dance School “Rallou Manou” (2011)
-
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (The Yoga Studio Marousi)
under Course Director Swami Nirvikalpananda (Olga Alexiou) and Lead Trainer Mahatman (Michalis Evangelidis) – Yoga Alliance International Certified -
120-Hour Bahiranga Restorative Yoga for Musculoskeletal Pain (Nada Yoga Place) with Lead Trainer Mahatman (Michalis Evangelidis)
-
120-Hour Bahiranga Holistic Healing Aspects of Yoga (Nada Yoga Place) with Lead Trainer Mahatman (Michalis Evangelidis)
-
60-Hour Aerial Flow Yoga Teacher Training (Kyklos Aerial Lab)
with Aggeliki Sotiropoulou -
Advanced Level II in the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.) training program, studying classical ballet under Carol Hanis and reaching.
🌐 https://alignbyalin.gr