Panepirotic Federation of America, PO BOX 56046, Astoria, NY 11105www.panepirotic.org E-mail address:Worcepirotiko@aol.comtel: 718-352-1388

ESSENGER

Message From our President

The Village of Pyrsogianni

Pyrsogianni is one of the most renowned villages of Epirus. It is located in the Grammos National Park thatexpands from mount Grammos to the SarantaporosRiver, 27 km. from the town of Konitsa.

The village is so famous for the skills of itsstonemasons that an old saying of Epirus mentions thatGod must be from Pyrsogianni because the world wasbuilt so beautifully.

From this village, the stonemason troops departed towork in other parts of Greece, as well asConstantinople (Istanbul), Romania, Sudan, Persia andeven America.

In that part of the Greek land, the masons'

work

complement harmonically the beauty of the scenery:rare birds, and small churches, stone bridges over theriver that runs through verdurous slopes.

The area is a paradise for the worshipper of alternativetourism, which pursue the ecological, architectural andcultural life of the area

NSIDE

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Message From our President 1Village of Pyrsogianni 1

University of Ioannina Program

2Demetri’s Corner 2

Lazaros Yiannos Speech in Worcester

Names and Faces – Photos of Worcester Dance

Sotirios Boulgaris 5Epirus Related Sites 5

December 2008Volume 1, Issue 4

Φωτης

Γκαλιτσης

PANEPIROTIC

Newsletter of the Panepirotic Federation of America

Mr. Fotios Galitsis,President

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Συμπατριωτισσαι

και

Συμπατριωται

Σας

ευχομαι

γιατης

Αγιες

ημερες

των

Χριστουγεννων

Χρονια

Πολλα

γεματα

υγεια

και

ευτυχια

και

το

Νεον

Ετος

χαρουμενο

και

καρποφορο

Με

απειρη

εκτιμηση

Φωτης

Γκαλιτσης

Προεδρος

Page 2Panepirotic Messenger

The University of Ioannina International Center of Hellenic Education –Culture and Vocational Training (Stavros Niarchos)

Center for the Study of Greek Language and Culture

A Call to All Young Epirotes ages 17 – 32

,If you would like more information on theprogram at the University of Ioannina to be heldthe month of July, 2009 please contact:Demetrios Koutoulas508 317 6478worcepirotiko@aol.com

Demetri’s Corner

Our first year of the “Panepirotic Messenger” was a hugesuccess. We hope that we have kept you informed with ournews, not only here in America, but also with happeningsform Epirus. We feel that we have accomplished a lot in ashort time. Our mailing list has reached over 900members, and our email list over 400 and both continue togrow daily.Our younger Epirotes did a wonderful job at the SAEconference, Congratulations to Stavroula Kotrotsios, StacyKoumbis, and Lazaros Yiannos.The Panepirotic Federation of America will be holding ameeting for our young adult Epirotes on January 10

. Thismeeting will be held at The Epirotic/Anagennisis House inAstoria, NY at 10:30 AM. This is an excellent networkingopportunity for our young adults. If you would like moreinformation regarding this event, please contact me eitherby email or phone:worcepirotiko@aol.com508 317 6478The Address is:25-14 BroadwayAstoria, New YorkMark your calendars! The Panepirotic Convention will beheld June 19-21, 2009 in Annapolis, MD. More informationwill be available in our next newsletter.

Students at the University of Ioannina program Summer 2008Demitrios Koutoulas, Secretary of the PanepiroticFederation of America

Hope to see many of you at the next POA meetingin FloridaMerry Christmas and a Happy and ProsperousNew Year!Dimitri

Dear Members,I would like to wish you all a very MerryChristmas, and a healthy and happy New Year.

Page 3Panepirotic Messenger

My name is Lazaros Yiannos. I was born and raised in Fitchburg, MA,the son of Cosmas and Dimitra of Variades, Ioannina. I graduated fromConnecticut College in 2007 with a B.A. in Cell and Molecular Biology. Icurrently live and work in Boston and will be applying to medical schoolthis coming spring.This past July, I studied at the University of Ioannina through the GreekLanguage Program offered at the newly built Stavros Niarchos Center.The program takes place every year in July and is free for anyone of Epirotic descent, ages 17-32. This summer I studied with fellow Epirotesfrom Germany, Sweden, Albania, and Belgium. Students lived on

campusin newly built dorms and had full access to all services offered by the university. Language classes were heldweekday mornings, and afternoons and evenings were spent, in dance classes, on excursions, and in lectures.The excursions included trips to Dodoni, Lefkada, Zagori, and to local paniyiria. One trip in particular thatstands out in my mind was our trip to Tseritsena, a small village an hour outside of Ioannina. When the peopleof this village in Laka Souli heard that there were young Epirotes from abroad studying at the University, theyinvited us to their village as guests of honor for one night. The village mayor told us about the local area’shistory and took us to their medieval church. They served us drinks and food and had a big celebration full of music and dancing all night. They would not accept a dime from us. I had never before experienced suchselfless generosity and hospitality. They did it to celebrate the homecoming of their fellow Epirotes, as if wehad lived there all our lives. Not one person from Tseritsena knew any of us, but it didn’t matter. We were allbound together by the history and culture we were celebrating that night. It was my favorite night that summerand is what I will always remember and cherish when I think about Epirus.This program brought together young Epirotes from all over Europe and America and gave us the chance tostudy that, which defines us as Epirotes: our language, history, and land. For the many Epirotes who liveabroad, it has become increasingly difficult as time goes on to maintain ties to our homeland, and to keep ourculture and language alive. If we don’t actively work to teach each successive generation these things, ouridentity as Epirotes will be lost. This program seeks to prevent this loss by bringing Epirotes back to ourhomeland, showing us the monuments of our past, teaching us of our history, and most importantly teachingus our language, which is central to our identity.I urge everyone, who is interested to take part in this program. Do not let this opportunity slip by. If you haveany questions you can contact me.Sincerely,Lazaros Yiannoslazaros.yiannos@gmail.com

Lazaros Yiannos Speeking at the Annual Thanksgiving Dance in Worcester

Lazaros Yiannos