5
JULY – AUGUST 2011
Archbishop Demetrios of AmericA the first DecADe 1999-2009
The Metropolitan Youth Choir performs at Ionian Village.
Dimitrios Panagos photos
Archbishop Gives Final Gift for Fire Relief, Choir Ends Concert Tour by Stavros H. Papagermanos
ATHENS – The 10-day musical tour of the Archdiocesan Youth Choir to Constantinople, Cyprus and Greece under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, concluded on the evening of July 12, 2011 with the third formal concert held in the magical setting of the open-air amphitheater of Ionian Village. The facilities of Ionian Village, the summer camping program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are located in Vartholomeio Ileias, on the Ionian coast of Peloponnesus. Ionian Village is celebrating 40 years of life and invaluable contributions to the Youth as a “Golden Bridge” between the Greek-Orthodox Omogeneia in America and Greece and the Archdiocesan Youth Choir Concert was offered in honor and recognition of this long history and the almost 17,000 young people who have been part of it over the years. In the last couple of years an ambitious renovation plan has been put into effect and many infrastructure improvements and renovations have been already realized with many more needed and scheduled for the near future. The Ionian Village program is supported by “FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism” through scholarships which this year reached $200,000. The National Hellenic Society has also sponsored scholarships this year in the amount of $25,000. The 40-Year Anniversary concert of the Archdiocesan Youth Choir was given under a clear moonlit summer sky in front of an audience of more than 500 people. Among the many guests and government officials were the alternate Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Mrs. Fofi Genimata, who made the long car trip from Athens just for the concert, His Eminence Metropolitan Germanos of Ileia, the regional governor of Western Greece Apostolos Katsifaras, the prefect of Ileia and lieutenant governor Haralambos Kafiras and the Mayor of the municipality of Peinios Alexios Kastrinos. Also in attendance were many members of the local clergy, members of the Parliament, and political representatives of Peloponnesus and ranking officers of the military and the local police authorities. The Ionian Village campers, counselors and staff, more than 200 people in total, were also in attendance and were instrumental in the organization, support and success of the event. Dr. Gregory Papadeas from Denver, Colorado, who was a counselor at Ionian Village some 30 years ago, who along with Dr. Jim Skedros from Salt Lake City, serve as the volunteer doctors of IV, was at hand to offer welcoming remarks at the concert in both Greek and English. The Director of Ionian Village Fr. Jason Roll also offered his welcome and spoke briefly about the enthusiasm of the
campers in anticipation of the concert. Minister of Education Genimatas, offered a warm greeting and congratulations to both the IV Program and the Archdiocesan Choir. She particularly outlined the role and the many offerings of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, crediting Archbishop Demetrios for his personal care for the Youth and the related ministries. The musical program was once again received with enthusiasm and applause and under the direction of Conductor Maria Koleva and with the piano accompaniment of the accomplished pianist Vassilis Varvaresos was the highlight of the evening. A reception followed in the great lawn and gardens of Ionian Village. The campers offered a program of Greek traditional dances, which they had learned and practiced during their stay in the camp. Other Events In the morning of July 12, the Mayor of the Municipality of Peinios Alexios Kastrinos and the local authorities organized a welcome ceremony in the city hall of Gastouni in honor of Archbishop Demetrios. During this event the Archbishop presented to the Mayor and the municipality of Peinios, which encompasses Vartholomeio and Ionian Village, a check in the amount of $108,000. These funds were the second installment of a grand to the municipality totaling $252,183 to help restore the environment around IV, and were the last disbursement from the Greek Fires Relief Fund which the Archdiocese established in 2007. At the same time, and in the presence of the local authorities and Press, Archbishop Demetrios presented a report on the Greek Fires Relief Fund detailing all disbursements since 2007. The amount collected and distributed totaled almost 4 million dollars. Most grants and assistance were distributed through International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and were used in the Livelihood Recovery Program for livestock, animal feed, forage and seeds to support the agricultural infrastructure of the area, modernize small family farms, and for fire prevention and safety, firefighting shelters and equipment. The next day July 13, Archbishop Demetrios visited the Soil and Plant Laboratory “Earthanalysis of Ileia” in the Lasteika area near Pyrgos, which has been created by an Archdiocese grant of $500,000 dollars from the Greek Fires Relief Fund to study the effects of wildfires on the soil, water and environment and enable farmers to test their soil. The creation of the Lab was coordinated by IOCC in cooperation with local authorities and the University of Thessaloniki. The scientists of the laboratory presented a report to His Eminence and were at hand during his visit to explain the challenges and the solutions offered.
T
his beautifully produced book presents a full spectrum of the activities in the life of the Greek Orthodox Church in America from the years 1999-2009, the first ten years of Archiepiscopal Ministry of Archbishop Demetrios of America. The 368-page hard cover book contains 537 photographs, all taken by the Official Photographer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Dimitrios Panagos, and masterfully compiled & edited by Revekka Papadopoulou. Chapters include: Biography, Enthronement, Archpastoral Ministry, Education & Youth, Ecumenical Patriarchate, Official trips, Welcoming Visitors, At the Nation’s Capital, Omogeneia & Cultural Events, September 11-2001, Ecumenical Relations & SCOBA, 40th Anniversary of Episcopacy, and Honors & Degrees.
“A must for every Greek Orthodox parish & home in America.” To order your copy of this book ($75 per copy + $10 S&H) please call 212-774-0244, or email gotel@goarch.org, or complete this order form and mail it to GOTelecom, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075.
Yes,_I_want_to_order_______copies Enclosed_is_my_check_for:_$_________________or_I_authorize_GOTelecom_to_charge_my: Exp._date:_______________________ Card_No.:____________________________________________________________________________ Name_on_Card:_______________________________________________________________________ Name:_______________________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________________ City:___ _______________________________State:___________________
_Zip:________________
Phone:__________________________________Email:_________________________________________