XpatAthens
Wednesday, 18 February 2015 13:03
Patmos & The Monastery of St. John
The locked gates to one of the world’s most revered holy places are themselves imposing, looming high above the port of Skala on this island in the eastern Aegean. The St. John monastery was built by St. Christodoulos in 1088 to venerate St. John, who wrote the Book of Revelation in a nearby cave after being exiled to the island in 95 AD by the Roman emperor Domitian.
Now home to 15 monks, the monastery is located at the highest point of Hora, which is a spiral of whitewashed buildings, many in varying states of graceful decay, perched dramatically over the port.
Visiting the monastery was my first order of business on Patmos and it did not disappoint. The church’s icons are visually arresting, the views of the surrounding islands are sublime, and the presence of black clad monks a reminder that St. John’s is a magnet for devout Christians.
Locals claim that Patmos has more than 300 churches, or one for every 10 residents. Father Ioustinianos, 62, a monk from Crete who has lived at St. John’s for 22 years. took me on a private tour of Zoodochos Pigi, an early 17th-century monastery in Hora, and invited me to an afternoon service at St. John’s.
To read more, please visit boston.com
By Dave Seminara
Published in
Travel Greece
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Thursday, 19 February 2015 14:13
Varoufakis Says He Was And Still Is Prepared To Sign
In his press conference, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said he had been prepared to agree to a deal with creditors that would have given Athens four to six months additional credit in return for putting major new budget policies on hold.
He said the European Commission had put such a suggestion to him before Monday's meeting of euro zone finance ministers but that it had been superseded by a different draft proposal - from Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem - that he could not sign because it obliged Athens to extend its current bailout package.
Dijsselbloem's proposal was "highly problematic," he said. "We were offering to refrain effectively from implementing our own program for a period of six months and all we were getting back was a nebulous promise of some flexibility that was never specified," Varoufakis told reporters.
To read more, please visit thetoc.gr/eng
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Local News
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Wednesday, 24 June 2015 07:00
Interview With Emmy Award Winning Actor And Director Yannis Simonides - "Socrates Now"
We all know who Socrates was: only one of the greatest Greek philosophers of all time. Socrates Now is a 75 minute solo theatre performance (in English with Modern Greek subtitles) highlighting the Apology of Socrates. Performed in seventeen countries so far—festivals, universities and theatres—in 2015 performances are planned from 27th June until 19th July and is expected to attract over 2000 viewers of all ages.
Starring and co-directed by the Emmy Award Winning actor and scholar Yannis Simonides, he gives us some insight.
Born in Constantinople, raised in Athens and educated at Yale in the United States, you are truly an international, Mr. Simonides…but where do you feel your roots really lie?
Absolutely and fully in Greece, on every rocky path I have traversed, in every harbour I have anchored in, every sprig of thyme I have inhaled, every amphitheatre I have been graced with, every modern Odysseus I have encountered
Whilst your tour a lot worldwide, have you ever spent an extended period of time living and working in Athens? What has been your experience?
I have and quite often, and now I have a pied-a-terre in Psyrri, facing the Rock, listening to bongos and santouri all night long, taking in the fantastic graffiti, agonizing with the rest of my compatriots, performing in English and Greek for my fellow citizens and the citizens of the world, this 69 year old wandering minstrel could not be happier and more privileged
You’ve been performing Socrates Now for 10 years. You must feel a personal connection to the philosopher by now. Do you feel yourself identifying with any of his character traits?
10 years, 18 countries, over 200,000 audiences – there is no way that one could attempt this pilgrimage without being fundamentally altered by the experience. My morality has evolved into simple ethics, my humor has gotten sharper yet gentler, my attitude more childlike, my wisdom more prudent, my joy in life more delicious, my peace with my mortality more genuine; though, unfortunately, my Socratic determination to change the world has gotten out of hand and something needs be done about it. Any ideas?
To read more, please visit: Life Beyond Borders
For detailed event information and to book tickets, please click HERE.
For detailed event information and to book tickets, please click HERE.
Published in
People
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Monday, 30 November 2015 07:00
Athens Metro Makes World's Top 10 In Frommer's Travel Guide
Athens commuters may take it for granted on a day-to-day basis, but for visitors to the Greek capital the metro is one of the sites worth visiting. In fact online travel guide Frommer’s recently ranked the Athens metro among the top 10 subways in the world because of the archaeological exhibitions and contemporary art installations at a number of its stations.
The feature by Charis Atlas Heelan compares different subway systems around the world, asking: “What makes the world’s best subway, Metro, and Tube systems? Other than safety, cleanliness, and cost, it doesn’t hurt to have amenities like great architecture or underground shops and eateries. Bonus points if the transit stations aren’t too crowded or have endless staircases.”
The Athens metro is presented among the world’s top 10 in most flattering terms: “One of the crowning achievements of this city’s Olympic bid was the creation of Attiko Metro, a system with stations housing archaeological exhibits and items that were uncovered while digging (walls, cisterns, urns, and even sarcophagi). Even if you don’t need to get to any of the 50-plus stations, it’s well worth a visit to Syntagma Square or Akropoli stations to see the relics or Ethniki Amyna station for more contemporary art installations. Though the trains aren’t that modern or efficient, the visual surroundings make it all worthwhile,” the writer says.
To read more, please visit: ekathimerini
To read more, please visit: ekathimerini
Published in
Local News
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Monday, 21 August 2017 08:56
Athens’ 17th Century Fethiye Mosque Opens To The Public
The 17th century Ottoman monument, one of the most important historic buildings in Athens’ historic center, will operate as an exhibition venue for photography or antiquities, the head of the Athens Ephorate of Antiquities told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
The monument is located on the northern side of the ancient Roman Agora in Athens, near the Tower of the Winds and is a listed building. It was built on the ruins of a Christian basilica from the middle Byzantine period (8th-9th centuries), which was converted into a mosque. Initially it was believed its construction was completed to coincide with the visit to the city of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1458. However more recent studies, combined with excavation data, led to its redating and its integration in the second half of the 17th century, probably between 1668-1670.
It was built according to the architectural style of “quatrefoil” or “clover-leaf-cross-in-square”, as its broad central dome is supported by four quadrangles in cruciform arrangement.
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Local News
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Friday, 10 November 2017 10:00
August 8 - Summer In The City
Get to know Lucifer, the heatwave that affected Athens, and explore the city with these top roof gardens. BBC also gives us 50 reasons to love the world!
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Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!
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Newsletters
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Wednesday, 17 October 2018 15:00
Surprise 9 - Call For Artists
artAZ, the Greek Art Platform for the promotion of Contemporary Art, is inviting artists to submit small format artworks for the 9th SURPRISE benefit exhibition for the support of the homeless of Greece.
SURPRISE is a campaign that mobilizes the power of art to offer help in major social issues. The exhibition is a collective effort of the artistic community; since 2009 more than 2000 artists have contributed their works to the campaign.
Each edition of SURPRISE features ~300 artists. All artworks are small format, are offered for the same symbolic price, and are signed at the back. The artist’s identity gets revealed only after the artwork is sold, hence the "surprise".
The next edition of SURPRISE will take place in Athens, Greece, opening 23 November 2018.
Submissions are accepted until 15 November 2018.
SURPRISE is a campaign that mobilizes the power of art to offer help in major social issues. The exhibition is a collective effort of the artistic community; since 2009 more than 2000 artists have contributed their works to the campaign.
Each edition of SURPRISE features ~300 artists. All artworks are small format, are offered for the same symbolic price, and are signed at the back. The artist’s identity gets revealed only after the artwork is sold, hence the "surprise".
The next edition of SURPRISE will take place in Athens, Greece, opening 23 November 2018.
Submissions are accepted until 15 November 2018.
Published in
Performing Arts
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Monday, 01 April 2019 07:00
Athens On Its Way To Becoming A Leading Leisure Destination
The tourism developments along the Athenian Riviera that have been underway during the past few years will help the city of Athens to become one of the leading leisure and business destinations in the world. More specifically, according to Mario Kontomerkos, CEO of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment a leading developer of integrated resort casinos (IRC), the tourism development of the former Hellinikon airport can place Athens in the ‘center of the world’ in terms of leisure and tourism.
The ambitious, 8 billion-euro Hellinikon, project aims to develop the city’s old airport complex into a spectacular hub complete with luxury hotels, museums, malls, theme parks, educational and sports facilities, cultural venues and a yacht marina.
‘Athens has the chance to become the center of the IRC world because with a two-hour flight it is connected to 19 countries with 6 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of the global GDP,’ Kontomerkos said during the Delphi Economic Forum 2019, which was held in Delphi earlier this month.
Apart from the Hellinikon project, there are currently many other projects underway on the Athenian Riviera. Among them is the fully renovated Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, which is expected to start welocomg guests in the next few weeks.
‘Our aim is to create a world-class destination for the wider Mediterranean region, and place the Athenian Riviera at the center of the global luxury tourism industry,’ Astir Palace CEO Stelios Koutsivitis said during the Delphi Forum.
Published in
Local News
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Wednesday, 10 July 2019 07:00
Great Sandwich Spots In Athens
The simple sandwich has long been a lunchtime staple in Greece. However, sandwich shops in Athens have come a long way since the ham, cheese, and butter sandwich that most of us used to eat during the '80s.
These great sandwich spots in Athens promise to offer imaginative and delicious sandwiches that will absolutely satisfy your daytime munchies.
Guarantee Sandwich has been serving sandwiches since 1988. Since then, their only goal is to become better and maintain their renowned quality consistently. With the carefully selected fillings and the great variety of sandwich bread and buns, you will be able to create your very own unforgettable sandwich.
Address: 41 Veikou, Koukaki
Telephone: 210 9226924
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00
Duck Soup Cafe is rightfully considered as one of the best sandwich spots in Europe. It serves sandwiches with creative fillings and only the freshest ingredients as well as great coffee, and fresh fruit smoothies. Even though you can create your own, we suggest you try one of their unique sandwich suggestions, and you won't be disappointed.
Address: 39 Panepistimiou Street (Stoa Pesmatzoglou)
Telephone: 210 3233916
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:30 to 19:00, Saturday 11:00 to 18:00
Its name derives from John Montagu, fourth Earl of Sandwich who is famous for inventing the sandwich. Here, you will perhaps find the best coffee in Athens (and they use organic milk!) and delicious sandwiches, filled with quality ingredients and freshly sliced cold cuts.
Address: 30 Stadiou, Athens (Stoa Korai)
Telephone: 210 3316500
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 18:30
Published in
Restaurants In Athens
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Thursday, 07 May 2020 21:07
5 Greek Masterpieces Found In Museums Abroad
When the word “Greece” comes to mind, one image can describe it and it involves marble statues. For centuries, Greece has been globally famous for its mythology, architecture, and marvelous statues. However, throughout the course of time, many of these artifacts have either been destroyed, lost or taken from their homelands and given new homes in different museums, scattered all over the world. Here is a small list of artifacts that can be found abroad.
1. Venus De Milo, Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Venus, originally named Aphrodite by the Greeks was the goddess of beauty and love. This statue was sculpted by Praxiteles around 130-100BC and represents the perfection of Greek female beauty. It was found later in 1820 during the Ottoman Empire, amongst the ancient ruins on the island of Milos. Her arms for unknown reasons were lost and this is the form of the statue we know today.
2. The Red-Figured Water Jar (Hydria), British Museum, London, United Kingdom
Date of creation 420-400BC by potter Meidias and assembled by Sir William Hamilton who sold it to the British museum in 1772. The vase is divided in two zones. The upper zone illustrates the story of the abduction of the daughters of Leukippos by the Dioskouri and the Goddess Aphrodite conspiring in the abduction. The lower zone portrays Hercules’ final labor, Cerberus the guardian of the gates to the Underworld.
3. Statue Of Zeus Enthroned, National Archeological Museum, Naples, Italy
This 29-inch statue, who’s sculptor’s identity is unknown, was influenced by the 40-foot tall statue by the sculptor Phidias made by ivory and gold in around 430BC. The statue was displayed in the temple of Zeus in Olympia and was deemed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
4. Apollo The Python Slayer, Cleveland Museum Of Art, Ohio, USA
This is another statue by Praxiteles, made in the 4th century BC. This statue is made in bronze and portrays the god Apollo, god of the sun, poetry, and music. According to mythology, Apollo slayed Python, a dragon-like serpent, sent by Hera to harass his mother Leto, while she was pregnant with him and his sister the Goddess Artemis. Python had them on the hunt for a long time, until many years passed and when Apollo was old enough, he went after him and slayed him with the bow and arrow given to him by the God Hephaestus.
5. Caryatid, British Museum, London, United Kingdom
This statue is one of the 6 pillars of a temple named Erectheion (or Erechteum), located on the north side of the Acropolis in Athens, that was built around 421-406BC. In the early 1800s, Lord Elgin had one of the statues removed from the temple and sold to the British museum. Today, the remaining 5 statues can be found in the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab
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Greek Language & Culture
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