90-Year-Old Greek Statue at Legion of Honor Vandalized, Pieces Missing in San Francisco

One of San Francisco’s oldest statues — a marbled Greek sculpture at Legion of Honor — was found without several parts this week, sparking calls for the return of the missing pieces by curators.

90-Year-Old Greek Statue at Legion of Honor Vandalized, Pieces Missing in San Francisco 3

Sometime before the weekend, criminals defaced a large statue at SF’s Legion of Honor museum, leaving the work of art severely damaged and missing several parts. According to ABC7, both art curators and members of the museum’s community are devastated by the actions taken by the vandals.

But what’s done has been done. Now, they just want those pieces returned so that the statue can be properly repaired.

“This is really sad, this is a loss to the museum and people of San Francisco because this is a piece of art that’s been vandalized wantonly,” said Legion of Honor European Arts and Sculpture Curator Martin Chapman in a statement published by the news outlet. Chapman added that vandals knocked the heads off the two sons of Greek God Laocoon, before sharing that part of his leg was also destroyed.

The museum has said that unfortunately, none of its exterior security cameras captured the vandalism in progress. But thankfully, other statues on the grounds — like Joan of Arc — were not targeted by the criminals.

Regardless, repairs to the damaged statues won’t be easy, especially without the recovered parts. Chapman hopes with the help of the community that the missing pieces can be found.

“What we would like to do is recover the missing parts most essential and restore the object,” said Chapman to ABC7. The curator has said that the SF police are not investigating the crime, as well.

The piece itself — a reproduction of a sculpture in the Vatican — was given to the museum in 1930. Presently, the Legion of Honor’s collection contains over 124,000 works that span the gamut of creative expression, from stone statues to oil paintings.

Pope Francis arrived in Lesvos

At just a few minutes after 10:00AM, the plane carrying Pope Francis to Lesvos landed at Mytilene airport.

Pope Francis will visit refugees in the “Welcome Center and Authentication” at Kara Tepe.

The President of the Republic, who arrived on the island half an hour earlier, will accompany the Primate of the Roman Catholic Church during his visit.

The two of them had a short conversation upon his arrival, while Metropolitan Iakovos welcomed him to the island.

The Vice President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schoinas, and the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi, will also be in Kara Tepe.

The Pope will stay for about an hour at the “Reception and Identification Center” and at 12:15 he will leave Lesvos for Athens.

At 16:45 he will perform a Divine Liturgy at the Athens Concert Hall.

Six Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Greek

When visiting Greece it may be difficult for you to understand some of the cultural norms to follow during your stay in this beautiful country. To help you avoid embarrassing conversations and awkward situations, here’s a list of things to avoid saying to a Greek. You’re welcome!

Things you shouldn’t say in Greece

1. “Can I have some Turkish coffee?”

No, you may not. Truly, you never want to ask this question – not in a Greek’s home or in a cafeteria. Two reasons: first of all, it is Greek coffee and you will be told entire back story — so be sure to get comfy! Secondly, you’re in Greece — so again, it’s Greek coffee!

2. “Which way is the ocean?”

Greece is not located in the ocean! We have the Mediterranean Sea and it is divided into the other seas – the Ionian, Aegean and Cretan. If you have ever been to an island in the ocean you know there are huge waves. In Greece we are very proud of our beautiful, relatively calm blue seas, which are perfect for swimming, sailing and water sports.

3. “Where is the Pantheon”?

Wrong country. You mean the Parthenon. For Greeks, history and historical ruins are an interwoven part of culture and society. So before you come to Greece looking for the Pantheon — an Ancient Roman building located in Rome — please do a Google search!

4. “Can you teach me something to say in Greek?”

This is a bad question to ask, as many Greeks get a kick out of telling foreigners to try out the almost impossible to say, tongue-twisting word describing an ancient Greek festival dish invented by Aristophanes. Go on, try it and see how you do! It’s “Lopathotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimipotrimmatosiliphiokaravomelitokatakechimenokichlepikossiphophttoperisteralektruonoptokefalliokiglopeleiolagoosiraiovafitraganopterugon.”

5. “Here’s my address, look me up if you come to my country.”

Don’t say this unless you actually mean it! If you give your address to a Greek it is pretty much a given that if they are ever visiting your country, they will look you up. Greeks are known for their hospitality and after having welcomed you into their country, or island, or village, they will assume that you wish to do the same.

6. “Istanbul.”

Greeks still call this city Konstantinopoli. Nothing bad is going to happen to you if you call it Istanbul, but it’s a really sensitive subject for many Greeks for several reasons.

In fact, if you buy a plane ticket from Greece to go to Istanbul, you will find that it says Konstantinopoli in Greek.

Even the on the news, reporters refer to Istanbul as Konstantinopoli. Here’s why: The city is not only steeped in Greek history, it is also because of its deep religious ties. Konstantinopoli means “City of Constantine,” and was named after the Byzantine emperor who established the city as the capital of the Christian Byzantine Empire.

The Ottomans took over the city in 1453 and its name was officially changed to Istanbul in the beginning of the last century. Actually even this name means “to the city” — meaning Constantinople — but that’s a story for another day.

 

Greek Cuisine Program Kicks Off at the University of Nevada

Greek cuisine was recently introduced as a standalone program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) which announced the establishment of the National Hellenic Society Culinary Legacy Fund to promote Hellenic heritage, culture, and cuisine to culinary arts students.

The initiative for the program belongs to The National Hellenic Society (NHS), a non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating, celebrating, and passing on Hellenic heritage.

The program will run as part of the Food and Beverage Program within the UNLV’s world-renowned William F. Harrah College of Hospitality.

​Stowe Shoemaker, dean of the College, and his team hosted a reception for NHS members and guests attending the annual NHS Heritage Weekend event in celebration of the launch of the Fund.

NHS Guests included Her Excellency, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou, Greece’s Ambassador to the U.S., David Horner, President of the American College of Greece, Alexander Zagoreos, Chair of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Nancy Papaioannou, President of Atlantic Bank, George Marcus, John Calamos, and Drake Behrakis, NHS Co-Founders, and NHS members from all over the U.S.

Master Chef Diane Kochilas launches Greek cuisine classes

The Fund’s initial program is the NEWS Program (NHS Epicurean Workshop Series) with Master Chef Diane Kochilas, star of My Greek Table, to kick off the NEWS Program. Chef Kochilas was thrilled to have the opportunity to teach the College’s hospitality students about wellness and other benefits associated with the Greek Mediterranean diet in several classes held over two days at the College.

The NHS will help bring other chefs, culinarians, and experts that will impart their insights into the Greek Mediterranean diet, culture, traditions, and lifestyle to students.

NHS Chair, Drake Behrakis emphasized NHS focus on its effort to pass on this important aspect of our Hellenic heritage and culinary legacy with students enrolled in the nation’s leading academic centers of hospitality.

“The kouzina plays an important role in our lives, where family, friends, and colleagues gather to engage in dialogue, reflect, laugh, and enjoy a wonderful meal in the spirit of parea/kinship. We look forward to collaborating to promote wellness and all the benefits of the Greek Mediterranean diet and to share Hellenic philoxenia/hospitality with the College’s students in hopes they will bring that spirit to others as they advance in their career paths throughout the U.S. and beyond,” Behrakis said.

​“We are grateful to be working on such a unique project with such amazing partners,”  Dean Shoemaker noted..

“Collaborating with the NHS means we’re able to give students a rich understanding of Greek culture and cuisine—exposure that helps these young people not only grow as hospitality professionals but also citizens of the world.”

Uni graduates seeking vocational training

An increasing number of university graduates have turned in recent years, amid the financial crisis and high unemployment, to studies offered by vocational training institutes (IEK), which had hitherto been relatively shunned. 

State Department Appoints Officials to Address Havana Syndrome

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday that the Biden Administration has appointed two officials to direct the State Department’s investigation into cases of Havana Syndrome.

Economic Freedom in Greece Improving, Albeit Slowly

Greece has made its way up four positions in the Global Economic Freedom Index since 2019, but this movement establishes the country in just the 78th place out of 165, according to the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World annual report.

The report was released on Tuesday in Greece and Cyprus by the Center for Liberal Studies.

Summer heatwaves this year break new records

The heatwave recorded this summer between July 28 and August 5 was a record-breaker in terms of duration and temperatures, according to a study by the National Meteorological Service.

The study divides the nine-day heatwave into two phases, the first from July 28-31 and the second from August 1-5. Very high temperatures were recorded during the first phase, but the maximums remained below the July records.

As the days went by the temperatures rose, with the result that in the first five days of August the maximum temperatures exceeded or approached the absolute maximum temperatures for August in several areas.

Record highs of August were recorded mainly in Serres (43.4C vs a previous 43.3C), Thessaloniki (40.5C vs 40.4C), Astros (45C vs 42.2C), Lamia (45.4C vs 43.8C), Elliniko (43C vs 41.8C), Elefsina (44.8C vs 43.5C), Argos (46.3C vs 43.2C), Kalamata (43.2C vs 41.4C) and Nea Philadelphia (45.3C vs 43.6C).

Uncertainty over reopening of schools

The educational system has never faced the kind of operational uncertainty it has faced in the last 20 months. A few weeks from the beginning of the scholastic year, heads of schools, parents, and teachers are baffled by the educational authorities’ lack of clear guidelines.

Admittedly the development of COVID-19 remains unpredictable with the consequence that the health authorities often have to reverse decisions aimed at accelerating the return to normality. No one can seriously challenge the concept that the government should give safety the highest consideration when issuing public health directives.

 

However, the long-term effects of preventing students from returning to the classroom after almost two years of disrupted teaching methods must never be underestimated. Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in autumn is also a priority.

The scant information coming from the education authorities indicates that post-secondary students will return to in-person learning in September. The majority of these students have been vaccinated, and as such, they present a lower risk of getting seriously ill if they contract COVID-19.

However, primary and secondary schools are likely to operate similarly to last year. This means mandatory indoor mask-wearing for all students, staff, teachers and visitors to primary and secondary schools regardless of vaccination status. It also means that the concept of the bubble will still be observed to prevent unnecessary contact.

 

Greece Extends Vaccination Program as Coronavirus Deaths Fall

vaccinet in Greece

Health authorities in Greece recorded 1,497 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Saturday, which marks 88 fewer instances of the virus than the 1,585 cases recorded on Friday.

Just one of Saturday’s new confirmed cases was identified during routine Covid-19 testing of tourists at the country’s borders.