Yia sas! That's how you say hello in Greek

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I will soon be a traveler to Greece once more. The first time I went to Greece was over 30 years ago. My goal is that each of my family has fun no matter what we do on our trip. So get ready to come along with us as we look at places others miss and see what treasures we can uncover!
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Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Fate and Faith

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There was an iconostasis on an isolated part of a road on the outskirts of my mother's childhood village that was never lit. The chief icon inside was of St. Constantine and St. Helen. I stopped as often as I could to light its vigil lamp whenever we visited family. My mother believes my efforts were rewarded by the saints because years later I married my husband, Constantine. In a sense, though we were separated by time and place, we found each other as these saints had found Christ's cross. Now some of you will say how silly but I assure you we never would have met if it wasn't predestined by God as we lived 330 miles apart in the States. My mother was in Greece having her house alarm repaired by my husband's cousin. He then approached my mother as to whether she had any eligible daughters for marriage as he had a cousin in America looking to get married. We met and despite the physical distance between us we were married within a year. Everyone attributes it to fate or written by the hand of God because so many pieces fell into place for the conclusion. My mother, of course, remembers the little church by the side of the road. If your kids become bored in Greece share the idea with them that destiny has brought them to Greece and one way or another it will be a life changing experience. The above icon is of Sts. Constantine and Helen from http://www.icnograms.org/ where you can send greeting cards with icons on them.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Sightseeing before you leave home

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As far as Greeks are concerned every experience touches the senses. During Greek Orthodox church service you step into incense laced air, icon covered walls (and sometimes ceilings) fill your vision, chant from Byzantine times and beyond is heard, and communion tasted. Check out http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7061 to learn more about the dominant faith of Greece.

These elements transfer into daily life from the aromas of our homemade meals simmering in our kitchens, our reverence of our icons in our homes, music filled with sorrows and joys of life, and the wine we share with loved ones.

Kids enjoy getting a taste of what they will experience on vacation. A good way to get started is to have them attend a cultural event of where they plan to visit while still in their home area. You can do this very easily using the following tips and more resources to the right:


  • attend a religious service
  • go to a festival serving ethnic foods
  • surf the web for music and recipes
  • read books filled with history and folk tales
  • study maps and make one of your own based on the Iliad or the Odyssey
  • watch movies with English subtitles
  • start a family journal before you leave filled with questions your family would like to answer

Though we've been to Greece several times my children and I are also doing some of these things in preparation for our trip. This way kids fill their senses before they arrive and do not feel like fish out of water. They look forward to solving their questions. The entire family will be able to relax and take in all of the sights and sounds. See the lists of resources and websites of interest on this blog.

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Kathimerini English Edition : Print Edition : 12/6/09