greek weddings 2005 - preservation of american hellenic history

GreekWeddings

2005SPECIAL EDITION

The National HeraldMARCH 12, 2005

2 GREEK WEDDINGS 2005 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 12, 2005

The National Herald

Publisher-EditorAntonis H. Diamataris

Assistant to Publisher, AdvertisingVeta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos

Advertising RepresentativePenny Papacosta

Managing Editor of Special InsertZoe Tsine

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Editorial

In the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, duringthe Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony, thecouple is crowned with the traditional stefanawhile the priest sings, "O Lord, our God,crown them with glory and honor." The histo-

ry of Greek American wedding practice andmarriage goes hand-in-hand with Greek Or-thodox tradition, which was embraced by agroup of people struggling to preserve thememory of their heritage and culture in a for-eign land. But if the Greek American wed-ding is a reflection of history, weddings, inand of themselves, make for an enormous in-

dustry in the United States. In our special"Greek Weddings" issue, which the NationalHerald is publishing for the fifth consecutiveyear, we highlight the history and religioustradition of Greek American weddings andoffer some suggestions regarding fashiontrends, wedding gifts and honeymoon desti-nations for the bride and groom.

Contents:

Marriage in the Greek Orthodox Tradition 3

The Sacrament of the Holy Matrimony 17, 18, 19

A strong entrance in prêt-a-porter for the House of Faliacos 20

Greek American Businesswomen find opportunity in Wedding Industry 10, 16

Honeymoon Destinations in Greece 12, 13

Precious Stones 14

The Picture Bride Era 4, 5, 8

Wedding Ideas 6, 7

Fifth Avenue Skin Care Center Offers State-of-the-Art Service to its Clients 9

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THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 12, 2005 GREEK WEDDINGS 2005 3

By Rev. Prof. Demetrios I.Constantelos, Ph.D.

Whether in Greek antiquity,Christian Byzantium or the post-Byzantine era, marriage has beenperceived as hieros (reverent), andultimately marriage was assimi-lated to the liturgy of ancientGreek mystery and Christiansacrament. The association of mar-riage with religion was close inboth non-Christian and ChristianGreek societies.

In the history of the Greek Or-thodox people of the Byzantine era(330-1453), neither civil nor canonlaw provided a definition of whatconstitutes an oikogeneia, a family.Dispersed but sufficient evidence,however, indicates that, by family,they meant both space and con-tent: an oikos, a house occupied bypeople, and a genos, a people whohad established a kinship and re-lationship through marriage. Fam-ily as a household served as the ba-sis and the most important nuclearelement of Byzantine and post-Byzantine Greek Orthodox soci-ety.

The creation of a family presup-posed marriage. Jurist and canon-ist Constantine Armenopoulos de-fined marriage in the fourteenthcentury as "a synapheia (union) andsynklerosis (community) of a manand a woman for life, a union by di-vine will and human right."

For nearly seven centuries, mar-riage in the Byzantine era followedthe prescriptions of Roman law.From as early as 370 C.E. and es-pecially after 505, marriage wasperceived as a contract. An officialdeclaration of a man and a womanbefore the government’s ekdikos(judge) was the only requirementfor a couple to be proclaimed offi-cially married. Justinian’s legis-lation in the sixth century indicatesthat the office of ekdikos was opento both clergymen and laymenalike.

Hierologia, as a church servicefor marriage, had been practicedbefore, but it was in the tenth cen-tury that Emperor Leo VI legis-lated that hierologia was the onlyoption for a valid marriage.However, the controversy betweena legalistic and a sacramental viewof marriage continued down to the

early fourteenth century when hi-erologia and the sacramentalnature of marriage was firmly es-tablished and became the only op-tion for a valid marriage for theOrthodox. This rule is valid to thepresent day. As far as canon law isconcerned, no marriage performedoutside the Church is religiouslyvalid.

The ritualistic and sacramentaldevelopment of marriage in spiritand in verbal form is closer to theGreek rather than the Romancustom and cultural tradition.Christian Greeks and ancientGreeks held a common culturaland intellectual heritage. It shouldnot surprise us to see parallels be-tween the two, or to see the GreekOrthodox Church using theologi-cal terms, ritual usages, symbols,and elements taken from the prac-tices of their ancestors. Thus, as inGreek antiquity, where the basicreason for a marriage was religious–that is, to perpetuate family wor-ship honoring ancestors, sacrifices,memorials, rituals, customs, andfamily traditions- likewise, inChristian Byzantium, marriage as-sumed a religious character andwas proclaimed one of the

mysteries of the Church.Marriage as hieros gamos and

mystery has roots in remote Greekantiquity. First, in Greek mytholo-gy the marriage between divinities,such as Zeus with Hera, was calledhieros gamos (sacred marriage). AsGreek religious thought evolved, amarriage of a god or goddess with ahuman person was also called hi-eros gamos. Such was the marriageof Dionysos with the basilina of thechief archon of Athens during theAnthesteria festival, and the mar-riage of Demetra with Iasion.Those marriages became the pat-tern for a marriage between manand woman.

Later, for Plato and pre-Chris-tian mystery cults, marriage was al-so sacred –hieros gamos. Speakingabout marriage, sexual indulgence,and paternity, Plato insists that hu-man beings should honor their hi-eros gamos, and they should havesexual relations only with theirwedded spouse. He writes that thestate needs to enact laws thatwould check on "free love" andlusts in order to prevent human be-ings from becoming less than hu-man. "Surely our citizens should atleast be better than … animals."

Sexual indulgence must be attend-ed by a sense of shame because"this feeling will make indulgenceinfrequent, and the infrequency ofthe indulgence will moderate thetyranny of the appetite." Fear ofGod, desire for honorable distinc-tion, and "the development of thepassion for a beauty which is spiri-tual, not physical, would prevent acitizen from touching any but hisown wedded wife." Marriage forPlato is hieros gamos because Godsanctioned it.

As in other aspects of religiousand social life of ancient Hellenismthat were never static but alwayssubject to a constant becoming, thesacredness of marriage as hierosgamos evolved to the extent that itbecame "a communion in worship."

The idea of the hieros gamos(holy marriage) that we find in thehistory of non-Christian Hellenismprevailed in the history and prac-tice of non-Christian Hellenism.During the Byzantine era, the riteof marriage was elevated into oneof the "Mysteries" or Sacraments ofthe Church. The Byzantine Empirewas raised on the ruins of Alexan-der’s Empire, its Hellenic and Hel-lenistic culture, language, and peo-

ple. Thus, both the forms and spiritof ancient traditions, includingmysteries, were preserved, trans-formed, given new symbolism andnew meaning. In both non-Chris-tian and Christian Hellenic worlds,marriage evolved into a "com-munion in worship."

According to the marriage ser-vice of the Greek OrthodoxChurch, it is God who performsthe "mystical and holy-undefiledmarriage" (o tou mystikou kaiachrantou gamou hierourgos); thewedded couple achieves a com-munion in marriage (gamoukoinonian); marriage is a "greatmystery" (mega mysterion). St.Paul’s emphasis that the spiritualunion of Christ with the Church is"a great mystery" serves as the pro-totype of a marriage between manand woman. Their union into "oneflesh" is also a "great mystery." Butthe same terminology was used todescribe the mystery festival andthe marriage festival of theEleusinian mysteries. In hisrefutation of heresies, the thirdcentury bishop Hippolytos ofRome ridiculed, "to mega …Eleusinion mysterion" and "to mega… Samothrakon mysterion."

Furthermore, as in Greek an-tiquity, when marriage was assimi-lated to the liturgy of themysteries, such as the Dionysiacand the Pythagorean, likewise,perhaps after the tenth century, aChristian marriage was solem-nized during the Eucharisticmystery. On the basis of this evi-dence, "the association of mar-riage with religion was as closed incivilized Greece as it is or has beenin Christendom." It is in the lightof this Greek and Christian back-ground that we should try to un-derstand marriage as a sacredevent, and married life as holy inGreek Orthodox Society, whetherin the Byzantine era or in modernGreek Orthodox communities.There is more continuity in Greekreligious culture than discontinu-ity. Tradition preserves the memo-ry of ancestral experience lived byancestors and handed down totheir descendants.

The above article is an excerptfrom Father Constantelos’ newbook "Christian Faith andCultural Heritage" (SomersetPress 2005), reprinted by permis-sion from the author.

Marriage in the Greek Orthodox Tradition


By Steve FrangosSpecial to The National Herald

The immigration of some halfmillion Greeks to North Americabetween 1880 and 1920 happenedin distinct stages. Among the last toarrive were the Picture Brides ofthe 1920’s and 1930’s. With an un-expected degree of renewed ro-mance and considerable misunder-standing, the plight of thesewomen, as unwilling or largely un-happy brides, has overshadowed amore complex and disturbing real-ity of Greek migration.

The hard statistics are as fol-lows: of all the Greeks who immi-

grated to the United States be-tween 1880 and 1920, fully halfrepatriated to Greece. Of thoseGreeks who remained in this coun-try, demographically, only half gotmarried. No reliable figures existfor how many of those who marriedactually had children. Whatever theactual number, the descendants ofthe massive wave of Greeks ulti-mately consisted of only onequarter of those who arrived.

Curiously, many accounts ofwhy Greek men sought immi-gration maintain that it was to payfor dowries. As we will see, this goalproved so successful for so manyGreek immigrants of that era it

caused considerable problems backin Greece.

Other folkloric images concern-ing marriage were to follow theseyoung Greeks to North America.

WEDDED TO DEATHThe initial sojourn to America

by this massive wave of Greek menwas supposed to be a temporaryvoyage for many of them. At times,this did not prove to be the case.Working in mines, as smelters, onrailroad gangs and in factories,many of them were killed in in-dustrial accidents. In accordancewith centuries-old folk customs ofrural Greece, many of these men

were buried by their compatriots asif they were bridegrooms. The de-ceased was dressed in the best suitavailable, a wedding crown on hishead, a ring on his right hand, and asprig of basil in his lapel. Not infre-quently, even a small amulet ofGreek soil was hung around thebridegroom’s neck. Since havingfailed (however unwittingly) to ful-fill their societal roles as men, thosewho died unmarried were said to be"wedded to death."

In George Drosinis’ (1859-1951)poem, "The Soil of Greece," wehear something of the symbolism ofthese amulets of earth:I will hang you as an amulet on my

breast, And when my heart wears you as anamulet she will take courage,Be helped by you, And will not be bewitched by otherforeign beauties.Your grace will give me strength.Wherever I turn, wherever I stand,You will kindle in me only one desire:to return to Greece.

As the young Greeks decided,one by one, that they must marry,the era of the Picture Brides cameinto being.

CORRESPONDINGIMAGES

With nearly half a millionGreeks arriving in North Americain just a 40-year period, theexchange of letters, telegrams,packages, money orders and otherobjects was considerable. Theexchange of letters between variousfamily members soon proved a fo-rum in which prospective bridesand grooms could "meet." In thiscorrespondence, photographswould often "just happen" to be in-cluded of, say, a young Greekstanding in front of his candy store,or the portrait of a Greek maidenfrom a rural mountain village.

Any number of complex events

could, and did, take place once acouple (or the extended families ofboth individuals) agreed to themarriage. At times, legal dowrycontracts, called ta prikia, weredrawn up. This is quite distinctfrom a bride’s trousseau. The for-malities involved in such traditionalarrangements often created a verycomplicated international series ofevents. Very often, brothers of theyoung woman, working as immi-grants in places like Spokane,Washington would send a sizableamount of money to relatives intheir home village to help fulfilltheir part of the marriage contract.This money would then be sent tothe groom’s relatives in, say, Alton,Illinois who were acting on his be-half in these exchanges. Once allparties were satisfied the moneywas sent to the groom in, say, Sagi-naw, Michigan, then the bridewould be sent by her family on aboat headed towards her awaitinghusband to-be.

Lest anyone think that thisexchange was simply a matter of"buying a wife," the prospectivegroom was very often required toproduce an array of documents forthe bride’s family. Elaborate legaldocuments drawn up by officials at

Angelos Poll (formerly Papadopoulos) and Catherine Makris married in l9l9. They are pictured center, surrounded by their family and friendsoutside the old Holy Trinity Cathedral located at that time on 72 Street near Lexington Aenue in New York City.

PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE FILES OF THE GREEK MUSEUM, THE CENTER FOR GREEK AMERICAN HERITAGE ([email protected])

ThePicture

Bride EraThe plight of these women, as unwilling or largely unhappybrides, has overshadowed a more complex and disturbing reality of Greek migration

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Greek Consular offices in SanFrancisco, New Orleans, Chicagoor New York City were more fre-quently required than is discussedtoday. The bride’s family common-ly requested testimonies from localparish priests concerning an indi-vidual’s character, and bank docu-ments showing total net worthand/or clear title on property.

Yet even after all these carefulnegotiations, the village womenwere especially fearful of the longvoyage to an unknown land andmarrying a man many of theseyoung women had often never evenmet.

DANGEROUS PASSAGESometime during the late 1920’s

and early 1930’s, a folksong wascomposed describing the sense ofdread experienced by these youngmaidens. Many stories were whis-pered by the village fountain,where the young women gatheredevery day; grim accounts of womenleft at the pier or train station be-cause they were not as beautiful astheir photographs made them out

to be.Commonly referred to as the

"Picture Bride Song," this tune be-came so popular, it was eventuallyrecorded in Athens as a 78rpmrecord with the title, "Mana, Mi MeStelneis Stin Ameriki (Mother,Please Don’t Send Me to Ameri-ca)." The lyrics to this famous songare as follows:Mama, don’t send me to America,I’ll wither and die there.I don’t want dollars – how can I sayit?Only bread, onions, and the one Ilove.

I love someone in the village, Mama,A handsome youth, an only son.He’s kissed me in the ravines,And embraced me under the olivetrees.

Yiorgo, my love, I’m leaving you,And I’m going far away.They’re marrying me off into theksenitia (unknown place).They take me like a lamb to beslaughtered,And there, in my grief, they will buryme.

And this was not the only suchsong. Sometime after World WarII, the Liberty Record Company ofNew York City released "Den toThelo ton AHEPA." A best-sellingnostalgic song, this record featureda young woman begging her moth-er not to arrange a marriage for herwith a visiting Ahepan. Here, thereference is to the various tripsduring which the unmarried mem-bers of AHEPA went as a chartergroup aboard ships to Greece inthe 1930’s looking for brides.

THE FORGOTTEN OTHERS

It is with the presence of bridesin the Greek colonies of NorthAmerica that many scholars markthe real beginning and establish-ment of Greek America. While thisclaim is true up to a point, it ob-scures other individuals who quiteliterally included a larger demo-graphic group than those who mar-ried. In Greek American slang, thebekares (said to be the Turkishword for bachelors) or Greek im-migrants who never married stillconstituted demographically half ofall Greek males from the 1880 to1920 era. The sociological im-portance of these men can not bestressed enough. They not only

physically embodied Greek Ameri-ca, they also actively helped financethe very establishment of a Greekcommunity in North America, forthe most senior generation of allGreek Americans living today easi-ly recall the presence of these bach-elors.

Alternately, there was an entiregeneration of women in Greece, es-pecially in the Peloponnese, whonever married because of the mas-sive Greek immigration to NorthAmerica. Aside from the missingmen, another totally unintendeddifficulty arose. With brothers inNorth America willing to provide ahandsome dowry, finding a suitable

groom in the village became in-creasingly problematic.

Arranged marriages have not al-ways been successful. AphroditeClamar has written of Greek wid-ows here in the United States,known as kakomires, in the com-munity from a perspective notusually examined. Many of the im-migrant widows Clamar came toknow were, in a sense, relieved orreleased from what we might call afailed marriage today. The womenClamar spoke to had oftentimestaken over their husband’s busi-nesses, which they subsequently ran

Nicholas D. Boulukos, of Long Island, NY wedded Haido Varvouletos of Lynn, MA on Halloween, October3l, l927. The wedding took place in Lynn, Ma.

PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE FILES OF THE GREEK MUSEUM, THE CENTER FOR GREEK AMERICAN HERITAGE ([email protected])

Mary Stratos wedded George Alchas at the Holy Trinity Cathedral inNew York City in l949.

From the files of The Greek Museum, the Center for Greek American Heritage ([email protected])

Continued on Page 8


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to great financial success, and enjoyed a way of life they might never haveexperienced in Greece.

CHANGING IMAGESThe photographic images of Greek American brides have significantly

altered since the 1920’s and 1930’s. The image of the bride as a lone figure,while still a part of the overall photographic collection of wedding imagesis no longer the sole focal point of the event. Photographs come very oftento embody visually long standing and deeply felt social relationships. WithGreek American photographs of the 1920’s and 1930’s, the family wasfragmented, with some in Greece and some in North America. The role of

the Koumbaros came to special prominence in this early period, and thenumber of available photographs from this era attests to that new stand-ing.

Composite photographs, in which a studio photographer joins differentnegatives to create a gathering of persons, were also a favored image fromthe early era of immigration. In these photographs, the family scatteredbetween Greece and North America could be found visually in one place.

But as families changed in Greek America, so too have the photo-graphs. The children of the 1880-1920 era demographically came of agepredominately after World War II. The wedding photographs of that gen-eration show not just military uniforms, but also large gatherings offriends.

It is also an indisputable demographic fact that "mixed," or interfaith,marriages outnumber all others which take place in the Greek OrthodoxChurch today. Unexpectedly, many of the non-Greek spouses are en-tranced by the marriage ritual and physical interior of the church. This hasprompted a renewed priority given to photographs taken not simply insidethe church, but also specifically those in front of the iconostasis. Asidefrom the beauty this setting inherently commands, the couple’s announce-ment of a new common faith is also recorded in this formal image.

The Greeks of North America have traveled far, not only in terms ofdistance from their home villages in Greece, but also across different

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Skin care and rejuvenation have been at the forefront of medical re-search over the past 15 years. It began with the wide use of Retin-A,coupled with a new group of mild alpha-hydroxy acids (e.g., glycolic acid),which are used to improve skin tone, texture and quality.

The Fifth Avenue Skin Care Center is a marriage between the arts ofEsthetic Surgery and Cosmetology. Unlike most plastic surgery proce-dures, skin peel and rejuvenation not only improve how the skin looks andfeels, but also helps prevent wrinkles, sagging skin, irregular pigmentation,skin cancers and other age-related changes.

The Center’s staff is headed by its medical director, Dr. Richard J.Coburn, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with 20 years experience in skinand peeling treatment, and Regina Skarvelis, executive director, who hasbeen involved in all facets of skin care for the past ten years. The town-house setting allows maximum comfort from the initial consultationthrough the treatment program, and onto maintenance.

THE SECRET: PROPER CAREAging is a process we must all undergo, but the secret to having healthi-

er, younger-looking skin is really nothing more than proper care and main-tenance.

The patient’s complimentary consultation begins with Ms. Skarvelis.The various types of treatment programs are discussed and explained, anda specific individualized program is then designed for your skin needs andskin type.

Dr. Coburn will then see you for a complete and comprehensive evalu-ation of your skin. Any questions you might have will be answered and aspecific, individualized skin care and maintenance program would be out-lined and explained in detail. Your skin-care needs will be addressed, andthe program will allow you to have cleaner, healthier, firmer younger-looking skin to be proudly admired by you and others.

Daily care and maintenance of the skin is one of the Center’s primarygoals. It includes both prevention of unwanted age changes and improve-ment or correction of existing problems.

Following your consultation and evaluation, a customized treatmentprogram, including a package of skin care and correcting products will bedesigned for your particular needs. Preparation for either preventing, de-creasing or eliminating unwanted wrinkles are available.

The Center’s specifically formulated skin care products help slow downthe aging process and maintain healthier, firmer and a younger-lookingskin. Individual programs treat the following age-related signs: saggingskin, decreased elasticity, wrinkles, diminished skin tone and loss of luster,among other skin problems.

Specialized products will be included with your individual treatmentprogram to achieve an even better end-result.

"We have a great following. I have clients from all over the world; fromthroughout Europe and the United States. Many of them are professionalpeople, and we are expanding. Our products are sold by the pharmaceuti-cal companies exclusively to dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and onlyphysicians can distribute them," Ms. Skarvelis said.

Restoring damaged skin to a cleaner, healthier and more youthful lookis also the focus of Fifth Avenue Skin Care Center, she pointed out.

"We run a very state-of-the-art business, and our location is in a very ex-clusive setting. We start with correcting damaged, weathered and wrinkledskin and end with helping you maintain new skin with a glowing appear-ance for years to come. This is a commitment to which we are dedicated,and which no other skin center focuses on to the extent and depth that wedo," Ms. Skarvelis said.

"An important phase of the program consists of the patient undergoinga safe, non-surgical procedure called a chemical peel. This procedure isdone within our Center, and is usually performed without sedation, be-cause rarely does the patient experience pain or distress during the peelingprocedure," she added.

The peels are designed and formulated to freshen the skin, improvefine aging lines, decrease or eliminate wrinkles and crow’s feet, and to givethe skin a firmer, healthier and younger look.

"Glycolic Acid, found in sugar cane and in various fruits (hence its nick-name, ‘fruit acid’), is especially interesting since it can be used as a majorpeel, and in weaker formulations for home maintenance. It acts by loosen-ing the thick outer skin layers, producing a sluffing of dead cells and leav-ing a smooth, refreshed, and glowing texture," Ms. Skarvelis said.

An expert in skin-care preparation who has directed numerous skincare programs with major cosmetic houses, Ms. Skarvelis first came toNew York from Pittsburgh in 1972. She worked as a Representative/Man-ager for Estee Lauder, and also for Marcella Borghese. She introducednatural products and skin care in Greece. She has taught on productknowledge, care and maintaining healthy skin. And she has also lecturedon the importance of maintaining and preserving healthy skin.

Fifth Avenue Skin Care Center has been in operation since 1989, whenit was started by Dr. Coburn and Ms. Skarvelis. Ms. Skarvelis purchasedthe business from Dr. Coburn in 1997.

Dr. Coburn, received his M.D. from the McGill University Faculty ofMedicine in Montreal; did his Surgical Internship at New York Hospital,his surgical residency at Boston City Hospital Fifth (Harvard), and hisplastic surgery residency at New York University Medical Center; is amember of the American Board of General Surgery and American Boardof Plastic Surgery; and is a Fellow at the American College of Surgeons.He is affiliated with Beth Israel North Medical Center.

263 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215Tel.: (718) 788-0777 ñ Fax: (718) 788-0404

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By Zoe TsineSpecial to The National Herald

What better way to enter the fashionindustry than through one of its most prof-itable branches: weddings?

"The wedding industry is much morepersonal than anything else in the fashionbusiness," said Erasmia Malahias, a for-mer lingerie seller and criminal justicemajor, who partnered up with her nieceIrene Athineos in January to open up awedding gown store in Corona. "My Spe-cial Day" now sells Mori Lee, Mon Cheri,Velesca and other high-quality makers ofwedding and bridesmaid gowns and otherspecial-occasion dresses at moderate

prices."When selling wedding gowns, you’re

not dealing with the average customer, butwith a customer who comes in to buy ‘the’dress of her lifetime," Mrs. Malahias said."Picking your wedding gown is a way of ex-pressing your love for your husband andall the people who will be there for you,"added Mrs. Athineos, a trained education-al counselor with considerable experiencein bridal retail.

The two Greek American women saidthey already have a steady following ofprospective Hispanic, Italian, Irish, Asianand, of course, Greek brides, mainly fromtheir area.

"A wedding is unlike any other occa-

sion. Brides want to be themselves ontheir wedding day, to the utmost degree,"agreed Eleni Arapi, a Sephora make-upartist and owner of Eleni New York Cos-metics, in an interview with The NationalHerald at her home in Bayside. Afteryears of working extensively as a make-upartist for big names, Mrs. Arapi decided toopen up her own line of cosmetics lastsummer. Now she markets top-of-the-line,hip and affordable skincare and makeupproducts, mostly through the Internet ather company’s website, www.eleniny.com.

Mrs. Arapi said she is already enjoyinga steady underground following and reliesprimarily on weddings and engagementparties to broaden her clientele. She saidshe has just finished one fashion show andis currently in the process of planning abridal show in Astoria. "Fashion shows arecrazy; and for what? Just seven minutes, ifyou think about it," Mrs. Arapi said.

But if you really think about it, and de-spite their busy schedules, Mrs. Arapi andthe owners of My Special Day have donethe smart thing by turning to weddings tofind their professional niche.

According to the Association for Wed-ding Professionals, an international organi-zation representing wedding planners andwedding service providers, more than2,144,000 weddings took place in theUnited States from June 2003 to June 2004,with couples and their families spendingapproximately $80 billion, and that doesnot include honeymoon expenses. This gi-gantic enterprise has room for anyone,from beauty suppliers and florists to photo-graphers and wedding consultants, many ofwhom operate on a small, local level.

"You often get people who come in thestore because they saw a gown at your win-dow from around the corner. The walk-insare the best part," Mrs. Malahias said.

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Greece isn’t just Santorini.There are a number of alternativehoneymoon destinations especial-ly for couples looking to celebratethe beginning of their new life to-gether by combining peace andisolation with modern accommo-dations in an authentically Greeksetting. We spoke with experi-enced Greek travel agents, whomade their own suggestions ofsome of Greece’s best-kept se-crets, now gradually ascending onthe list of favorites for both Greekand non-Greek newlyweds.

MONEMVASSIAThis south-eastern Pelopon-

nesian port, just 9 hours by ferryfrom Athens, Monemvassia is oneof Greece’s best-hidden treasures.This unique jewel of the Pelopon-nese in the area of Laconia, boastsan old fortress-town, known as"The Gibraltar of Greece." Thetown is built on a rocky island, in-side a 13th century Byzantinecastle, one of the few in the worldthat still house a live, busting com-

munity. "It’s a fantastic place withreasonable prices," says DebbieGregory, tour manager at CrownPeters Travel in Astoria. In Mon-emvassia you will have to leavesome of your modern habits be-hind –no cars are allowed insidethe castle- albeit not all of them:there are modern accommo-dations in many of the islet’s ren-ovated mansions/hotels that rangefrom A class to tourist class.However, don’t hesitate to rent acar and tour Laconia’s goldenbeaches sitting at the feet of steephills, as well as the spectacularDiros caves, where you can take aboat trip through a unique under-ground river past stalagmites andstalactites. The word Mon-emvassia in Greek means "solitaryentrance," as the fortress-town canonly be entered through a stonecauseway. But its name also refersto the peace with which you willspend your time there.

Crown Peters is located at 34-10 Broadway Astoria, NY 11106,tel: (718)932-7800.

LIMNOSThis Northern Aegean island is

where, according to myth, the an-cient Greek god Hephaestus land-ed after his mother Hera threwhim off Mt. Olympus in a momentof anger. Today, of course you canland on this beautiful green islandmuch more smoothly: by planefrom Athens, or by boat from theport of Rafina near Athens. "Lim-nos is harder to sell to the averageAmerican but this is really theplace to go if you want to enjoy anaffordable and authenticallyGreek honeymoon," says DebbieGregory, tour manager at Astori-a’s Crown Peters Travel. The is-land is full of not-to-miss archeo-logical sites, including temples ofHephaestus, monasteries; andcapital Myrina’s marvelous castleof Venetian architecture. Limnosalso boasts a golf course and someof Greece’s most beautiful seclud-ed beaches. Make sure you try thelocal honey and sweet halva buttake it easy on the wine. And as far

as sunsets are concerned, Limnoscould put Santorini to shame. Itoffers dreamy views made for hon-eymoon lovers especially thesunset across the sea over MountAthos, on Greece’s most sacredpeninsula. Crown Peteres recom-mends the island’s Porto MyrinaPalace, a 5 star hotel set amongthe ruins of a temple dedicated tothe goddess Artemis. Call CrownPeters for custom-made Limnospackages at (718)932-7800.

KOSHercules supposedly stayed

here to rest after performing hisfamous 12 labors. Considering allthe effort going into preparing fora wedding, this might be the islandfor you too. Kos, the third largestisland of the Dodecanese group,boasts a good infrastructure, vi-brant night-life and a lot of beauti-ful and quiet beaches, especiallyon its west side. "Kos is asked moreand more frequently by Americanhoneymooners in the past fewyears," says Nicole Tsakanikas tour

manager at Homeric Tours, anagency that has included Kos in itscustom-made "island topping"-package, which offers couples a se-lection of nine Greek islands. Kosis also the home of Hippocrates,the father of medicine, who wasknown to have lived and studiedhere. The island has many beauti-ful historical sites from a medievalvillage to the must-see ancienttemple Asclepion, named after theGreek God of medicine. You canstay at the four-star Kypriotis Vil-lage Resort in the area of Psalidi,that combines Aegean architec-ture with modern luxury and is lo-cated just three kilometers fromthe town of Kos. Contact HomericTours, 55 East 59th Street NY, NY10022 at (800)223-5570 or(212)753-1100 or [email protected].

LINDOSThe town of Lindos in Rhodes:

This gorgeous, picturesque town isan alternative, off-the-beat desti-nation on one of Greece’s largestand most cosmopolitan islands.Lindos is 56 Km away from thecapital city of Rhodes. It is madefor "younger couples," said DebbieGregory of Crown Peters Travel.According to Homer, the ancienttown of Lindos sent an impressivenine ships to the Trojan War. As aformer naval power it tradedgoods around the Mediterraneanfrom its many colonies. Today allyou will have to conquer here, willbe the town’s multi-level Acropo-

lis, from where you can gaze downat the town’s white-washed houses.You can then drive back to one ofthe area’s crystal clear beaches andenjoy a view of the Acropolis rock,while taking a swim and somefresh fish at the local tavernas. CallCrown Peters Travel at (718)932-7800.

SIFNOSMykonos and Santorini are not

the only Cycladic islands with pic-turesque white village. Sifnos, theisland of Apollo, is living up to thereputation of the most handsomeGreek god by offering breathtak-ing views of olive groves and flat–roofed white houses and church-es against the unique Aegean blue.Sifnos is ideal for couples lookingforward to a quiet honeymoon,and are not big on nightlife. Theisland has resisted commercial-ization without compromisingtourist quality. Visit the Venetiancitadel in the old capital, the Kas-tro; the 17-century monastery on arocky islet into the sea; and one ofSifnos’ dozens of churches. Sifnosis included in a special cruise of-fered by Homeric Tours that takesyou from Piraeus to the Turkishport of Kusadasi, Samos, Patmos,Delos Mykonos and finally Sifnoson the Star Clippers’ Mega-Yacht.Package includes round-trip air-fare from New York to Athens,hotel accommodations, water-sports and all meals. For infor-mation about Homeric Tours’ "Cy-cladic Treasures" cruises call (800)

HoneymoonDestinations

in GreeceBest-kept secrets, now graduallyascending on the list of favorites

for both Greek and non-Greek newlyweds

llow the Radisson Hotel Boston to turn your most special occassion into a wedding

that exceeds all expectations. Our Carver Ballroom is a beautiful setting that

graciously accommodates the most intimate of wedding gatherings to grand wedding parties of

up to 350 guests. You’ll experience exquisite cuisine in New England’s tradition, prepared as

only the Radisson can. And attentive, personalized service from our experienced staff to assure

excellence in every detail.

In addition, our cover ballroom has been newly renovated. Perfect for bridal showers, wedding

rehearsals and christenings.

Hydra


223-5570 or (212) 753-1100 or e-mail [email protected].

ELOUNDA BAYIN CRETE

If you believe that honeymoonis synonymous to luxury, thenElounda Bay is the place for you.The area is located on thenortheast coast of Crete on theMirabello Bay, north of the is-land’s fourth largest town ofAghios Nikolaos and just 70 kilo-meters from its capital Herkalionand the city’s airport. This historicarea is known today around theworld for its luxurious, exclusivehotels and resorts. Visit thebeautiful fishing village of Eloun-da and enjoy its shops and sites, es-pecially its lagoon that containsthe sunken remains of the lost cityof Olos, often visible beneath thewaves. The lagoon also containsthe small islet of Spinaloga, one ofthe most important fortresses ofVenetian Crete (boats leave hour-ly from the harbor) and formerly aleper colony. If you get tired of be-ing pampered at your hotel, plan

an excursion to the pre-historicMinoan palaces near Heraklion,one of the island’s many archeo-logical treasures. Greek IslandTravel of NJ recommends theElounda Beach Hotel, a luxuriousresort with a large variety of top-class services and beautiful villasthat combine modern architecturewith the island's ancient Minoantradition. "You will never forget ahoneymoon in Elounda," saidGreek Island Travel’s ownerMichalis Vassilakis. The agencyspecializes in airfares andboutique tours. Call Mr. Vassilakisat 1-800- 8433-010. Greek IslandTravel is located at 1 Green Street,Jersey City, NJ 07302.

SAMOSSpending your honeymoon in

Samos, the island of the ancientmathematician and philosopherPythagoras is a no-brainer. Thislarge, verdant island sits at thenorth east of the Aegean, just 2.5km from the Turkish coast. Samosis filled with grave-pines and is fa-mous for its sweet wine varieties.The island can be reached by plane

from Athens or ferryboat from Pi-raeus as well as many other is-lands. It has a vibrant night-lifeand a cosmopolitan beat duringthe summer months without losingits local color. There is a large vari-ety of sandy and pebbled beachesto explore including some popularnudist ones. Don’t forget to visitthe beautiful southern coastal vil-lage Pithagorio (or Tigani) locatedjust 1 km from the airport andclose to the ruins of an ancientacropolis and Evpalineio aque-duct. Further south you can alsosee the Heraio, the most im-portant and largest Greek sanc-tuary dedicated to the island’s for-mer patron goddess Hera. Youcan spend one day in Samos aspart of Homeric Tours’ CycladicTreasures 1 cruise, which includesvisits to Pythagorio, Heraion andthe village of Platanakia at the val-ley of the nightingales for a winetasting. Cruise also takes you tothe port of Kusadasi in Turkey,and Greek islands Patmos, Delos,Mykonos and Sifnos on the ele-gant Star Clippers’ Mega-Yacht.Homeric Tours also offers Samos

in its "Homeric Islander" packagewith a big variety of hotel choicesfrom deluxe to first-class. For in-formation call Homeric Tours at(800)223-5570 or (212)753-1100 ore-mail [email protected].

HYDRAA favorite of artists, intellec-

tuals and movie-stars, among themJoan Collins and Leonard Cohen,Hydra combines an elegant, ro-mantic scenery with a close prox-imity to Athens (Piraeus is just 30minutes by hydrofoil). The formerhome of wealthy Greek sea-cap-tains, Hydra fought bravely duringthe Greek War of Independenceagainst the Turks. Today, in thetown of Hydra, the captains’ well-preserved Venetian and Genoesemansions (some are open to thepublic) stand as emblems of thatglorious past. Although a land-mark preservation area (the islandis free of vehicles) and a perfectromantic getaway, Hydra isbuzzing with life in the summer.You can take your morning coffeeat a waterfront cafe watching theboats come and go; then ride on a

donkey up the town’s narrow al-leyways to one of the many chapelsat the top of the hills above; take aswim in one of the island’s manybeautiful beaches; and finish yourday at one of the island’s many up-scale nightclubs. "Not many Greekislands have preserved that sense

of intimacy and history the wayHydra has," said NicoleTsakanikas of Homeric Tours, anagency that offers trips to Hydra invarious packages and cruises. CallHomeric Tours at (800)223-5570or (212)753-1100 or e-mail [email protected].

Sifnos

Monemvassia

DiamondsSo, you’re about to buy a dia-

mond ring. Before you set out onyour search for the perfect stone,sit down for a lesson on the famous“four Cs” that are used to deter-mine quality and price.

CUT for engagement rings arethe brilliant, oval, marquise, emer-ald, heart and pear shapes. Only askilled diamond cutter knows thedirection of the grain, which is thekey to successful cutting andfaceting.

CLARITY refers to the ab-sence of serious flaws or blemish-es. Most diamonds have some in-clusions (little marks or flaws) thatcan be seen under a jeweler’sloupe; truly clear stones are reallyquite rare. To help guide you inyour purchase, all diamonds aregraded (and priced) by clarity, asfollows:

Fl = flawlessIF = internally flawless; can

have surface flaws VVS1 and VVS2 = very, very

small inclusionsVS1 and VS2 = very small in-

clusionsSI1 and SI2 = small inclusionsI1, I2 and I3 = imperfectSlight flaws in high-quality dia-

monds cannot be detected by thenaked eye. Although serious flawscan affect the durability of the dia-mond, a stone in your price rangewith very slight flaws can be accep-table. When shopping for a qualitystone, it’s best to avoid the last twocategories,above.

Actual body COLOR is oftendifficult for consumers to see. It ismore a matter of shading, and thedegrees are very slight. However,as with clarity, the color grade willdetermine the value of a stone.The grading system developed bythe Gemological Institute ofAmerica is the universally ac-cepted method for judging a dia-mond’s color, with letter gradesfrom D to Z:

D, E, F = colorlessG, H, I, J = near colorlessK, L, M= faint yellowN to Z = very light or light yel-

lowWhile D is the highest (and

most costly), grades up to J may beacceptable to you—the increase ofyellow tints with each grade isextremely difficult to notice.Expect to pay much less for dia-monds graded above J.

CARAT refers to the weightof the stone. A carat is divided into100 points, so a 10-point diamondweighs one-tenth of a carat, a 50-point diamond weights half of acarat, and so on. Remember,however, that all four Cs—not justcarat size—come into play whendetermining the value of a dia-mond.

Now, since diamonds are sovaluable, you’ve got to treat yourring with respect. Your jewelershould provide a written guaran-tee as well as permanent reg-istration for your diamond. Obtainan appraisal and update it at leastevery five years.

It’s also smart to have your dia-mond ring professionally cleanedand checked yearly.

Finally, there’s the matter of in-surance—a personal choice.

If your ring is valued over a par-ticular amount, usually $500, it’s agood idea to include it on a home-owner's or renter’s household pos-session policy, but listed separatelyon a personal property schedule. Ifyou don’t have coverage, see aboutadding it temporarily to a parent’spolicy.

Remember to keep your handsand nails looking their best.You’llfind that everyone wants to see thering-not just you!

The Pearl WhirlContrary to popular myth,

pearls are not formed by sand thatbecomes embedded in an oyster. Ifthat were true, since oysters live inthe ocean, there would be billionsof pearls.

In actuality, the intruder issomething like a foreign object orparasite in the case of naturalpearls (an increasing rarity nowa-days) or, in the case of the culturedpearl, a small piece of polishedshell that has been surgically im-planted. The oyster then tries to“contain” it by coating it with apearly substance known as thenacre.

There are literally hundreds of

different types of pearls in theworld, but for simplicity’s sake,they can be broken down into fourmajor groups:

The akoya, or Japanese, pearl,is the classical white, moderatelypriced pearl (with a 16-inch strandaveraging 7 to 71/2 millimeters insize and costing from $1,000 to$1,500). It comes in a medley ofcolors from silvery white to blue-gray and accounts for some 75 per-cent of pearls in the world.

Freshwater pearls, the leastexpensive investment, are usuallybaroque, or asymmetrical inshape, and come in a wide varietyof colors, though most are dyed.Freshwater pearls are grown inmussels in rivers and lakes andcost about $150 for a 16-inch twistof five strands.

The Tahitian black pearl, de-spite its name, comes in a widerange of colors from silvery gray todeepest ebony; and

The South Sea white pearl,again, contrary to what its namesuggests, is also found in Australia,Indonesia, and the Philippines andcomes not just in a lustrous satinywhite finish but cream, silverywhite and, rarer yet, gold.

Both the Tahitian black pearland the South Sea white pearl costnot only thousands of dollars butoften hundreds of thousands.

Good pearls can last for gener-ations if they’re cared for properly.Keep them as free of alcohols andother acids as possible, and storethem away from your “hardstones”—ideally, in their own box

or pouch. Have them professional-ly restrung every few years. Thisway your daughter—or grand-daughter—can wear them asproudly at their wedding as youdid at yours!

Though pearls are not rated byan industry-wide grading system,there are several ways to judgetheir quality and determine if theypass muster— or luster:

1. Are they well-matched?Clearly, all pearls can’t be identi-cal, but the closer they are in size,shape, and color, the greater theirquality.

2. Do you see obvious flaws onthe surface? You can’t avoid someimperfections, but try to steerclear of large pits and blemishes-especially near the drill hole-whichwill only get bigger over time.

3. Are they slightly pink in col-or? This is not so much a sign ofquality as of cost, with the mostpopular shades, such as rose, sil-ver, white, cream and golden, re-spectively, generally also the high-est in price.

4. Are they semi-round,baroque or drop shape, or a seem-ingly perfect orb? The rounder thepearl, the greater its value, al-though half-pearls known asmabes have grown in popularitybecause even the larger ones arerelatively inexpensive.

5. Is it bright and shiny with acolor and depth that seem almostto emanate from within? This isthe most important of all, since themore lustrous your pearl, thegreater its beauty-and value.

Modern Bride


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adding the final touches to one ofher customers, Matina Tsoungos,24, who had just returned from atrip to Florida, where her Greekboyfriend popped the question ina manner which could have putCinderella herself to shame.

Three weeks ago, during a din-ner at the Cinderella Castle in Dis-ney World’s Magic Kingdomtheme park, and with both thecouple’s families attending, MissTsoungos was presented by therestaurant’s staff with an arrange-ment of a glass slipper surroundedby roses. Surprisingly, a 7-karat di-amond ring was popping out of

one of the flowers."I didn’t expect it, " said Miss

Tsoungos, the future Mrs. TommyTsiolis, still giddy from the experi-ence. "I was shaking and cryingand little girls from nearby tableswould come up to me and ask meif I was a real princess," she added,biting a grape from the plate nextto her on Mrs. Arapi’s diningtable, the engagement ringsparkling on her finger.

Mrs. Arapi pampers hercustomers not only by keepinggrapes on her table, but also withher skincare products, which con-tain grape-seed extract – a stronganti-oxidant – as well as ginsengand other natural ingredients.

"The notion that only the bigcosmetics companies make good,natural products is so false," saidMrs. Arapi, arguing in favor of en-trepreneurs like herself. "Oftenwhat you pay for in a big companyis the packaging, the image, or theperson at the counter. But Vita-min E is still Vitamin E, whateverthe packaging may be."

Among her large variety ofproducts, Mrs. Arapi is especiallyproud of her lip gels. "My lipplumping lip gels have caught on,it’s such a hot product right now,"she said. "My products don’t burnyour lips and don’t tingle." The

makeup artist also makes men’sskincare products aiming at the so-called "metrosexual male" with astrong aesthetic sense. "You’d besurprised at how many Greek guyslike my shaving gels and men’smoisturizer," Mrs. Arapi said. Asfor her tips to future brides, theyare quite simple:

"Drink a lot of water because itplumps the skin and leaves it fresh;use a toner, moisturizer and

cleanser, and no matter what ageyou are, an eye cream every day.Makeup can only do so much; youhave to take care of your skin inorder to keep it on an optimal lev-el for your big day," she said.

"Make sure you try differentstyles of gowns before makingyour choice. That way you’ll knowwhat looks best on your body,"Mrs. Malahias said.

"And be open to ideas," Mrs.Athineos added. "Don’t be fixatedon one thing. Enjoy the experi-ence," noting that practically all ofthe brides who come in her storehave a clear idea of what theywant, but that it often takes a pro-fessional to make it happen.

"Some will say ‘I want to looklike Cinderella,’ " she explained."What that look entails is usually adress with a fair share of tulle andrhinestones. Those looking forsomething sophisticated, would gofor a dress with soft and delicateappliqués in silk, satin or organza."

This coming year, bridal fash-ion dictates cream or pearl-col-ored dresses with gold or beigetrimmings.

"A woman the other day washugging Irene after she helped herfind her gown. She is a wonderfulsales person," Mrs. Malahias saidabout her partner. Ultimately, forMrs. Athineos, Mrs. Malahias andMrs. Arapi, dealing with brides isall about understanding the pro-cess of preparing for a weddingand having enjoyed that processoneself. They all looked back withnostalgia at their days as brides-to-be.

"I still smile when I think aboutmy wedding," said Mrs. Athineos."I had a big 80’s’ gown," recalledMrs. Malahias, "with the typical‘80’s long train and puffy sleeves. Ihate it now," she laughed, "but I re-ally, really enjoyed my wedding,"she added.

"Being engaged is one of thebest times in a relationship.You’re kind of pampered and tak-

ing your time to bond with your fi-ancé," said Mrs. Arapi, a mother oftwo daughters, Antonia, 11, andKali, 7. "I hope that my daughterswill have in their relationships thefreedom and support I get frommy husband. I want to make thisbusiness a success, for them," sheadded. "Maybe one day they cansay, ‘my mother started this busi-ness from her dining room tableand her computer.’ "

Greek AmericanBusinesswomen

find opportunityin Wedding Industry

Continued from page 1

Make-up artist Eleni Arapi, owner of Eleni NY Cosmetics adds the fi-nal touches to her client Matina Tsoungos, who got engaged last mon-th. Eleni, a professional relies a lot on weddings and engagement par-ties to broaden her clientele.

Eleni Arapi, sitting right, her client Matina Tsoungos, standing left,and Mrs. Arapi’s daughters Antonia, back and Kali, middle, with theirfriend Katerina, front. "Maybe one day my daughters can say, ‘mymother started this business from her dining table and her computer,’"said Mrs. Arapi, who started her own cosmetics line Eleni NY Cosmet-ics last summer.


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The Sacrament of the Holy Matrimony (or the Sacrament ofmarriage) in the Greek Orthodox Church was originally part ofthe Holy Liturgy. It later became an independent sacrament.The word sacrament comes from the latin word sacramentum,

the oath of loyalty upon death that Roman soldiers took to theiremperor. In the Greek Orthodox Church, the marriage sacra-ment is a couple’s oath of loyalty to each other and to JesusChrist. During the ceremony, the couple exchange rings, are lat-

er crowned while the priest sings "O Lord, our God, crown themwith glory and honor" and finally drink from a common cup. Allthree actions symbolize the strength of the couple’s new bondand their sharing of a common life with both joy and struggle.

The Sacrament of the Holy Matrimony

The priest stands before the RoyalDoors, looking towards the two whoare to be Betrothed; and they standoutside the Royal Doors, the man tothe right, and the woman on the left.On the right side of the Holy Altarare placed the two rings. The priesttakes up the censer and censes theholy icons, the bridal pair, and thepeople.

Then the priest asks the pride isshe wishes to marry the groom, andthe groom if she wishes, to marry thebride. The Priest then says:

Priest: Blessed is our God al-ways, both now and ever, and tothe ages of ages.

Choir: AmenPriest: In peace let us pray to

the LordChoir: Lord have mercy.Priest: For the peace from

above; for the salvation of oursouls; let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace of the wholeworld; for the stability of the holyChurches of God; and for theunion of all; let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy House, and forthem that with faith, reverence,and the fear of God enter therein;let us pray to the Lord.

For our Most Reverend Arch-bishop (Name), for the venerablePriesthood, the Diaconate inChrist; for all the Clergy; and for

all the people; let us pray to theLord.

For the servant of God (Name)and the servant of God (Name)who now pledge themselves to oneanother, and for their salvation; letus pray to the Lord.

That there may be promised un-to them children for the continu-ation of their race, granting untothem all their prayers untosalvation; let us pray to the Lord.

The He send down upon themlove perfect and peaceful, and givethem His protection; let us pray tothe Lord.

That He may keep them in one-ness of mind, and in steadfastnessof the Faith; let us pray to theLord.

That He may bless them in har-mony and perfect trust; let us prayto the Lord.

That He may keep the courseand manner of their life blameless;let us pray to the Lord.

That the Lord God may grantunto them an honorable marriageand a bed undefiled; let us pray tothe Lord.

That we may be delivered from

all tribulation, wrath, danger andnecessity; let us pray to the Lord.

Help us; save us; have mercy onus and keep us, O God, by YourGrace.

Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, exceedinglyblessed glorious Lady Theotokosand Ever-Virgin Mary, with all theSaints, let us commend ourselvesand one another and all our life toChrist our God.

Choir: To You, O God.Priest (aloud): For to You are

due all Glory, honor, and worship,to the Father, and to the Son, andto the Holy Spirit, both now andever, and to the ages of ages.

Choir: AmenPriest: Let us pray to the Lord.Choir: Lord have mercy.Priest (aloud): O God eternal,

Who has brought together intounity the things which before hadbeen separate, and in so doing im-pose on them and indissolublebond of love, Who did bless Isaacand Rebecca, declaring them to bethe inheritors of Your promise: doYou Yourself (+) bless these Yourservants (Name) and (Name), di-

recting them into every good work.For You are a merciful and

loving God, and to You do we sendup all Glory: to the Father, and tothe Son, and to the Holy Spirit,both now and ever, and to the agesof ages.

Choir: AmenPriest: Peace be to all. (+) And

to your spirit.Let us bow our heads before the

Lord. To You, O Lord.O Lord our God, Who es-

poused the Church as a pure virgincalled from out of the Centiles,bless this Betrothal (+) unitingthese Your servants, keeping themin peace and oneness of mind.

For to You are due all Glory,honor, and worship; to the Father,and to the Son, and to the HolySpirit, both now and ever, and tothe ages of ages.

Choir: AmenThen the Priest takes the rings,

blessed them, makes with them theSign of the Cross over the man’shead, and says:

The servant of God (Name) isbetrothed to the servant of God(Name), in the Name of the Fa-

ther, and of the Son, and of theHoly Spirit. (Thrice) Amen.

At the third time, the Priest putsthe woman’s ring on the man’s rightfinger, and the man’s ring on the wo-man’s right finger. Then theGroomsman exchanges the ringsthrice.

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.Choir: Lord have mercy.Priest: O Lord our God, Who

accompanied the servant of the pa-triarch Abraham to Mesopotamia,when he was sent to espouse a wifefor his lord Isaac, and did reveal tohim a sign by the drawing of waterto betroth Rebecca; do You Your-self bless the betrothal of theseYour servants (Name) and (Name)and confirm the word that hasbeen spoken by them; for You, OLord, from the beginning have cre-ated male and female, and by theYou is a woman joined to a manfor assistance and for the continu-ation of the human race. There-fore, O Lord God, Who have sentforth Your truth to Your inheri-tance and Your promise to Yourservants, our fathers, who wereYour elect, do You give regard un-

to this Your servant (Name) andYour servant (Name), and sealtheir betrothal in faith, in onenessof mind, in truth and in love. ForYou, O Lord, have declared that apledge is to be given and held invi-olate in all things. By a ring Josephwas given might in Egypt; by a ringDaniel was exalted in Babylon; by aring the truth of Thamar was mademanifest; by a ring our heavenlyFather showed compassion uponHis prodigal son, for He said, “Puta ring upon his right hand, kill thefatted calf, and let us eat and re-joice.” Your own right hand, OLord, armed Moses in the RedSea. Yea, by the word of Yourtruth were the Heavens establishedand the earth set upon her surefoundations; and the right hands ofYour servants shall be blessed byYour mighty word, and by Youruplifted arm. Wherefore, OSovereign Lord, do You Yourselfbless this putting on of rings withYour heavenly benediction; andmay Your Angel go before them allthe days of their life, for You areHe that blesses and sanctifies allthings, and to You do we send upGlory: to the Father, and to theSon, and to the Holy Spirit, bothnow and ever, and to the ages ofages.

Choir: Amen.

The service of the Betrothal

If the Coronation follows the Be-trothal immediately, then after the“Amen” of the Ekphonesis (“For Youare He that blesses and sanctifies...),the Priest censes in front of the Altar,and goes out and censes the Ikonosta-sion. The Processional Psalm is thensung.

The Processional PsalmBlessed is everyone that fears the

Lord.Choir: (sings after every verse)

Glory to you, O our God, Glory toyou.

Priest: That walks in His ways,Choir: Glory to You,...Priest: For you shall eat the labor

of your hands.Priest: Blessed are you, and it

shall be well with you.Priest: Your wife shall be as a

fruitful vine on the sides of yourhouse.

Priest: Your Children like youngolive plants around your table.

Priest: Behold! The man shall beblessed that fears the Lord.

Priest: The Lord shall bless youout of Zion, and you shall see thegood things of Jerusalem all the daysof your life.

Priest: Yea! You shall see your

children’s children, and peace beupon Israel.

Choir: Glory to you,...Turning towards the East and rais-

ing the Holy Gospel, the Priest says:Blessed is the Kingdom of the Fa-ther, and of the Son, and of the HolySpirit, both now and ever, and to theages of ages.

Choir: Amen.During the Easter season “Christ is

risen” is sung thrice. The Priest saysthe Synapte, and the Choir respondsto each petition by singing “Lord havemercy.”

Priest: In peace let us pray to theLord.

For the peace from above; forthe salvation of our souls; let us prayto the Lord.

For the peace of the wholeworld; for the stability of the holyChurches of God; and for the unionof all; let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy House; and forthem that with faith, reverence, andthe fear of God enter therein; let us

pray to the Lord.For our Most Reverend Arch-

bishop (Name), for the venerablePriesthood, the Diaconate in Christ;for all the Clergy; and for all thepeople; let us pray to the Lord.

For the servants of God (Name)and (Name), who are now beingjoined to one another in the com-munity of Marriage, and for theirsalvation; let us pray to the Lord.

That this marriage may beblessed as was that of Cana ofGalilee; let us pray to the Lord.

That there may be given untothem soberness of life, and fruit ofthe womb as may be most expedientfor them; let us pray to the Lord.

That they may rejoice in the be-holding of sons and daughters; let uspray to the Lord.

That there may be granted untothem the happiness of abundant fer-tility, and a course of life blamelessand unashamed; let us pray to theLord.

That there may be granted unto

them and unto us all prayers thattend unto salvation; let us pray tothe Lord.

That both they are we may be de-livered from tribulation, wrath, dan-ger, and necessity; let us pray to theLord.

Help us; save us; have mercy onus and keep us, O God by YourGrace.

Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, exceedinglyblessed glorious Lady Theotokosand Ever-Virgin Mary, with all theSaints; let us commend ourselvesand one another and all our life toChrist our God.

Choir: To You, O God.Priest: For to You are due all

Glory, honor, and worship: to theFather, and to the Son, and to theHoly Spirit, both now and ever antto the ages of ages.

Choir: AmenPriest: Let us pray to the Lord.Choir: Lord have mercy.Priest (aloud): O God most

pure, Author of all creation, Whothrough Your manbefriending lovetransformed a rib of Adam the fore-father into a woman, and blessedthem and said “Increase and multi-ply, and have dominion over theearth;” and, by the conjoining, de-clared them both to be one member,for because of this a man shall for-sake his father and his mother, andshall cleave unto his wife, and thetwo shall be one flesh—and whomGod has joined together let not manput asunder; Who did also blessYour servant Abraham, and openedthe womb of Sara, and made himthe father of many nations; Who be-stowed Isaac upon Rebecca, andblessed her offspring; Who joinedJacob and Rachel, and from themmade manifest the twelve patri-archs; Who yoked Joseph and Asen-ath together, and as the fruit of gen-eration did bestow upon themEphrem and Manasse; Who ac-cepted Zacharias and Elizabeth,and declared their offspring the

Forerunner; Who out of the root oflesse, according to the flesh, pro-duced the Ever-Virgin Mary, andfrom her were Incarnate-born forthe salvation of the human race;Who through Your unspeakableGrace and plentiful goodness werepresent in Cana of Galilee, andblessed the marriage there, that Youmight show a lawful union, and ageneration therefrom, is accordingto Your Will; do You Yourself, OMost Holy Master, accept theprayer of us, Your servants; and asYou were present there, be presentalso here with Your invisible protec-tion. Bless (+) this marriage andgrant unto these Your servants(Name) and (Name) a peaceful life,length of days, chastity, love for oneanother in a bond of peace, off-spring long-lived, fair fame byreason of their children, and a crownof glory that does not fade away. Ac-count them worthy to see their chil-dren’s children. Keep their wedlocksafe against every hostile scheme;give them every of the dew from theHeavens above, and of the fatness ofthe earth. Fill their houses with

The Service of the Crowning

Continued on Page 18

bountiful food, and with every goodthing, that they may have to give tothem that are in need, bestowing al-so on them that are unto salvation.For a God of mercy and of compas-sion, and of manbefriending loveare You, and to You do we send upGlory, as to Your eternal Fatherand Your All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever,and to the ages of ages.

Choir: AmenPriest: Let us pray to the Lord.Choir: Lord have mercy.The priest says aloud this prayer:Blessed are You, O Lord our

God, Holy Celebrant of mysticaland pure marriage, Maker of thelaws that govern earthly bodies,Guardian of incorruption, Kindlyprotector of the means of life: doYou Yourself now, O Master, Whoin the beginning created man, andappointed him as the king of cre-ation, and said, “It is not good forman to be alone upon the earth; letus make a helpmate for him;” then,taking one of his ribs, made woman,

who when Adam saw, he said, “Thisis now bone of my bones, and fleshof my flesh, for she was taken out ofher man. For this cause shall a manforsake his father and his mother,and cleave unto his wife, and twoshall be one flesh,” and “whom Godhas joined together, let no man putasunder.” And now, O Master, Lordour God, send down Your heavenlyGrace upon these Your servants,(Name) and (Name), and grant untothis woman to be in all things subjectunto the man, and to this Yourservant to be at the head of the wo-man, that they live according toYour Will. (+) Bless them, O Lordour God, as You blessed Abrahamand Sara. (+) Bless them, O Lordour God, as You blessed Isaac andRebecca. (+) Bless them, O Lordour God, as You blessed Jacob andall the Prophets. (+) Bless them, OLord our God, as You blessedJoseph and Asenath. (+) Blessthem, O Lord our God, as Youblessed Moses and Zipporah. (+)Bless the, O Lord our God, as Youblessed Joakim and Anna. (+) Blessthem, O Lord our God, as You

blessed Zacharias and Elizabeth.Preserve them, O Lord our God, asYou preserved Noah in the Ark.Preserve them, O Lord our God, asYou preserved Jonah in the jaw ofthe seabeast. Preserve them, O Lordour God, as You preserved the holyThree Children from the fire, whenYou sent down upon them the dewof the Heavens. And may that joycome upon them which the blessedHelen had when she found the Pre-cious Cross. Remember them, OLord our God, as You rememberedEnoch, Shem, and Elias. Remem-ber, O Lord our God, the weddingcompany that here have come to-gether, to be present at this rejoic-ing. Remember, O Lord our God,Your servant (Name) and Yourservant (Name), and bless them.Give to them fruit of the womb, fairchildren, concord of soul and body.Exalt them as the cedars ofLebanon, and as well-cultured vine;bestow on them a rich store of suste-nance, so that having a sufficiency ofall things for themselves, they mayabound in every good work that isgood and acceptable before You.

Let them behold their children’schildren as newly planted olive treesround about their table; and, beingaccepted before You, let them shineas stars in the Heavens, in You, ourLord, to Whom are due all Glory,honor, and worship, as to Your eter-nal Father, and Your All-Holy,Good, and Life-creating Spirit, bothnow and ever, and to the ages ofages.

Choir: Amen.Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.Choir: Lord have mercy.Priest: Holy God, Who fash-

ioned man from the dust, and fromhis rib fashioned woman, and joinedher to him as a helpmate for him, forit was seemly unto Your Majesty forman not to be alone upon the earth,do You Yourself, O SovereignLord, stretch forth Your hand fromYour holy dwelling place, and Join[When this is said, the priest joins theirright hands] together this Yourservant (Name) and Your servant(Name), for by You is a wife joinedto her husband. Join them togetherin oneness of mind; crown themwith wedlock into one flesh; grant tothem the fruit of the womb, and thegain of well-favored children, forYours is the dominion, and Yours isthe Kingdom, and the Power, andthe Glory: of the Father, and of theSon, and of the Holy Spirit, bothnow and ever, and to the ages ofages.

Choir: Amen.After the Amen, the Priest, taking

up the Crowns, crowns first the Bride-groom, saying:

Priest: The servant of God(Name) is crowned for the servant ofGod (Name), in the name of the Fa-ther, and of the Son, and of the HolySpirit. Amen. (Thrice).

And he crowns the Bride, saying:Priest: The servant of God

(Name) is crowned for the servant ofGod (Name), in the Name of the Fa-ther, and of the Son, and of the HolySpirit. Amen. (Thrice).

The Priest takes the Crown of theGroom in his right hand, and theCrown of the Bride in his left, andplaces them on their heads while heintones:

Priest: O Lord, our God, crownthem with glory and honor.

Let us attend.Reader (Prokeimenon, in Tone

8): You have set upon their headscrowns of precious stones.

They asked life of You, and Yougave it to them.

Priest: Wisdom!Reader: The Reading from the

Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul tothe Ephesians (5:20-33)

Priest: Let us attend.Reader: Brethren, give thanks al-

ways for all things in the name of ourLord Jesus Christ to God the Fa-ther. Be subject to one another outof reverence for Christ. Wives, besubject to your husbands, as to theLord. For the husband is the head ofthe wife as Christ is the head of thechurch, his body, and is himself itsSavior. As the church is subject toChrist, so let wives be also subject ineverything to their husbands. Hus-bands, love your wives, as Christloved the church and gave himselfup for her, that he might sanctifyher, having cleansed her by thewashing of water with the word, thathe might present the church to him-self in splendor, without spot orwrinkle or any such thing, that shemight be holy and without blemish.Even so husbands should love theirwives as their own bodies. He wholoves his wife loves himself. For noman ever hates his own flesh, butnourishes and cherishes it, as Christdoes the church, because we aremembers of his body. “For this

reason a man shall leave his fatherand his mother and be joined to hiswife, and the two shall become one.”This is a great mystery, and I take itto mean Christ and the church;however, let each one of you love hiswife as himself, and let the wife seethat she respects her husband.

Priest: Peace be to you who read.Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.Priest: O Lord, You shall keep

us and You shall preserve us fromthis generation forth and forever.

Priest: Wisdom! Let us attend!Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Peace be to all. (+)Choir: And to your spirit.Priest: The Reading from the

Holy Gospel according to St. John.(John 2:1-11)

Choir: Glory to You, O Lord,Glory to You.

Priest: At that time there was amarriage at Cana in Galilee, and themother of Jesus was there; Jesus al-so was invited to the marriage, withhis disciples. When the wine failed,the mother of Jesus said to him,“They have no wine.” And Jesussaid to her, “O woman, what haveyou to do with me? My hour has notyet come.” His mother said to theservants, “Do whatever he tellsyou.” Now six stone jars were stand-ing twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus


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Continued from page 22

said to them, “Fill the jars withwater.” And they filled them up tothe brim. He said to them. “Nowdraw some out, and take it to thesteward of the feast.” So they took it.When the steward of the feast tastedthe water now become wine, and didnot know where it came from(though the servants who had drawnthe water knew), the steward of thefeast called the bridegroom and saidto him, “Every man serves the goodwine first; and when men havedrunk freely, then the poor wine;but you have kept the good wine un-til now.” This, the first of his signs,Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, andmanifested his glory; and his disci-ples believed in him.

Choir: Glory to You, O Lord,Glory to You.

The Priest gives the Book of theGospels to the Bride and the Groomto be kissed, and then continues withthe following petitions. After each, theChoir responds thrice with “Lordhave mercy”

Priest: Let us say with all oursoul and all our mind, let us say:

O Lord Almighty, God of ourFathers, we pray You, listen andhave mercy.

Have mercy on us, O God, ac-

cording to Your great mercy; wepray You, listen and have mercy.

Again let us pray for the servantsof God, (Name) and (Name), thatthey may have mercy, life, health,peace, safety, salvation, pardon andremission of their sins.

Priest: For You are a mercifuland loving God, and to You do wespend up Glory; to the Father, andto the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,both now and ever, and to the agesof ages.

Choir: Amen.Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.Choir: Lord have mercy.Priest (facing the married

couple): O Lord our God, Who inYour saving Providence didpromise in Cana of Galilee to de-clare marriage honorable by Yourpresence, do You Yourself preservein peace and oneness of mind theseYour servants (Name) and (Name),whom You are well pleased shouldbe joined to one another. Declaretheir marriage honorable. Preservetheir bed undefiled. Grant that theirlife together be with be without spotof sin. And assure that they may beworthy to attain unto a ripe old age,keeping Your commandments in apure heart.

For You are our God, the Godto have mercy and save, and to Youdo we spend up all Glory, as toYour Eternal Father, and Your All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spir-it, both now and ever, and to theages of ages.

Choir: Amen.Priest: Help us; save us; have

mercy on us, and keep us, O God,by Your Grace.

Choir: Lord have mercy.Priest: That the whole day may

be kept perfect, holy, peaceful, andsinless; let us ask of the Lord.

Choir responds to each petitionsaying: O Lord, grant this prayer.

Priest: An Angel of Peace, afaithful Guide, a Guardian of oursouls and bodies; let us ask of theLord.

Pardon and remission of our sinsand offenses; let us ask of the Lord.

All things that are good andprofitable for our souls, and peacefor the whole world; let us ask of theLord.

That we may complete the re-maining time of our life in peaceand repentance; let us ask of theLord.

A Christian ending to our life,painless, without shame, peaceful;

and a good defense before thedread Judgment Seat of Christ; letus ask of the Lord.

Asking for the unity of the Faithand the Communion of the HolySpirit, let us commend ourselvesand one another and all our life toChrist our God.

And account us worthy, OSovereign Lord, with boldness andwithout condemnation to dare callon You, the Heavenly God, as Fa-ther, and to say: Our Father, Who are in Heaven, Hol-lowed be Your Name; Your Kingdom come.Your Will be done on earth as it is inHeaven. Give us this day our daily bread; Andforgive us our trespasses,As we forgive those who trespassagainst usAnd lead us not into temptation.But deliver us from evil.

Priest: For Yours is the Kingomand the Power and the Glory, of theFather, and of the Son, and of theHoly Spirit, both now and ever, andto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.Priest: Peace (+) be to all.Choir: And to your spirit.Priest: Let us bow our heads be-

fore the Lord.Choir: To You, O Lord.Then the common cup is offered.Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.The Priest blesses the cup saying

this prayer: Priest: O God, Who by Your

might create all things, ad confirmthe universe, and adorn the crown ofall things created by You, do You,with Your spiritual blessing (+),bless also this common cup given tothem that are joined in the com-munity of marriage.

For blessed is Your Holy Name,and glorified is the Kingdom of theFather, and of the Son, and of theHoly Spirit, both now and ever, andto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.Then the Priest gives them to drink

thrice from the cup, first to the man,then to the woman, chanting:

Priest: I will drink from the cupof salvation; I will call upon thename of the Lord.

Then he takes the Bridal Pair,while the Groomsman holds theCrowns behind and above them, andleads them in a circle around theAnalogion thrice. The people sing:(Tone 5)

Choir: O Isaiah, dance your joy,for the Virgin was indeed with child;and brought to birth a Son, that Em-manuel, Who came as both God andman; Day-at-the Dawn is the NameHe bears, and by extolling Him, Wehail the Virgin as blessed.

Hear us, you martyred Saints,who fought the good fight, gainingcrowns: entreat the Lord to shed Histender mercy on our souls.

Glory to You, O Christ our God,Your Apostles’ proudest boast andtreasure of Your Martyrs’ joy, Whoto all proclaimed the ConsubstantialTrinity.

Then the Priest removes theCrowns, taking first that of the Groomand saying:

Priest: Be magnified, O Bride-groom, as Abraham, and blessed asIsaac, and increased as was Jacob.Go your way in peace, performing inrighteousness the commandmentsof God.

He takes the Crown of the Brideand says:

Priest: And you, O Bride, bemagnified as was Sarah, and re-joiced as was Rebecca, and in-creased as Rachel, being glad inyour husband, keeping the paths ofthe Law, for so God is well pleased.

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.Choir: Lord have mercy.Now the Priest says this prayer: Priest: O God our God, Who

was present in Cana of Galilee, andblessed the marriage there, do You(+) also bless these Your Servants,who, by Your Providence, are joinedin the community of marriage. Blesstheir comings-in and their goings-out. Replenish their life with allgood things. Accept [Here the priestlifts the crowns from the hands of thebride and groom and places on thetable] their crowns in Your King-dom unsoiled and undefiled; andpreserve them without offense tothe ages of ages.

Choir: AmenPriest: Peace be to all. (+)Choir: And to your spirit.Priest: Let us bow our heads be-

fore the Lord.Choir: To You, O Lord.Priest: The Father, the Son, and

the Holy Spirit; the All-Holy, Con-substantial and Life-creating Trin-ity; One Godhead and Kingdom,bless (+) you; grant to you long life,well-favored children, progress inlife and in Faith; replenish you withall the good things of the earth, andcount you worthy of the promisedblessings, through the intercessionsof the holy Theotokos, and of all theSaints.

Choir: Amen.Priest: Glory to You, O Christ

our God and our hope; glory toYou.

Glory to the Father and to theSon and to the Holy Spirit, both nowand ever, and to the ages of ages.

Amen. Lord have mercy; Lord havemercy; Lord have mercy.

He, Who by His presence inCana of Galilee declared marriageto be honorable, Christ our trueGod, through the intercessions ofHis all-pure Mother, of the holy,glorious, and all-praiseworthyApostles, of the holy, God-crowned and Equal-to-the-Apos-tles Constantine and Helen, of theHoly great Martyr Procopios, andof all the holy Saints, have mercyon us and save us, as our good andloving Lord.

Through the prayers of our holyFathers...

Choir: Amen.



The priest takes the Bridal Pair, while the Groomsman holds the Crowns behind and above them, and leadsthem in a circle around the Analogion thrice, while the wedding guests throw rice.

The crowns are attached by a ribbon and they are switched three timeson the heads. These crowns symbolize that the marriage is noble, andthat the couple will begin a new dynasty together. For the rest of theservice, they are viewed as a king and queen, and from this point on,neither the bride nor groom can speak. Lastly, the couple exchange thewedding bands three times. The rings are one of the most symbolic as-pects of the service because they signify an everlasting relationship.


By Aris Papadopoulos

Christos Petrides is a youngman, whose talent was first noticedby Costas Faliacos 12 years ago.Mr. Faliacos’ instinct served himwell. Since 2003, Petrides has tak-en on the general management ofFaliacos Couturier – world renownfor its bridal gowns and hautecouture- deciding that he must ap-proach the everyday Greek wo-man with fashions that he designshimself, and offers through adeluxe prêt a porter collection.Mr. Petrides now designs andsupervises everything that comesout of Faliacos Couturier. HauteCouture, prêt a porter deluxe andwedding-chic a porter.

TNH: Do you consider whatyou do to be hard work?

Petrides: Very hard, because inGreece there is no domestic fash-ion industry that can support us, soI have to do everything on my own.I import the materials, I design mypieces, and I monitor the inter-national exhibitions and showspersonally. At the same time Ihave to assure that we keep ourprices lower than foreign hautecouture, and maintain our excep-tionally high-quality.

TNH: Tell us about your hautecouture, this "goddess" that grantsFrance and Italy more foreignexchange revenue than any otherindustry.

Petrides: Haute Couture is aphilosophy. Many women mayhave the required funds to pur-chase Haute Couture, but thecustomer needs to be able to un-derstand it. Which piece is repre-sentative of her personality andsuits her best. Every creation isunique and for a designer it is nec-essary to "live" with his client, inorder to get a sense of her psychol-ogy, in order to learn who she real-ly is. And like any art form – lestwe forget that these creations aresubsequently sought after by mu-seums and collectors- its expen-sive.

‘On the other hand>, he con-tinues, <the philosophy of prêt-a-porter is totally different. We helpwomen choose something thatsuits her daily needs, and we alsoneed to function within the con-fines of a competitive market. We

seek to get our collections out sixmonths ahead of time, to offer awide variety of sizes, and to offermore casual options for thedaytime and more feminine op-tions for evening wear’.

For his prêt a porter collection,Mr. Petrides maintains very highstandards, importing all of hismaterials, and applies the samestringent criteria to his bridalgowns, where each woman canfind her perfect combination. "I al-ways make a point of offering nu-merous options to all my clients, soeach woman can find exactly whatshe is looking for."

TNH: But how does he designhis prêt-a-porter fashions?

Petrides: I always keep differ-ent types of women in mind when Ibegin designing my casual andbusiness collections, and makecertain that are comfortable towear. I want my customers to beable to wear my clothes at any timeof the day. My clothes shouldmake my customers feel good, andwith only minor accessorychanges, they can be worn to awide variety of occasions. As far asmy eveningwear is concerned, Idefinitely like showing off a wo-man’s femininity, without beingovertly provocative.

TNH: How satisfied are youwith your success?

Petrides: I think that I am stillin the learning phase. I may besuccessful now, but I always feellike I must still prove my worth.Thank God, my customers arevery supportive, but I don’t thinkthat I will ever be completely satis-fied with my work. Working nextto a true artisan like Mr. Faliakos– an opportunity for which I amextremely grateful- I try to be dig-nified and set the highest stan-dards for myself. I have learned towork hard and for many hourseach day, and most of all I havecommitted myself full to what I do.That’s why I now feel that I amready to take on foreign markets,regardless of how big they may be,and the U.S. market is definitelyone of the biggest challenges forany designer.

Costas Faliakos CoutureCostas Faliakos, who discontin-

ued his legal studies in Athens inorder to study Haute Couture in

Paris, where he worked and livedfor 8 years, created "Costas Fali-akos Couture". Upon returning toGreece, where he initially workedfor famous Parisian and Greekcouturiers, he subsequentlyopened his own boutique.

Christos Petrides is originallyfrom Thessaloniki, and originallybegan working as Costas Faliakos’

intern in September of 1993. _isdesigns first appeared on the run-ways a year later. Costas Faliakoshas since entrusted ChristosPetrides with the management ofthe House which bears his name,and in June of 2004 Petrides pre-sented his first personal collectionentitled "Vive la Grece" at theEkali Club.

A strong entrance in prêt-a-porter for the House of Faliacos

Christos Petrides

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