And the wealthy Russian clientele, lovers of expensive mink coats but decried by animal rights defenders has disappeared.A golden armchair in the shape of a throne in front of a mirror dominates the room where the creations of artisans from the Kastoria region are exhibited: "Russian women dressed in their brand new furs posed there like tsarinas" "But today no one sets foot here anymore," laments this man who requested anonymity.Renowned for the production of furs since the 15th century had to suspend their commercial activities with Russia after the imposition of sanctions against Moscow.Fur is indeed considered a luxury product whose export to Russia is now prohibited.In 2019 president of the Greek Fur Federation.According to a study by Ernst and Young in 2008 Greece held 25% of the Russian fur market but that figure had already fallen to 2% by 2017 has accentuated this decline in this northern corner of Greece which borders Albania and North Macedonia.Last year Tsoukas who had to lay off 80% of his company's staff Stopping the use of animal fur is a demand from consumers in Europe in particular supported by associations for the protection of animal welfare about 80% of the inhabitants of Siatista and the nearby villages live from this industry underlines the mayor of the municipality of Voio Christos Zefklis.“My father was a furrier and I learned the trade very young but the coronavirus and the war destroyed us,” laments Apostolis Gravas head of a family business in Siatista.A mink coat can sell for 1,000 euros for the cheapest and go up to 200,000 euros for the rarest pieces 1.8 million mink were raised in the region The forecast for 2023 is only one million animals spokesman for the Panhellenic Association of Fur Breeders.And of the 92 farms in the region only 60 remain today.Half of the 4,000 fur artisans in the region have been forced to retrain but the "transition to a new economic model is proving very costly" notes Christos Zefklis.Some furriers emphasize the need to move into other American You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed It is worth noting that Metropolitan of Siatista wrote his last article for the Religious News Agency Romfea.gr under the title: “REFERENDUM NOW“ he entered the Department of Theology of the University of Athens where he graduated in 1971 In 1973 he was ordained a deacon by the Metropolitan Nikolaos of Chalkida Istiea and Northern Sporades and was placed in Mantoudi he was ordained a priest by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida He held the office of Archimandrite and supervised the parish of Mantoudi for 25 years In this area he served as High Priest Representative of Mantoudi Limni and Aghia Anna where he demonstrated a remarkable preaching and pastoral activity he was invited by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece to assume the Secretariat of the Synodical Committee for Christian Education and Youth the Synodical Subcommittee for the subsidy program for the third child of families in Thrace the Synodical Subcommittee for the Olympics the Synodical Subcommittee for Artistic Events and the Special Synodical Committee for Marriage 2006 he was elected to the episcopate of Sisanion and Siatista by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece He wrote many books and has published articles in many daily and religious magazines The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate approved on October 4th the canonization of Eldress Sophia Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled by air to Antalya the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website At an event last Thursday at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle the first grant was announced for $5,000 in honour of the Greek Australian benefactor Zisis Dardalis (1938-2023) The grant was awarded to the Centre for Research of Macedonian History and Documentation (KEMIT) of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation and Modern History of Macedonia to support its research work The grant was awarded following a decision by the members of the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies.The collaboration between the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation in Thessaloniki and the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies in Melbourne has gained momentum with the common goal of studying upon the recommendation of their president as their honorary president and to establish a special honorary award under the title Zisis Dardalis Grant (Jack Dardalis Grant) “Zisis Dardalis emigrated to Australia alone and became a unique figure who belongs to all of us,” said Professor Tamis Dardalis lost his parents at the age of five during the raids by Germans and Bulgarians in Macedonia He emigrated to Australia in 1960 after passing through the National Orphanage of Florina and attended the “Aristotle” Technical School of Kalamaria where he learned the trade of machinist carpenter he acquired his own factory manufacturing dim sims and spring rolls establishing Marathon Foods Industry in Melbourne “He supported young children with diseases and groups promoting Greek culture and identity he supported La Trobe University and the National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research (EKEME) which operated at the university until 2008 He gave his soul to the university,” added Tamis it is estimated that only 7 per cent of the 270,000 pioneering migrants will be alive noted Professor Tamis in a lecture on ‘Changing Relationships of National Centres and the Greek Diaspora’ the life expectancy in Australia was 81.3 years for men and 85.4 years for women Zisis Dardalis also funded the establishment of a Modern Greek Studies chair at La Trobe University The Dardalis Archives of the Greek Diaspora include rich material related to Greeks in Australia Created in 1997 at the former National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research at La Trobe University the archives were stored when the Centre closed La Trobe University Library undertook to evaluate and catalog the archives Highlighting that the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AIMS) was founded in 1986 by a group of academics and professionals aiming to promote the cultural and historical identity of Macedonian Hellenism and conduct research in various fields and disciplines The collaboration of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation with the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies is long-standing and based on relationships of trust and mutual appreciation of the research and multifaceted work of each institution “The Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies and its people are always supporters of our institution’s educational and research work and our efforts to highlight the modern history and cultural heritage of Macedonia,” stressed Athina Pavlidou director of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Members of Zisis Dardalis’ family from Siatista attended the event honouring his contribution and role in the social and academic advancement of Hellenism in Australia Pravoslavie.ru © 1999-2015 Православие.Ru При перепечатке ссылкана Православие.Ru обязательна Контактная информация Protesyncellus of the Metropolis of Kastoria was elected by the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece new Metropolitan of Sissanion and Siatista Archimandrite Athanasios received from the Body of the Hierarchy 71 votes and today he became the new Sepherd of the Metropolis of Sissanion and Siatista The new Metropolitan of Sissanion and Siatista was born in Athens in 1971 He graduated the School of Theology of the University of Athens in 1993 followed by postgraduate studies in the historical field of Theology He became a Monk in the Holy Monastery of the Assumption of Virgin Mary at Penteli in 1995 he was ordained Deacon by Metropolitan Agathonikos of Kitros with the permission and blessing of the Archbishop Seraphim of Athens and all Greece leaving his postgraduate studies unfinished he followed Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria In 1997 he was ordained Elder and since then he serves in the Holy Church of Agios Georgios in the city of Kastoria the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece appointed him Protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Kastoria He also ministers in the field of preaching In 2012 he received the officcio of the Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne by the hands of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. including some who are no longer with us.Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.SBSGreek News Younger generations are more prone to joining the Greek Community of Melbourne rather than a club associated with their parents’ and grandparents’ town of origin now on to its fourth generation of members the Siatista Club is facing the same future many clubs founded by migrants from the old country face as memory and identity of the old country fade Young people are not taking up the mantle of leadership or membership of these clubs in large enough numbers to ensure many will survive the next 60 years new generations identify with the broader ‘Greek’ community rather than the smaller communities tied to cities towns and islands from which their forebears came a young Australian of Greek Cypriot heritage; speaking to Neos Kosmos he said he and his family aren’t members of any social clubs This is a similar story from across the younger generations with many in Melbourne’s Greek community having little to no involvement in clubs representing their home towns Melbourne’s Siatista Club represents some 200 families from Siatista but like many of Melbourne’s Greek social clubs they are facing a future which many young Greek Australians don’t want to be a part of Siatista sits high up in the mountains of Macedonia the tiled roofs of the town tell an earlier story of migration In the years after World War II many young men and women from the town left for America and Australia with clubs for Siatistans established in Adelaide members of the Adelaide and Melbourne clubs would drive to a halfway point somewhere in the west of Victoria for a big family picnic.The sight of packed car loads of Macedonians turning up in 1970s Horsham would have probably been an unexpected sight for the sleepy Wimmera town told Neos Kosmos he remembered the long road trips growing up But there hasn’t been a picnic between the two in decades had a hand in founding the Siatista Club in 1956 and setting up the Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria several years later The clubs were a formalising of social networks that already existed between migrants many of whom helped newcomers find their feet George was a member of the club by default fulfilling key membership requirements of being the child of a member or claiming ancestry from Siatista “Now that there’s another generation a lot of people are finding the club not as relevant to them,” George said “A lot of people have married people from other parts of Greece or even different countries.” The triangular island is mentioned in The Iliad and in Aeneid as the site where Agamemnon’s Greeks hid their fleet as they feigned a retreat leaving the Trojan Horse in wait These days the island is a casualty of the partition of the Ottoman empire with its Greek residents subject to discrimination Joanne prefers the Tenedos rather than Siatista Club bringing the decision of where to go into question I’ll get to see all my relatives,” she said “But when we go to Siatista a lot of George’s relatives go there.” saying “we always have this disagreement.” Their children “because we are part of the family” as many clubs struggle to attract the new generations Professor Doumanis said the migrant clubs acted as outposts connecting communities across the world back to Greece but that the connection had frayed as families assimilated But it was clear many of the regional and local clubs are in big trouble “Intergenerationally it hasn’t worked out,” he said explaining that one way clubs have been able to keep up the numbers is through dancing and language classes This same story was heard from Bill Papastergiadis president of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCOM) One option some clubs in Melbourne are choosing to take is to pass on their assets to the GCOM The Thessaloniki Association ‘The White Tower’ is one such club to do that deciding to split its assets between the GCOM and an aged care facility when it folds a member since 1974 and president for the last 18 years said it was unlikely someone would replace him when he retired Therefore they have decided to split the assets of the club as the money to set up the club “comes from the Greeks” and should go back to the community with clubs like that of Siatista meeting in buildings provided by umbrella organisations such as the GCOM or the Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria the clubhouses were never bought as investments but the shifts of Melbourne real estate and the changing of fortunes in the once-maligned inner city see many now worth a mint “The Greek community is sitting on these assets and they don’t know what’s going to become of these assets because their kids don’t want to perpetuate these clubs,” said Professor Doumanis their buildings and legacy obliterated by the apartments that replace them But GCOM’s Papastergiadis said it was apparent many clubs would likely not survive the next two decades To ensure that isn’t the fate of the Siatista Club they are taking a rather proactive approach told Neos Kosmos they have changed the way they go about attracting young people by organising more events centred around music and dance from the region having just recently brought over a band from Siatista to play you go there and the magic hits you,” Anna said which is why “younger generations start to join when they start a family [of their own].” She says their communications strategy has evolved with the times to make use of popular platforms available to them giving the club direct access to its younger audience to promote its activities The Divine Liturgy was precided by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece assisted by the Metropolitans Eustathios of Sparta Damaskinos of Joppa (Patriarchate of Jerusalem) and the Bishops Symeon of Thespies and Androusis Konstantios Addressing the new Metropolitan Athanasios of Siatista  the Archbishop stressed the following: “Your choice gave a message to all of us that the new Bishop of Sisanio and Siatista was elected with the internal power of the soul of all the Hierarchs of the Church that new Hierarchs of the Church are elected unanimously by the Archbishops The fact that you are chosen by 71 Archbishops is of special importance to our Hierarchy and the hope of the Church” the unity of the church shall overcome all the difficulties in its way we are all here to support you and may God guide you all the way” They both helped him a lot in his professional life and to become one of the most influential legal minds in Australia Mr Karakoulakis talks to SBS GreekAdelaide-based Matthew Aristides Karakoulakis is the director and principal lawyer at a law firm with almost 20 years of experience in the industry.His career began at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and he later branched out to work at both a national and top-tier law firm.Fuelled by his desire to make a significant impact Matthew KarakoulakisHis mission was to work directly with small businesses and entrepreneurs offering them superior-quality legal services and building meaningful impactful relationships.Matthew’s passion for diversity deeply influenced by his Aboriginal and Greek heritage has enabled him to make substantial contributions to Australia’s legal industry and community.He and his film were honoured with the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Awards for Legal Services and as one of Australasian Lawyer’s Most Innovative Firms.In 2022 he was a finalist in the 2022 Telstra Business Awards and lately Matthew Karakoulakis was recognised as the Most Influential Lawyer of the country Matthew Karakoulakis's 98-year-old grandmotherIn an interview with SBS Greek Mr Karakoulakis talks about his Hellenic and Indigenous upbringing.He talks about the three passions he had at a young age: football He has been heavily involved with Australia’s migrant and Indigenous communities and he always felt different and unique as a Greek-Indigenous man.He talks about the lessons he learned so far in his career as a lawyer coming from a diverse background.He wishes he will be able to make some time to visit Greece and Siatista the northern Greek town near the city of Kozani where his father was born and then migrated to Australia Northern Greece Credit: TASOS_PAPASBelow is the Matthew's: My father was born in Greece and he unfortunately didn't keep his beautiful Greek accent.He came as a young boy and I think sometimes when you come when you're very young you climatize the different cultures a bit differently.He came on a boat with his parents in Melbourne and he moved very quickly to Adelaide.I really feel grateful to have my Greek background as well as my original background where I've got my family connections.My father met my mother when they were young and were 19 or 20 years old.They were both working in a fashion store in Adelaide and they had a good connection and felt love they got married and I think that it's a really good story about bringing people from diverse backgrounds together.To be named one of the most influential lawyers in Australia it's absolutely an honour that I personally can't take full credit for because when I was granted this award the first thing that came to mind was the amazing team that we've got.I think that being able to receive the award really is a testament it's a tribute to the brilliant legal minds that we collaborate with.We work with a lot of other lawyers and we work with some really great technologies and technology gurus that keep us cutting edge.But I also believe that it's the inspiring leaders who set the vision and both community leaders and leaders within the law that have been able to work with and learn from.My passion for the law came about as a very young kid.I remember when I was about 10 years old I was walking down these main streets in Adelaide called King William Road.I still remember this particularly.It was a Sunday morning 'Greek culture is the bedrock of humanity and I am proud of it' Punch in the stomach: Raftopoulos' new film outlines Greece's migration crisis 'Once Melbourne Greeks get to know Hellenic RSL 'Vibrating with life': Christian Orthodox icons in Australia's prestigious Museum of Old and New Art Regional Governor of Western Macedonia Theodoros Karypidis welcomed Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece and Metropolitan Athanasios of Siatista in Siatista clerics and dozens of believers welcomed the Metropolitan Athanasios at the Siatista Town Hall Mayor of Voio Dimitrios Lambropoulos addressed the new Metropolitan The enthronement ceremony took place in the Cathedral of St local authorities and a multitude of believers Metropolitan Athanasios of Sisanion and Siatista said: “The Church placed me here not to talk about myself or to amaze you with my theoretical knowledge but to spread the Gospel’s word since our Mother Church is the great source of healing.” and the members of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece for their support He also asked everyone’s wishes and blessings to “meet the Church’s expectations.” Finally in his speech he underlined that “the door of the Metropolis and my heart will be open to all” Fay Anagnostopoulos found a stylish way to help the dying workmanship of northern Greece It all began with a visit to a small village named Siatista perfectly positioned among the mountains of northern Greece and the homeland of Fay Anagnostopoulos’ parents It didn’t take long for Fay and her family to fall in love with the picturesque village and the vibrant people living there who make their living by making beautiful fur and leather outwear Visiting Siatista became an annual ritual for Fay who tries to stay in touch with her heritage making sure her family stays connected to the Greek culture Fay saw the impact of the deteriorating Greek economy with high unemployment ‘what could only one woman do to help With a background in small business and a passion for style and customer service Fay decided to import slippers to Australia and set-up Slippers Made in Greece – ‘Slippers MIG’ By creating a new market for these slippers Fay is helping the people of Siatista in her own way “When someone thinks slippers there are limited options basic styles and quality does not come first most of the time as they are considered an item of secondary importance We hope you love your slippers as much as we do We give you our commitment of quality craftsmanship for every pair of slippers made,” says Greek Australian Fay Fay’s love for her family and village motivated her to create employment opportunities through her brand within a region that is slowly losing the opportunity to continue within its main trade – workmanship of fur garments “Our products are entirely made in Greece as I’m eager in assisting to create employment opportunities in northern Greece “This project has enabled me to offer employment to families in the area and hard-working manufacturers producing top quality materials.” Delicately crafted with attention paid to every little detail starting with the design process right through to applying the finishing touches is what makes MIG products a stylish scuff “MIG are made from leather and fur and available in a range of unique colours for women all hand-selected for each season,” she explains Whether you pair your slippers with your nightwear or choose to enjoy them as a house shoe you will experience an undeniable sense of luxury.” To find out more, head to www.slippersmig.com.au