ΚΑΛΩΣ ΗΛΘΑΤΕ! Kalos ilthate! Welcome!
Welcome to the Global Greek World - a world of Greek-Somethings which stretches from Auckland to Zanzibar, from Aruba to Zimbabwe.
Wherever you are in the world, this is YOUR world!
With the immortal Nikos Xylouris singing one of the most beautiful Byzantine hymns ever written and which will be heard in every single Greek Orthodox Church on Christmas Day
as we celebrate the Birth of Christ
we at Global Greek World wish all our friends around the world
Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Xρονιά με Υγεία, Χαρά και Ειρήνη!
Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!
Η Παρθένος σήμερον, τον υπερούσιον τίκτει,
και η γη το Σπήλαιον, τω απροσίτω προσάγει.
Άγγελοι μετά Ποιμένων δοξολογούσι.
Μάγοι δε μετά αστέρος οδοιπορούσι.
Δι ημάς γάρ εγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ο προ αιώνων Θεός.
Today the Virgin gives birth
To him who is above all being,
And the world, to him whom we can never reach,
offers a cave.
Angels and shepherds give glory to him,
and the wise men journey guided by the star.
For a little child has been born to us,
God of all ages.
Εδώ Πολυτεχνείο! Εδώ Πολυτεχνειο! Σας μιλά ο Ραδιοφωνικός Σταθμός των ελεύθερων αγωνιζόμενων φοιτητών, των ελεύθερων αγωνιζόμενων Ελλήνων...
Today is the 17th of November and in Greece it marks the culmination of the 3 day anniversary commemoration of the events and the victims of the Polytechnic student uprising against the Junta in 1973.
We dedicate this post to all those involved who fought and resisted the dictatorship so that the future generations could enjoy the benefits of freedom and democracy in the land which invented them; to all those who resisted so that the future generations could enjoy the ideals they fought for, namely the right to
ΨΩΜΙ - ΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ - ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ
(Bread - Education - Freedom)
ideals which seem as relevant today as they did then, as Greece and her people struggle for economic survival in one of the most difficult periods seen in the last 30 years...
The great Nikos Xylouris' presence inside the Polytechnic in November of 1973 was catalytic, rallying the students and the people who gathered outside the gates with the depth and the power of his distinctive voice ...
His song Pote Tha Kanei Xasteria, was a call to battle, a rally to resistance against the Junta and the 7 year old dictatorship.
This song, this call is as relevant today as it was then, because as Greeks we need to take stock and determine where we go from here.
We have all played a role in allowing our society to get out of hand, not that we have all taken part in or benefitted from the corruption endemic in Greece today, but we have allowed it to happen... by not protesting, by not resisting, by giving in to all the shallowness around us we are almost as guilty as those who accepted the bribes or squandered public funds.
We need to take the 'opportunity' that this economic crisis has given us to re-examine the values our modern Greek society has acquired, focus on what is important in our lives and reset our objectives, rediscovering our values, ethical as well as economic, such as work and family and a host of other values intrinsic to Greece and important to Greeks...
If we do that, and do it fast, we have every hope of improving things dramatically and leaving something better for our children just as our parents did for us ...
Today, 10th of April marks the anniversary of the Exodus of Messolonghi - another bloody chapter in the Greek struggle for Independence from the Turks.
During the Orlov Revolt in 1770 the fleet of Messolonghi was defeated and the town passed to the Turks. Messolonghi revolted against the Turks on May 20, 1821 and was a major stronghold of the Greek rebels in the Greek War of Independence. Its inhabitants successfully resisted a siege by Ottoman forces in 1822.
Exodus of Messolonghi (1855) - Theodoros P Vryzakis
National Art Gallery - Athens, Greece
The second siege started on April 15, 1825 by Reşid Mehmed Pasha whose army numbered 30,000 men and was later reinforced by another 10,000 men led by Ibrahim Pasha, son of Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt. After a year of relentless enemy attacks and facing starvation, the people of Messolonghi decided to leave the beleaguered city in the "Exodus of its Guards" (The Sortie) on the night of April 10, 1826.
At the time, there were 10,500 people in Messolonghi, 3,500 of whom were armed. Very few people survived the Ottoman pincer movement after the betrayal of their plan.
La Missolonghienne - Η Μεσολογγίτισσα - Woman of Messolonghi
E. De Lansac 1828 - Town Hall, Messolonghi
Due to the heroic stance of the population and the subsequent massacre of its inhabitants by the Turkish-Egyptian forces, the town of Messolonghi received the honorary title of Hiera Polis (the Sacred City), unique among other Greek cities.
Celebrated French painter Eugene Delacroix and British poet Lord Byron were famous philhellenes who lent their support to the Greek cause. Lord Byron actually died in Messolonghi from malaria in 1824.
Lord Byron on his Deathbed
J D Odevaere c 1826, Groeninge Museum, Bruges
A cenotaph containing his heart and a statue located in the town were built to pay tribute to this great poet's generous support of Greece's struggle for Independence.
The Exodos of Messolonghi Memorial Day is a significant anniversary and is held annually on Palm Sunday in the presence of the President of the Republic, politicians and Ambassadors.
Read what the French Ambassador to Greece wrote about his visit to Messolonghi for the annual celebrations, on Palm Sunday, 28th March 2010, in his blog Le Blog de L'Ambassadeur de France en Grece.
Listen to Nikos Xylouris sing the magnificent poem, Eleftheroi Polyorkimenoi (Free Besieged) which was written by national poet, Dionysios Solomos in honour of the heroic people of Messolonghi, and set to music by composer Yiannis Markopoulos.
Άκρα του τάφου σιωπή στον κάμπο βασιλεύει·
λαλεί πουλί, παίρνει σπυρί, κι η μάνα το ζηλεύει.
Τα μάτια η πείνα εμαύρισε· στα μάτια η μάνα μνέει·
Decorating the Epitafio at Evangelismos Tis Theotokou, Good Friday 1959, Wellington New Zealand
Father Elias G Economou
GOOD FRIDAY - I APOKATHILOSI
Usually in mid-afternoon in churches abroad, but in the late morning in Greece, Great Vespers is chanted. During this service, we hear the story of the Crucifixion, but with attention paid to the death of Christ, the work of Joseph of Arimathea to secure the body of Christ from Pilate, His removal from the cross, and His burial.
During the service, the Body of Christ is removed from the cross, wrapped in a white cloth (shroud) and brought into the sanctuary. Following the reading, the priest carries the icon of the Epitafio through the church and places it in the Sephulcher (the kouvouklion), which has been decorated with flowers.
GOOD FRIDAY EVENING -TA EGKOMIA- THE LAMENTATIONS
On Holy Friday evening, we sing the Orthros of Holy Saturday, consisting of psalms, hymns and readings, dealing with the death of Christ. During the Orthros, the congregation will join in chanting the Lamentations, ta Egkomia, hymns of praise to the Lord and relating His ultimate triumph over death.
During this service the icon of the Epitafio is carried in procession around the church while the priests, choirs and congregation sing the most beautiful hymns of Holy Week,
I Zoi en Tafo - Η Ζωή εν Τάφω
Aksion Esti - Αξιον Εστί
Ai Geneai ai Pasai - Αι γένεαι Πάσαι...
In Greece, and in most communities abroad, the entire flower-bedecked Epitafio, symbolising the Tomb, is carried in a procession around the neighbourhood of the church, or within the church if the weather is not good.
Evangelismos Tis Theotokou, Wellington New Zealand
Good Friday 1959 Father Elias G Economou officiating
In some towns around Greece and in Athens centre, all the processions gather in one central point, usually the main plateia or square, and the service continues there with all the faithful gathered together.
It is an awesome sight indeed and the aroma of the beautiful spring flowers which adorn the Epitafio pervades the atmosphere.
Decorating the Epitafio is one of the beloved rituals of young and old alike, and is generally carried out after the early morning Orthro service in our communities abroad.
In Greece, because the Apokathilosi service takes place immediately after the morning vespers, the Epitafio is decorated straight after the Dodeka Evaggelia and usually finishes early in the morning. We lasted until 2 am ...
All of Good Friday people file come to pay their respects, filing past the Epitafio, crossing themselves and bowing their head in homage to the body of Christ in the Sepulcher right up to the time of the perifora (procession).
The coloured photos in the post are from the decoration of the Epitafio last night and from today's services in our small church, Profitis Elias, an eksoklisi in the northern suburbs of Athens... The black and white ones from the Holy Week 1959 at the first Evangelismos Church in Wellington, New Zealand, under the guidance of Father Elias Economou. Καλή Ανάσταση! Kali Anastasi!
Tomorrow, 21 February at 19.00, at the Olympic Velodrome, at OAKA, the Olympic Complex in Maroussi, there will be a tribute concert in memory of the legendary 'Archangel of Crete' Nikos Xylouris.
150 artists, among them Haralambos Garganourakis, Ross Daly, Psarantoni, Psaroyianni, Loudovikos ton Anogeion, Manos Mountakis and Nikos Androulakis along with the Athens, Kifissia and Heraklion Municipal choirs will be performing at a concert in honour of one of Crete's most famous sons - Nikos Xylouris, the legendary Cretan singer and musician.
The concert which has been organised by the Cretan Association of Marousi and the Athens, Heraklion and Rethymnos municipalities, is directed by composer Christos Leontis who worked with Xylouris in the past.
Entrance is free of charge for all.
Συναυλία στη μνήμη του Νίκου Ξυλούρη την Κυριακή στο Ποδηλατοδρόμιο του ΟΑΚΑ
Τον Νίκο Ξυλούρη, τον σπουδαίο λυράρη, τραγουδιστή και άνθρωπο, που έφυγε πρόωρα χτυπημένος από τον καρκίνο πριν 30 χρόνια, τιμούν την Κυριακή η Ενωση Κρητών Αμαρουσίου «Ο Κρηταγενής Ζευς» και οι Νομαρχιακές Αυτοδιοικήσεις Αθηνών, Ηρακλείου και Ρεθύμνης, με μία μεγάλη συναυλία στο στο Ποδηλατοδρόμιο του ΟΑΚΑ.
Η συναυλία ξεκινά στις 7 το απόγευμα και η είσοδος είναι ελεύθερη.
Την καλλιτεχνική διεύθυνση της συναυλίας υπογράφει ο συνθέτης Χρήστος Λεοντής.
Στη σκηνή του ποδηλατοδρομίου θα βρεθούν 150 καλλιτέχνες: Οι Χορωδίες των Δήμων Αθηναίων, Κηφισιάς, Ηρακλείου, που θα ερμηνεύσουν κομμάτια από το «Καπνισμένο Τσουκάλι» και οι Νίκος Ανδρουλάκης, Χαράλαμπος Γαργανουράκης, Ross Daly, Βασίλης Καρεφιλάκης, Λουδοβίκος των Ανωγείων, Μάνος Μουντάκης, Μίλτος Πασχαλίδης, Στέλιος Πετράκης, Μαρία Σουλτάτου, Ψαραντώνης, Ψαρογιάννης.
30 years ago today God took his archangel, Niko Xylouris, the Archangel of Crete as he was called, to his side, leaving all of us in the Global Greek World infinitely poorer yet somehow also infinitely richer ...
Έβαλε ο Θεός σημάδι παλικάρι στα Σφακιά κι ο πατέρας του στον Άδη άκουσε μια τουφεκιά. Της γενιάς μου βασιλιά, μην κατέβεις τα σκαλιά. Πιές αθάνατο νερό να νικήσεις τον καιρό. Έβαλε ο Θεός σημάδι παλικάρι στα Σφακιά κι η μανούλα του στον Άδη τράβηξε μια χαρακιά. Της καρδιάς μου βασιλιά με τον ήλιο στα μαλλιά, μην περνάς τη χαρακιά η ζωή είναι πιο γλυκιά...
His brilliant and almost prophetic "Evale o Theos Simadi" is the song that is especially associated with him - a particularly poignant and evocative song,
Έβαλε ο Θεός σημάδι παλικάρι στα Σφακιά κι ο πατέρας του στον Άδη άκουσε μια τουφεκιά...
God aimed at a valiant young man from Sfakia, and his father in Hades heard the shot of the rifle...
It speaks of a young man who has been 'chosen' by God but whose parents, already in Hades, try to prevent him from taking those dreaded steps down to the Underworld to join them... A beautiful song indeed from composer Stavros Xarhakos and poet Nikos Gatsos.
About Nikos Xylouris
Nikos Xylouris was born on the 7th of July 1936 in Anoghia, on the island of Crete to a family steeped in traditional music. In 1941 his family fled Anoghia for the village of Mylopotamos after the Germans burned his village and returned after Crete was liberated. His talent shone early, and he sang and played the mandolin with his friend Giorgi Kalomoiri. He later learnt to play the Cretan Lyra, and started to tour the villages and towns to play at festivals, weddings and baptisms.
Still in his teens, at the age of 17, he began performing in a club called Kastro in Heraklion. It wasn't easy for him and very different from what he expected, just making enough money to meet his needs.
"In the city, the people were dancing tango, waltz, rumba, samba and we were obliged to learn those tunes so as to play them at feasts and festivals, in order to earn our living but also to make people get used to and gradually develop a love for Cretan music ..." he said later in one of his interviews.
At one of those dances he met and later married his beloved Ourania, daughter of a prosperous family of Heraklion, and in November of 1958 he recorded his first 78, Mia Mavrofora Otan Perna - for which he received 150 drachmas! In 1960, their first child , a son, Yiorgos was born and 6 years later, their second, a daughter, they named Rinio. Again it wasn't easy, times were tough…
At the time, in Crete, there were two schools of traditional Lyra players, those with Mountaki (Mountakikoi) and those with Skordalo (Skordalikoi). Xylouris was somewhere in between, but with the added advantage of having a distinctive voice that he could adapt to vastly diverse music styles...he could sing everything, from the traditional Cretan Rizitika to the modern songs that were being sung around Greece. He spent several months in Athens in 1964 and in 1966 left Greece to participate in the San Remo Folk Festival, eventually winning the first prize!
Between 1967 and 1969 Xylouris played at various music clubs in Heraklion - Erotokritos, Zamania, and Oasis to name a few - with people flocking from near and far to listen to his magical Lyra and his tremendously expressive voice. In February of 1969, he recorded Anyfantou, a song that started him on his journey to the top... He moved to Athens to sing in a traditional Cretan music club the Konaki, which still exists today, where he met poet Errikos Thalassinos and who, recognising his talent, introduced him to celebrated composer and fellow Cretan, Yiannis Markopoulos.
Xylouris signed up with Columbia and collaborated extensively with Markopoulos, starting with Chroniko, a wonderful group of songs that combined traditional and modern musical styles.
This was a troubled period in Greece. The military junta was in power and the people at all levels were resisting the dictatorship. The voice of Xylouris, whether singing Markopoulos' music or the folk songs of Crete, became synonymous with that resistance.
In the summer of 1973, Xylouris, along with Tzeni Karezi and Kostas Kazakos performed Iakovos Kambanellis' now legendary To Megalo Mas Tsirko - Our Great Circus - at the Athinaion Theatre.
Songs and the dialogue officially referred to Greece’s recent history but were in fact cleverly disguised, satirising and criticising politicians and political events and expressing sentiments which were forbidden in the very tense political climate of that period.
Emotions and passions ran high - the songs signalled rebellion! As the word about this 'resistance' theatre went round, people flocked in to hear them and they played to a packed theater every single night. The Polytechnic student uprising followed in November of the same year and Xylouris' presence inside the Polytechnic was catalytic, rallying the students and the people who gathered outside the gates with the depth and the power of his distinctive voice ...
His song Pote Tha Kanei Xasteria, was a call to battle, a rally to resistance against the Junta and the 7 year old dictatorship...
After the fall of the Military Junta, Xylouris went on to make major recordings in collaboration with some of Greece's most talented artists, composers and poets
Ithageneiaand Stratis Thalassinos with Yiannis Markopoulos
Dionyse Kalokairi Mas and Syllogi with Stavros Xarhakos
Tropikos tis Parthenou and Akolouthia with Christodoulos Chalaris and
Kapnismeno Tsoukali with Christos Leondis, lyrics by Yiannis Ritsos.
At the same time, he recorded the Antipolemika songs by Linos Kokotos and Dimitris Christodoulou
as well as George Seferis’ poetry set to music by Ilias Andriopoulos.
His music travelled around the world and he gained international acclaim. So much in such a short time, as if he knew it was running out...
Between 1974 and 1979 he performed to packed houses in Athens at 'boites' like Ledra, Archontissa, Aposperida, Kyttaro and Themelio - interpreting many popular Cretan songs, which reflected the tremendous love for his roots, his homeland, Crete - songs such as Filentem, Pramateftis, and Argalio.
His repertoire was very diverse and he was equally at ease singing Rizitika, from the mountains of Crete as he was singing some of the most beautiful byzantine hymns. I Zoi en Tafo, which you can watch below, is one of the most beautiful lamentations of the Greek Orthodox Good Friday service, and showcases the incredible purity of his voice.
Thirty years ago today, on 8th February 1980, at the age of 44, Nikos Xylouris left this world after a battle with cancer... Today we celebrate his life and the legacy he left us. His voice and his legend live on in our hearts and for that we are truly grateful.
His family continue to honour their loved one's life and memory.
His beloved Ourania and his children, Yiorgos and Rinio, run the Xylouri Store in Panepistimiou Street in downtown Athens .
His brother Psarantonis a musician in his own right continues the Xylouri family tradition with his own very personal and unique musical style.
