Poet Amphitrite Manuel's Presentation

We had a wonderful time with Presvytera Amphitrite at the Hellenic Center in Bethesda, MD on Jan. 19, 2019, as she read her poems from her poetry book in Greek and in English. She sang some of her poems and in others, she made us laugh. 

I want to thank everyone who attended the event and supported our efforts. We are a unique group in the United States and around the world.Through everyone's support we can nourish Greek authors and poets and also help unpublished authors to become published authors so that the Greek voice can be heard around the world.

Enjoy the photos.

Amphitrite Manuel presentation at Hellenic Center

Director, Patty Apostolides, with Amphitrite Manuel

Amphitrite Manuel book-signing

Poet Amphitrite Manuel Presentation

The Hellenic Writers' group is honored to be having renowned poet Presvytera Amphitrite Manuel presenting her poetry at our next group meeting on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 1PM.

She is also the author of the children's books: THREE AESOP'S TALES RETOLD IN VERSE, and FIVE AESOP'S TALES RETOLD IN VERSE.

Her presentation and book signing will be followed with light refreshments.


At 2PM - the Critique group will review manuscripts that have been submitted.

At 3PM - the Craft of writing group will discuss "How to Write Dialogue,"
followed by a writing exercise.

Maria Karametou Talk Nov 25 2018

Professor Maria Karametou

On November 25, 2018, the Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC hosted a presentation given by distinguished Professor Maria Karametou at the Hellenic Center, 6506 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817.

Patty Apostolides, Director of the Hellenic Writers' Group, introduced the speaker. 

Professor Karametou, a native of Greece, holds a BA degree from the University of Maryland (cum laude) and an MFA degree from the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore. She is the recipient of many awards and teaches at George Mason University. She heads the Division of Drawing and is an affiliate faculty member of the Department of Women and Gender Studies. As a mixed media artist, she has presented her artwork in several museums, nationally and internationally, including Washington DC,  New York, Vermont, Oregon, Greece, Germany, Turkey, China, and Korea.

Professor Maria Karametou

Professor Karametou talked about her background and experience in art, and in addition to her academic writing, she has also written a fiction book. She mentioned her award-winning short story "The First Few American Moons" in the Bethesda Magazine (July-August 2018) about immigrants and finished her presentation by reading an excerpt from her short story. The short story was taken from a chapter in her unpublished book. https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/the-first-few-american-moons/

Attendees

(Photos by Calliopi Toufidou)

More information about Professor Karametou and her work can be found on her website: mariakarametou.com

Karen Batshaw - Author of HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Hellenic Writers’ Group of Washington DC Presents

Karen Batshaw

Author of  HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Documenting the terrible brutal occupation of Greece by the Nazis, Hidden in Plain Sight shines a light on the plight of Greece’s Jews 

and the brave attempts of the Archbishop of Athens to protect them. Carefully researched and expertly plotted, this novel’s attention to detail and compelling characters will appeal to fans of historical fiction and those of Jewish faith or Greek heritage. 

APRIL 14, 2018

           2PM

          Free Refreshments

Hellenic Center, 6506 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817

Eleni Pallas's Presentation

HELLENIC WRITERS GROUP of 

WASHINGTON, DC

PRESENTS

Using Your Emotions as Data 

to Live Happier & Make Better Decisions 

Eleni Pallas, MBA

  

Eleni Pallas spearheads Leaders for Good, a leadership design boutique that equips leaders with the tools they need to cultivate great teams and associated results. She has worked with clients such as Cartier, Ashoka, UC Berkeley, SF State University, Whole Foods, George Washington University and Mercer.

The presentation will be in English

Saturday, March 10, 2018, 2PM

Free Refreshments

HELLENIC CENTER

6506 Bells Mill Rd.

 Bethesda, MD 20817

Dr. Polyvia Parara's talk on Feb. 10, 2018 at the Hellenic Center in Bethesda, MD was a success! She presented poems by Constantine Cavafy, the famous Greek poet and engaged the audience with a question and answer session about the meaning of his poetry. There were many questions by the audience with enthusiastic participation by everyone.

Several people came up to us afterwards and gave positive comments, including a few requests to have more talks like these. Thank you, Dr. Parara!

Dr. Polyvia Parara presents Cavafy

We are delighted to inform you that our next writers' group meeting will include Dr. Polyvia Parara, from the University of Maryland. She will give a presentation on the famous Greek poet, Constantine Cavafy at 2PM at the Hellenic Center, 6506 Bells Mill Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817. See flyer below.

Tentative schedule:

12PM - Writing Craft and writing exercises.

1PM - Critique Group - Submit your works (up to 20 pp) by Feb. 1.

2PM - Poetry Group - Dr. Parara's talk. Also, bring your poems to share.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hellenic Writers’ Group of Washington DC

Presents

Cavafy and the Greek World

Polyvia Parara, Ph.D.

    Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Classics, University of Maryland

Dr. Parara will examine examples of the values and ideals of the Greek world conveyed in Constantine Cavafy’s pseudohistorical frame poems that range from Homer to modern times.

The presentation will be in Greek

February 10, 2018 

2PM

Free Refreshments

HELLENIC CENTER

6506 Bells Mill Rd.

Bethesda, MD 20817

Christmas Poems

Christ's Birthday

Years ago I saw Your smile

In the glowing face of my son 

As he stood in front of the 

Christmas Tree, gazing at 

The ornaments and lights

Glimmering and shining

Like the stars that lit the darkness

That mysterious, majestic night.

Years ago I saw Your gifts

Underneath the Christmas Tree

Wrapped in shiny, colorful paper

We started unwrapping them 

On Your birthday, 

Yet they always reappear

Year after year

Blessing our lives, lasting forever

Like the stars that light the darkness.

Years ago I saw Your Mother

Bent lovingly over You

Her face radiant with Love

Happy for Your birthday gift

To Her and to the world

A child in swaddling clothes

Lighting our dark lives

Saving us from ourselves.

Today I see the Christmas Tree,

The wrapped gifts, the lights on houses

I see the smiles on children

In preparation for Your Birthday

Yet where have You gone to?

Has Santa Claus replaced Your image?

If I search hard enough maybe 

I will find You in the kind acts of people

And in the Christmas songs that depict 

The Silent Night of Your birth, as you sleep

Away in a Manger, while the Angels Sing!

And maybe the Little Drummer Boy will 

Beat life back into my soul

So I can Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly!

 by Patty Apostolides, Dec. 2017

-------------------------

Χριστούγεννα

 

Μέρα γιορτής, μεγάλη της Χριστιανοσύνης

Μέρα χαράς, αγάπης και ειρήνης

Φίλοι κι’εχθροί ανταμώνουνε

Και λεν ν’αγαπηθούνε

Κι’ολου του κόσμου τα παιδιά 

Τρέχουνε να χαρούνε

Αν είναι τούτη τη στιγμή οι άνθρωποι 

Τις αμαρτίες ν’αφήσουν

Κι’ολα τα μίση πούχανε 

Ηθελε να ξεχάσουν

Χριστούγεννα να είχαμε 

Αλήθεια κάθε μέρα

Μα υποκρισία και ψευτιά, 

Πόλεμοι, δυστυχία,

Πείνα, αρρώστιες και πνιγμοί

Δεν έχουν προθεσμία

Η δε χλιδή δε νιάζεται

Η φρίκη δεν ζυγιέται

Μα στον φτωχό τον άνθρωπο

Ενας Χριστός γεννιέται

Τούστειλε σήμερα βροχή 

Για να ξεπλύνει τις πληγές

Τις αμαρτίες όλων 

Και το αστέρι φάνηκε 

Μετά την καταιγίδα

Κι’εφερε το μήνυμα:

ΑΓΑΠΗ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΠΙΔΑ

                  Χριστούγεννα 2016

                  Καλλιόπη Τουφίδη

 

HELLENIC LITERARY FESTIVAL 2017

The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington D.C. 

in association with 

The Hellenic Society Prometheas

Invite you to the

HELLENIC  LITERARY  FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 23, 2017 

4-9 PM

Greek Orthodox Church of St. George

7701 Bradley Blvd.

Bethesda, MD 20817

  KEYNOTE SPEAKER

John DeDakis

Emmy award-winning journalist at CNN and Author of Bullet in the Chamber

              

                         

PRESENTERS 

Dr. Nicholas Patronas

Dr. Peter Paras

(INTERMISSION/RECEPTION)

Dr. James Maroosis

Demetra Tsavaris-Lecourezos

Patty Apostolides

Presentations will be in English and/or Greek 

Booksignings and a chance to meet the Authors will follow the presentations

OPEN MIC 8PM (bring your poem to read aloud!)

Free Parking Available!

Hellenic Writers' Group 'End of the Season' Meeting July 2

Summer is officially here, and the Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC will have their last meeting of the season before adjourning for the summer. We will resume in September, with our literary festival.

Our meeting will take place Sunday, July 2, 2017 from 12pm - 3pm at the Hellenic Center, 6506 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817

Schedule:

12pm - Poetry Group - will discuss Yiannis Ritsos (PART II) poems. Members will also share their poetry, Greek and English.

Link to Yiannis Ritsos speaking about what it means to be a poet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a86ESNx0PaA

1pm - Critique Group - members who have submitted their works will participate by commenting on each others' works. Other members are encouraged to attend even though they may not have submitted a work.

2pm - Group meeting - Discuss 24 character strengths that could be used in defining a character in one's writing. Discuss upcoming Literary Festival (Sept. 23, 2017 4-8pm at St. George, Bethesda, Md).

Refreshments will be available.