O Apoheretismos (The Farewell) by Yannis Ritsos Opens on May 19

Culture

O Apoheretismos (The Farewell) by Yannis Ritsos Opens on May 19

May 18, 2017

The Farewell by Yannis Ritsos opens on May 19 at the Pancyprian Center. Photo: Courtesy of Photos Stratis

The Farewell photo

ASTORIA – The Pancyprian Association Cultural Division Presents the poetic monologue Farewell by Yannis Ritsos at the Pancyprian Center in Astoria with Phytos Stratis as Grigoris Afxentiou under the direction of Ioanna Katsarou. This year marks the 60^th anniversary of Afxentiou’s ultimate sacrifice and of the writing of the poem.

Yannis Ritsos wrote this poetic monologue as a tribute to the Battle of Macheras, the outcome of which was the death of Grigoris Afxentiou, EOKA’s second in command, and the pre-eminent hero of the struggle to rid Cyprus of British colonial rule and unite the island with Greece.

This poem, written in the same month as Afxentiou’s sacrifice, reveals the hero’s ecstatic state of mind during 10 hours under siege in his hideout as he meditates on his life and on his decision to die.

It is shocking to consider that during those 10 hours fighting, wounded, in pain, Afxentiou must have considered again and again giving himself up, imagined living and returning to his home and family, and yet he would not be deflected by love of life and instead remained committed to his own death.

O Apoheretismos (The Farewell) is subtitled the Last Hours of Grigoris Afxentiou in the Burning Cave. It opens on Friday, May 19 at 8 PM with performances onSaturday, May 20 at 8 PM and on Sunday, May 21 at 4 PM. Tickets are available by phone: 646-595-7303.

Cast and Crew:

Grigoris Afxentiou: Phytos Stratis

Director & Set Designer: Ioanna Katsarou

Video: Kyriakos Pishoftas

Graphic designer: Tharivol Productions

Music selection: Ioanna Katsarou

Production: Phytos Stratis

The Pancyprian Association Cultural Division presents the CY-NY theatrical production O Apoheretismos (The Farewell) by Yannis Ritsos performed by Phyto Stratis and the voice of Andreas Koukkides. Directed by Ioanna Katsarou.

Church

St. Nicholas Church One of 2022’s Most Anticipated Architectural Openings

NEW YORK - Some 21 years after it was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States that brought down the Twin Towers in New York City, the new St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church rising in its place is among the most eagerly awaited architectural openings of 2022.

Events

Staten Island Community Honored Couples Married 50+ Years

STATEN ISLAND, NY – For yet another year, the community of Holy Trinity-St Nicholas in Staten Island honored couples celebrating 50+ years of marriage with a modest ceremony held at the church immediately following the Divine Liturgy on January 16.

Society

New Research into Greek Artifacts Looted by Nazis Highlighted in NY Times

NEW YORK – New research into Greek artifacts looted by the Nazis was highlighted in the New York Times on January 18 as “the topic of the Nazi role in antiquities looting is increasingly drawing attention, in part through the work of scholars who are peeling back the mysteries of what happened to the objects that were excavated or seized eight decades ago.