Historic AI Conference at Transfiguration Church Mattituck NY

International scholars

Mattituck is a summer community 80 miles from Astoria, NY. Rural and quiet by the seashore, attracting Greeks, who want to remember their homeland. From late Fall to Spring, all is quiet. Community life centers  around church, school, and local library with community related events.

            An amazing culture event took place on Sunday, April 21, 12-2 PM, at Transfiguration of Christ Greek Orthodox Church of Mattituck, 1950 Breakwater Road. International scholars and professionals in their fields presented an informative program on the Ambassador Dionyssios Kalambrezos book “Virtual Nightmare” on  Artificial Intelligence (AI). Speakers included Dr. Nicholas Alexiou; Dr. George C. Giakos; Dr. Alexandros Graikos; and Ambassador Kalambrezos. The event moderators were Marika Andreola-Paleos and Hellenic-American Taxpayers & Civic Association (HATCAST) President Nick Paleos.

  Ambassador Dionyssios Kalambrezos

A reception followed. Rev. Andrew Cadieux, President Anna Flossos  of the parish council with church organizations, sponsored the event with the Hellenic-American Taxpayers & Civic Association of Southold Township (HATCAST). The Transfiguration Church and HATCAST together created history, gathering top international experts in Mattituck. Chris Shaskin, Secretary of the Mattituck Park District represented the local town. For more information, please contact the Transfiguration Church and Kosta Vagelatos and Marika Andreola-Paleos of Hatcast on Facebook.

Speakers with Church and HATCAST organizers and persons who attended.

Ambassador Dionyssios Kalambrezos, Ph.D. gave us an insight in the European Union, United Nations, and Greece government. He was born in Zakynthos, studied law  and acquired degrees internationally. The Ambassador is Deputy Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations. He has authored numerous books, combining a diplomatic career with literature. His short stories, articles and papers have been published in anthologies, reviews, magazines, and newspapers.

The ”Virtual Nightmare” book  takes place in the near future, New York, in an environment dominated by artificial intelligence, digitization, cyberattacks and immigration. After major pandemics, conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, energy crises and terrorist attacks, the strategy for a new era of security, prosperity, and development for all is being established in the US and measures are being taken. However, as these do not have a direct effect on a category of citizens, the Transitional Social Protection Service is created, with the aim of contributing to their smooth adaptation to the new era. During that period, in addition to conventional cyber-attacks that continue despite the measures, most originating from foreign hostile actors and criminal networks, non-conventional attacks are also taking place.

Event moderators were Marika Andreola-Paleos and HATCAST President Nick Paleos.

The novel unfolds strangers creating  a virtual place, in which they lure Internet users, transporting them to unspecified virtual environments. The developments and involuntary virtual wanderings involve government officials, researchers in programs to deal with psychoses attributed to new technologies, some suffering from certain neurological diseases, anti-government activists, and a mysterious young woman. This mysterious woman, while she seems to be living an ordinary life, has a central role, often involuntarily and uncontrollably, without her realizing it, in a simultaneously evolving story, in the real world as well as in the virtual world. For more information, contact Ambassador Kalambrezos on facebook.

The scholars presented basic facts about the importance of artificial intelligence and their operation and risk of being outflanked by rivals in business, because of the new technology. Business competitors can use AI in the business workplace. Employees must be trained to properly use AI. It is too late to ignore.AI. We have to figure out how to shape it. Policies must be developed to protect customer relationships, and important information.

Every business must have an AI advisor who understands the whole AI scene. AI  has many downsides, such as fake videos of celebrities. The technology can perpetuate for falsehoods, bias, and plagiarism. Nevertheless, AI has the potential to solve big problems and save money for businesses such as drug and insurance companies.

    Many businesses are already producing marketing and advertising campaigns to communicate with customers. AI is not something optional. It is essential to our life. We will all be forced to adopt. It is  being used widespread by all industries. AI still needs to have humans to direct it. The human worker needs to safeguard protect information. AI used by the government without sufficient safeguards can give false advice.

AI’s ability to interpret data, could upend the process of buying an insurance policy and filing a claim. Some people may find it harder to get coverage, while others will benefit from cheaper rates and quicker applications. AI will help cut down all the questions needed for a home insurance application.

       A shift will take place in life insurance underwriting. As AI models improve, more carriers offer accelerated underwriting. Customers will save money. The industry is integrating AI. But there are concerns about cyber security, privacy. The potential exists to discriminate based on characteristics like race, gender, and other areas. A question and answer period followed. The questioners voiced their opinions on the negative aspects of AI used in the wrong hands.

            I have been writing about the history of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox church as a high school student in the 1960’s. This is the first time an  international political leader and scholars in their fields have presented a topic of historical significance. I am still amazed at who attended a quiet, country church in the farmlands of Long Island.

            The events were organized by the World Federation of Cephalonian & Ithacian Societies ‘Odysseus,’ Hellenic American National Council, AHI, Kefalos Society of America, Cephalonian Brotherhood of New York, Pan-Zakynthian Brotherhood ‘D. Solomos’ New York, Society of Kastorians ‘Omonoia’ New York, the Greek American Writers’ Association, HATCAST (Greek American Homeowners of Long Island), and Transfiguration of Christ Greek Orthodox Church of Mattituck. Held under the auspices of the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at Queens College, CUNY, the Hellenic American Project (HAP), Queens College, CUNY, the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations, and the Consulate General of Greece in New York,With the support of the Hellenic Film Society USA, Association of Greek-American Professional Women (AGAPW), Brussels AHEPA Chapter 610, ALLILONNet, Daughters of Penelope ‘Thetis’ Chapter of Brussels, Writers Festival of Belgium, and Papazisis Publishers, Athens. All these organizations created a historical moment at the Transfiguration of Christ Greek Orthodox Church in Mattituck, Long Island.

Special appreciation to Costa and Cathy Vagelatos of HATCAST who inspired and aided me.

The Passing of a Greek American Community Activist: Vikentios Malamatenios

2003 Awards at local university

A young twenty-one theologian student walked in the mid-1970s at my JHS 10 night Greek bilingual program. He had a smile that was contagious. “I have written religious books,” he said. I asked him to give me copies of these two books with his autograph. I was impressed. A young Greek immigrant in this country authored books and he was in my class? I told him, “Vikentios you will become a great man.”  He later became a priest, Bishop Vikentios of Apameia, a builder of St. Irene Chrysovalantou church, Astoria and Sts. Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church, Greenport, NY. He had ecclesiastical political problems. Vikentios rebuilt his life as an international radio personality on HellasFM. He always kept the love of the people. Vikentios roots were from Western Anatolia , like my own. He told me stories of his family from Aivali, a former Greek city opposite Mytilene, an Aegean island.

As I was listening to Dimitri Filippidis HellasFM program, I heard the breaking news. “We lost Vikentios,” he said with few words and pathos. Vikentios was about 67 years old. We lost a person who remembered the forgotten Greek immigrant of all ages. His nighttime program was a highlight to many. “He spoke the truth”,  said a listener. “He said facts. We lost a major voice.” I am reminiscing moments of his public life that I covered in newspapers and online.

Vikentios Leading Maritime Parade, Greenport, 2004

In 2003, Vikentios, as Bishop of Apameia, awarded Katerina Verouhis and Elena Chresomalis, St. Nektarios Philoptohos Scholarships when I was teaching modern Greek language at a local university when Prof. Gaetano Cipolla and Dean Salvatore Spizzirri were my administrators and mentors. The scholarships did not go through a third party.The students received the financial awards directly, without administrative expenses.Vikentios came in person when he was  His Grace, Bishop Vikentios of Apameia to give the awards. His presence inspired recipients and scholarship donors. He made this event a moment to remember.

Greenport was a village in a tough economic position in the 1970s. In 1981, Vikentios, Bishop of Apameia, of St. Irene Chrysovalantou Greek Orthodox Church in Astoria, was instrumental in the purchasing of a Protestant church. “The town was planning to demolish the church and build apartments,” said Bishop Vikentios. “We came at night to see the church with a flashlight. No lights! We made a decision. We bought the church. Our decision helped in the rebirth of Greenport. We created the Sts. Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church.”

A parade was created that led to the harbor, where the religious ritual of the blessing of the waters was performed. This unique custom gave birth to the Greenport Maritime Festival.

In 2004, with Rev. Gerasimos and Presvitera Ballas, Sts. Anargyroi Church, Greenport

The 2006 Greenport, Long Island Maritime Festival was celebrated from September 23 through 24 in the commercial area. Spectators were from the local area, Astoria, Brooklyn, Flushing, and Whitestone. Parade participants included leading Suffolk County political figures, the ROTC, churches, civic organizations, an antique car contingent and others. The ROTC was the largest contingent of marchers. Patriotism for one’s country is strong in the villages of America. Seeing our young men and women march with self-confidence emotionally touched the spectator. Our security in this time of war is in the hands of our young in the armed forces.

“Our church is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople,” said Bishop Vikentios. “Monks and nuns are giving up their lives for their beliefs in this turbulent time. I am a good soldier, proud to be part of the Patriarchate.” Bishop Vikentios’ main church is St. Irene Chrysovalantou at 36-07 23rd Ave., Astoria. St. Nektarios and St. Nicholas in Brooklyn are under his jurisdiction. St. Irene is located in the heart of the Greek American community of Astoria. St. Irene is legendary for helping the poor, helpless, orphans and persons forgotten in the bureaucracy of government. Visit www.stirene.org.”

The February 4, 2018, Athens rally opposing the SYRIZA government’s policy of allowing FYROM (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) to call itself Macedonia is causing a rewriting of history in Greece. Mr. Dimitris Filippidis on February 13^th Hellas FM broadcast reported Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris wants to rename the city’s airport, currently named Macedonia Airport. Official news outlets claim 140,000 persons attended the Athens rally. Journalist Filippidis, who was there, said it was one and a half million persons. The Mytilenian Society of America in Astoria awarded Mr. Filippidis and Vikentios Malamatenios awards for courage and heroism in mobilizing Greek and Greek American opposition to the renaming of FYROM to Macedonia by the current SYRIZA Greek government’s consent on Sunday, February 11^th, 2018.

On March 17^th, 2018, Vikentios had an all-night HellasFM program, inspiring listeners to attend March18, 2018 rally scheduled at 2 p.m. in front of the United Nations, protesting the naming of FYROM to Macedonia.”²  He explained “Alexander the Great was Greek because: he spoke Greek; his teachers were the greatest thinkers of the Greek world, namely Aristotle; he worshipped the Greek Gods and read the Odyssey; he participated in the Olympic games that was only open to Greeks and Macedonia spoke only Greek, not the Slavic language.”³

Sts. Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church, Greenport, 2004.

A unique Facebook funeral farewell, was written by Khaled Hassan who was with Athina Giannouli Markesinis and Ioannis Rampage Markesinis. “My dear bishop Vikentios today I bid you farewell. Today my eyes teared for I wished life were different. Yet God had a different plan for you today at your funeral ( Monday, May 23, at the Church of Saints Catherine and St. George, Astoria). My head turned to the wonderful memories I had with you. You lived alone and at the end died alone. You gave the church above and beyond. They may bury you as monk, but for me you always will be Bishop Vikentios. I want you to know I have always loved you. We went these last 8 years astray and apart. But  I know you saw me.”

Mr. Hassan continued saying “I shall never forget my visit to you on May 12^th. You squeezed my hand at least four times. Your Grace,  you are home. Jesus has you in his arms. You are at peace. No more suffering. No pain. Joy. Smile, my dear Bishop. For 40 years you gave more than you took. Forever in my heart, till we meet again. Kalo Paradiso.” Mr. Hasan and his friends are average Americans of Astoria, New York, not famous or rich, whose lives were touched by the ministry of Vikentios Malamatenios.

He shaped the Greek American community of New York City and Long Island. He helped many. His radio program enlightened all, presenting a viewpoint not in the mainstream media. His program remembered the elderly, the unknown Greek immigrant who heard their names greeted with love at night. He died without wealth. A poor man in Bellevue Hospital. His impact on his generation was greater than rich benefactors: he influenced generations to be proud of the Greek language, culture, and Greek Orthodox faith. The best way to describe his influence is through the words of the Athenian Pericles: “The whole earth is the tomb of heroic men, and their story is not given only on stone over their clay but abides everywhere without visible symbol woven into the stuff of other men’s lives.”⁴

References:

1. https://facpub.stjohns.edu/~tsounisc/2003_Awards.html

https://www.helleniccomserve.com/tsounisblesswaters.html, https://www.qgazette.com/articles/long-island-waters-blessed-at-maritime-festival

• https://greekamericanexperience.wordpress.com/tag/usa/page/11/,  https://www.qgazette.com/articles/blessing-of-cross-held-in-greenport-church/ 
• https://hellenicnews.com/average-greek-american-view-renaming-fyrom-macedonia-2018/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3022640.Pericles

Comment from

Khaled Hassan

Thank you Catherine Tsounis for this wonderful memories of the late bishop vikentios you know he used to say to me greek education is vital in America Catherine is my hero to ehance the hellenic cultural I know deep down in my heart his legacy will live to keep the greek education alive I know too that the bishop dream will be alive through your work

Greek Homeowners Association Holds Annual Concert in Greenport, NY

From a previous concert

 

               A “GREEK MUSIC AND FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL” sponsored by HATCAST (Hellenic American Taxpayers & Civic Association of Southold Township was held Saturday, August 31^st, 6:00 p.m. –  10:00 p.m. Mitchell Park, Village of Greenport. Admission was free. The theme was “Let’s all sing, dance, have fun and fill the night with Greek “kefi”!”

            The late Andreas Markakis, Founding Member and for many terms President of HATCAST” was remembered. His inspired leadership was at the fore front of  the Hellenic Diaspora. The HATCAST Board believes “Greek Americans participate and contribute to the cultural happenings of our East End Community by offering a free Greek Music & Dance Festival.”

“Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization…In the interpretation of this obligation, Realtors can take no safer guide than that which has been handed down through the centuries, embodied in the Golden Rule, ‘Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them’.” – Preamble of the Code of Ethics and standards of Practice of the national Association of Realtors, 2016.

            The Hellenic American Taxpayers Association (HATCAST) was created out of social responsibility and a patriotic duty to promote the interests of the American property owner. History is a living part of the present. The “Golden Age” of Hellenism on the East End of Long Island began with the creation of the first Greek Orthodox Church in Mattituck in 1969. The 1970’s and 1980’s saw the rise of HATCAST Supported by the Transfiguration of Christ Greek Orthodox church of Mattituck. In 2016, we have three Greek Orthodox churches and a monastery on the East End.

The late Andreas Markakis, 5th from left at a previous event

            HATCAST President Andreas Markakis has kept the organization alive from the 1990’s to 2016. The organization played a significant role in preventing the change in zoning of a parcel of land I owned on the North Road in Southold, aided by the Transfiguration of Christ Greek Orthodox Church, Congresswoman Patricia Acampora and Southold Business Alliance. We had the misfortune of being involved in a greater political land dispute. Three times the Southold Town Board tried to rezone our property. Each time these persons and organizations fought for our property rights. HATCAST played a role in aiding us.

            HATCAST was resurrected under the presidency of Gregory Fegos of Mattituck from 2013-2016. Mr. Kosta and Cathy Vagelatos and their network played an integral role. Sensational  Greek concerts at Mitchel Park in Greenport spread the Greek culture to all. For more information on the history of HATCAST email hellenicamericanli@gmail.com. 

 

 

 

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For more information, contact hellenicamericanli@gmail.com