Issue No. 7 April 2001

Regular Features• Opinion, Athens 2004 Update pg 2• News in Brief pg 3 & 12• Religion pg 4• Music Review pg 6• Dear Thea, G-net pg 9• IMNZ pg 10• Sport pg 14

• Football pg 16

Special Features• Parthenon Marbles pg 8• Orthodox Easter Holy Week pg 11• Greek Community PlayGroup pg 13• AHEPA Olympics pg 15

www.goyanz.org.nz

MP Marian Hobbs, Mayor Mark Blumsky and Speaker ofthe House of Parliament Jonathan Hunt exiting church andmaking their way to the Greek Memorial in Kent Terrace.

Youth of the community getting ready for the IndependanceDay march, in Hania Street.

Laying of the wreaths at the Greek Memorial watched on byinvited dignitaries and members of the Hellenic community.

The waiting staff for the Taverna night held on Tuesday ofGreek week. L-R: Bobby Makris, John Serepisos, ChrisYiavasis, Peggy Yiannoutsos, Stelios Kavaleros and PaulKotrotsos.

The opening of the Church of The Annunciation of the VirginMary held on the Wednesday of Greek Week.

Greek Week 2001This years Greek Week festivities began withthe Greek Food Festival held in Hania St onMarch 17. There was a wide selection of Greekfood on sale throughout the day - from thewell known souvlaki to the spicy Mitite (garlicsausage) and from the traditional spanakopita(spinach pie) to the sweet loukoumades.

Many of the food stalls were sold out bylunchtime as the great weather contributedtowards increased numbers attending this yearsevent. Traditional Greek dancing was alsoperformed with first timers encouraged to joinin and participate. This was an enjoyable daythat provided the opportunity for NewZealanders to share some of our food andculture.

On Wednesday 21 March a Taverna styleevening was held at the Greek CommunityCentre in Hania St. Members of the GreekCommunity provided the music that had ataste of nostalgia to it. This was an enjoyableevening that involved the audience singing tothe hits of yesteryear. The menu included someclassic Greek dishes - Kalamari, Souvlaki, Fishand Chicken were served along with GreekSalad, Feta Cheese and Olives.

On Saturday 24 March the annual National

dance was held to celebrate the independenceof Greece now in its 180th year. Theentertainment for the evening was provided bya Greek band from Melbourne that playedmany of the classic Greek folk songs. The nightwas a sell out which provided some greatcuisine and saw dancing continue till the earlyhours of Sunday morning.

On Sunday 25 March a church service was heldto commemorate those who lost their livesfighting for the independence of our homeland - Greece. The service was officiated bythe Metropolitan Archbishop Dionysios andattended by His excellency the Ambassadorof the Hellenic Republic, Mr ChristosKarapanos, MP Marian Hobbs, MP JonathonHunt, The Mayor of Wellington MarkBlumsky and representatives of the armedforces. At the conclusion of the service theGreek school children dressed in the nationalcostume lead a parade to the Greek-NewZealand memorial in Kent Terrace for a wreathlaying ceremony.

Overall this years Greek Festival was aresounding success and congratulations to allwho were involved in the organisation andexecution of the event.

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A few weeks ago I attended the Greek Bazaar for the firsttime since it moved to Hania Street. To say that theHellenic community in Wellington is slowly disappearing

may be true in some aspects, but the Greek bazaar showed me thatthere are still many Greek’s around, as well as considerable morewho want to experience our culture.

As well as the bazaar the other events throughout Greek weekwere also a success, with a large number attending the Tavernanight, Church opening and 25th March celebration. Althoughdifferent people attended each of these events, those who helpeddid not.

As the week went on and the emails/ phone calls went aroundasking for help, it become evident that the actual pool of volunteerswithin the community is small. There may be a number of reasonsfor this but the Greek community in Wellington has always beenone of too many chiefs and not enough Indians. This can be seenin the number of halls and sommatias (communities) we have.

The reason why Greek week was the success it was, was due to thepeople that did respond to those calls of help and volunteeredtheir time to the community. Volunteer work, especially that basedaround communities is some of the most rewarding work you canperform. The Taverna night showed this. It brought people fromdifferent backgrounds and skills together to help achieve a commongoal. The enjoyment and excitement they received from helpingmoney could not buy. And it is here were volunteer work is vastlydifferent from paid employment.

In volunteer work the motivation and enthusiasm you have tocomplete the work does not have to manufactured, such as forexample by the offering of bonuses or rewards. You are not therebecause you have to, you are there because you want to (that isunless you are serving community service or know John S.).

Congratulations if you did help, the community owes you a greatdeal, and on behalf of all those people that attended the eventsthroughout the week and did not notice the hard work that wheninto the preparation and service, I want to thank you for efforts.

I also wish to say goodbye to all of “Ta Matia’s” readers. ShortlyI leave these shores to travel overseas. My last two trips to Greeceand the Czech republic over the last two years have showed methat there is a large world out there to explore.

In the next issue of “Ta Matia” look out for my new column,Axlaz on tour, that is, unless I end up somewhere where theflushable toilet is the latest piece of technology to be introduced,

Good luck for the future,

Petros Hahladakis

Athens 2004 Update

Athens 2004 News20/2/01

World Council of Greeks Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens statedto MPA that he hopes that the decisions of SAE’s meeting will be goodfor Greece. He also stated that he is happy to be in Thessaloniki againto take part in the SAE meeting that will open today and will last untilFebruary 24.

He stressed that the young Greeks abroad can contribute to the 2004Olympic Games as volunteers and this issue will be discussed in detailin the meeting, adding that “Athens 2004” Organization president Ms.Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis is invited as well.

General secretary for the Greeks living abroad Dimitris Dollis statedthat the basic qualification shared by the Greeks living abroad is thatthey speak at least one foreign language and can operate as a link betweenGreece and the country where they live.

Athletes in 2004 Olympic Games will admire theGreek History10/2/01

The athletes in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens will have theopportunity to admire an interesting part of the ancient Greek history.

According to the Finnish newspaper “Aumulehti”, archaeologists andworkers in the southern Aegean island of Crete intend to construct areplica of an ancient ship built 3.500 years ago, planning a sea voyagejust before the opening of the Athens Olympic Games.

Historian Apostolos Kourtis, who is in charge of the project, statedthat the ship will be built using the materials and methods that wereused in antiquity.

The goal of the project will be to promote the Minoan civilization andits achievements in ancient Greece. The ship will be 15 meters long andwill have 22 oarsmen.

Athens 2004 - New managing director13/3/01

The government named a top Switzerland-based executive as the newmanaging director for the 2004 Olympics organising committee(ATHOC) on Tuesday, ending a more than three-month vacancy forthe post.

The appointment of veteran Dow Chemical Co. executive IoannisSpanudakis, 48, was announced by the government spokesman duringa press conference, where the latter emphasised that the selection waspersonally made by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The latest appointment completes a significant overhaul amongATHOC’s leadership since late last April, following national electionsin Greece and warnings by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)to get preparations moving.

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Rocking monks strike platinumWednesday, 21 February, 2001

A controversial group of ChristianOrthodox monks have hit the highnote with a platinum selling rockCD. The Free, who hail from aremote Greek monastery, haveachieved record sales in their owncountry and are currently atnumber four in the charts with their latest hit Little Computer Chip.Last year’s I Learned to Live Free CD has been awarded platinum statusfor hitting sales of over 50,000.

All the money from their music is given to the children’s summer camprun by the monks at their monastery in the Greek town of Trikorfo.

Mouskouri tops chartMonday, 26 February, 2001

The Greek singer Nana Mouskouri, 64,who is best known for her light pop and|thick-rimmed glasses, is number one in theclassical charts. Mourkouri’s new release AtHer Very Best, has knocked UK tenor Russell Watson off the numberone slot.

A spokesman for the Crete-born singer, said: “We’re pleasantly surprisedthat she has done so well, but it’s a stunning album”. The album camein at number 39 in the overall music charts and this is Mourkouri’sbiggest hit for 16 years. she has only once had a hit single in the UK,with Only Love in 1986, despite recording more than 1,300 songs in avariety of languages from Greek to German to Hebrew since her careerbegan in 1958.

Greek Independence Day Celebrated by theLighting of the World Famous Empire StateBuilding

NEW YORK, Mar 20, 2001 — (PRNewswire) George C. Zouvelos,Managing Principal of the Weiser Group, a New York strategiccommunications firm, today announced that the Empire State Buildingwill once again light the building’s tower with the Hellenic colours ofblue and white in honor of Greek Independence Day. The lighting willcommence on Friday March 23rd at 6:00 PM ET through Sunday,March 25th.

“In the spirit of independence, freedom and justice, upon which thiscountry was formed, the Empire State Building has once again chosen

The above articles are from the Athens News Agency Homepage.For the latest and up to date news, please visit their homepage at: http://www.ana.gr

to honor the Hellenic culture by lighting the building tower tocommemorate Greek Independence Day,” said George C. Zouvelos.

This year will mark the 5th anniversary of the lighting of the EmpireState Building in honor of Greek Independence Day.

“This celebration honors the brave Hellenes that declared independencefrom the Ottomans 180 years ago, which initiated the demise of theoppressive Ottoman Empire, said George C. Zouvelos. “It is this unitedHellenic declaration that systematically inspired all Ottoman occupiedterritories to finally denounce oppression and seek the freedoms thatGod endowed man,” added Zouvelos.

Spata cleared for takeoff

The flagship of Greece’smulti-billion-euro publicworks program, the newEleftherios Venizelosairport some 30kilometers out ofAthens, was declaredopen yesterday by PrimeMinister Costas Simitis.

“All clear for takeoff,” ajubilant Simitis told a 2,500-strong audience, minutes before an OlympicAirways jetliner rose into the Attic skies. In lieu of the traditional ribbon-and-scissors act, computer graphics were employed to show a giantpiece of white tape attached to the Boeing 737’s nose falling apart asthe jet - which was empty of passengers - took off.

The 658-billion-drachma airport at Spata, east of Athens, was built in51 months and opened four weeks later than initially scheduled, as thesix-lane toll road linking it with the traffic-clogged capital’s outskirtswas only delivered 10 days ago. The full road-and-rail link will be readyin three years’ time, to meet with the anticipated influx of visitors forthe 2004 Olympics.

Population up by 680,000

PRELIMINARY census results released by Finance Minister YiannosPapantoniou on March 26 indicate that the population numbers10,939,771, representing an increase of 6.6 percent, or 680,000,compared to 1991 figures. The March 18 census also found that womencomprise 50.4 percent of the population.

Papantoniou noted Greece’s low birth rate in announcing governmentincentives, to be introduced over the next three years, aimed atencouraging couples to have children.

More news in brief on page 12

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The interior of an Orthodox Church is designed to speak tothe worshipper, to establish the mood for worship, to preachthe Gospel through architecture and icons and to elevate one’s

mind to the God one comes to praise and worship.

The Church is made up of three parts; the Sanctuary for the clergy, theNave for the Christian faithful and the Narthex for the Catechumens,i.e. people wishing to be baptised in the faith.

The Church which always facesEast, is built in the shape of across. This signifies that in orderto receive the many blessings thatcome to us from heaven, it isnecessary first to accept the crossof salvation through JesusChrist. The church is a palacefor the King of Kings, whichexplains the extensive use ofroyal colours; gold and blue.

At the entrance of the church isthe Narthex. On the left is the “Pangari , a special table where candlesare kept and trays for donations to the church are placed.

The Icon Stand (proskinitarion), is wherethe Icon of the Patron Saint of the Churchis placed. It is placed there to remind theOrthodox Christian that Christ and thesaints are his invisible hosts when he comesto church. His first act upon entering churchis to salute them by making the sign of thecross. To the left of this are large candleholders where the worshipper lights andplaces his candle as a reminder that hereflects the light of Christ in the world. TheBalcony, (eperoon), is used by the choir, and

is reached by the stairs at the side of the Narthex.

The Nave is the area between the Sanctuary and the Narthex. It isrectangular with a central aisle, over which is the cupola or dome whichsymbolises the universe. Suspended from the dome is the chandelier(polelaei) which represents the stars.

The Icon Screen, (iconostasis) is the partition which separates the navefrom the sanctuary. On the screen are placed icons of Christ, of theVirgin Mary and other saints. The walls of the church are painted orhung with icons. These serve as a visual Gospel to the worshipperswhoa re unable to read, to create a reverence in worship and to serve asan existential link between the worshipper and God. Orthodox Christians

The Greek Orthodox Churchdo not worshipicons; they veneratethem as symbols.During services thepriest censes firstthe icons and thenthe entirecongregation. Bydoing this theChurch honours

not only the angels, saints and martyrs, but also the living icons of God– men and women who are made in His image.

The two large candelabra before the icon screen, represent the columnof light by which God guided the Jews at night to the promised land.During the day God used a cloud. The candelabra remind us that wetoo have a promised land, the kingdom of heaven, to which He guidesus through the teachings of the Gospel and the grace of the sacraments.

There are threedoors in theiconostasis; thecentral one, whichonly a priest mayenter and exit, iscalled the RoyalGate (Oreia Pili). Itis called “Royal” inview of the factthat Christ the

King is carried through it during the Sacrament of Holy Communionas the priest carries the precious Body and Blood out to the congregation.It reminds us that Christ alone is the door leading to communion withthe Holy Trinity. The two side doors are used by the altar boys, thedeacons, clergy when they are not participating in a service and laymen.

The semi-circular stair (solea), coming down from the sanctuary infront of the Royal Gate is where special ceremonies such as weddings,funerals, memorial services, doxologies and other services are conducted.The Bishops Throne (despoticon) is on the right of the solea. An iconof Christ is set into the inner part of the Throne. It is used by theBishop or Archbishop during church ceremonies and Divine Liturgy.Also on the right are the stands and seating for the readers and chantersas well as the bookstands (analogia) which hold their books. On theleft of the solea is the baptismal font.

The Sanctuary (Holy Vema), which is behind the iconostasis, is themost sacred part of the Church. It is here that the most holy of the

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sacraments, the Sacrament ofthe Holy Eucharist iscelebrated. The Holy Altarstands in the middle. Holyrelics of some martyr is placedin the holy altar of each churchupon consecration. TheTabernacle is kept in the centreof the holy altar. In the OldTestament the tablets on whichGod had written the TenCommandments were kept inthe tabernacle. In the NewTestament it is the Lord JesusHimself who dwells there. Hisprecious Body and Blood areever kept there as the “Breadof Life.”

The Gospel Book, (Ieron Evangelion) always rests on the altar whereChrist is constantly present as the “World of Life.”

The table of preparation is to the left of the main altar. Here thepeople’s gifts of bread and wine are prepared before the liturgy andlater carried out in solemn procession to the main altar. An icon of theNativity is usually found on the altar of preparation to represent themanger of Bethlehem. Just as Jesus was born in Bethlehem so throughthe Eucharist He comes to be born and dwell in our lives today.

The two circular standards to the side of the tabernacle are called“exapteria” (six winged). Engraved on these are the six-winged angelswhich according to Isaiah’s vision of God, surrounded the throne ofGod in heaven. They remind us that these same angels surround thethrone of God on earth – the holy altar. They are used in sacredprocessionals during the liturgy.

A large icon of the Child-holding Theotokos is usually depicted on theSanctuary Wall (Apse). The purpose of this icon is to express theincarnation. The Theotokos is presenting the new-born Child to themultitudes of believers standing below.

The ground on which the church stands, the buildings, furnishings,icons, and holy vessels within the church have been donated bygenerations of worshippers to the glory of God.

GREEK ORTHODOXARCHDIOCESE

OF NEW ZEALANDTHE GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY OF

WELLINGTON AND SUBURBSPROGRAMME FOR THE CHURCH OF ’THEANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY‘

APRIL 2001

9 April, Holy Monday The Nymphios Service, 7.00pm

10 April, Holy Tuesday The Nymphios Service, 7.00pm

11 April, Holy Wednesday Liturgy of the Pre-SanctifiedGifts, 9.00am

The Sacrament of Holy Unction, 5.30pm

12 April, Holy Thursday Holy Liturgy, 9.00am

Service of the Passion of OurLord, 7.00pm

13 April, Holy Friday Service of the Imperial Hours, 8.30amFollowing this service Father George willgo to Karori and then to MakaraCemeteries to bless the graves.

Vespers for ‘Apokathelosis’, or the takingdown from the Cross, 3.00pm

Service of the ‘Epitaphios’ orLamentations, 7.00pm

14 April, Holy Saturday Holy Liturgy, 9.00am

The Service of the Resurrection ofOur Lord, 11.00pm

15 April, Holy Sunday Vespers of Love, 4.00pm

17 April, Tuesday Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene. HolyLiturgy, 9.00am

20 April, Friday The Life-Giving Fountain, HolyLiturgy, 9.00am

22 April, Sunday Sunday of St Thomas, HolyLiturgy, 9.00am

23 April, Monday St George The Great Martyr, HolyLiturgy, 9.00am

25 April, Wednesday St Mark the Apostle, HolyLiturgy, 9.00am

29 April, Sunday Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers, HolyLiturgy, 9.00am

Office Hours for the Priest, Father George Serras are:Monday to Friday 4.00-6.00pm

Church Telephone: (04) 385 1076

Father George Phone: (04) 802 5456 Mobile: (025) 248 9524

Web Sites of the Archdiocese:http://www,mysite.xtra.co.nz/~imnzhttp://dreamwater.net/edu/imnz

If you would like to become an member of

GOYANZ or have any enquiries about

Τα Ματια Του Κοσµου ,

please contact:

Stelios Manousakis: (04-385 7222)

or Paul Kotrotsos: (04-387 1110)

or John Serepisos: (04-384 4679)

or e-mail: johns@tbd.co.nz

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All NZD$40.00 unless stated otherwise.

Orders Close 25 May 2001, Call Stelios Manousakis on 021393035

GREEK MUSIC - NEW RELEASES

RADIOROSTER

APRIL 8TH PETROS

15TH VIVIENNE

22ND SOTIRI

29TH MICHAEL

MAY 6TH VOULA

13TH STELIOS

20TH VIVIENNE

27TH MICHAEL

JUNE 3RD SOTIRI

10TH VOULA

17TH STELIOS

24TH VIVIENNE

Tune in and listen to

the latest Greek music.

Every Sunday at 3.00pm - 4.00pm

on Access Radio, 783, AM

GOYANZ

Youth

Radio

Program

DalarasAsfaltospoutreh

Giorgos TsalikisAnimounapal

Andreas StamosIse Sti Zoi Mou

Antipas2001

Hristis KiriazisTaxidiotis

Mihalis RakitzisOniro

Pashalis TerzisThelo Napao

Stella GeorgiadouKatisanman

Peggy ZinaEna Hadi

Thanos KallirisEonia

ValantisGirasatonhronopi

VariousSto Rith Mou Tou DJ

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1) You’re 5’4", can bench press 325 pounds, shave twice a day,but you still cry when your mother yells at you

2) Your uncle owns a restaurant, has $300,000 in the bank, butstill drives a ’76 Monte Carlo

3) You share a bathroom with your 5 brothers, have no money, butdrive a $45,000 Camaro

4) Your mechanic, plumber, electrician, accountant and travel agentare all blood relatives.

5) You have a relative that has done something that required theIRS to threaten him..

6) Your 2 best friends are your cousin and brother-in-law’s brother-in-law

7) You are a card-carrying V.I.P at more than 3 dance clubs.

8) Despite the hair on your back, you still try to impress the ladiesby wearing your “Just do me” tank top to Wasaga.

17 REASONS THAT YOU’RE GREEK

Functions Music• Weddings, 21sts • Greek, 50’s-90’s• Birthdays • Commercial• Private Parties and many more

Mobile: +64 25 395 209e-mail: georgecon@globe.co.nz

DJ GEORGEfor all your music needs

9) At least 5 of your cousins live on your street.

10) All 5 of those cousins are named after your grandfather.

11) A high school diploma and one year of communitycollege has earned you the title of “professor” amongyour aunts.

12) You are on a first name basis with at least 8 banquet hall owners.

13) If someone in your family grows beyond 5 ft 9", it is presumedhis mother had an affair.

14) There are more than 28 people in your bridal party.

15) You netted more than $50,000 on your first communion.

16) At some point in your life, you waited tables.

17) 30 years after immigrating, your parents still say “nay” whenanswering the phone.

8

In the early 1800’s, when Greece was not self-governing,

more than 100 sculptures and statue pieces were removed

from the Parthenon Temple on top of the Acropolis in

Athens, by Lord Elgin. The Marble sculptures are now in

the British Museum.

The Parthenon is one of the world’s most important monuments. It isthe most significant symbol of the Greek classical age and representsthe culmination of the great artistic and creative forces of its time.The Marble sculptures are a vital and integral part of the building’sstructure.

In 1821 the Greek War of Independence from Turkey began and in1833 Greece was finally recognised as an independent nation. Claimsfor the return of the Parthenon Marbles began around this time.

Despite persistent international and domestic pressure over the last twohundred years, from not only Greeks but other notable people the BritishGovernment has resisted claims for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.In recent years, the British Labour Party recognised the claim but changedits position on achieving Government.

Natural justice dictates that the British Government should return theMarbles.

Greece is committed to the construction of a museum adjoining theAcropolis to house the marbles on their return. Many of the piecescannot be restored to their original positions because of subsequentdamage to the Parthenon, much of it caused by the destruction of thetemple’s structure by Elgin’s workers in order to rip out the marbles.

It had been hoped the Parthenon Marbles would be returned for thenew millennium. It should be feasible however, for them to be returnedbefore Greece hosts the 2004 Olympic games.

Date: _________________

Member of ParliamentParliament BuildingsWellington

Dear _____________________________

I/We, the undersigned, request that you bring to Parliament the matter of the

RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES TO ATHENS.

I/We ask you to seek Parliament’s support in urging the British Government to direct the British Museum to return the ParthenonMarbles to their origin. The British and Greek Governments should negotiate the return of the Parthenon Marbles prior to the AthensOlympics in 2004.

Please give your attention to this important historical issue.

In 1996 the President of Greece agreed to the following conditions forthe return of the marbles.

1. The marbles shall be returned only after the completion of the newAcropolis Museum being built to house them

2. All costs for the return of the marbles and the cost of a complete setof copies to remain in London should be met by Greece, and

3. That Greece makes no other claims for the return of their ancientartefacts in the museums or collections in Britain.

Our Committee, which was formed in 2000 as part of a world-widemovement, urges you to register your support for our cause to yourlocal Member of Parliament. Ask her or him (see proforma below) tosupport a proposal for the New Zealand Government to bring pressureon the British Government for the Parthenon Marbles to be returnedto their rightful home in Athens.

Parthenon Marbles

Name: ____________________________

Address: __________________________

__________________________

__________________________

Yours sincerely

____________________________

(Signature(s))

9

• Dear Thea, I am sick to death of my parents arrangingproxy for me. What should I do? Alex

You should stop being a typical Greek girl and acceptingeverything that your parents say is law. You need to moveout, get a grip, and go out with someone you want not whoyour parents want. After all you have to sleep with him.

• Dear Thea, I have recently broken up with my fiance and Ihave found myself being very forward, for example, lastweek after coffee my male friend took me home and Iwas very straight on what I wanted next, well, in the end,he went straight home. What is wrong with me? - Afroditi

Well you are a straight girl then. You are desperate foranother man, leave this one alone and go for a women-more your type I think.

• Dear Thea, my Mum pinched a cheese and bacon flavouredle-snac from the cupboard on Monday night, but we arefasting for Easter!!!! Vasso

Your mother is trying to cope with your father leaving herfor a younger Easter bunny.

• Dear Thea, Last week I went to my friends work place forthe first time and saw Star Wars posters and figurines allover his workplace. Is playing with toys normal for a marriedman with children. Stelios

Be careful with him as he is most likely to get reality mixedup with fantasy. Do not be surprised if he talks about havingtea parties with Darth Vader or Han Solo. The time to getout is if he wants to role play with you, but he insists onbeing Princess Leia.

• Dear Thea, I found a dirty magazine under my sons bed asI was cleaning his room. Should I tell him about it? Dora

I don’t know about letting him know. It could damage himmentally knowing that you have found it. The only thing Ican help you with is that if you are struggling with a presentfor him this Christmas you can always get him a 12 monthsubscription.

NOTE: ‘Dear Thea’ provides her advice in good humour. She does notaccept any liability (nor does ‘Ta Matia tou kosmou’) if you actuallyfollow up on any of her advice.

If you have a personal problem or an issueand you want our special Thea to help you out,

send her an e-mail at:dear_thea@hotmail.com

or send your mail to:Dear Thea, PO Box 6257, Wellington.

This one’s for all music lovers out there. If you’re tired oflistening to your favourite Greek music CDs over and over,then visit www.Opatv.com for all the latest Greek music videos

broadcast live via the web. Opatv.com is a must for all Greek musiclovers and should be at the very top of your list of favourites. Thesound and video quality is excellent and the streaming is near perfect(compared to many other streaming sites). It is, however, a good ideato use a 56k modem and try to visit the site in the evening, as netcongestion is reasonably low.

To view the live stream of music videos you will need Microsoft InternetExplorer as your browser and the latest version of RealPlayer installedon your PC. For those who don’t have RealPlayer visit www.real.comand download the latest version at no cost. Opatv.com also offers anonline shopping store, a chat room and will soon provide reviews onthe latest Greek CDs with the opportunity to add them to your purchasebasket if you so wish.

If you enjoy Opatv and become a regular viewer then do the right thingand click on their sponsor’s banners. That way you and others willcontinue to enjoy Opatv for some time to come.

For those who are somewhat more traditional or conventional you canvisit www.Oparadio.com where the latest music can be heard but notseen.

If you like variety or just enjoy channel surfing from one radio stationto the next then visit http://angelfire.com/on/yianni/stationse.html.This site is updated regularly and has a large selection of radio stationsto choose from (including Greek radio broadcasts from Germany, USAand Canada). The site also provides details regarding the stations contenti.e. type of music, news etc. As with Opatv, you do need RealPlayer,however, for some stations you need Media Player instead.

Okay enough of music lets move on to food. Are you tired of the sameold spanakopita? Is your faki somewhat dry? Then despair no more,visit www.RecipesofGreece.com. The site has a huge selection of dishesfor you to try; it is user friendly and extremely easy to navigate. Onentering their homepage you are given the option of either selectingrecipes written in Greek or English. The selection of recipes written inEnglish is not as vast as those available in Greek, but they are addingmore and more every week and are hoping to have all recipes translatedinto English by the end of April. The best thing about Recipes ofGreece, however, is its online chef. If you are looking for a specificrecipe or have a question about a recipe then submit your query and“The chef is here, ready to answer you ASAP”. So if your faki is alittle dry then use their e-chef to find out why.

Finally, I had a couple of request for sports sites. My favourite iswww.sportnews.gr. The majority of content is in Greek but it doesoffer the viewer the latest sport headlines in English. The content andlayout is good but somewhat slow to load pages at times. If you’relooking for team profiles, the latest scoreboard and standings thensportnews.gr is a good place to start.

If you know of any websites that you want to share with our readers thensend the addresses to us at hellenicyouth@hotmail.com and we will includethem in our next issue.

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Efficacy of PrayerBy the Very Reverend Dr Panayiotis Bouras

The very question ‘Does prayer work?’ puts us in the wrongframe of mind from the outset. ‘Work’: as if it were magic,or a machine - something that functions automatically.

Prayer is either a sheer illusion or a personal contract betweenembryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly concretePerson. Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a smallpart of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration itssanctuary, and presence and vision and enjoyment of God its breadand wine. In it God shows himself to us. That He answers prayers isa corollary - not necessarily the most important one - from thatrevelation. What He does is learned from what He is.

Petitionary prayer is, nonetheless, both allowed and commanded tous: ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ And no doubt it raises atheoretical problem. Can we believe that God ever really modifiesHis action in response to the suggestion of men. For infinite wisdomdoes not need telling what is best, and infinite goodness needs nourging to do it. But neither does God need any of those things thatare done by finite agents, whether living or inanimate. He could, ifHe chose, repair our bodies miraculously without food; or give usfood without the aid of farmers, bakers, and butchers; or knowledgewithout the aid of learned men; or convert the heathen withoutmissionaries. Instead, He allows soils and weather and animals andthe muscles, minds, and wills of men to co-operate in the executionof His will. ‘God’ said Pascal, instituted prayer in order to lend toHis creatures the dignity of causality.’ But not only prayer, wheneverwe act at all He lends us that dignity. It is not really stranger, norless strange, that my prayers should affect the course of events thanthat my other actions should do so. They have not advised or changedGod’s mind - that is, His over-all purpose. But that purpose will berealised in different ways according to the actions, including theprayers, of His creatures.

For He seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possiblydelegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly andblunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling of aneye. He allows us to neglect what He would have us do, or to fail.Perhaps we do not fully realise the problem, so to call it, of enablingfinite free wills to co-exist with Omnipotence. It seems to involve atevery moment almost a sort of divine abdication. We are not mererecipients or spectators. We are either privileged to share in the gameor compelled to collaborate in the work, ‘to wield our little tridents.’Is this amazing process simply Creation going on before our eyes?This is how (no light matter) God makes something -indeed, makesgods - out of nothing.

So at least it seems to me. But what I have offered can be, at the verybest, only a mental model or symbol. All that we say on such subjectsmust be merely analogical or parabolic. The reality is doubtless notcomprehensible by our faculties. But we can at any rate try to expelbad analogies and bad parables. Prayer is not a machine. It is notmagic. It is not advice offered to God. Our act, when we pray, mustnot, any more than all our other acts, be separated from thecontinuous act of God Himself, in which all finite causes operate.

It would be even worse to think those who get what they pray for assort of court favourites, people who have influence with the throne.The refused prayer of Christ in Gethsemane is answer enough tothat. And I dare not leave out the hard saying, which I once heardfrom an experienced Christian: “I have seen many striking answersto prayer and more than one that I thought miraculous. But theyusually come at the beginning: before conversion, or soon after it.As the Christian life proceeds, they tend to be rarer. The refusals,too, are not only more frequent; they become more unmistakable,more emphatic.’

Does God then forsake just those who serve Him best? Well, Hewho served Him best of all said, near His tortured death, ‘Whyhast thou forsaken me?’ When God becomes man that Man of allothers, is least comforted by God, at his greatest need. There is amystery here which, even if I had the power, I might not have thecourage to explore. Meanwhile, little people like you and me, if ourprayers are sometimes granted, beyond all hope and probability, hadbetter not draw hasty conclusions to our advantage. If we werestronger, we might be less tenderly treated. If we were braver, wemight be sent, with far less help, to defend far more desperate postson the great battle.

OFFICE OPENING HOURS:Monday & Tuesday 6-7 p.m.

Thursday & Saturday 11-12 a.m.

BIBLE STUDIES (Greek): Every Saturday 11.00 - 12.00 a.m.BIBLE STUDIES (English): Every Monday 6 - 7 p.m.ELDERLY CENTRE: Every Thursday 10.00 - 12.00 a.m.

ST. ANDREWS CHURCH - 365 Broadway MiramarST. NECTARIOS CHURCH - 23 Bay Street PetoneST. JOHN THE BAPTIST - 30 Rochester Street Palmerston North

Tel: (04) 972 6164 or (021) 258 0220Email: imnz@xtra.co.nz

The Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand wishes to announce that theBible Studies in English have been moved from Monday evenings to everySunday 7 - 8 p.m.

Also, classes of Byzantine Music are starting at St. Andrews Hall everySunday 6 - 7 p.m.

11

By the Very Reverend Dr Panayiotis Bouras

1. INTRODUCTIONThe Holy Week every year reconstructs the last six days of the life onearth of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is for His remembrance and toremind us of His suffering for our salvation.

2. PALM SUNDAYThe Holy Week starts with the Palm Sunday, which represents theentrance of our Lord in Jerusalem knowing that He was going to becrucified. On Palm Sunday we bring palm tree leafs at the Churchrepresenting the palm tree leafs that people were laying for Him whilstentering Jerusalem, proclaiming:“Hosanna, Hosanna”

There is a special blessing we read forthe palm tree leafs after the DivineLiturgy of the Palm Sunday and palmtree leafs are distributed among the flock.

On Palm Sunday evening we perform theProcession of “Nemfios” meaning theSlaughtered Lamp, the Selfless Lord, theOne sacrificed for our sins in such ayoung age. At the Procession of Nemfioswe actually perform the Morning Orthros (Matinee, Prayer) of theHoly Monday. Starting the procession, the lights of the Church areturned off and the Priest comes out with the icon of the Nemfiosholding above his head, with three candles attached to it and proclaimschanting: “ Here the Nemfios is coming.....” At the continuation of theservice, we explain the coming of Our Lord to Jerusalem for sacrificewith beautiful hymns.

3. HOLY MONDAYOn Holy Monday evening we perform again the Procession of“Nemfios”. At this service we actually perform the Morning Orthros(Matinee, Prayer) of the Holy Tuesday. At the continuation of theservice, we explain the parable of the ten prepared and the ten unpreparedVirgins who are called in the wedding of the Nemfios. The parablemeans the people who have been preparing throughout their earthlylife for life in paradise and the others who do not. We do this againwith beautiful hymns.

4. HOLY TUESDAYOn Holy Tuesday evening we perform again the Procession of“Nemfios”. At this service we actually perform the Morning Orthros(Matinee, Prayer) of the Holy Wednesday. At the continuation of theservice, we explain the event when this sinful prostitute covered the feetof our Lord with Myrrh (very expensive balsamic oil of those times).The story represents the preparation for spiritual as well as bodilycleansing in order to receive the Pascha.

5. HOLY WEDNESDAYOn Holy Wednesday afternoon / evening we perform the Holy Unction.Holy Unction is one of the seven Sacraments of our Church and isperformed for cleansing of body and soul, representing and followingHoly Tuesday.

6. HOLY THURSDAYOn Holy Thursday evening we reconstruct the tortures of Our Lordwith hymns. His arrest, His judging, His crucifixion. The Ceremonyis called: The Service of Our Lords Passions. The Priest carries theHoly Cross outside of the Holy Altar and places it in the middle ofthe Church reconstructing the mountain of Golgotha.

7. HOLY FRIDAYTwo services are performed on HolyFriday. One in midday and one in theevening. In some cases the twoceremonies are combined to one (themost correct way) and conducted in theevening. That is the Ceremony of theAscension of Our Lord from the Crossand the Ceremony of the Epitaph. Inthe first the Priest takes the Body ofOur Lord from the Cross and places it

on the Epitaph prepared for Him. In the later service of Epitaph, wechant for the burial of the Body and then with a procession, eitheraround the Church or in other Parishes even around the whole block ofbuildings we perform the burial procession. Both ceremonies representingand reconstructing the actual events of the disciples taking the HolyBody, preparing it for burial and finally burring it.

8. HOLY SATURDAYTwo services are performed on Holy Saturday. First and in the morningthe Matinee of Holy Saturday followed by the Divine Liturgy and HolyCommunion. This is not the actual way that services should be done.The reason we perform Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion on HolySaturday morning is because people tend to leave the Church after theCeremony of the Resurrection on that very evening. So they did nothave the opportunity to receive Holy Communion.

In the evening at about 11 p.m. we perform the Ceremony of theResurrection.

9. HOLY SUNDAY (EASTER SUNDAY)We perform the Service of Love at about 11 a.m. or in other places atabout 1 p.m. The Service of Love is a mutual prayer performed by thewhole congregation and for the healing and unification of the worldbrought by the Resurrection of Our Lord. On that day (normally) theGospel is read in 18 languages by different members of the congregation.Therefore a text in common Latin characters is provided with everylanguage.

The services and their meaning of theOrthodox Easter holy week

12

Greek plutonium haul raises smuggling fearsTaken from Nature, Vol 409, Feb 2001

The Greek authorities are stepping up investigations into the smugglingof nuclear material following a discovery of radioactive plates in thenorth of the country.

Around 350 plates containing a total of three grams of plutoniumwere unearthed last month in a forest near Thessaoliniki. Severalkilograms of plutonium are required to build a nuclear weapon.

“The only explanation for their appearance is that they were smuggledinto Greece by criminals to find a gullible buyer”, said LeonidasKamarinopoulos, president of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission(GAEC).

Census-Households-Citizens18/03/01

A nationwide census of households and citizens got underway at 8.30a.m. on Sunday with 170,000 National Statistics Service officials takingto the streets and expected to complete their task at about 10.30 p.m.

Officials said the census was going smoothly, except for some caseswhere problems did arise such as in the municipalities of Petroupolisand Ilion, in the Attica prefecture, where some citizens refused to register,claiming that the limits of the two municpalities are vague.

The last census in Greece was held in 1991 when the country’spopulation was found to be about 10.3 million.

Greece - FYROM - Simitis17/03/01

Greece is in constant contact with the government of the FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) regarding the crisis inthat country, Prime Minister Costas Simitis told PASOK’s centralcommittee on Saturday, as he took the stand to make the final speech atthe party organ’s meeting.

Reiterating Athens’ support for the Skopje government, he stressed thatinternational law had to be implemented and that the UN resolutionsfor Kosovo were binding for all.

Simitis said that the borders of Kosovo into other countries had to becontrolled by UN forces, so that extremist elements could not use thatarea for incursions into neighbouring countries.

Macedonia Airport-Safe Landing System15/03/01

Installation of a radar landing guidance system is due to be completedat Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport in May, Transport andCommunications Minister Christos Verelis said in the northern portcity on Thursday.

The safe landing system will guide planes landing at the airport inadverse weather conditions and should be fully operational about 50days after installation, Verelis told reporters.

The system has been operating on a trial basis for three months.

More news in brief

Greek Church Awaits Pope Visit(10/03/01)

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greek Orthodox leaders paved the wayWednesday for a possible visit by Pope John Paul II, with a decisionthat could help mend centuries of friction between the two branchesof Christianity.

The church’s 12-member governing body approved a visit by the pope.But the Holy Synod said opposition among some of its followers was“justified” and insisted any papal trip must be nothing more than apilgrimage to biblical sites. And Greece’s conservative clerical unionpredicted massive protests would greet John Paul, describing him as an“arch-heretic” and the “two-horned grotesque monster of Rome.”

The visit could come in early May as part of the pope’s planned trip toSyria and Malta. The 80-year-old pontiff expressed interest in includingGreece in order to follow the steps of the Apostle Paul.

The overture could be a first step toward healing the Great Schism thatsplit the church into Orthodox and Roman Catholic branches nearly1,000 years ago. But it faces opposition from conservative GreekOrthodox factions with strong anti-Vatican views.

Fidel Castro accepts invite to Athens30/03/01

ATHENS Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos held talks with CubanPresident Fidel Castro on March 28, during his official visit to Havanaat the invitation of the city’s mayor. Castro expressed a wish to visitGreece during the 2004 Olympics and accepted an invitation extendedby Avramopoulos. During the talks, the Cuban leader referred to hiscountry’s difficult relations with the US and the consequences of thecontinuing embargo. Avramopoulos and Havana Mayor ConradoMartinez Corona signed an agreement for cooperation between thetwo capitals.

After Cuba, Avramopoulos visited Panama before flying to the US onMarch 29 for contacts with New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani andrepresentatives of the Greek-American community.

Greek tourism showing continuous upward trendAthens, 03/04/01

Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis on Monday said acontinuous upward trend is being noted in Greek tourism in past years,adding that a constant effort should be made to maintain stakes in theinternational market.

Christodoulakis was speaking at the 9th regular general assembly ofthe Federation of Greek Tourist Businesses (SETE) on developmentprospects, challenges and opportunities for Greek tourism. He said thegreatest challenge in the tourist sector is how to shape a productappealing to higher income brackets with higher requirements and beingdifficult to replace with other tourist markets.

Christodoulakis further pointed out that Greek tourism and touristbusinesses should utilize great opportunities appearing with the holdingof the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and that the target is the creationof a stable tourist wave to Greece, based on quality and products whichwill be difficult to find in other tourist markets.

13

WE NOW HAVE:-

• A NEW LOOK

• NEW PREMISES

• NEW DIRECTION

• AND BEST OF ALL A WHOLE LOT OF NEWLITTLE MEMBERS!!

We would like to introduce to you the Greek Community PlaygroupCommittee. They are: -

Vera Georgiou - ChairpersonMaria Halikias - SecretaryMersina Toulis - TreasurerSophie Brooky - ECDU Liaison/AdministrationDimitra Pantazis - Co-Ordinator of lessons and play

Group sessionsAntonia PappafloratosAndroulla Kotrotsos - Librarian

We have completed our move and are up and running with greatsuccess at the Miramar Community Centre in Chelsea Street,Miramar every Friday 9.30am to 11.30am. We are thrilled with thesuccess of the playgroup since we decided to relocate to the EasternSuburbs. It is so nice to see so many new little faces with their parents/grandparents coming along. A lot of effort and resources have beenput into the playgroup and it is so nice to see that this has paid off !So if you have a youngun not at school yet, please come along andjoin us and have a coffee as well! Everyone is welcome!

We can offer:-

* A secure outside play area for the children* More surprises for the children’s outside play area to come!* Plenty of parking* On the flat (no stairs!!)* Purpose built venue for a playgroup* To nurture in our children a Greek identity from as young an age as

possible

The Greek CommunityPLAYGROUP HAS NOW MOVED!!!

Calender of Events 200115 April Greek Easter - Commemorating the resurrection of

Christ 01 May Greek Labour Day 04 June Miss GOYANZ Annual Dance - Queens Birthday

Weekend15 August Assumption Day - Commemorating the bodily

ascent of the Virgin Mary (Panayia) into heaven 01 September OLYMPIC Prize Giving Function06 October U19 Soccer Tournament in Upper Hutt 20 October U19 Soccer Tournament in Napier - Labour Weekend28 October Greek National Holiday (OXI)

So to all those Yiayia’s and Papou’s out there who care forGrandchildren during the day, we would love to see you at the GreekCommunity Playgroup. To all you mothers and fathers out there -BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO THE PLAYGROUP!!!!

By the way, for your information, we already have 33 children on ourroll and this number will increase as the baby boom continues!

Τα Ματια Του Κοσµουis produced by GOYANZ

PO Box 6257, Wellingtonwww.goyanz.org.nz

hellenicyouth@hotmail.com•

Layout and design TBDwww.tbd.co.nz

• Thanks to Ultracopywww.ultracopy.co.nz

14

Sports in briefWATERPOLOSUNDAY APRIL 8GOOD NEWS FOR GREECE MEN’S NT - BAD FOR THE WOMEN

Greece Men’s NT will face Germany, Slovakia, France, Russia andCroatia for the European Championship in Group B. Women’s NTseem to have a tough task against Russia, Germany and Italy of thecompetition’s group A.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: POZILIPO vs OLYMPIAKOS

Bad news for the “Reds”. Italian highly-respected club Posilipo will be“waiting” for Olympiakos at the Champions League’s final-four to beheld from 18-19 of May in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

ETHNIKOS PROMOTED TO THE SEMI-FINALS

Ethnikos will clash with Olympiakos for a place in the final afterqualifying to the semi-finals on Sunday. Piraeus club have beaten Glyfada14-9. Panathinaikos-Vouliagmeni is the other contenders-pair tocompete.

OLYMPIAKOS GIRLS FINISHED 3rd

Olympiakos women’s club have retained A1 league’s place 3 after beatingNireas Chalandri 10-5 in Piraeus on Sunday.

GREEK SOCCER LEAGUE UPDATESGREEK PREMIER LEAGUE - 25 DAY RESULTS:

Aris-AEK 0-3Olympiakos-Xanthi 4-0Yiannena-Kalamata 2-0Athinaikos-Panathinaikos 0-4Ethnikos Asteras-Paniliakos 1-1OFI-Ionikos 3-1Panionios-Panachaiki 2-0Iraklis-PAOK 1-1

RANKING:

First: Olympiakos 68Second: Panathinaikos 56Third: AEK 49Fourth: PAOK 44Fith: Iraklis 40Other: Aris 37, Ionikos 37, Xanthi 31, Panionios 30, Ethnikos

Asteras 27, PAS Yiannina 26, Panachaiki 24, Paniliakos23, OFI 23, Athinaikos 19, Kalamata 18.

For up-to-date scores, fixtures, newsand views, check out the official

Olympic website:

www.olympicafc.org.nz

NEW DEAL FOR HASEK

Panathinaikos have offered a 3-year deal to Czech manager Ivan Hasek.Sources reveal Hasek has been offered a 1.2 billion drachmas contractif agreeing to join the “Greens”. No answer has yet been confirmed.

GREEK SOCCER AWARDS

“World Soccer”, Greek edition sport magazine have awardedPanathinaikos and Nikos Lymberopoulos “1999-2000 best Greek club”and “best Greek player” respectively.

BUYER FOUND FOR PAOK

A 45-year old businessman, Panos Papadopoulos has agreed on buying67% of Thessaloniki’s club shares but no agreement has yet been reachedregarding a future co-operation with former owner Yiorgos Batatoudeson Intersat digital TV company.

GREEK CUP: IRAKLIS-OLYMPIAKOS 0-1

Takis Lemonis’s Olympiakos claimed a 1-0 away victory over Iraklis atKaftatzoglio Stadium to set their way to the Greek Cup’s final. A three-minute goal by “usual suspect” Alexis Alexandris stunned the homeside, who failed to react even when rival goalie Dimitris Eleftheropoulosgot suspended. Konstandinou later missed a great chance to level thebattle when his strong shot on 59th minute hit the post.

GREEK CUP: PAOK-APOLLON ATHENS 5-2 PAOK

claimed a 5-2 first leg win over Apollon Athens to set their way to theGreek Cup’s final. Georgiades scored twice for the home-side whileAbonsah, Nalitzis and Kafes added the rest. Chatzis’s and Skarmoutsos’sgoals were not enough for the hosts to level the match.

NEW INVESTOR FOR AEK

Nikos Stratos, the managing director of AEK has given answers to anumber of burning questions regarding the club at a press conferenceon Wednesday. Stratos revealed that an investor has expressed interestin buying the management’s share packet, that is 11%, while he dismissedclaims that AEK had contacted Dusan Bajevic. «Toni Savevski’s contractexpires in June and AEK will initiate negotiations with current bossbefore addressing to anyone else,» concluded Nikos Stratos.

15

AHEPA OlympicsSunday 1 April 2001

Thomas is very happy with his gold medal

Proud of their medal winning efforts. L-R back: Christina Panoyotelis,Alexia Antonopoulos, Lisa Grey, Jasmine Serepisos, Georgia Panayotelis.Front: Yiannaki Kotrotsos, Thomas Serepisos

Over 17 100m sprint

Competitors in action in the girls 8-9 shotput

The Greek and New Zealand flags are hoisted by Greek youth in traditional costume

Chris Yiavasis gets ready to bring theOlympic flame into the stadium

Over 150 competitors participated in the 3rd annual Ahepa

Olympics, held at Newtown Park on a beautiful Autumn day. The

vast majority of them were under the age of 13 and competed in a

variety of disciplines including sprints, shot-put, high jump, long

jump and relay events. Many a proud parent and grand parent was

there to support their children and grand children in a fun filled

day of competition and fun. The medal ceremony was held at the

conclusion of the last event. To see the glee in young children as

they received their medals in front of their family and friends made

the whole day extremely worthwhile and especially satisfying for all

the people that helped make the event possible.

Football Results from the weekend:Olympic Federation Premier and Reserves

08-04-2001

Olympic Fed Premier 0 Western Suburbs 3

Olympic Fed Reserves 3 Western Suburbs 1

Olympic Federation Premier and Reserve teams kicked off the seasontoday with two differing results. The Reserve team played Wests Reserves,coming from 1-0 down to win the game comfortably 3-1.

The Premier team had an off day losing to Wests 3-0. Although Olympiccreated plenty of chances it was Wests who took their opportunities ina game that never reached great heights. For Western Suburbs it a wasgood start to the season as they seek to rebuild with talented youngsters.Olympic has to re-group before next weekends double header.

Other Results:07-04-2001

Wgtn Div 1: Olympic 0, Kapiti Hearts 1

Wgtn Div 3: Olympic 3, Western Suburbs 2

Wgtn Div 5: Olympic 2, Tawa 2

Wgtn Div 9: Olympic 0, Upper Hutt 3

Masters 1: Olympic 0, Seatoun 3

Steve McMahon in full stride Simon George in control Skirting the tall timber Jackie Sohavoids the opposition

Adam Bertos on the charge

Olympic B: Back Row (L-R):G.Forbisher, S.Heathcote, M.Velburg, A.Sole, S.Diamakis,D.Pettit, T.Walker, B.Vrizonis, L.Kerrisk.Front (L-R): I.Patterson, A.Clarke, M.Boley, A.Bertos, J.Haidakis, G.Knott, B.Climo.

Hiton Petone B FINALOlympic (3) - Upper Hutt B (2)

Played under lights in perfect conditions and firm underfoot.

Olympic were on the back foot after only 2 minutes when Upper Huttscored from a free kick move. Olympic settled immediately after thisand began to dominate in the possession and territory percentages. BenClimo came close with a couple of strikes from the edge of the penaltyarea. The crowd could sense an equaliser was imminent - then after 25minutes Ian Paterson sent in a cross from out wide that cleared the headof an Upper Hutt defender bounced in front of goal and met by TangiWalker on the rise to calmly slot it past the hapless keeper. Upper Huttcame back a Olympic after this and went ahead again after some poordefending in the 35 minute. Upper Hutt were then reduced to 10 menfor Foul and Abusive language used against the referee.

The second half began with Olympic mounting a series of attacks onthe Upper Hutt goal - within 5 minutes Olympic knocked in a cornerthat was cleared only as far as the Darryl Pettitt on edge of the penaltyarea - Darryl passed out wide to Martijn Verburg who sent in a pinpointcross that Liam Kerrisk headed in from 6 yards for the equaliser 2-2.The chances just kept flowing for 20 minutes after this - Liam had avolley that was inches wide , a jigging run from Ben whose shot wassaved on the line Liam was put through out wide whose shot was saveda the near post by the Upper Hutt keeper, Liam shot from the edge ofthe area that just skimmed the top of the cross bar and a cross byMichael Boley was headed wide of the post from in front of goal by anunmarked Adam Bertos. Then as golden goal extra time was lurkingGary Knott took on the Upper Hutt defence and was bought downfrom behind inside the penalty in the 85 minute - Shayne Heathcotetook on the responsibility of the penalty where he confidently struckthe ball past the despairing dive of the Upper Hutt keeper - 3-2. Theresult remained unchanged till the referee blew his final whistle.

A good all round performance against an opposition that had onlyconceded 1 goal in their previous 5 matches. Stand out players on thenight were Liam Kerrisk and Ian Paterson.

A great win for the boys and another notch in the belt of experience -finals football is a rare thing to come by.

www.olympicafc.org.nz

Olympic Fixtures14 April - SaturdayFed Reserve: Olympic v Petone, Wakefield Park; 12.30pmFed Premier: Olympic v Petone, Wakefield Park; 2.30pmWgtn Div. 1: Olympic v Naenae, Crawford Green; 12.30pmWgtn Div. 3: Olympic v Petone, Petone Memorial 2; 2.30pmWgtn Div. 5: Olympic v Waterside Karori, Wakefield 4; 12.30pmWgtn Div. 9: Olympic v Waterside Karori, Benburn; 12.30pmMasters 1: Olympic v Tawa, Wakefield 3; 12.30pm

15 April - Easter SundayWomens 3: Olympic v Lower Hutt City; Newtown Park; 1pm

16 April - Easter MondayFed Reserve: Olympic v Tawa, Redwood Park; NoonFed Premeir: Olympic v Tawa, Redwood Park, 2.00pm

22 April - SaturdayWgtn Div. 1: Olympic v Wanuiomata, Richard Prouse 1; 2.30pmWgtn Div. 3: Olympic v Miramar Rangers, Nairnville 1; 2.30pmWgtn Div. 5: Olympic v Waterside, Benburn Park; 2.30pmWgtn Div.9: Olympic v Uni Scarfies 2, Raroa Park; 2.30pmMasters 1: Olympic v Western Suburbs, Endeavour 1; 2.30pm

23 April - SundayWomens Div 3: Olympic v Naenae, Naenae 1: 1pmFed Reserve: Olympic v Coast Utd, Newtown Park; NoonFed Premier: Olympic v Coast Utd, Newtown Park; 2pm

Anzac Day - 25 April - WednesdayWomens Div 3: Olympic v Uni Scarfies, Anderson: 1pmFed Reserve: Olympic v Wgtn Utd, Newtown Park; 1pmFed Premier: Olympic v Wgtn Utd, Newtown Park; 3pm