WISHES FOR 2023

 Let us hope that the New Year will bring health, abundant joy, love, blessings for everyone and a good education for children, adolescents, and young adults. 

I wish my beloved, large family excellent health, happiness, good cheer, thoughtfulness, love and ambition for their studies or their businesses.  May wars all over the world stop, because they are only due to political and religious  prejudices. Surely there can be nothing worse than war because they bring the death of umpteen innocent people and a political and social turmoil.

CHILDREN OF THE WEEK

 Monday's child is fair of face

Tuesday's child is full of grace

Wednesday's child is full of woe

Thursday's child has far to go

Friday's child is loving and giving

Saturday's child works hard for its living

But the child that is born on the Sabbath day

Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

THE GREEK VERSION OF NEW YEAR'S CARROLS

 Agios Vassilis erchete

Ke then mas katathehetai

Apo, apo tin Kessaria

 Zisai esy archondissa kyria 

Kratai kola ke harti

Me ton Christo ton Lytroti

Harti, harti ke kalamari

Thos se mas thos se mas 

Ke sto palikari.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 No more champaigne 

And fireworks are are through

Here we are me and you

Feeling lost feeling blue

It's the end of the party

And the morning seems so gray

Nothing like yesterday

Now is the time to say

Happy New Year. Happy New Year

May we have a vision now and then

Of a world where every neighbor is a friend

Happy New Year Happy New Year

May we all have our hopes our will to try

If we don't we might lay down and die you and I 

Sometimes I see 

How the brand new world arrives

In the ashes of  our lives. 

GREEK ROASTED LAMB WITH POTATOES

 

2.25 kg (5 lb) bone-in leg of lamb

8 medium onions 

20 cloves of garlic

10 potatoes

Salt, red and black pepper to taste

Olive oil

The Marinade:

The juice of 3 lemons

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tspn oregano

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Ladolemono sauce:

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tsp oregano

The juice of 2 lemons

1 garlic clove minced

Salt and pepper to taste

Just whisk all the ingredients together. 

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) Place the garlic on a large roasting pan, place the lamb on top and arrange the onions around the lamb. 

Whisk the marinade and pour it over the lamb. Rub it all over so that everything is marinated. Cover with aluminium foil and bake the lamb for 30 minutes.

In the meantime. peel and quarter the potatoes and place them in a bowl of cold water. Reduce the temperature and roast thhe lamb for 1.5 hour covered with foil. 

Drain the water from the potatoes slightly season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil Remove the foil and bake for 30 minutes more until the meat is falling off the bone. Remember to baste the lamb with the sauce from the pan. 

Remove from the oven and let it rest for 25 minutes in the roasting pan. Transfer to a hot dish with the potatoes and serve it with a delicious salad sprinkled with ladolemono, and crusty bread.  

RECIPE FOR VASSILOPITA GREEK NEW YEAR'S CAKE

 

357g (13  oz) butter

600 g (3 cups) sugar

6 eggs, divided into yolks and whites - whites whipped stiff with a pinch of salt and 2 tbsp sugar

Zest of 2 oranges

1/2 cup orange juice

200 g (7 oz) Greek yougurt

1 vanilla

750 g (26.5 oz) self-rising flour

For the glaze

3 cups icing sugar

5 tbsp hot milk

Divide the eggs follow the above instructions and set aside. Whip butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time allowing time for one to be absorbed before adding another. 

Pour in the orange juice, vanilla, orange zest and yougurt and mix to combine.  Add 1/3 of the sifted flour in the bowl and mix with a spatula.  Add 1/3 of whipped egg whites and stir with light circular movements from bottom up. Repeat with the rest of the flour and meringue and stir with light circular movements until all the ingredients are combined. 

Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F) Prepare the 30 cm baking tin by placing a buttered round of parchment in the bottom of the tin, spoon in the batter and cover with another round of parchment and bake for 40 minutes and set aside to cool.  

When completely cold spread the Vassilopita with glaze and enjoy!   

BRAZILIAN SOCCER LEGEND PELE DIES AT 82

 

Pele, the Brazlian soccer legend, who won three World Cups and became the sport's global icon has died in Sao Paulo at the age of 82. 

"Everything we are is thanks to you," his daughter, Kely Nacrimento wrote in a post on Instagram under the image of the family members holding his hands. "We love you infinitely, rest in peace."

Pele was adimitted to a hospital in Sao Paulo in late November for a respiratory  infection and complications related to colon cancer according to a statement from Albert Einstein Hospital.  

"I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michaelangelo to paint," Pele famously said.   

Tributes have been pouring in for the soccer legend. Pele's first club, Santos FC responded to the sad news on Twitter with the words "iternal, next to the image of a crown."

GREECE ASKS PANAMA TO INVESTIGATE ACCOUNT OF EVA KAILI OVER QUATARGATE

 Authorites in Greece have asked Panama to investigate whether the suspects of the Quatergate scandal, Eva Kaili and her Italian partner, Franesco Giorgi received bribes from Quatar. 

Charalambos Vourliotis, the head of Greece's anti-money laudering agency has urgently written to his couterpart in Panama to inquire about the possibility that 60 million euros in remittances have been transferred to their account.  

The accounts are alleged to be with Bladex, a bank headquaters in Panama and belongs to Kaili's parents with 20 million euros.  They appear to include 20 million euros for her and 20 million euros for her partner.   

RUSSIA FIRES 120 MISSILES FROM AIR AND SEA ON UKRAINE

 Major urban centers in Ukraine were targeted with a massive missile attack. It was one of the largest bombardments since the conflict begun.

According to the Uktainian Air Force, Russian forces launched missiles from mutiple positions from both land and sea.  

Cities hit by missile strikes suffered power outages and damage to infrastucture, First responders conducted search and rescue missions to help injured civilians.  The full scale of damage remmains unclear. 

GREEK FUNERAL CUSTOMS FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO TODAY

 The funeral and burial customs of the ancient Greeks, and even with the Greeks of today are and were so very different to those of other parts of the world that they hold a fascination for many today.

Originally. closely linked to ancient pagan beliefs revolving around the Greek gods and goddesses and the Underworld, the customs changed rapidly when Christianity spread over the land perhaps not so much as you would imagine. 

Ancient Greek funery practices are ecvidence in much of Greek literature, in the archaelogical record and in ancient Greek art including sculpture and pottery.  

GREEK STARTUPS MARKET TO BE CREATED BY THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

 Greek startups blossomed in 2022 and their total valew is estimated at 8 billion euros which is second highest in the region of southeastern Europe after Romania. 

THE INDIAN ASCETIC THAT HOLDS UP HIS ARM FOR WORLD PEACE SINCE 1973

 

An Indian ascetic practioner Sadhu named Amar Bharati has been advocating for world peace for almost fifty years while holding up his arm without lowering it. 

A sadhu is a religious ascetic or a holy person in Hinduism in some cases Buddism Jainism who has rejected all worldy desires. 

Bharai was a married man with three children, who worked as a clerk in New Delhi intil 1970, when he quit his job and left his family and freinds to devote his life to Shiva, one of the principle deities of Hinduism also called as "the primordial yogi." 

He raised his arm at the beginning of 1973 as a symbol of his devotion and "to militate against wars and support world peace." By doing this he endured excruciating pain for two years of his life, but eventually his arm lost all feeling and the muscles in his arm atrophied.     

MONEMVASIA EUROPE'S OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY INHABITED CASTLE TOWN IN GREECE

 Monemvasia on the southeastern shores of the Peloponnese is Europe's oldest contuously inhabited castle town.  

Founded in 583 by the inhabitants of the mainland seaking refuge from the Slavs and Ottoman Turks' invasion of Greece and surrounded by the Myrtoan Sea Monemvasia is located on an island about half a mile long.  

A man-made road and stone bridge leads to the castle gate and main entrance of the majestic castel town onward through the lively citadel offering all who visits it stunning views and unforgettable ambance of times past.  

GREEK RESEARCHERS REVEAL THE AGING MOLECULAR MECHANISM

 Researchers from the institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMAB) at the Foundsation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH) have discoverd a new molecular mechanism that woks in cells to persue the integrity and function of the nucleus that regulates physical and reproductive aging. 

The results, which were published in the national scientific journal Nature Aging, shed light for the first time on a fundamental mechanism controlling aging and reproductive fertility.  

"One of the most fascinating puzzels of modern biochemical research is understanding the molecular basis of two diametrically opposed fundamental phenomena in biology the mortality of the body and the immortality of the so-called stem cells i.e. the cells that ensure reproduction," said Nectserios Tavernarakis, a professor in the faculty of mechanism at the University of Crete (FORTH).

US SENATOR MENENDEZ LAMBASTS ERDOGAN FOR THREATENING OF MISSILES STRIKES ON ATHENS

 Senate Foreign Committee Chairman Bob Menendez slammed Turkey's president Erdogan who recently threatened a missile strike on Athens.

"I come to the Floor to condemn the recent horrific actions of the Turkish president which are not only distrubing, they are totally unacceptable." Menendez said. 

2022 THE YEAR RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS KEPT DYING IN SUSPICIOUS WAYS

 The year 2022 was apparently a bad year to be a Russian oligarch, members of Russia's business elite, particularly those linked to energy firms started dying one by one under what must be described as a "suspicious" circumstances over the past year . 

The string of suspicious deaths coincide with the ongoing war in Ukraine and a period of hightened political stress in the Kremlin. On July 9th a Wikipedia page appeared online tracking  the deaths. 

Due to lack of veritable information it remains unclear whether the string of recent deaths among Russian oligarchs is indeed due to foul play or whether they were merely coincidences that lend well to conspiracy theories.  

CHRISTMAS SATURNALIA AND THE REAL DATE OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

 

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th December all through the world as this was the date of the birth of  our Lord Jesus Christ.  However various scholars claim that Christmas has either come from pagan festivals or was strongly inflenced by them.

The festival that most likely resembles Christmas is the Roman festival of Saturnalia.This was a festival held from the 17th to the 24th of December as commemorating the Golden Age of myhology in which Saturn was King. 

This Roman festival ultimately comes from the Greek festival Kronia as Kronos is equivalent to Saturn in Greek.

TOP ARCHAEOLIGICAL DISCOVERIES OF 2022

The top of archaological discoveries of 2022 are:

The marbel statue of Hercules at Philippoi

Ancient Fayum portraits

Images of people drinking tea with long straws. 

New data about the antikytjera mechanism

Abidos one of the ancient cities of Egypt.

MAGNIFICENT GREEK WORKS OF ART IN FOREIGN MUSEUMS.

 

 

 The Parthenon Marbles currently held at the British Museum are one of the most famous Greek works of art displayed at the museum outside the country and perhaps the most controversial.

But many other especially magnificent Greek works of art are displayed in varuious museums around the world reminding these priceless treasures which were not shadowed by the Greek Marbles.   

The Venus de Milo was discovered on the small island of Milos is one of the most excellent examples of ancient Greek sculpture celebrated by her lost arms which have never been discovered by this day. and is found in the British Museum and there is a debate if it is Aphrodite or Artemis.

 The stunning Greek red vase with figures depicted on it and is the collection of Sir William Hamilton who sold it at the British Museum in 1712. 

This discus thrower is a reproduction of the only lost original statue which is now in the Louvre in Paris.  

The winged Victory of Samothrace isa marvellous piece of Greek sculpture is part of the collection of antiquities at the Villa Borgheze in Rome.

BIG FREEZE IN NORTH AMERICA DEATH TOLL RISES

 Big freeze has gripped the US and Canada since a hyclone hit North America over Christmas.  Americans and Canadians in affected areas must contend with freezing temperatures and thick blankets of snow.

Far from the idyllic "White Christmas" authorities across North America have reported fatalities caused by the freezing weather. People have been warned to stay inside and minimize travel. Accrding to media reports at least 57 people have been killed by the extreme weather conditions in the USA.

Four people were reported dead in Canada after a bus rolled over in icy conditions in British Columbia.

MUMMY'S CHRISTMAS PUDDING

 200 g candied lemon peel

250 g candied orange peel

250 g candied bitter orange peel

200 g glace cherries

200 g candied pears

200 g dried apricots

200 g dried prunes

300 g whole raisins

150 g almonds, blanched, roasted and finely chopped

200 g apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped.

250 ml (1 cup) METAXA brandy

240 g butter

400 g sugar

8 eggs, separated, whites whipped stiff with a pinch of salt

1 1/2 cup orange juice

1/8 tsp grated nutmeg

1/8 tsp ginger powder

400 g dried breadcrumbs

1/2 cup brandy for flaming

Cream

Place all the chopped candied fruit, with the choped apricots, prunes, raisins and almonds in a large bowl pour in the brandy and soak for 48 hours, stirring six times a day. 

Prepare the 2 pudding basins by brushing them lavishly with vegetable oil and line the bases of the pudding basins with baking parchment rounds oiled on both sides.

Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, add the yolks, one at a time and keep on beating after each addition. Stir in the grated nutmeg and ginger powder and pour in the orange juice alternately with the breadcrumbs in three portions. Then stir in the soaked fruit and gently fold in the whipped egg whites

Spoon the pudding batter into the prepared basins cover with tin foil and steam for one hour and remove from the heat to cool. 

On Chrisrmas day before serving heat the pudding in the oven preheated to 150 C, until piping hot and press a flexible knife around the edges of the pudding basins and place on hot pyrex dishes and ignite the hot brandy and pour over the puddings. Wait until the flames dies down and serve sliced with cream.     

STUFFED CRISPY PORK ROAST

 2 liters water

1/2 cup coarse salt

1 tsp coloured peppercorns

3 bay leaves

2.5 kg (5 lb) boneless leg of pork

Salt and pepper to taste

7 large potatoes

Mustard Marinade:

3 garlic cloves

1 tbsp o;live oil

1 heaped tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp honey

Salt and Pepper to taste

Oregano.

Stuffing:

4 bacon rashers 

5 prunes

130 g feta thinly sliced

Sweet and sour dressing:

1/8 cup lemon juice

1.5 cup orange juice

1 cup olive oil

1 sprig rosemary leaves

1 tbsp mustsard

1 clove garlic

Apple sauce;

2 apples, peeled and grated

1 cup pan juice

1/3 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F). 

With a sharp knife score the skin and the underlying fat in a criss-cross pattern.  Also cut the meat to form a pocket for the stuffing. Place the meat in the marinade overnight.  Spoon the stuffing into the pocket, seal securely and bake for 1.5 hours or until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the skin is crispy. 

Serve with roast potatoes, apple sauce and a salad of your choice.

HAGIA SOPHIA THE CENTER OF GREEK ORTHODOX FAITH TROUGH THE AGES

 Agia Sophia in Constantinople remains the symbolic center of Greek Oxthodox faith even almost six centuries after its fall to the Ottoman Turks and its conversion to a mosque,  

From 537 to 1453 the "Great Church" as the Byzantines called it was the eastern heart of Christianity. The massive Church held a total of twenty-three thousand worshipers, and 525 priests, deacons and chanters that served its liturgies. 

KING CHARLES

 King Charles has become more popular since ascending to the throne since the death of Queen Elizabeth last September. 

The new pole shows that the monarch has gained popularity and the Britons are impressed with their new King.

The study according to The Expess reveals that  Britons are very proud of their Monarch.

Sir John Haig the ex-Minister said: "We are so lucky to have a King who cares about the nation and citizens of Britain.  Long live the King!"

KING CHARLES' SURPRISING REFERENCE TO ORTHODOXY

 

King Charles made a suprising reference to Greek Orthodoxy during his Christmas message watched by millions in the UK. He spoke about his life-long wish to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity which he eventually fulfilled in 2020.  

As he spoke images of him with Orthodox priests and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III appeared on TV sets around the UK.

RECIPE FOR JAM CAKE

 

CAKE

2 1/2 cups plain flour

1 1 /4 cups sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp grated nutmeg

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp melted butter

2 eggs

1 vanilla

3/4 cup jam

TOPPING

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup butter

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) and line a 30 cm round cake tin with a round buttered parchment paper 

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg In another bowl mix milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Add milk mixture into flour mixture stirring until just comnbined.Pour half the batter into the prepared pan Spoon remaining butter into a piping bag. Pipe a tiny ring of batter inside edge of the pan and spoon the jam in the center. Pipe the remaining batter on top of the jam and smooth with a spatula.

Bake for 55 minutes to one hour unil a wooden pick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes and run a knife around the edges to loosen the cake and turn it out. Brush the top with melted buter and sprinkle the topping. 

 

QUATARGATE SCANDAL PHOTOS EMERGE OF SUPSECTS CARRYING SUITCASES

ELEVEN PROMINENT PEOPLE THAT DIED THIS YEAR

 Greeks that died in 2022 include prominent indeviduals in art, music, politics and sports.

ALEKOS FASSIANOS, died 86-year-old was one of the greatest Greek contemporary painters with a distictive style that became known beyond the bounderies of the art world. He exhibited in Athens, all the countries of the European Union. Tokyo. New York., Sao Paulo and Melbourn. 

CHRISTOS SARTZETAKIS, died 92-years-old on February 3rd. was a former supreme justice and President of the Greek Republic from 1985 to 1990.

VANGELIS PAPATHANASIOU. died 79-years-old on the 17th May was a famous composer who won an Oscar for Chariots of Fire. in 1981.

DIONYSIS SIMOPOULOS died 79-years-old on the 7th August was an eminent astrophysicist and honorary director of the Eugenidion Planitarium.  

KOSTAS KAZAKOS, died 87-years-old on the 18th September was a Greek actor and parliamentarian was an imposing figure in theater and cinema was married to Jenny Karezi, 

IRENE PAPPAS, died 96-years-old on the 14th September one of the most important Greek actors she had a career spanning more than 40 years. She gained international recognition for the "Guns of Navarone" and "Zorba the Greek."  

DIMITRIS PANDERMELIS, died 82-years-old was the President of the Acropolis Museum.

STAMATIS KOKOTAS, died 85-years-old was a great legend of Greek popular music and a prominent singer who collaborated with Xarchakos, Moutsis, Kalderas. Hadzithamasiou and Zambetas.  

ALEXANDROS NIKOLAIDES died 42-years-old was a Greek Tai Kwon Do Olympic champion He was named the 2008 athlete of the year and won a medal at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. 

YIANNIS DIAKOYIANNIS.Greek sportscaster and journalist that was considered the guru of sports like atheletics and football.  

 MARTHA  KARAYIANNI died 81-years-old on the 18th September she was an actress that inspired generations of women and she appeared in dance performances where she excelled.  

   

OLIVE OIL MAY HELP YOU LIVE LONGER

 A recent study says that substituting olive oil for butter could improve health and expand lifespan by years. 

Researchers found that people who have over half a tablespoon of olive oil a day are less likely to succumb to heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, lung disease and cancer. 

Study author Martha Gouash-Ferre a resercher scientist at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health says that building a strong preventative diet is a complex process but olive oil is a great foundation

"We need to pay attention to diet qualities. life style and to be consistant with our results the key would be toadd olive oil into our diet as a substitution to other unhealthier fats. 

Olive oil is famous of being full of healthy nutrients like antioxidants, polyphenols. and vitamins as well as healthy non-saturated fats.  

"One may speculate that mechanisms related to the anti-inflamatory and anti-oxidant properties of olive oil  may have played a role in these findings" Gouash-Ferre explained. 

The study involved analyzing data from over 90.000 people including Health Professionals discovered that olive oil stops Altzheimer's disease, lung disease and cancer.   

THE FLOWER THAT ONLY GROWS ON THE ACROPOLIS MICROMERIA ACROPOLITANA

 Found interspersed among the rocky teritoire of the Acropolis of  Athens is a small plant that features a delicate pink flower called the Micromeria Acropolitana. 

Measuring at just 5 to 30 cm (up to 12 inches) in height it is easy to walk past this plant without even noticing it. yet its modest flower is beloved by Greeks and botanists alike has an interesting history.  

This unassuming but lovely plant is completely unique, as it only grows on the Acropolis of Athens, home to the Parthenon which is the most iconic structure in the history of Westerm civilization. 

The Micromeria Acropolitana blooms every year from May until June, when its beautiful flower emerges and dots the rocks of the Acropolis with notes of pink. 

It is believed that the plant with its pink flowers has lived on the ancient hill which served as the center of  Athenian political, spiritual social and democratic life. 

FOUR ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS OF ATHENS LOST FOR EVER

 Some of Athens's archetectural landmarks were destroyed in the post- World War II years to make way for modern buildings that epitomized the rapid economic growth of the country.

Athens was the yougest capital in Europe in the 19th century and it's urban development began from scratch in those years.

Giving it a unique style that combined impressive Neclassical buildings with humble homes for the poor classes. This Athens has now completely gone.

The destruction of the Second World War along with the ecnomic boom that Greece expirienced in the 1950 and 1970 into a chaotic concrete jungle. 

Here's a list of its arhitectural landmarks that have been losr.

1. The Actaion Hotel built in 1903 in Neon Phaliron and was the destination of Athenian elite. 

2. The Megaron Negreponte this beautiful piece of architecture stood at Syntagma Square.

3. The Grand Hotel Holiday Resort.  

4. The Villa Margherita

CHITTOGARTH FORT

 The Chittogarth also known as Chittogrth Fort is one of the largest forts in India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located at the present-day city of Chittogarth.

KAIKMATSALAN THE WINTER MYKONOS OF GREECE

 Palaios Agios Athanassios is a village at the foot of Mount Vorras or Kaimaktsalan next to lake Vergotida in Western Macedonia, Greece. 

When people refer to the village and the general area, however they call it Kaimaktsalan, because it is the famous Kaikmaktsalan Ski Resort which has put the entire area on the map.  

The village is located at an altitude of 1.200 meters, while it is 28 km from the city of Edessa and is just 10 km from the Kaimaktsalan Ski Resort. 

THE 25 STOPS OF JESUS AND THE HOLY FAMILY IN THEIR FLIGHT TO EGYPT

 On December the 25th Christmas around the world commemorates the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ and His early years as the Holy Family's flight into Egypt.    

The story of Mary, Joseph and infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape from King Herod's Massacre of the Innocents as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew as well as the New Testament apocrypha. 

For the first time the traveller to Egypt can follow what is supposed to be the flight of the Holy Family in this foreign land thanks to the completion of the long-anticipated project of Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. 

The project which connects 25 locations connected to the Holy Family's through the country had been d0 developped since 2003 and launched in 2022 when the first trails of the site were open to the public. 

According to the Gospel of Matthew, when the Magi came in search of  Jesus they went to Herod the Great in Jerousalem to ask and find the new-born King of the Jews. 

Herod became paranoid that the child could threaten his throne, and sought to kill him, but he didn't know where the child was and he ordered the execution of all male childern two years old and younger.within the visinity of Bethlehem.

An angel then appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take Jesus and his Mother to Egypt outside the dominion of King Herod.

Although the authenticity of the events are often disputed, and cannot be confirmed, the assumed flight of the Holy Family survived in the collective memory through the Armenian and Coptic Church tradition.  

The journey of Joseph, Mary and infant Jesus across Egypt is believed to have started through nothern Sinai until reaching Farama,  Churches and Monasteries were built on the landnark, where legend has it that the Holy Family stayed in passing through the Delta of the Nile and continued across Upper Egypt/ 

Well blessed by Jesus, a footprint of the Holy Infant and a granite through used by the Virgin Mary are some  of the most significant landmarks along the trail. 

The 3.500 kilometres journey of the Holy Family from Asuyat to Sinai connects their 25 stations mentioned in the Armenian and Coptic Christian tradition.       

FEMALE ARTISANS MAY HAVE CREATED ARCHAIC POTTERY

 The Dipylon Amphora from aproximately 700 BC is a masterpiece of art of ancient Greek pottery. Its expertly painted exterior shows a funeral scene with wasp-waisted human stylized figures along geometrical shapes and patterns. 

Discovered in Keramikos, Athens at a gate called  Dipylon at the entrance to an ancent cemetary there the maker of this gigantic piece along with the others who created ancient Greek masterpieces of pottery has always been assumed of being a male. Indeed the artisan here is referred to by historians as the Dipylon Amphora.but was the maker of this stricking grave marker and many other pieces of pottery was actually female? Sarah Murray. a classical archaelogist from the University of Toronto along with her undergraduate students are questioning long-held beliefs in this area. They believe that female participation in the making of artistic pottery is the work of women.

Unfortunately, there are no written records which date back to that era. Indeed pottery itself serves as a reminder of the hisorical events of those times in Greece. 

"Pottery is the anchor of everything we  say about society but I think that's problematic." Murray says in a new article in the American Journal of Archaeology. 

"No one had really thought that women were involved in making this pottery but that is the truth," she added. 

PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA IS READY TO NEGOTIATE BUT UKRAINE REFUSES

 Russia is ready to negotiate with all parties involved in the conflict with Ukraine, but Kyiv and its Western backers refused to engage in lies, Rusian President Vladimir Putin told Rossiya State Television in an interview on Synday. 

"We are ready to negotiate with everyone involved about an acceptible solution, but that is up to them we are not the only ones refusing to negotiate, they are." the Russian President said. 

"I believe we are acting in the right direction,  We are depending on the national interests of our citizens, our people and we have no choice but to protect our citizens." he added.  

Mykaile Podolyyak, adviser to President Zelensky, book to Twitter to comment on Putin's claims "Russia singlehanded attacked Ukraine killing 20 citizens and injurining hundreds."  

In the same interview, Putin accuses the West of having begun the conflict in Ukraine in 2014 Pro-Russian protests Reuters reports.  

HOMEMADE GREEK BUTTER BISCUITS

 250 g (1 cup) Lurpack buttter

150 g (1/4 cup) almonds roughly chopped

75 g (1/2 cup) icing sugar

1 tbsp rose water

1 tbsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

400 g (3 1/2 cups) plain flour

Lots of icing sugar for powdering

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) and place the almonds on a baking tray. sprinkle with rose water and roast  for 8 monutes until golden and set aside to cool and blend until powdered.  

Shape 1 tbsp of the dough into a ball the size of a walnut, place on a baking tray and push with your finger to make a small dimple.  Continue the same procedure with the remaining dough. 

Place the baking trays with the kourabiedes on the 2nd and 4th racks of the oven and bake for 20 minutes until golden and crisp. Allow to cool and spray the kourabiedes with rose water and sprinkle with masses of icing sugar and enjoy!  

MELOMAKARONA RECIPE

 150 g (1/2 cup) fine semolina

500 g (4 cups) plain flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

100 ml (1/2 cup) orange juice

3 tbsp METAXA brandy

100 g (1/3 cup) sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/3 tsp grated nutmeg

1/3 tsp cloves

1 vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda 

2/3 cup water

125 ml sunflower oil

50 g (3 tbsp) honey

Zest of 2 oranges

For the syrup:

300 g (1 1/4 cup) water

600 g (2 2/3 cups) sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

3 whole cloves

1 orange cut in half

In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, brandy, orange juice. 1 tsp cimammon and set aside. 

In another bowl, sift flour with baking powder and baking soda.Add the flour gradually to the oil mixture, while stirring with a wooden spoon.until you have a soft dough.  It should not be dry.  Knead the dough until it comes together. Do not over knead.

Place the dough into a large bowl, cover with cling film and let it rest for 20 minutes. Shape the dough in small balls the size of a walnut. Using your fingers press one side of the balls on a grater flattening them like small pancakes then fold over so that the biscuits have an oval shape so that have the design of the grater. Place them on a tin lined with parchment paper and bake in an over preheated to 180 C (350 F) for 25 minutes until golden. Do not over cook because they will not abasorb the syrup.  

 

HOW MELOMAKARONA AND KOURABIEDES GOT THEIR NAME

Melomakarona and Kourabiedes the two words which for Greek people embody Christmas itself. They bring to mind the sweetness of the holiday season. both literally and figuratively. The two traditional Christmas sweets are an integral part of Christmas and New Year's  festivities and are present every year.  The etymology of melomakarona derives from the French "macarons" but it comes from the Greek word "makarios" (blessed) and were mainly offered at funerals. Kourabiedes (Plural for Kourabies) is another Greek Christmas staple which has origin from Turkey. In Turkish etymology the word derives from the root "kouru" dry and "biye" biscuit. It is a round butter biscuit with pieces of almonds inside and sprinkled with masses of icing sugar.  Both are popular sweets in Greece for Chrisrmas and the New Year where they are prepared or bought by the thousands.

CHRISTMAS WISHES

 Have a lovely day with your loved ones and friends, dear Reader. May the Christmas spirit be with you!

And a persomal wish for my beloved family. Greetings of the day to my daughters-in-law, sons, grandsons, graddaughter and great-granddaughters!!!

 

Hristos genatai simeron en Vithleem ti poli oi ouranoi agallondai here  physis oli

We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish yoy a merry Christmas!