FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009  Diaspora: Lectures by Professor Christos Giannaris  Posted on Monday, May 04 @ 13:18:51 EDT by greek_news  New York .- By Rebecca Smith  «It can not survive if the Greeks are not universal, and here the role of the diaspora is very critical», stressed Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Cultural Diplomacy Panteion University and author, Chris Giannaris speaking expatriates in New York, in two different events conferences last week in Manhattan and Astoria.  Professor Giannaris found in New York proskelimenos Association of Arcadians «Old Man of Maurice», of the Association of Athens, the Cultural Center of Catholic Community of Holy Trinity, and the NEO Magazine. Both events took place under the auspices of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York and American Federation Panarkadikis.  According to organizers, the idea was that speeches were to coincide with the celebrations for the National Palingenesia, to give a more substantive content, in addition to the parade and events.  «The celebration of Ethnegersias, always, to be fruitful, must be linked to a concern», said Mr. Giannaris, and added: «If only we celebrate, aprovlimatista, then it leaves the fruit».  In the first speech on «Greek: Cultural and Religious Identity», the last Monday evening at the Cultural Center of the Archbishop of the Cathedral of Holy Trinity in Manhattan, Professor Giannaris analyzing four key points-words-concepts: Greek Orthodox , Culture and Religion, attempted to define the cultural elements that make up the difference of the Greek identity from the West.  The teacher introduced the head of the Catholic Holy Trinity c. Fragiskos Marangos, referring to the rich work, while at the event attended by Archbishop Demetrios of America and the General Consul of Greece in New York Agi Balta.  The second speech was in overcrowded Stathakeio Cultural Center last Thursday, on «Ethnegersia 1821: Conflict of two visions», Dr. Giannaris rivalry focused on two visions, which was from the late 18th century in Greece, on the future of Hellenism.  In the vision of Fanarioton understood that the Greek proposal as a universal culture of interest, object to the idea of a nation - state the limits of classical Greece, who worked as a solution to the Greek problem, a group of Greek scholars of the West, with the top Adamantios Korai .  «The Greeks were never a ghetto, it was always open to recruit elements», which absorb and a proposal of his own culture, Mr Giannaris, noting that «the tragedy, however, begins when a recruit and subordinate to it »and the kaftiriazontas metapratismo that still characterizes the Greek community.  Listing key problems of Hellenism today, Mr. Giannaris reported demographic, which, as my problem is political, not ideological, and is now «damokleios knife above our heads», the centralization, the dramatic deterioration of language, - « the monotony », as noted,« destroyed the historical continuity of Hellenism »-, and loss of consciousness that the Greeks did not have another weapon to survive« per capita »crop.  Especially for the Greek American, stressed that «even if it could only restore the authenticity of the Orthodox operating area, 500 churches, he was cultural revolution», stating that the orthodox functional space is the «culture summarize a process» where found «the poetry that was leading the Greeks by Romanos the melodies and beyond», painting, Byzantine music.  In response to questions, Mr. Giannaris argued that the Diaspora as much autonomy and self-reactive, the better it is for itself and for the Greek state, but warned that this should be made aware of Hellenism and Greek universality .  Finally, the Ecumenical Patriarchate described as «the last breath universality of Hellenism».  The event last Thursday, Mr. Chairman Giannaris presented Panarkadikis Federation of America, Dimitris Friendship, and sent greetings to the event and the chairman of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Dimitris Kalamaras. Also, the Atlanta Metropolitan Alexios, the Consul of Greece, Wisdom Veve, and MP and former minister George Orfanos.