Regarding change of mind…

Source: To Vima

Benaki museum (celebrating its eighty years of artistic richness) exhibits the paintings of Theofilos. It is an issue for experts whether Theofilos was as great as regarded by many or not. Either way he was important to everyone. That is for his compositions, colors, themes and I would add his optimistic poetic objectivity.

The exhibition includes a number of paintings, all of them depicting Greek cities of the 30s. Distinctly, one may observe the churches and their bell towers. Only that? No! We may also observe the mosques and their minarets.

And now, we are discussing with hundreds of thousands of native or immigrant Muslims, for ONE mosque. With or without a minaret?

With the exception of Thrace, the majority of those old mosques are demolished by some, starting from the minarets, (the city of Rethymnon is among the few exceptions of respect to the past).
Some others have “utilized” mosques, turning some of them (such as the mosque of the central square of Nauplion) into cinemas. Isn’t that a reminder of the occupied part of Cyprus?

Recently, in Athens, thousands of Muslims, very few of them related to the Turkish-speaking minority, gathered to celebrate Ramadan at the square of National Resistance across town hall. As if they were homeless. The incredible mayor (with lower “m”) almost demanded the award of respect for human rights, as a return of granting his permission. What if he didn’t, would armed forces have intervened?
What about the Turks? At first, let us remind that gradually (but rather slowly) the situation is getting better for minorities and among them the Christians. However, it should be underlined that our state should adhere the freedoms of our own constitution and that cannot be a subject of our bilateral relations. That is a matter of principal of our respect of the European values of freedom and equality.

However, issues of worship is only one part of the subject matter, the other is politics. For example, at this moment, in both Ankara and Athens there is an ongoing reevaluation of “defensive dogmas”. In Ankara, they start putting aside the like of neighbor-enemies.

Here, with a 20-year delay we are facing the possibility (they say) of abolishing any “threats from the North”, totally focusing on the East instead. The Turks, semi-officially proposed, the mutual reduction of armament. In the midst of drowning, we are seeking to invest in more arms and an alliance with Israel. Without even asking our neighbors, since you propose, come and let’s discuss if you seriously mean it…

When everything changes, why don’t we change our minds?

Translated by Gerasimos Loukatos

I am torn between choosing Islam and my Greek family

I received this comment today and I wanted to post it here so that you can respond to Vasili.  Many of us can relate to this part of the journey.

 

 

I am currently Greek Orthodox Christian and it is sad how even the Orthodox Church is becoming westernized. Women and men should still stand on opposite sides in church, the women should still cover their heads in church, the men should not be wearing gold chains and/or ripped jeans, among many other things. Its starting to look like a Catholic Church. Going to church has become a status competition in the Greek Community. So many Greeks go to church to gossip and show off their wealth. Its ridiculous. Its not even about God any more. I would say the most devout Eastern Orthodox I know are my Coptic Egyptian friends.

This is why recently I have been researching about Islam. I have quite a few Muslim friends because culturally as Greek I can relate to them more than an American. Even if I did choose to convert, it would be a very hard transition and it would completely change my relationship with my family. I am afraid they would frown upon me becoming Muslim and I am worried I would have a hard time adjusting to the lifestyle of Islam. I don’t know what to think any more. In my opinion, if you are going to be Christian, Eastern Orthodoxy is best, only if you follow the doctrine and traditions, which are being diluted in today’s society. I have respect for both Islam and Christianity, and honestly if I could follow both faiths I would; but the Islamic faith seems to most consistently practice the traditional, conservative, and respectful way of life that Allah has intend us to follow.

-Vasili

MEGA Channel: Βίντεο με την Πειρατεία στην “Ελεύθερη Μεσόγειο” του Στόλου της Ελευθερίας; Piracy on Free Mediterranean cargo ship of Freedom Flotilla

Ο Βαγγέλης Πισσίας επικεφαλής της Πρωτοβουλίας “Ένα Καράβι για τη Γάζα” στο Mega Σαββατοκύριακο 19 Σεπ 2010 παρουσιάζει 4 λεπτο βίντεο ντοκουμέντο της εισβολής των Ισραηλινών πειρατών στο φορτηγό πλοίο “Ελευθερη Μεσόγειος” του Στόλου της Ελευθερίας. Πρώτη Παγκόσμια Μετάδοση!

Breathtaking Video! Piracy on Free Mediterranean Cargo Ship of Freedom Flotilla! World’s first broadcast.

Turks, Greeks and my journey to Islam

By Tina Stylianidou

My journey to Islam is a sensitive one since my Greek Orthodox family lived in Turkey for most of their lives. Although I was born in Athens, Greece, my father, who was born and raised in Istanbul to a wealthy and well educated family, was like others living in a Muslim country – he held on to his religious identity tightly.

A time came when the Turkish government decided to kick the majority of Greek citizens out of Turkey and confiscate their wealth, houses and businesses. So my father’s family had to return back to Greece, empty handed and basically poor. This is what they, the Turks –’Muslims’ – did to them and this validated (according to them) their hatred towards Islam.

My mother’s family lived on a Greek island just on the border between Greece and Turkey and during a Turkish attack the Turks occupied the island and burnt their houses. So they escaped to the Greek mainland  in order to survive. Even more reason to hate the Turks –’Muslims’!

Greece was occupied by the Turks for over 400 years and we were taught to believe that for every crime committed towards the Greeks, Islam was responsible. That the Turks were Muslims and their crimes were reflecting their religious beliefs. So for hundreds of years we were taught in our history and religious books to hate and make fun of Islam.  In our books, Islam was actually not a religion and Muhammad (pbuh) was not a prophet! He was just a very intelligent leader and politician who gathered rules and laws from the Jews and the Christians, added some of his own ideas and conquered the world.

We were taught at school how to make fun of him and of his wives or his companions. All the ‘caricatures’ and slander against him which is published in today’s media was actually part of our curriculum.

But God protected me so hatred against Islam had not entered my heart. Other Greeks have also succeeded to rid themselves of the burden of the Orthodox religious inheritance placed on their shoulders and they have opened their eyes, ears and hearts to see that Islam is a true religion sent by God and Muhammad (pbuh) is a true prophet, the last of all prophets after a long chain of messengers starting from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all), all sent to mankind to guide the people to the same message.

It was a great help to me that both of my parents were not very religious themselves, they rarely practised their religion and they used to take me to church only during weddings or funerals. What drove my father away from his religion was the corruption he was seeing daily among the priests and this led him to become an atheist.

As a teenager, I loved to read a lot and I wasn’t really satisfied or convinced with Christianity. I had belief in God, fear and love for Him, but everything else confused me. I started searching around but I never searched towards Islam (maybe due to the background I had against it). But in the end, God had mercy on my soul and guided me from darkness to light of the truth – Islam – submission only to One God.

He brought into my life my husband, a born Muslim, and we got married without us really paying attention to the religious differences. My husband was willing to answer any questions I had concerning his religion without humiliating my beliefs (no matter how wrong they were) and without ever putting any pressure on me or even asking me to change my religion. After three years of being married and having the chance to know more about Islam, to read the Holy Quran, as well as other religious books, I was convinced that there is no such thing as a trinity, nor was Jesus God.

I became a Muslim keeping it secret from my family and friends for many years. We lived with my husband in Greece trying to practise Islam but it was extremely difficult – almost impossible. In my home town there are no mosques, no access to Islamic studies, no people praying, fasting or women wearing hijab (the Islamic head cover).There are only some Muslim immigrants who came to Greece for a better financial future and who let the Western lifestyle attract them and eventually corrupted them. As a result, many do not follow their religious practices and are completely lost.

It was incredibly difficult to perform our Islamic duties, especially for me, as I wasn’t born Muslim and didn’t have an Islamic education. My husband and I had to pray and fast with the use of calendars instead of a Muslim call to prayer in our ears and no Muslim community to support us. We felt that with each passing day we were stepping backwards and our faith was decreasing as the wave was taking us in.

So when my daughter was born, we decided to migrate to a Muslim country. We didn’t want to raise her in a environment where she would struggle to maintain her identity where she could end up lost.

Now, after four years of our migration, I feel so homesick, so nostalgic and I wonder if it is time to return back to Greece, the beautiful country that I was born to and try to find a way to combine the wonderful identity and culture of my Greek ancestors as well as my Islamic identity and beliefs. I feel proud and thankful to God that I can be both Greek and Muslim.

We want to pray in a mosque

Source:  Ta Nea

Translation © Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

Kotzia Square was transformed into an outdoor mosque yesterday morning for about two hours, just opposite of the town hall of Athens. About 4000 Muslims without a mosque prayed the last prayer of Ramadan.

The festive prayer called Eid Al Fitr was organized by the Muslim Association of Greece after consultation with the City of Athens that gave them permission to pray in the square. Muslims living and working in Athens attended the last prayer in celebration of the end of Ramadan (the month of Ramadan).

Once again, however, the representatives of the Muslim Association of Greece and other Muslims pointed out that it is necessary to build a mosque in Athens; thousands of Muslims who live in Attiki pray in inappropriate places such as warehouses, basements, garages, apartments etc.

“If there was a mosque in Athens, the prayer would not commence in Kotzia Square. Would have been done in the courtyard of the mosque and no one would perceive. Many people asked what is happening in the square. Why are they so many people gathered together? We do not want to close the roads or to bother anyone. That’s why we try to remain strictly within the square, said the president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mr. Naim Elghandour, in “Ta NEA” newspaper.  

As the president of the Association said, Kotzia square was chosen because of the no cost. “In previous years we held the prayer at the Olympic Stadium, either in closed or an open space, but you pay rent of about 1,700 euros. This year, things are strained by the economic crisis, so we came to an agreement with the City of Athens.”

Votanikos. The government in April decided to go with direct procedures for the construction of a mosque for 500 people in the Navy base of the Botanical Fortress. According to information from the Ministry of Education, the preparation for the relocation services of the Navy from the site has now completed.

“Unfortunately these procedures are progressing slowly, as with other things in Greece. It is though a cultural requirement to have a mosque in Athens. Therefore I appeal to the Ministries of Education and National Defence and the Municipality of Athens to find a solution quickly,” said Mr. Elghandour. Indeed, the Muslim Association of Greece is the one that in recent years has raced and is liaising with ministries in order to build a mosque in Athens.

As a reminder, the bill for the construction of the mosque is in place since 2006. Indeed, the ND government then had promised that the mosque will be ready in late 2009. However, the bureaucracy and misunderstandings between the ministries turned the case of the “mosque in Athens” to Artas Bridge…

Seraphim “delirium” for the granting

In a four-page announcement … holy crazy issued yesterday, Eparch Seraphim of Piraeus says the prayer of the Muslims should not be in public open space as in Kotzia Square. The Eparch, who for some time now is a member of the Standing Holy Synod, used harsh words to characterize the granting of the square by the municipality of Athens irresponsible. He connects even the prayer for the Muslims with the Turks in Greece, saying that such prayer is the “first in regular life again after the revolution and the shaking off of the brutal Turkish atrocities.”  Please note that they [the Muslims at the prayer] come from various countries.

Translated by: Elena Nikolova

Kotzia Square like “Mecca”

Source:  Ethnos

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

Translation © Muslim Association of Greece

The huge square opposite of the town hall of Athens was turned into an outdoor mosque yesterday. The president of the Muslim Association of Greece noted that Greece sends a message of education and culture today. 

The economic crisis was the cause of the ceremony not being held in OAKA (Olympic stadium), as other times, as the Muslim community preferred to spend their lease money to cover the livelihood needs of certain members.

Prayer in a scene of reminisce that of … Mecca, was held by two imams from Egypt, invited by the Association. Like always, the men and women prayed separately, as earlier they had rolled out the carpet. Great was the participation of believers from Africa, while many were those who wore traditional costumes.

Muslims quickly “spread” across the square from 7.00 in the morning and the organizers spoke of big concentration. This colorful and multi-racial ‘tapestry’ created a very impressive scenery in central Athens and several were the passers-workers and tourists, who stopped to observe the ritual.

In a speech, the president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Naim Elghandour thanked the Mayor of Athens, Nikitas Kaklamanis, for the permission of the square and noted that, “the attitude of the Greek state today is a response to the American priest who wants to burn the Koran, but also to Angela Merkel who awarded the Danish cartoonist who ridiculed the drawings of Muhammad “.

Speaking with the “Ethnos” newspaper, Mr. Elghandour noted that the message sent today is that Greece is the capital of education and culture. For the Islamic religion, yesterday was a significant day. The strict fasting of Ramadan ends and the great mass prayer is a thanksgiving to the prophet. A day earlier, representatives of Muslims visited the Observatory of Penteli and had confirmed the position of the moon that the fasting is over. After the prayer, they gave out sweets to the children, while many homes made a festive table. The next mass prayer will be approximately in 70 days.

Responses
Seraphim against Kaklamanis

The granting of Kotzia square by the Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis, for prayer of Muslims has prompted a strong reaction of Eparch Seraphim of Piraeus, who in a statement refers to it as “unacceptable behavior harmful to the main state religious faith.”

“With feelings of grief”, as the Eparch points out in his statement,” we have witnessed the concession of the municipality of Athens so irresponsibly to permit Kotzia Square to be used by Muslim religious persons.

Translated by: Elena Nikolova

«Μέκκα» η πλατεία Κοτζιά

Πηγή:  Εθνος

 

Σε ένα τεράστιο υπαίθριο τζαμί μετατράπηκε χθες η πλατεία απέναντι από το δημαρχείο της Αθήνας. Ο πρόεδρος της Μουσουλμανικής Ενωσης Ελλάδος σημείωσε ότι η Ελλάδα με τη στάση της στέλνει μήνυμα μόρφωσης και πολιτισμού

Η οικονομική κρίση ήταν η αιτία που η τελετή δεν πραγματοποιήθηκε στο ΟΑΚΑ, όπως άλλες φορές, καθώς η μουσουλμανική κοινότητα προτίμησε να διαθέσει τα χρήματα με τα οποία θα ενοικίαζε κάποιο χώρο για την κάλυψη βιοποριστικών αναγκών ορισμένων μελών της.

Την προσευχή, σε ένα σκηνικό που θύμιζε… Μέκκα, τέλεσαν δύο ιμάμηδες από την Αίγυπτο, προσκεκλημένοι της Eνωσης. Oπως πάντα, οι γυναίκες και οι άντρες προσευχήθηκαν ξεχωριστά, αφού είχε προηγηθεί το στρώσιμο χαλιών. Μεγάλη ήταν η συμμετοχή πιστών από την Αφρική, ενώ παρά πολλοί ήταν εκείνοι που φορούσαν εθνικές ενδυμασίες.

Οι πιστοί «απλώθηκαν» σε ολόκληρη την πλατεία από τις 7.00 το πρωί και οι διοργανωτές έκαναν λόγο για πολύ μεγάλη συμμετοχή. Αυτό το πολύχρωμο και πολυφυλετικό «μωσαϊκό» δημιούργησε ένα ιδιαίτερα εντυπωσιακό σκηνικό στο κέντρο της Αθήνας και αρκετοί ήταν οι περαστικοί -εργαζόμενοι και τουρίστες- που σταματούσαν για να παρατηρήσουν την τελετουργία.

Σε δήλωσή του ο πρόεδρος της Μουσουλμανικής Ενωσης Ελλάδος, Ναΐμ Ελγαντούρ, ευχαρίστησε τον δήμαρχο της Αθήνας Νικήτα Κακλαμάνη για την παραχώρηση της πλατείας και σημείωσε ότι «η στάση της ελληνικής πολιτείας αποτελεί απάντηση στον Αμερικανό ιερέα που θέλει να κάψει το Κοράνι αλλά και στην Ανγκελα Μέρκελ που βράβευσε το Δανό σκιτσογράφο που διακωμώδησε τον Μωάμεθ με τα σκίτσα του».

Μιλώντας στο «Εθνος», ο κ. Ελγαντούρ σημείωσε ότι το μήνυμα που στέλνει η Ελλάδα είναι ότι είναι πρωτεύουσα της μόρφωσης και του πολιτισμού. Για τη θρησκεία του Ισλάμ η χθεσινή ημέρα ήταν ιδιαίτερα σημαντική. Η αυστηρή νηστεία του Ραμαζανιού τελειώνει και η μεγάλη μαζική προσευχή αποτελεί ευχαριστία προς τον Προφήτη. Μια ημέρα νωρίτερα, εκπρόσωποι των μουσουλμάνων είχαν ανέβει στο Αστεροσκοπείο της Πεντέλης και είχαν επιβεβαιώσει από τη θέση της Σελήνης ότι η νηστεία τελειώνει.

Μετά το τέλος της προσευχής μοιράζονται γλυκά στα παιδιά, ενώ σε πολλά σπίτια στρώνεται εορταστικό τραπέζι. Η επόμενη μαζική προσευχή θα γίνει σε περίπου 70 ημέρες.

 Αντιδράσεις
Πυρά Σεραφείμ κατά Κακλαμάνη

Η παραχώρηση από τον δήμαρχο Αθηναίων, Νικήτα Κακλαμάνη, της πλατείας Κοτζιά για την προσευχή των μουσουλμάνων προκάλεσε την έντονη αντίδραση του μητροπολίτη Πειραιώς Σεραφείμ, οποίος σε ανακοίνωσή του κάνει λόγο για «απαράδεκτη συμπεριφορά που πλήττει την επικρατούσα στο κράτος θρησκευτική πίστη».

«Με αισθήματα οδύνης» τονίζεται στην ανακοίνωση του μητροπολίτη Πειραιώς, «παρακολουθήσαμε από την τηλοψία την παραχώρηση από τη δημοτική Αρχή των Αθηνών ανευθύνως της πλατείας Κοτζιά σε μουσουλμανικής θρησκευτικής παραδοχής πρόσωπα».

Παρασκευή Βονάτσου
Φωτό: Δημήτρης Ψαρρός

Athens: A festive Ramadan evening (with photo gallery)

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά / عربي

Last Thursday September 2, the formal Iftar dinner of MAG took place at Ledra Marriott hotel. Over a hundred guests participated at an Iftar of the Muslims of Athens.

The evening begun with the break of the fast, and the Maghreb (evening) prayer. After that, salutations came from the chairman Naim Elghandour, the rep of the Hellenic Church father Stefanos Alexopoulos and professor Vangelis Pissias.

At the Iftar were participating from the Ministry of Education the deputy minister Mr. Panaretos, Mrs. Dragona, Mr. Marioras, Mrs. Faragoulitaki. From the ministry of Protection of the Citizen were the deputy Chief of Pollice mr. Rahovitsas, Head of State Security Mr Dikopoulos, Attica Chief Mr Balakos, and other important people from the ministry. From the ministry of foreign affairs was Mr. Takis, from the City of Athens was the deputy mayor Mr. Papadakis and councellor Ms Jarvis. New Democracy party was represented by Ms Elsa Papadimitriou, Syriza party by Mr Dritsas and Ecologists by Ms Kontouli. Many diplomats as the ambassador of France, ambassador of Indonesia, ambassador of Syria, deputy ambassadors of UK, Egypt and other officials from all Muslim embassies. Significant businessmen, academics, journalists, people of arts, friends, imams special guests from Egypt, and reps from the initiative “ship to Gaza” were all there at this glowing evening.

Sponsors of the event were the companies Visiotec & Loukisas Cladding, of Mr’s Dalamangos. Hytiris and Loukisas that are specialized at the security doors of the banks

The atmosphere was warm and friendly and tasting the fine food, soon there were several tables with different discussion topics. The sense of the harmonious coexistence and mutual respect was the big message of the event and all together proved it beyond any doubt, renewing the appointment for the next year’s Iftar, having the best impressions.

See Photo Gallery here

A bright day for the Muslims of Athens

 

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά/ عربي

Thousands of Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan with “Eid al Fitr” in the heart of Athens at Kotzia square where the Mayor’s House is located. The atmosphere was really festive and the spirit very high. Balloons and candies for the kids, big smiles at the faces of each one who came to pray and wish others a happy Eid. As every year, the Muslim Association of Greece organizes this festive day where Muslims of every color and ethnicity gather together to pray and exchange wishes. This was the first time that the Eid took place in a open public area and this happened thanks to the City of Athens, the mayor and the deputy mayors who gave the permission to the Muslims of the city to pray, since there is no mosque yet.

Naim Elghandour, chairman of the Muslim Association of Greece (MAG), stated to the domestic and international media who had live TV broadcasts and reportages that, “while today on earth a pastor in America threatens to burn the Quran and German PM Merkel awards the Danish sketch artist who insulted prophet Muhammad a few years ago with his sketches, Athens today shows that it is a civilized city and Greece is a civilized country and respects the citizens of every religion and ideology. Happy Eid.”

The prayer was offered by sheikhs Muhammad Ahmed and Hassan Arafa who are honored guests from Egypt. After the end of the event people went for the festive feast at houses as the custom says.

See Photo Gallery here

Athens: Eid Al Fitr at Kotzia Square

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά/ عربي

The Muslim Association of Greece,

is celebrating the end of Ramadan. The Eid Al-Fitr is at at Kotzia Square,

 Athinas street across from the Mayor’s House.

 Two distinguished imams who are honored guests from Egypt

 will lead the prayer and make the festive speech.

 Easy access by buses and by metro at stations Omonoia or Monastiraki.

 Friday morning, September 10,  7.30-9.30am

Everyone is welcome! 

  

 

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