All About the Goddess Athena

Athena, one of the Olympic Gods, is primarily considered the goddess of wisdom, the arts, war and military victory, and also military strategy. Her parents were Zeus... Read More

Occupied Greece Becomes Hellenic State During World War II

Holding out as long as they could, Greece managed to avoid officially entering World War II until the spring of 1941. With so much happening in the country during th... Read More

Cyrene: The Ancient Athens of Africa

As the Ancient Greeks continued their migrations during the Dark Ages, they began to build an international network of settlements and trade throughout the Mediterra... Read More

Artemis – Goddess of the Hunt

Artemis is one of the twelve main goddesses on Mount Olympus. She is largely known as being the goddess of the hunt and of wild creatures and is usually depicted... ... Read More

The Five Year Dictatorial Regime of Modern Greece

After Greece gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in the early to mid 1800’s, the country entered into a turbulent time period. The country experienced ... Read More

About Ares – God of War

In Greek Mythology, there are twelve main Olympian gods. These gods have their own distinct personalities and relationships with each other. Ares, the God of War, is... Read More

Developing Greece’s Modern Democracy

Though the notion of a democracy was developed in Ancient Greece, the modern road to a democratic state was a long one. When the Turks occupied the Greeks, for examp... Read More

Apollo – Greek God of the Sun

Apollo is one of the Greek Gods who lives on Mount Olympus and is the god of the sun, light, truth, music, poetry, healing, and more. However, his two most... Read More

The Ancient Greeks Head West During the Dark Ages

After the Mycenaean Civilization collapsed, Ancient Greece entered into a dark time. Referred to as the Greek Dark Ages, it appears as if the culture was at a stands... Read More

Following Germany’s Invasion, Greece Falls Under Triple Occupation

Germany’s invasion in April 1941 left Greece a vulnerable country, which soon became divided among three different powers. Once Germany entered Greece they quickly... Read More

All About Aphrodite the Greek Goddess of Love

Aphrodite is the Greek Olympian goddess of love, sexuality, and physical passion. She is a goddess of amazing physical beauty. In every physical rendering of her, sh... Read More

Greek War of Independence

Each year, both the people of Greece and those of Greek descent living throughout the world celebrate Greek Independence Day on March 25. They pin white and blue rib... Read More

World War II to the Greek Military Junta

Greece is a country that is in a fairly vulnerable position. In the Archaic Period, the Greek city-states dealt with an invasion by Persia. Up until 1821, Greece was... Read More

Hera – Queen of the Gods

The people of Ancient Greece worshiped many gods and goddesses. In fact, each of the city-states worshiped one of these gods or goddesses. The people chose one patro... Read More

Greece Loses a Leader, Begins Battle with Germany

In the early hours of October 28, 1940, the Italian minister in Athens delivered an ultimatum to Greece’s Prime Minister, Ioannnis Metaxas from the Italian Prime M... Read More

Ancient Greeks Look East After the Fall of Mycenae

Around 1100 BC, Greece had reached a turning point in its early history. The Minoan Civilization, which has been credited as being the first civilization in Greece, ... Read More

Zeus – King of the Gods

Ancient Greece was polytheistic, meaning that the people worshiped multiple gods and goddesses. Each god or goddess watched over something. For example, Athena was t... Read More

Overview of Early Modern Greek History

Greece is a country that is in a fairly vulnerable position. In the Archaic Period, the Greek city states dealt with an invasion by Persia. Up until 1821, Greece was... Read More

How Did the Greek City-States Begin?

Ancient Greece looked very different than modern Greece does. Today, Greece is one country with one central government throughout. However, back in the Archaic Perio... Read More

Greece Enters World War II via the Greco-Italian War

Europe on the Brink of War World War II began on September 1, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland claiming that Poland had sabotaged German targets. Two days later, the... Read More

Brief Overview of the History of Cyprus

Cyprus has a rich history dating back for thousands of years, if not longer. Its history is just as turbulent as it is long. today, Cyprus is split where part... Read More

History of the Jewish People in Greece

The presence of the Jewish people dates back several centuries in Greece. Though the community flourished for a long time in Greece, especially in the cities, it did... Read More

Aristarchus of Samos – Ancient Greek Astronomer

There was a time when people thought that the earth was the center of the universe. Although Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo Galilei got credit for this idea in the... Read More

How the Ancient Greeks Avoided Persian Conquest

Since Ancient Greece wasn’t organized as a large, cohesive country by itself, it was left vulnerable to attack. Instead, Greece was made up of multiple, indepe... Read More

St. Sylvester Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There’s no doubt that the lives of the saints are important to Orthodox Christians. Learning about these saints is part of their daily lives. Through the saint... Read More

St. Juliana Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Learning about the lives of the saints is an important part of being an Orthodox Christian. Most of these saints were alive during the early days of Christianity and... Read More

St. Ignatius Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Learning about the lives of the saints is an important part of being an Orthodox Christian. They are not only looked at as great historical figures in the early life... Read More

St. Eleutherius Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Learning about the lives of the saints is an important part of the Greek Orthodox Church and it’s an integral part of the faith. Not only do we look at... Read More

St. Spyridon Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

The lives of the saints are important to Greek Orthodox Christians. They learn about the saints, celebrate their feast days in church, and some of them are even name... Read More

St. Nicholas Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Most of us know the mythical stories of Saint Nicholas that can be found throughout the world. In the United States, for example, tales of Saint Nicholas are often a... Read More

St. Veronica Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It is true that knowing about the lives of the saints are an important part of being an Orthodox Christian. In many ways, we look up to these saints. Through... Read More

St. Alexander Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It’s true that the saints are an important part of Orthodox Christianity and we celebrate these saints on feast days throughout the year. Some people are even ... Read More

St. Joseph Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There’s no doubt that the saints are an important part of the lives of Orthodox Christians today. We honor these saints throughout the year, and many are even ... Read More

Orthodox Saint Stephen History and Name Day Information

There are plenty of saints that are important to the life of the Orthodox Church and many Orthodox Christians are named after them. Each year, they celebrate their n... Read More

Orthodox Saint Rufus History and Name Day Information

When it comes to the life of Orthodox Christians, the saints and apostles are important, especially since many Christians are named after these saints. Saint Rufus,... Read More

Orthodox Saint Sophia History and Name Day Information

Learning about the lives of the saints is an important thing for Orthodox Christians. Not only do they serve as examples of what it really means to be a Christian,..... Read More

Orthodox Saint Sosthenes History and Name Day Information

The saints are an important part of Orthodox Christianity. People are often named after saints and when they are, they celebrate the saint’s feast day as their... Read More

Orthodox Saint Lydia History and Name Day Information

In addition to learning all about the Bible and the life and works of Jesus Christ, Orthodox Christians also enjoy learning about the lives of the saints. It is also... Read More

Orthodox Saint Timon History and Name Day Information

For Orthodox Christians, the lives of the saints are important. The majority of them are named after one of these saints, and they celebrate their name day, which fa... Read More

Orthodox Saint Timothy History and Name Day Information

Learning about the different saints is an important part of being an Orthodox Christian. In fact, learning about the saints is an integral part of the lives of Chris... Read More

Orthodox Saint Jason History and Name Day Information

The saints are an important part of the church history in Orthodox Christianity. We learn about the lives of the saints as part of our church life, and most Greek...... Read More

Orthodox Saint Mary Magdalene History and Name Day Information

There are many saints in the Greek Orthodox Church, and they all have a special part in the church’s history. Webster’s Dictionary defines a saint as, &#... Read More

Orthodox Saint Demetrius History and Name Day Information

Saints are import to Orthodox Christians because they played an important role in Christianity. They serve as examples as to how Christians should live their lives. ... Read More

Orthodox Saint Christina History and Name Day Information

There were plenty of women who played an important role in the early life of the Orthodox Christian Church, and many of these are now saints. It is considered an... ... Read More

Orthodox Saint Elizabeth History and Name Day Information

It is true that many of the early saints of the Greek Orthodox Church were men, but there were also plenty of female saints throughout the history of the church.... ... Read More

Orthodox Saint Catherine History and Name Day Information

When people in the Orthodox Christian Church name their children, they tend to think about what the child’s name day would be. It is considered to be a great honor... Read More

St. Achaicus Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There’s no doubt that the saints, or apostles play an important role in the Orthodox Christian Church. There are two categories of apostles – the origina... Read More

St. Jude Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

When it comes to the history of the Orthodox Church, the saints play an important role. After all, the apostles are the ones who began to preach about the good... Read More

St. Thomas Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It is true that in the Orthodox Christian Church, people take their name days very seriously. At the root of these special days is the fact that Orthodox Christians ... Read More

St. Bartholomew Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Saint Bartholomew, also known as the Apostle Bartholomew, was one of the Twelve Great Apostles and one of the original followers of Christ. He is mentioned in the Ne... Read More

St. Philip Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

In the Orthodox Christian Church, the lives of the saints are honored and those who are named after these saints celebrate their name days. Saint Philip is one of th... Read More

St. Matthias Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

In the Orthodox Christian Church, Saint Matthias is considered to be one of the Twelve, which are the twelve apostles who were closest to Christ. However, he wasn... Read More

St. John Orthodox Saint History and Name Day

St. John was one of the original Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ, one of the Four Apostles and was also the established author of several books in the New Testament... Read More

St. Luke Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Saint Luke, also referred to as one of the four Apostles, is one of the name days that is celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church. It is true that in... Read More

Learn About Mount Athos

Mount Athos, which is also referred to as the Holy Mountain by the Greeks, is one of the main monasteries of the Greek Orthodox Christian religion. Located on a peni... Read More

Saint Philip of the Seventy Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It’s true that the saints are an important part of the history of the Orthodox Church. We celebrate and learn about the saints throughout the year and each saint h... Read More

Apollo is More Than Just the God of the Sun

Though Apollo is most often referred to as the god of the sun in Ancient Greek mythology, he’s actually a lot more than that. In some of the older myths,... Read More

Evolution of the Greek Gods and Goddesses

Did you know that there were three generations of Greek gods and goddesses? The Olympians are the ones whose tales we are most familiar with. However, there were two... Read More

Greece – Early Years of a Young Nation

By the time the Greek War for Independence began in 1821, Greece was far away from its golden ancient past. After having endured Turkish occupation for around four h... Read More

Hestia – Goddess of the Hearth

In Greek Mythology, Hestia’s main function is that she represented the hearth. According to Webster’s Dictionary, “hearth” is defined as “a brick, stone, o... Read More

Hephaestus – Blacksmith of the Gods

Hephaestus is a more complex god than he initially appears. He is depicted as a burly, muscular god who spends his day wielding a heavy anvil, shaping metal into pow... Read More

Mount Olympus and its Role in Greek Mythology

Mount Olympus is a formidable mountain that looms over the Greek countryside. As the tallest mountain in Greece, it has played a big role in Greece’s history. Not ... Read More

St. Anastasia Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It’s true that the saints are an important part of our church history. As a result of this, Orthodox Christians often make a regular habit of learning about th... Read More

Some of the Most Famous Weapons of Greek Mythology

So, what were the Greek gods and goddesses really like? Each of the myths and stories show us their personalities. One thing that really stands out, though, is that ... Read More

St. Theodora Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

The lives of the saints are important to Orthodox Christians and are an integral part of the life of the people in the church. They learn about what their lives... <... Read More

Stories of Aphrodite – Goddess of Love and Beauty

It is said that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, was born when she emerged from the foam and waves of the sea. Her mysterious birth gives her... Read More

Revealed: An Overview of the Greek War For Independence

With the exception of the Ionian Islands, the Ottoman Empire had ruled all of Greece since its conquest of the Byzantine Empire back in the 14th and 15th centuries. ... Read More

St. Alexis Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There is no doubt that the lives of the saints are important to the Orthodox Church. We celebrate the lives of the saints throughout the year on each of their... Read More

How Echo Lost Her Speech (To An Echo)

The story of the nymph Echo has helped shaped the modern definition of “echo” which is the copy of another sound. Like with many Greek myths that involve unrequi... Read More

The Vengeful Nature of Hera – Queen of the Gods

In Ancient Greek mythology, it seems that the gods and goddesses were either virgins or they constantly cheated on each other. Zeus, the king of the gods, is especia... Read More

St. Xenia Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It’s true that learning about the saints is an important part of Orthodox Christianity. These individuals are all looked at as examples as to how Christians sh... Read More

St. Anthony Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Learning about the lives of the saints is an important part of being an Orthodox Christian. In fact, celebrating the lives of the saints is a regular part of our... ... Read More

St. Leo Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There are a lot of people who played important roles in the early days of the Orthodox Church. Those individuals who stand out as having the greatest impact are fore... Read More

St. Tatiana Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Knowing about the lives of the saints is an important part of being an Orthodox Christian. Not only are their lives a vital part of our church history, but they... <... Read More

Do You Know About the History of the Acropolis?

Athens is a large metropolis that is still thriving today, but it didn’t always look like this. When it had its first inhabitants, it was just a hill with very... ... Read More

The Mycenaean Fall and the Beginning of the Dark Ages

As Chaucer wrote, “All good things must come to an end.” His words couldn’t be truer for the Mycenaeans. After having been the as the reigning civilization in ... Read More

King Midas Should Have Been Careful With His Wishes

Ever hear the phrase, “Be careful what you wish for, it might just come true”? The poster child for this phrase could be King Midas, the King of Phrygia. King...... Read More

The Mycenaean Takeover of Troy Didn’t Last Long

For roughly 500 years, the Mycenaeans dominated Greece. Taking over from the Minoans, the Mycenaeans built cities, established trade with other settlements in the Me... Read More

The Decline of the Hittites Marked the Fall of the Mycenaeans

The Mycenaean civilization thrived throughout what is now modern day Greece for over 500 years thanks to their appetite for war and conquest and the strength the gai... Read More

How Odysseus Tricked Polyphemus the Cyclops to Escape

As if the Trojan War wasn’t enough for Odysseus to deal with. Odysseus was arguably the hero of the Trojan War, since he was the mastermind behind the sneaky plan.... Read More

The History of the Monastery of Daphni

The modern city of Athens has more than its fair share of Byzantine jewels. However, just on the outskirts of the city stands one of the most famous and remarkable..... Read More

Cape Sounion and The Temple of Poseidon

Forty-five miles south east of the heart of modern Athens, the historic Attica peninsula comes to an end in a craggy rocky cliff that juts into the middle of the... ... Read More

The History of The Temple of Aphaia

Just outside the capital city of Athens is the island of Aegina [Grk: Αίγινα], one of the Saronic Islands that are closest to the city in the Saronic Gulf. The... Read More

Atalanta Was No Match For Aphrodite’s Powers

King Iasus believed that all kings deserved a son, not a daughter. So when his daughter Atalanta was born, he was angry. Despite the queen’s persistence, King Iasu... Read More

Phaethon’s Wild Ride Through the Sky

Helios, the sun god, had an extremely important job. Every morning at dawn, he got into his golden chariot that was pulled by four fiery horses. He rose into the... ... Read More

The Unusual Creatures of Greek Mythology

Greek myths are often about the gods and goddesses and the human heroes that had superhuman talents and completed near impossible tasks. However, you’ll also notic... Read More

How Eris’ Jealousy Started the Trojan War

The Trojan War was a bloody battle between the Greeks and the city of Troy that lasted for 10 years. According to Greek mythology, the initial cause of the war... Read More

About Roman Past of Ancient Athens

In the Ancient Greek world, the city-state of Athens was the center of everything. The cultural, political, and social advancements made by the Athenians in a short ... Read More

The Minoans vs. The Mycenaeans

Rise to Power The Minoans The Minoans built their empire on trade. They were experts at travel and made connections with many neighboring civilizations. They traded ... Read More

The Planets’ Relationship with Greek Mythology

If you’re ever looking for a dose of Greek mythology, simply go outside at night and look up. Remember, the Greek gods and goddesses lived high up in the sky... Read More

The Holy Fire and the Roots of the Celebration of Pascha

  On Easter Saturday, Orthodox churches across the world are completely darkened and jam-packed with Orthodox faithful waiting to ‘receive the light’. In a ... Read More

What The Sky Gods Mean to Greek Mythology

The Titan lord of light,  and his wife Theia gave birth to the three gods that control the lightness and the darkness of the sky: Helios, Selene, and Eos. Helios...... Read More

Rouketopolemos – The Greek Rocket War

Greek Easter is known affectionately for many of its uniquely elaborate and historic traditions, whether they are eggs dyed blood red or a lamb roasting on your fron... Read More

All About Hades and the Underworld

After Zeus and his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, defeated the Titans they divided up the world. Zeus became the God of the Skies, Poseidon became the God of the Sea,... Read More

Creating the First Creatures to Live on Earth

The Greek mythology story of creation on Earth begins with the story of Prometheus and Epimetheus, the Titan children and grandsons of Mother Earth. Prometheus was b... Read More

The Rocky Relationship of Zeus and Hera

Zeus, the king of the gods of Mount Olympus, had many relationships but it was his sister, Hera, whom he wanted to rule by his side as his wife. Hera,... Read More

Meet the Twelve Olympians

After Zeus and his brothers and sisters defeated the Titans, they ruled the universe. Zeus became the king of the gods because of his wisdom and strength and each of... Read More

How the Olympians Defeated the Titans

  Many of us think that the main gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece are those who lived on Mount Olympus. While this is true, Greek mythology also has a... Read More

Orthodox Saint David History and Name Day Information

Greek Orthodox Christians really value the lives of the saints. As a result of this, many are named after the saints. The saints are so important, in fact, that many... Read More

Orthodox Saint Cleopas History and Name Day Information

When it comes to the Orthodox Christian Church, the saints are honored on a regular basis. It is a fairly common practice for Orthodox Christians to be named after o... Read More

St. James Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Saint James, also referred to as Apostles James or James, Son of Zebedee, is one of the Twelve Apostles, or the original twelve who followed Christ and were called t... Read More

St. Matthew Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

In the Orthodox Christian Church, people celebrate their name days with even more festivity than their own birthdays. It is a great honor to be named after one of th... Read More

Aristaeus – Greek Minor God of Beekeeping

At first glance, it may not seem as if Aristaeus played an important role in Greek mythology. However, he did have an important place because he devoted himself to a... Read More

Saint Dionysius the Areopagite Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

Knowing about the saints is an integral part of the Orthodox Christian Church and each of the saints has his or her own dedicated feast day. Those who are named... <... Read More

Saint Barnabas Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

When it comes to the Orthodox Christian Church, there is no doubt that the saints are important. Not only are people regularly named after the saints, but many churc... Read More

Saint Athanasius Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

The saints are an important part of the life of Orthodox Christians. Their lives are regularly studies and celebrated, and some are even named after them. They are h... Read More

Saint Methodius Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

The saints of the Orthodox Christian Church have all played a role in the development of the church. They’re so important that their lives are celebrated throu... Read More

Saint Cyril Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

The lives of the saints are important to Orthodox Christians and we diligently remember the saints throughout the year. Some are even named after the saints and thos... Read More

Saint Gregory Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It’s true that learning about thee saints is important to Orthodox Christians, and celebrating their lives is an integral part of the church calendar. Most of the ... Read More

Saint Joanna Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There are many saints who have been part of the history of the Orthodox Church. These saints were alive during various times of our church history, and many of them.... Read More

Saint Theodosia Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

The saints are a big part of the history of the Orthodox Church, and their lives are regularly celebrated throughout the calendar year. Each saint has his or her own... Read More

Saint Justin Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

It’s so true that learning about the saints is a big part of being an Orthodox Christian. Celebrating the lives of the saints is also a regular part of the... Read More

Saint Irene Chrysovalantou Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

The saints are an important part of the Orthodox Christian Church, and their lives are celebrated throughout the year. Many of the saints were alive during the early... Read More

St. Thaddeus Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There’s no doubt that the saints are an important part of Orthodox Christianity. We learn about them and celebrate them throughout the year during their feast ... Read More

St. Benedict Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There’s no doubt that the saints are important to Orthodox Christians. Each saint has his or her own feast day and these are celebrated around the same time ea... Read More

St. Joachim Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

There’s no doubt that the saints are important to the Orthodox Church. We study the lives of the saints because their stories are important to the history of the c... Read More

St. Matrona Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information

All of the saints are important to Orthodox Church. We study their lives and learn about them as a way to understand how to best live our lives. The saints... Read More

About The Battle of Sphacteria

Battle of Sphacteria took place in Ancient Greece during the Sicilian Wars. This battle dates back to 425 B.C.E., a fight between the Athens and Sparta for land duri... Read More