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COMMUNITY2 THE NATIONAL HERALD, NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2010

n NOVEMBER - DECEMBERASTORIA, N.Y. – The HellenicCultural Center is hosting thefamous Greek musical, OPA! be-ginning on Sunday, November21. Opa! The Musical is a ro-mantic comedy set on the tinyGreek island of Elia - a placewhere time stands still. Sophiaand Manos dream of bigger livesoff the island, but Costa is quitecontent to stay on the island ofhis birth and continue with hissimple, olive-filled life. After it’sannounced that their island willbe dumped from the ferry routesuntil the economy levels out,these characters make desperatechoices which will alter thecourse of their lives forever.Tickets are $25 and dinnerpackages are available. Perfor-mances will be held on Fridaysat 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 3:00and 8:00 p.m.; and Sundays at3:00 p.m. The Hellenic CulturalCenter is located at: 27-09 Cres-cent Street, Astoria, NY. Forreservations, call: (718) 626-5111. For further info visit:www.opathemusical.com.

n THRU DECEMBER 12ASTORIA, NY - The Greek Cul-tural Center kicks off the seasonwith the New York parody ofthe, Theater of the Ridiculous,The Mystery of Irma Vep byCharles Ludlam, as translatedby Lakis Lazopoulos andacted/directed by ChristosAlexandridis and EvangelosAlexiou. The play lampoonsevery conceivable British, mass-market literary and theatricalconvention, and films from themystery and horror genre. Thetwo actors primarily play theparts of the Lord and Lady, thusridiculing the British Victorianmelodrama and on a secondarylevel play the parts of the butlerand the house keeper of the Es-tate, thus parodying various lit-erary themes. Performances willcontinue until December 12thon every Friday and Saturdaysat 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m.in Greek with English superti-tles. The Greek Cultural Centeris located at: 26-80 30th Str, As-toria, NY. For further informa-tion, call: (718) 726-7329 orv i s i t :www.greekculturalcenter.org

n THRU DECEMBER 17FAIRFIELD, Conn. - FairfieldUniversity’s new Bellarmine Mu-seum of Art presents its firsttemporary exhibition, Gifts fromAthens: New Plaster Casts fromthe Acropolis Museum and Pho-tographs by Socratis Mavrom-matis. The museum is free andopen to the public Monday toFriday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It is lo-cated at the lower level of Bel-larmine Hall on the campus.“Gifts from Athens” featureseight plaster casts given to theBellarmine Museum of Art fromthe First Ephorate of Prehistoricand Classical Antiquities -Acropolis Museum. Six of thecasts represent sculpture fromthe Parthenon. Other casts in-clude a diminutive kore(maiden) from the late Archaicperiod and the renowned “San-dalbinder” from the Nike Para-pet. The original sculptures, af-ter which these casts weretaken, can be seen in the newAcropolis Museum in Athens.D i r e c t i o n s :www.fairfield.edu/about/about_directions.html or call: (203)

254-4000.

n THRU JANUARY 3NEW YORK, N.Y. - The OnassisCultural Center explores therole of heroes in society in theexhibition, Heroes: Mortals andMyths in Ancient Greece, onview in Manhattan from Octo-ber 5, 2010 to January 3, 2011.The exhibition is supported byan indemnity from the FederalCouncil on the Arts and Human-ities. Highlights of the exhibitioninclude a bronze Corinthian hel-met from 700-500 B.C.; a black-figure amphora depictingAchilles and Ajax playing aboard game outside Troy (latesixth century B.C.); a black-fig-ure column krater (c. 510 B.C.)depicting Odysseus escapingfrom the cave of the CyclopsPolyphemos; and a gold medal-lion with the bust of Alexanderthe Great (c. 218-235 A.D.;among many more. Guidedtours of the exhibition will beoffered to the public every Tues-day and Thursday at 1 p.m.Tours can also be organizedupon request for school groups.A comprehensive brochure willalso be offered free to visitors.For additional info contact: Lil-lian Goldenthal at (212) 593-6355 or email:goldenthall@ruderfinn.com.

n NOVEMBER 24-27VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Hel-lenic Studies at SFU and theAlexander S. Onassis Public Ben-efit Foundation, in collaborationwith eight leading world classacademic institutions is organiz-ing the Athens Dialogues; an in-ternational conference on Greekculture and its role in modern so-ciety on November 24-27 in Van-couver. Leading thinkers, acad-emics, scientists and intellectualsfrom all over the world willgather in Athens to discuss, de-bate and open new routes ofthought on issues of universaland diachronic interest, such as:Identity & Difference, Logos &Art, and Science & Ethics. Inter-disciplinary approaches, stimu-lating debates, diachronic per-spectives and the broadparticipation of great minds ofour times make Athens Dialoguesa unique opportunity not to bemissed. This lecture will be pre-sented in Vancouver, live fromAthens, in real time, via livestreaming. Lectures will beginfrom 8:15 am to 11:00 am.Round table discussion will fol-low at 11:00 am. Space is verylimited and registration is re-quired. You may register by call-ing: Hellenic Studies at: (778)782-8466. Please indicate whichlecture(s) you would like to at-tend. This public lecture series isfree. The Athens Dialogues inVancouver will be held at: SFUDowntown - Segal GraduateSchool of Business (Room:2300), 500 Granville Str, Vancou-ver, BC. For further information,visit: www.athensdialogues.org.

n NOTE TO OUR READERSThis calendar of events section isa complimentary service to theGreek American community. Allparishes, organizations and insti-tutions are encouraged to e-mailtheir information regarding theevent 3-4 weeks ahead of time,and no later than Monday of theweek before the event, to eng-lish.edition@thenationalherald.com

GOINGS ON...

By Constantine S. SirigosTNH Staff Writer

NEW YORK – Prevytera DespinaA.N. Kehagias is 65 year-oldwoman who has been at the cen-ter of the experiences of manypeople who have devoted them-selves to the Greek OrthodoxChurch and the Greek Americancommunity in the New York areaduring the past 50 years. She isone of those people who enter aroom and immediately fill it withlight and love and laughter andno one would have any idea ofthe challenges she has faced orthe pain she might be enduringat that moment. Her sense of hu-mor can be of the wry variety,which she has in common withothers who have endured painand not lost an ounce of theirlove for God and the people shemeets. During the past six yearsshe has undergone many surg-eries: Two knee replacements,neck fusion, low back fusion,carpel tunnel and sinus. She says,“Instead of becoming bionic Ihave become old quite suddenly”but that hasn’t stopped her fromattending to her many friends,old and new, and her family.

She is retired now, the widowof the late and dearly belovedVery Reverend Fr. Avgerinos-Nec-tarios D. Kehagias. Together theyraised five children whose livesreflect the same dedication totheir heritage. In her own words,“We had five beautiful childrenwho turned out to be five won-derful people: Maria, FatherDemetrios who married Helen,Sister Maximi of Greece (whoused to be named Eleftheria), Ar-gyria Ketsezides Esq. who is mar-ried to Ilias, and Martha Mark-oullis, who married Panos fromCyprus. She also is proud of herseven grandchildren including aset of twins (Argyria’s) and shehas one more on the way.TNH: Tell us briefly about

your life.DK: My husband was a Pro-

topresbyter of the Ecumenical

Throne. He served at the Churchof the Evangelismos-Annuncia-tion on Manhattan’s Upper WestSide from 1963 until 1978. Hewas at Port Jefferson, Long Islandlong enough to start the commu-nity center. Then he served inMattituck, New York for a shortwhile before he was asked to bethe first priest of the SouthHampton church. That was thelast parish he served - he suffereda massive stroke in June of 1987.TNH: Many interviews with

Greek Americans begin with ref-erences to family and children,but usually not with the spouse’sresume.DK: You might ask what does

all this have to do with me? Thiswas my life too! When Fathergot sick our youngest was eightyears old and I was only 43 yearsold. TNH: Where did you grow

up?DK: I was born the youngest

daughter of Argiris and Elefthe-ria (Elsie) Serghis. My parentshad a small Greek pastry shop onAudubon Avenue in WashingtonHeights and we went to theChurch of St. Spyridon. I went toGOYA and sang in choir.TNH: Do you have a role

model? DK: All the priests who passed

through there had an influenceon me one way or another.TNH: Share with us some

words of wisdom.DK:I am at a place in my life

where I have slowed down con-siderably. People are still kindenough to seek me out, but notas often. I have learned to try tolisten. Listening is a most impor-tant quality to have, whether weare newlyweds, in business orparents. TNH: How did you manage

when Father became ill?DK: When my husband be-

came ill, once we learned hewould survive, EVERYTHINGelse was easy. TNH: Easy?DK: In my mind I just imag-

ined he was in early retirementand enjoyed each day I had withhim. The children were excep-tional; each one got their mastersdegree. I mortgaged the houseand the older children got part-time and summer jobs. They fi-nally had a chance to get to knowtheir father - a priest is alwayson call. He is expected to haveoffice hours, be at all meetings,available for all telephone andemergency calls, he is never offon Sunday. Any wonder the chil-dren did not know him? Whenhe was asked why did this hap-pen to such a spiritual priest, hewould answer, ”For my salvation,so I will have time to pray.” Iwould have to say that this man,born in Sparta, had the greatestinfluence on me. TNH: Has your life path been

influenced by your Greek and Or-thodox heritage?DK:We were both very proud

of our faith and heritage and weinstilled this in our children whospeak, read and write Greek. Ipersonally had never been toGreece until after my husbandpassed away and my daughterArgyria baptized her first-born inSerres. My daughter Maria

rented a van and we drove withmy other daughter, Sister Max-imi, to Sparta. She went directlyto her monastery upon landingin Greece, so she had seen noth-ing of the country she was livingin. It was our first visit. TNH: What’s your most en-

joyable pastime?DK: Traveling has saved my

sanity. I have been to Cyprus formy Martha, visited many placesthere thanks to my wonderfulsymbetheri and Maria. I love bothcountries very much, found my(dads’) Cypriot roots and wentto Nea Epidavros, Greece. Know-ing just tales my mom had toldme I found my cousins and sawmy mom’s magnificent roots. Istill enjoy swimming, traveling,going to the ocean or beach andvisiting with my children andgrandchildren.TNH: If you could change

something about yourself, whatwould it be? DK: I would change every-

thing about myself, I would bethin not fat, I would have longhair not short etc., etc.TNH:What’s the greatest les-

son you’ve ever learned? DK: I had said I would never

marry a priest or a Spartan. Eventhough I was only 18, I was wiseenough to know a good thingwhen I saw it. I would say: neversay never - one never knows. TNH: What has been your

greatest achievement so far? DK: Looking back on my life,

I was the first elected represen-tative Presvytera of the New YorkMetropolitan area (1st Arch-diocesan district). I met and en-joyed the company of great peo-ple - presidents, governors,diplomats and people of morehumble backgrounds.TNH: What’s your ultimate

goal in life?DK: I have come to realize I

am nothing in myself, but withGod I am everything. My goal isto be worthy of His kingdom.

sirigos@thenationalherald.com

In the Spotlight: Presbytera Despina Kehagias

Prevytera Despina Kehagias

Celebrating 98 Years of Chian FreedomThe dance groups of the Pan Chian Society “Korais” and theChian Federation take a break for a commemorative photo atthe Chian House in Astoria. Nicholas Zymaris was the keynotespeaker at the celebration of the 1912 liberation of Chios.

Reaching Out on an Indian Summer NightThe Evangelismos/Annunciation Church on Manhattan’s UpperWest Side hosted an outreach reception for young professionalsat the Empire Rooftop Lounge. Organized by Stephanie Astic,Fr. Nathanael Symeonides, the Pastor, was also present.

TNH/COSTAS BEJ TNH/COSTAS BEJ

Koraes School’s Century of ServiceOn Nov. 13, Koraes Elementary School, affiliated with SS Con-stantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills, cel-ebrated its 100th anniversary of teaching and bilingual educa-tion the Greek Orthodox faith. L-R) school Principal MaryZaharis, prresents Father Byron Papanikolaou (Protopresbyter)with an honorary Koraes diploma; School Board Chairman LeoBezanis, Pastoral Assistant Tom DeMedeiros and the school’sPastor, Father Nicholas Jonas.

Greek Parish Hanging on in Spanish HarlemThe Church of St. George-St. Demetrios on the East Side ofManhattan celebrated its 75th anniversary on Nov. 21. PastorConstantine Eliades performs an Artoklasia - Blessing of theloaves service on Sunday with special guests in attendance.

TNH/COSTAS BEJ

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Vote on our website!You have the chance to express your opinion on our website

on an important question in the news. The results will be pub-lished in our printed edition next week along with the questionfor that week.The question this week is: Should Greece lay off some its

public workers instead of cutting salaries?o Yeso Noo MaybeThe results for last week’s question: Were you surprised

PASOK won a majority of Greece’s municipal elections?23% voted "Yes"74% voted "No"5% voted "Maybe"

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