The Final Days of the Iconic Fashion Designer Billy Bo

Billy Bo (Vasilis Kourkoumelis) was a famous fashion designer in Greece in the 1980's, and the first well-known casualty of AIDS in Greece, passing away on the 13th of June 1987 at the age of 33. He catapulted to fame at a very young age, becoming the go-to fashion designer of the elite, and was referred to in the Greek press as an Adonis or Apollo due to his beauty. He was headquartered in Kolonaki with a couture salon and a network of boutiques all over Greece, including one in Mykonos attracting ultra-famous visitors from throughout the world. Before his death he even managed to open a boutique in Manhattan, with plans of opening dozens more throughout the United States.

What is not really known however is what happened to Billy Bo in his final days, faced with the prospects of an early demise due to his lifestyle. Father George Schinas shared not long ago what the spiritual father of Billy Bo revealed to him about the salvation of this famous fashion designer before his untimely death. Below is a translation of the transcript of what he said:

Alexandros Papadiamantis Resource Page

Alexandros Papadiamantis (March 4, 1851- January 3, 1911)

Autobiography of Alexandros Papadiamantis

Documentary on Alexandros Papadiamantis

 

Alexandros Papadiamandis: The Spiritual Dimension of His Work

 

“I Write As It Comes Down To Me”: Papadiamantis as a Poet and the Ethos of Inspiration. 115 Years Since His Repose. 

The Cell Where Alexandros Papadiamantis Lived for Ten Years

 

Recollections of St. Nicholas Planas by Alexandros Papadiamantis

 

The Chapel of the Prophet Elisha in Athens: A Monument of True and Unadulterated Orthodoxy 

 

Saint John Koukouzelis as a Model for our Lives

 

The Grave and the Skull of Alexandros Papadiamantis

 

All-Night Vigil In Memory of Alexandros Papadiamantis

 

Photos From Vigil In Honor of Alexandros Papadiamantis  

New Book - Greece’s Dostoevsky: The Theological Vision of Alexandros Papadiamandis

 

Alexandros Papadiamandis and Sigmund Freud

 

Alexandros Papadiamantis and Neo-Barlaamism

 

Alexandros Papadiamantis and Bram Stoker's "Dracula"

 

Alexandros Papadiamantis and "The Invisible Man" by H.G. Wells  

 

Christmas in Greek Literature

 

"The Gleaner: A Christmas Story" by Alexandros Papadiamantis

 

"The Slacker's Christmas" (Alexandros Papadiamantis)

 

"The Christmas Bread" (Alexandros Papadiamantis) 
 

Christ at the Castle: Papadiamantis’ Tale Captures the Genuine Spirit of Christmas

 

The Reception of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in Greece

 

Theophany (An Essay of Alexandros Papadiamantis) 

 

"All-Bright Theophany": A Short Story by Alexandros Papadiamantis  

 

Alexandros Papadiamantis and the Great Canon

 

Pascha With Papadiamantis: Lessons from a Panegyrist

 

A Village Easter: Memories of Childhood (A Story by Alexandros Papadiamantis)

 

A Romaic Pascha With Alexandros Papadiamantis  

The Dormition of the Theotokos (Alexandros Papadiamantis)

 

Saint Eusebius of Samosata as a Model for our Lives

 

The Romiosini of 1821 and the Great Powers (6 of 11) 

 

"The Immigrant": Papadiamantis's First Film Adaptation

 

Panagia Megalomata in Skiathos 

 

The Church of Panagia Prekla in Skiathos

 

Movie Trailer: "Diakos - The Hero Martyr" (2023) Highlights the Life and Martyrdom of the Greek Revolutionary Athanasios Diakos

The film group of the Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon have produced a film that is currently screening in Greece called Diakos - The Hero Martyr.

The film highlights the timeless message of the self-sacrifice of Athanasios Diakos and is a tribute to the leading Freedom Fighter of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

The filming of the film lasted for five months and the filming took place both in Pieria and in neighboring prefectures.

The film, lasting about 2 hours, deals with the eventful life and the martyrdom of Athanasios Diakos, the First Martyr of the National Rebellion of 1821.

The Poet and the Saint: The Trek of Nicolas Calas to Mount Athos and his Meeting with Saint Daniel of Katounakia

Nicolas Calas (1907-88) was a Greek-American surrealist poet, art critic, cultural historian, and lifelong Trotskyist, who blended Marxism and psychoanalysis along with the ideas of Wilhelm Reich, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Calas's birth name was Nikos Kalamaris although he would publish essays as "Manolis Spieros" from 1929 to 1934 and poetry as "Nikitos Randos" from 1930 to 1936. An only child, born in Lausanne, Switzerland but raised in Athens, he was educated at home by his aristocratic family, who placed an emphasis on languages inasmuch as they hoped that he would become a diplomat.

Greek Singer Stamatis Kokotas Testifies to a Miracle of Saint Eumenios He Witnessed

On December 12, 1996, on the Greek television show Zougla, hosted by journalist Makis Triantafyllopoulos, one of the most famous Greek singers of the 1960's and 1970's was a guest, Stamatis Kokotas. The program had to do with miracles, and the singer, who considered himself a skeptic unless he saw something with his own eyes, testified regarding a miracle he witnessed when he met Saint Eumenios Saridakis.
 

The singer was at the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in North Attica, where Saint Eumenios lived and served as a priest at the time, in order to visit someone he knew in the hospital. As he was walking by the rooms, he recalls seeing a priest with another patient. As he was walking and talking with someone, he suddenly heard a commotion coming from another room, where he went to find that people were crying. When he asked what had happened, he was informed that a girl who was a patient was near death and would not survive the night.

The Grave and the Skull of Alexandros Papadiamantis

The grave of Alexandros Papadiamantis (+ January 3, 1911) is located on his home island of Skiathos. It is specifically located to the left of the entrance of the cemetery, opposite the small, improvised church.  In reality, the grave is a cenotaph, an almost empty monument that stands in the place he was once buried. Only a very small portion of his bones is found in this grave. It was only by local testimonies that we are informed his bones were translated to a nearby church, though with no other details. Thus, over the years, the location of the bones of Papadiamantis were lost, having been transferred to one of the churches of the island.

Mikis Theodorakis on Hellenism, Orthodoxy and Modern Progressivism

On 30 March 2007 Mikis Theodorakis, who passed away today at the age of 96, presented in the Cathedral of Athens the musical composition of the Funeral Service of Saint John of Damascus.

In the press conference held the day before, Mikis Theodorakis had referred to Orthodoxy and his own faith, while he had also sharply criticized those who nowadays identify themselves as progressive by devaluing our history and our origins.

"I was a resistance fighter, a communist and at the same time a Christian, a man who believed in Orthodoxy," he had said characteristically.

Mikis Theodorakis, however, had also referred to current issues:

A Famous Greek Actor and Director Talks About His Miraculous Birth Through the Intervention of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou

On the Thursday 15 April 2021 episode of the Greek late night talk show The 2nite Show, the well-known in Greece actor and film director Renos Haralambidis talked about how his miraculous birth took place through the intervention of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou. His real first and middle name is Irenaios Chrysovalantis, which testifies to the miracle.

While his parents were Greek villagers who went to find work in Germany, they tried through various means to have a child, going to the best hospitals, and this effort lasted fourteen years. It came to the point where his mother said to his father to leave her so he can marry someone else who would be able to give him a child. He did not leave her. The truth is that she had an issue that prevented her from having a child and it was irreversible.

Greek Television Journalist Testifies To Her Miraculous Healing By Saint John the Russian

 

 

According to her Instagram account, Anthi Voulgari is a Greek Journalist, Television Host, Radio Producer and a Health, Fitness and Lifestyle Blogger. In September 2017 she underwent brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. The journalist did not lose her courage and optimism for a moment and the surgery was a success. Then on May 27th 2018 she wrote the following message on Instagram that shocked her fans in Greece and the Greek media in general. She wrote:

Aristotle Onassis and the Bishop

 

On March 15, 1975, Aristotle Onassis passed away. In his memory, Archimandrite Fr. Timotheos Iliakis published an incident that was often narrated by the late Metropolitan of Paramythia Titos Matthaiakis (+ 9/4/1991).

One summer after the Divine Liturgy in beautiful Parga, the pastor of the church had a lunch for the Metropolitan in a beach restaurant. Suddenly Onassis appeared with his friends, wearing shorts, a simple shirt and sandals. As soon as he saw the Metropolitan, he notified the owner of the restaurant and asked for a special place to sit alone for a while, while at the same time he sent someone from his escort to his boat.

Princess Diana, Her Greek Friend, and Metropolitan Paul of Siatista

The late Metropolitan Paul of Siatista (+ 2019) for years served as Hierarchical Commissioner of Mantoudi in Evia and was always dear to the people.

In September 1996, Yiannis Kalyviotis, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, passed away. The 27-year-old Yiannis was the eldest of the four children of the Kalyviotis family from Limni in Evia. He had finished law school and was a practicing lawyer in Halkida when he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. He went to England in 1995 where he remained for twenty whole months in treatment at Royal Brompton Hospital in London. He was accompanied to London by Father Paul Ioannou, the future Metropolitan of Siatista.

Short Film: "Maria of 11" (2018)

 

 

The following short film by Babis Kiliaris, titled "Maria of 11", is a tragic fictional story that portrays in a simple and beautiful way the true story of many who suffered with leprosy. The lead actress portrays a newly-married woman named Maria who was 21 years old when she was diagnosed with leprosy. Immediately after her diagnosis in 1946, she chooses to be admitted at the Lovokomeio of Chios, which served as a leper colony. In Room 11 she lived by herself for 11 years until she died and was buried in grave number 11. To add to the tragedy, she dies just a year before a cure is found for leprosy (Hansen's disease).

Television Series on the Life of Saint Paisios the Athonite Begins Filming

 

Press Release of the Municipality of Konitsa

 

Last week shooting began for the TV series about the life of Saint Paisios, who lived most of his life in Konitsa and was a monastic in the Holy Monastery of Panagia Stomiou.

This is a large production of the company GREEN OLIVE FILMS. The shootings are taking place in various locations of our Municipality, utilizing and promoting the incomparable natural beauty of the place, with leading Greek actors and with the participation of several of our fellow residents.

When Irene Pappas Delivered a Poignant Rendition of "Ti Ypermacho Stratigo" Inside Hagia Sophia in 1983

In 1983 the famous Greek actress and singer Irene Pappas delivered a poignant rendition of "Ti Ypermacho Stratigo" from within Hagia Sophia, though it was illegal to offer prayers out loud at the time. Afterwards, when asked about the experience, she said the following to a reporter: "The temple is desolate, naked, and you feel like it has lost all of its decorations. It's as if all this history from over the centuries has been washed away, the emperors and the empresses, a thousand one hundred years of history. You're saddened, you're very saddened, and yet I said Ti Ypermacho Stratigo. It's as if someone is victorious yet not victorious with the situation. They are victorious with their soul, just like the Greek people."

A Turkish Film About a Crypto-Christian from Pontus

Directed by Yusuf Kurcenli, Yuregine Sor (Ask Your Heart) is a 2010 Turkish film which is a true story about a woman of Muslim faith (Esma) who falls in love with a Crypto-Christian (Mustafa). Prior to 1856, Christians had fewer rights than Muslims as citizens of the Ottoman Empire. For that reason, many Christians chose to practice Islam in public and Christianity in private.

The Confession of Aliki Vougiouklaki at the Monastery of Saint Ephraim of Nea Makri

Aliki Vougiouklaki was one of the most popular actresses in Greece, and was given the title of the National Star of Greece. She died on 23 July 1996 at the age of 62, just three months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while touring in Thessaloniki for a performance of "The Sound of Music". Her funeral was held in the Athens Cathedral on 25 July 1996 and she was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens.

A month before her death, in June of 1996, Vougiouklaki visited the Monastery of Saint Ephraim in Nea Makri. Archimandrite Philotheos Theodoropoulos, who was present during this visit, revealed the emotional conversation that Aliki Vougiouklaki had with the abbess Makaria at the monastery she founded and to whom Saint Ephraim wondrously revealed his martyrdom and the location of his relics:

Mary Shelley as a Philhellene

By John Sanidopoulos

In the summer of 1816 Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin traveled to Switzerland in order to meet Lord Byron. The meeting had been engineered by Mary’s stepsister, Claire Clairmont, who had been Byron’s mistress in London and who was pregnant with his child. At this point Byron had lost interest in Claire yet in Percy Shelley he found a great friend. Byron and the (future) Shelleys rented houses in close proximity on the shores of Lake Geneva and spent much time together that very rainy summer, socializing together in the evenings and exploring local sites of interest during the day.

The summer in Geneva also inspired Shelley’s lover, and later wife, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin. One rainy evening as the company was sitting around the fire, reading aloud German ghost stories, Byron challenged each person present to write their own ghostly tale. Shortly afterwards, in a waking dream, Mary conceived the idea for Frankenstein, the story of a scientist who brings life to a likeness of man with disastrous consequences. Completed when she was still only 19 years old, the novel, which was first published anonymously, has never since gone out of print.

The Reception of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in Greece

By John Sanidopoulos

By the time A Christmas Carol was first translated into Greek in 1888, Charles Dickens was already known in Greece. Despite the high rate of illiteracy in the newly-formed Greek state (87.5% of men in 1840; 93.7% of women in 1870), Dickens began to be known in 1851. His works were published through the four main Greek literary journals by the intelligentsia of the time who wished to publish works that portrayed all social classes to diffuse knowledge and bring about social progress.

Greek Pop Singer and Eurovision Contestant Baptized Orthodox

Josephine Wendel, better known as simply Josephine, is a Greek pop singer. She is mostly known for her participation in the Greek national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Dancing Night" where she got the 4th place.

Wendel was born on 22 August 1990 in Athens. Her mother is the Greek singer Margarita Venti, who is of Lebanese origin, and her father is German. She spent the first years of her life in the United States. Later, she moved for a while to Germany and then returned to Greece with her family. When she settled in Greece, she went to American-Greek School. While studying Marketing-Management at Deree College, she would upload on Facebook cover songs of famous artists, which helped her be discovered in 2013.

Movie Review: "Cliffs of Freedom" (2019)

Cliffs of Freedom is a 2019 film that tells the story of an ill-fated romance between a young Greek village girl and a conflicted Turkish officer during the dawn of the Greek War for Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. It was directed by Van Ling and co-written by Marianne Metropoulos, Van Ling and Kevin Bernhardt, based on a novel by billionaire philanthropist Marianne Metropoulos titled Daughter of Destiny. It stars many notable actors, such as Tania Raymonde, Jan Uddin, Raza Jaffrey, Patti LuPone, Billy Zane and Christopher Plummer.