Diakovasilis Holds Poetry Reading
BY CATHERINE TSOUNIS

Father Anastasios Diakovasilis.

"Greek blood is not shed aimlessly, it irrigates holy soil and remains glorious," recited Rev. Anastasios Diakovasilis from his second book, Poietiki Anthologia (Poetic Anthology). The poetry reading was held at Holy Cross Church in Whitestone. The Eastern Queens community attended to listen with enthusiasm to poems depicting Greek- American life in Modern Greek.

Father Anastasios, priest emeritus at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, from which he has retired, has lived in America since the early 1960s. Spiritually, he lives in Greece. The poet exists in a world of poetic imagination that draws its inspiration from his memories of his birthplace, Nisyros in the Dodecanese Islands. He remains loyal to the Greek Orthodox faith, Hellenic culture and ethics. His first book, Poietika Stachiologimata (Poetry Collections), and now Poietiki Anthologia (Poetic Anthology) are derived from his joys, sorrows, struggles, hopes and love of God.

The Poetic Anthology is dedicated to his friends: Stefanos Cherpelis, dikaiophylax (guardian) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople; John Tsolis; Renos Georgiou; George Toulaveras and Dimitris Tsoulos. The book is divided into seven sections: ecclesiastical personalities; religious patriotism; community leaders; community events; Cyprus and invasion; and those who are now deceased.

Rev. Anastasias Diakovasilis and Presvitera Maria are one of the finest examples of the traditional Greek Orthodox family. He lives a humble, frugal life with a lack of interest in financial gain. He says the truth. Father Anastasios is unique and a role model to younger members of his ministry. He plans to donate his services to his local church in Nicea, Nysiros.