Cretans' Association of Hamilton "Arkadi"

Crete Before the Palaces and the Global Origins of Seafaring

With Christmas around the corner, what better way than to gift someone a little taste of Crete and to also support little Alex Hurdakis. Each gift basket comes with the following items: -Meligyris Thyme/Pine Honey;... -Agro Creta Extra Virgin Olive Oil; -Philotimo - Handmade Cretan Tomato & Oregano Rusk Bites; -Agro Creta Baslsamic Vinegar; -Philotimo - Organic Kalamata Olives (Pitted); -Hand-made Pasteli squares by Pasteli Bar of Cambridge, ON: -Cretans' Association of Hamilton "Arkadi" Tshirt; -Cretans' Association of Hamilton "Arkadi" lapel pin; Photo credit for the gift baskets: Artemis Taki All net proceeds from the sale of the Taste of Crete Gift Baskets will go to support little Alex Hurdakis and his parents, Nick and Kira, who recently moved to the Hamilton area after coming from Greece about 5 years ago. Alex is such a brave little boy battling brain cancer who has gone through so much in his young life. A GoFundMe page has been set up: https://gf.me/u/y5qigf to help with expenses such as medications, parking, overnight stays close to the hospital among others. Alex and his family need our love and support so please donate to help them. We would like to thank our partners and suppliers, Steve Kriaris and the Kolonaki Group of Companies: https://kolonakigroup.com/ and Eleni Seristadidou and Christos Daikopoulos of Pasteli Bar: https://pastelibar.ca/ who furnished the products in support of this initiative. To order a gift basket (at a cost of $45.00 each), please visit the Cretans' Association of Hamilton "Arkadi" website: https://hamiltoncretans.ca/e-shop. Each gift basket includes a t-shirt, and you may select your preferred size when ordering online. Please place all orders by Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Pick up of baskets will take place on Sunday, December 20, 2020 from 11:00 am and 1:00 pm at the Elmasiadis Educational Building - 27 Head Street, Hamilton, ON unless otherwise arranged. Alternate delivery arrangements are possible within the Hamilton area. Thank you for all your ongoing support. Our Association supports Hellenic Business, both locally and internationally. The products we select for our Taste of Crete Gift baskets are carefully curated to support these businesses and to share with the wider world the wonderful Tastes and Textures of Cretan Gastronomy!

On this day we commemorate the men, women and children who sacrificed their lives in the struggle of the Holocaust of the Arkadi Monastery. Of the 949 people, ...including 259 fighters that were in the monastery on that fateful day, only 114 survived and were imprisoned. The spark that Kostas Giaboudakis lit when he ignited the gunpowder storehouse fanned the flames of freedom throughout all of Crete which eventually led to its liberation and unification with Greece in 1913. This song by Kostas Moundakis brings back memories of an old 8 track tape my father would play again and again on our old home stereo cabinet. It brings a tear and pride in me for our ancestors who showed us that freedom is never free, but needs to be fought for to get and maintain.

Little Alex Hurdakis and his parents Nick and Kira recently moved to the Hamilton area after coming from Greece about 5 years ago. He is such a brave little boy battling brain cancer who has gone through so much in his young life. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help out with expenses such as medications, parking, overnight stays close to the hospital among others. Alex and his family need our love and support so please make a donation to help them.

Today we celebrate Greece's standing up and saying OXI to the fascist forces of Italy and their Axis partner, Nazi Germany to the demand that Greece surrender ...to their tyranny. In Crete we also celebrate the feast day of the Four Martyrs of Melambes ( Emmanuel, Angelo, George and Nicholaos). They were crypto-Christians who fought in Crete during Greece's War of Independence in1821. They took leading roles in the battle of Melambes at Kako Ryaki, Kali Sykia, Agios Giannis Kamenos and many others. In mid 1822 the Turkish forces were reinforced and the uprising in Crete was crushed by early 1824. The Four then lived openly as Christians in Melambes. In July they were tricked, captured and marched to Rethymnon. At first Mehmet Pasha tried to convince them to convert back to Islam with promises of wealth, power and titles but they refused him. Growing angry, Mehmet ordered them isolated and tortured to break their will. They withstood this for four months when he finally ordered their execution. On October 28th all stores were closed and all the residents were ordered to attend the execution. The Four were taken to an open field outside the main gate of the city where each one's last words were " I was born a Christian and I shall die a Christian" followed by " Kyrie Eleison" before they were beheaded. Their bodies were left there unburied for three days where a fragrant smell filled the air and every night a light shined on their severed heads. The Turkish authorities finally relented and allowed them to be buried and some of their remains were brought to the Arkadi Monastery. See more

Today this Greek flag was erected as a message to the Turks. It stands 10 meters high, and was placed at the point of Agios Isidoros, which is the eastern end of Crete, " so the Turks can see it as they pass" explained commander of P.N.and commander of base, Panagiotis Kalathakis.

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving day weekend!

PATHS OF TRADITION: 4000 YEARS OF CRETAN CUISINE