The Stavropol Greek school celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. There are no other municipal schools like this in Russia. Here they teach not only the Greek language, but also theatrical and visual arts, history and dance. The Greeks, for whom it is important not to lose touch with their historical homeland and their horses, and representatives of other nationalities who are aware of how great the contribution of Greece to the development of modern civilization come here for knowledge.
From persecution to the heritage of Russia
Not the largest Greek community lives in Stavropol - less than two and a half thousand people, but it has a unique educational institution - a municipal Greek school.
This institution of additional education in 2009 was awarded the Grand Medal "National Treasure" of the III degree of the World Public Charitable Movement "Kind People of the World".
There are no more such schools in Russia. And it would not exist at all if it were not for the ardor of its founder, Nikolai Konstantinovich Matsukatidis.
In the photo: School principal Irina Alepova
To revive the Greek education that existed in Stavropol before 1937, he first tried in 1981 by opening Greek language courses. But soon the city committee of the Communist Party banned them, and subjected the organizer to obstruction.
Only 10 years later, the Stavropol Greeks created an association of teachers of the Modern Greek language and established a Sunday Greek school. Thanks to the assistance of the then mayor of the city, Mikhail Kuzmin, on January 1, 2014, it became a municipal one.
Children study there absolutely free of charge. These are not just Greek language courses, which are often optionally introduced in schools in settlements with a compact population of Greeks, but a full-fledged additional education program designed for 8 years.
International language
Sixth-grader Marina honestly says that she came to the Greek school six years ago only because of a friend with whom she does not spill water.
“But I still don’t know the language well, it’s inconvenient to speak it, I’m still Russian,” she admits embarrassedly.
Vlada, the same classmate who brought Marina, Greek is easier.
“I teach it because I myself am Greek by nationality. Well, in general, the language is interesting in pronunciation. Reading Greek is sometimes difficult, sometimes not so much. I wanted to learn the language myself. At home, they speak Greek more, but more often in the old, Pontic, ”she notes.
Both girls also learn English at a comprehensive school. In the school schedule, he comes two or three times a week.
Here, in the building of the former Naytaki hotel on Karl Marx Avenue, they come only on Saturdays. The teacher complains that this is not enough for the full development of a foreign language.
Nevertheless, at the international Olympiads in the Greek language, history and culture, which are held at the school every two years, the Stavropol children show good results.
And this despite the fact that they most often have to compete not with schoolchildren, but with students of the language faculties of universities in Russia and Ukraine. A school similar to the Stavropol one was recently organized in Vladikavkaz, but the term of study in it is only 4 years.
On the one hand, the Greek language is difficult to learn, since it does not belong to the Indo-European group. On the other hand, it contains many familiar words from the field of technology, medicine, biology, geography.
“It can be said that many people throughout the former Soviet Union have a basis for learning Greek,” notes teacher Fedor Pavlov, or rather Theodoros Pavlivis. He himself spoke Greek since childhood, because his parents knew this language, and then he graduated from the same school in order to learn grammar.
Consequences of the crisis
Curly, swarthy Valya goes to a Greek school not to learn how to read and speak, but not to forget the language and learn its grammar.
“I was born in Cyprus, and therefore I have to learn Greek,” she pronounces Russian words slowly, but without errors. “I went to school there for three years. I came to Russia and have been living here for two years. Now I'm in the fifth grade. My father is Greek, my mother is Russian. Mom knows Greek. My dad is also learning Russian. I speak Greek with my father, and Russian with my mother.”
Recently, due to the crisis in Greece, there have been more Greek-speaking students in the Stavropol Greek school, said the director of the school, Irina Alepova.
They help Russian-speaking students to master colloquial speech. Teachers also have difficulties with it, because most of the local Greeks learned the language on their own from books.
Previously, Greece sent its specialists to help the school, who taught children and improved the skills of local personnel. Now these rates have been reduced, and Greeks come to Russia to lecture only at specialized universities.
Economic problems also affected the provision of textbooks.
Before the crisis, the Greek government regularly supplied the school with educational kits produced specifically for other states. There are currently no new entries. Such textbooks are not published in Russia, and Canadian and American textbooks are not always suitable.
Magic of Hellas
The main contingent of students at the school are the children of the Stavropol Greeks. Parents believe that young people should know their native language, even if adults in the family do not know it. There are also those who are going to emigrate, and then this course helps them very well to integrate into Greek society.
Foreign students without language training in Greek schools are placed in a lower class. And children who have studied here for at least a year do not lose time later.
Adults with a diploma from the Stavropol Greek school are more likely to be hired, it is easier for them to obtain a residence permit.
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In the photo: School awards
But there are Russians and Caucasians among the students. A student of the Faculty of History of NCFU, Mark is interested in Greek history and culture of Ancient Hellas, and therefore enrolled in the youth group of the school. For people like him, an evening department is open on weekdays.
In addition to the Greek language, the school studies regional studies - history, dance, fine and theatrical art of Ancient Greece. Children get acquainted with myths, master sirtaki, sing in Greek, draw Stavropol landscapes in the style of Greek masters.
Recently, the puppet theater troupe at the international festival in Crete received a gold medal for a performance based on the Russian folk tale "Teremok" in Greek. Now the guys are rehearsing "Three Little Pigs".
By its 20th anniversary, the school has earned many awards at competitions and festivals, produced dozens of talented students, some of whom entered Greek universities.
At the same time, it also has unresolved problems.
The building in which it is located is in need of renovation. Classes are not equipped with a language system. The lack of a unified program for teaching the Greek language and a textbook on the history of Pontic Hellenism complicates the work.
However, all of this is possible. There would be a desire among the Russian Greeks themselves to preserve and pass on by inheritance the love for the culture, traditions and customs of their ancestors.
0The only Greek school has existed in Stavropol for 20 years. At the same time, the city does not have the largest Greek community. Only about two and a half thousand people. The founder of the educational institution, Nikolai Matsukatidis, tried to open a school for Greek children back in 1981 by organizing Greek language courses. But they did not exist for a long time, they were closed by order of the city committee of the Communist Party. In the early nineties, the Stavropol Greeks created an association of teachers of the Modern Greek language and established a Sunday school. On January 1, 2014, it became municipal.
Children in this school study completely free of charge. This is a full-fledged program of additional education, designed for 8 years. Lessons are held once a week, on Saturdays. Teachers believe that this is extremely small for a full mastery of the Greek language. Nevertheless, at the international Olympiads in the Greek language, history and culture, which are held at the school every two years, the Stavropol children show good results.
And this despite the fact that they most often have to compete not with schoolchildren, but with students of the language faculties of universities in Russia and Ukraine. A school similar to the Stavropol one was recently organized in Vladikavkaz, but the term of study in it is only 4 years.
Many children go to Greek school, not to learn the language, but not to forget it.
- I was born in Cyprus, and therefore I have to learn Greek, - said Greek school student Valentina.“I went to school there for three years. I came to Russia and have been living here for two years. Now I'm in the fifth grade. My father is Greek, my mother is Russian. Mom knows Greek. My dad is also learning Russian. I speak Greek with my father and Russian with my mother.
Due to the crisis in Greece, there were more Greeks in Stavropol, and, accordingly, there were noticeably more students in the Greek school.
— They help Russian-speaking students to master spoken language. Teachers also have difficulties with it, because most of the local Greeks learned the language on their own from books. Previously, Greece sent its specialists to help the school, who taught children and improved the skills of local personnel. Now these rates have been reduced, and Greeks come to Russia to give lectures only at specialized universities,” says school director Irina Alepova.
Before the crisis, the Greek government supplied textbooks to schools, which are printed specifically for Greeks living in other states. There are currently no new entries. Such textbooks are not published in Russia, and Canadian and American textbooks are not always suitable.
Basically, they go to the Greek school in order not to forget their native language, there are also those who are going to leave for permanent residence. Adults with a diploma from the Stavropol Greek school are more likely to be hired, it is easier for them to obtain a residence permit.
But not only Greeks study at the school, there are Russians and Caucasians. Many of them are simply interested in the history and culture of Ancient Hellas. Not only children go to classes, but also young people. They have an evening section. In addition to the language, the school studies regional studies - the history, dances, fine and theatrical art of Ancient Greece. They get acquainted with myths, sing in Greek, draw Stavropol landscapes in the style of Greek masters.
Recently, the puppet theater troupe at the international festival in Crete received a gold medal for a performance based on the Russian folk tale "Teremok" in Greek. Now they are rehearsing "Three Little Pigs".
There are problems at school. The building in which it is located is in need of renovation. Classes are not equipped with a language system. The lack of a unified program for teaching the Greek language and a textbook on the history of Pontic Hellenism complicates the work.
However, all of this is possible. There would be a desire among the Russian Greeks themselves to preserve and pass on by inheritance the love for the culture, traditions and customs of their ancestors.
The ancient Hellenes, as we know, passed anecdotes from mouth to mouth. Their anecdotes were not only instructive and funny, but also expressed the Greek spirit in the most cheerful form and image. They are not written down in a specific text, but scattered in the writings of Plutarch, in the biographies of Diogenes, in the jokes of Hierocles, and so on. So, the Ancient Greeks tried even in serious things and events to find the funny that accompanied them. Here are some of them, which were collected bit by bit by Greek scientists and linguists:
Philosopher Falis ( Φαλής ) told his friends that death is no different from life. One of them asked him, "If that's the case, then why don't you prefer death?" Then the philosopher answered: "Just because it does not differ from life!"
Once, when an Athenian complained that life was bad, the cynical Diogenes ( Διογένης ) answered him: “Life is not bad. Bad bad life."
One chatty barber asked the king of Macedonia Archelaos ( Αρχέλαος ): "How do you want me to cut your hair?" Archelaos replied: "Silence."
In Themistocles (Θεμιστοκλής ) was asked: “Who would you like to be: Achilles ( Αχιλλέας) or Homer (Όμηρος ) ? Themistocles replied: "What would you like to be: the winner of the Olympic Games or the one who names the winners?"
Demosthenes (Δημοσθένης ) caught a thief who wanted to rob him. The thief tried to justify himself: “I didn’t know that it belonged to you ...” To which Demosthenes replied: “Nevertheless, you knew very well that it didn’t belong to you either!”
One evil man wanted to protect his house from everything bad. So, he nailed a sign to the front door, on which it was written: "So that the bad does not enter this house." Diogenes, reading the tablet, remarked: “And from where will the master of the house himself enter?”
When Diogenes saw that the state treasurers had caught a thief for stealing one bottle, he said: "The big thieves caught the little one."
Aristide (Αριστείδης) and Themistocles (Θεμιστοκλής ), two political rivals, were sent as ambassadors to another kingdom. At the border, Aristides said to Themistocles: “Let's leave our enmity at the borders of our country? And if you consider it necessary, then we will continue it as soon as we return to our homeland.
Diogenes went to Plato's house and began to trample on the expensive carpet laid on the floor with dirty feet, saying: "I trample on Plato's arrogance!" Then Plato asked him: “Is not what you are doing now arrogance?”
One day PhilipΦίλιππος ), the king of Macedonia, quarreled with his wife Olympias ( Ολυμπιάδα ). So, the parents of Alexander the Great did not notice the envoy from Corinth, Dimaratos, who entered. To the question of King Philip "Is it calm in Athens?" the envoy replied: "You are more interested in the tranquility in Athens, while at home there is no tranquility."
Diogenes noticed that a little boy was drinking water from a spring, holding out his palm. Then the philosopher threw away his glass, saying: "This little fellow has defeated me in simplicity."
Aristotle was asked: "What do those who lie get?" The philosopher replied: "The fact that no one believes them even when they tell the truth."
The son of one hetaera threw stones at passers-by. Diogenes told him: "Be careful, maybe among those whom you fall into will be your father, whom you do not know."
Diogenes was asked how parents and children should behave among themselves. He replied: “So that some do not wait for others to ask for something, and others do not offer anything first until they are asked.”
Alexander the Great ( Μέγας Αλέξανδρος ) sent Phocion ( Φωκίωνας ) 100 talents (coins). An Athenian politician asked: "Why did Alexander choose me among all the Athenians and give me so much money?" The messengers replied: "Because he considers you an honest person." Phocion refused to accept the money, saying: "So, and I will have the opportunity to consider myself honest."
Once Diogenes begged for mercy from the statue. When asked why he does this, he replied: "I practice so as not to be disappointed by the insensitivity of people."
When the king of Macedonia Philip was at the Olympic Games, the inhabitants of the Peloponnese, despite the fact that they were in his favor, booed him. The king's friends advised Philip to punish the inhabitants, but the king said: "If they are in my favor and react like that, imagine what they will do if I harm them?"
When Diogenes saw one clumsy archer, he stood near the target and said: "This is the only place where he will not fall."
Once at Empedocles ( Εμπεδοκλής ) was asked why he reacts this way when he is scolded. The philosopher replied: “If I do not resent when I am scolded, how can I rejoice when I am praised?”
The Athenians heard Diogenes shouting: “People! People! Come here!" and they ran to him. When a crowd gathered around the elder, he grabbed a stick and began to shout: “I called people, not evil spirits!”
Asked Dionysius Διονύσης ), why his father was able, being a simple citizen, to take power into his own hands, and he himself, his son, lost it. Dionysius replied: "My father did it when democracy was hated, and I lost it when tyranny was ruled by envy."
Diogenes was returning from the Olympic Games. He was asked: "Were there many people at the games?" Diogenes replied: "There were many people, few people."
Epaminondas (Επαμεινώνδας ), seeing an army that did not have a good leader, said: “A big beast without a head!”
At Aristides (Αριστείδης ), who was in exile, was asked what worries him the most. “Bad authority of my homeland. Everyone speaks badly about her because I was sent into exile.
One bald man scolded Diogenes. The philosopher turned and replied: “I will not swear at you, but praise your hair for getting rid of such a brainless head!”
One of the Athenian aristocrats constantly reminded Socrates of his low origin. Once a philosopher answered him: "If I should be ashamed of my humble ancestors, then your noble ancestors should be ashamed of you, such an unworthy descendant."
Once Diogenes was told: "Your fellow citizens have condemned you and are sending you into exile." The philosopher replied: "It was I who condemned them, so that they should live where they live."
Diogenes, seeing that one of the Athenians showed that he was in love with a rich old woman, said: "He clung to her not only with his eyes, but also with his teeth."
Once Diogenes saw a woman who, praying, bent down very strongly in front of the statue of the gods. Then Diogenes approached her and said: “You don’t have to bend down there much, otherwise God will come at some point, stand behind you and ... see ugly things.”
Some praised the man who helped Diogenes. The philosopher himself was indignant; "Why don't you praise me for doing him the honor of accepting help?"
Diogenes was lying and basking in the sun, when Alexander the Great approached him and said: “Diogenes, ask me for everything you want!” The philosopher replied: "I want you to step aside, because your shadow is blocking my sun."
A parent came to Aristippus with a request to enroll his son as a student. The philosopher asked for 500 drachmas for this. My father found this amount to be very large. “Yes, I’ll buy an animal for that kind of money!” “Buy,” said Aristippus, “then you will have two.”
Aristotle was told that someone had scolded him severely. To this, the philosopher calmly replied: “I don’t care at all. When I am absent, they can beat me with whips!”
Diogenes saw that Demosthenes was eating at a cheap tavern. As soon as Demosthenes saw him, he got up out of shame and began to retreat back into the depths of the tavern. And Diogenes shouted to him: "The farther you retreat, the more you go into the depths of the tavern."
Aristippus was told that his wife, Laida, did not love him, but only pretended to. He replied: "It's okay, and wine and fish don't like me, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying them."
Diogenes entered the classroom of one teacher and saw many paintings and statues of the Muses, but few students, and remarked: “If you count the Muses, then you have many students!”
In front of Agisom, the judges of the Olympic Games were praised. He could not stand it and was indignant: "Well, what's surprising is that once every four years they are fair!"
Some close associates of King Philip of Macedonia tried to convince him of the expulsion from the kingdom of a resident who always spoke badly of him. “Are you out of your mind! Philip shouted. “Do you want me to send him to other places so that he scolds me there, where they don’t know me?”
Diogenes asked Socrates what is better for a man to do - marry or remain a bachelor? Socrates replied: "In both cases, he will regret what he did."
In ancient Greek anecdotes, we see both historical figures and ordinary Hellenes, but the common thread in them is the humor of the ancient Greeks, figurative speech, erudition and genius. The Greeks are sharp-tongued, but they never lose pride, honor and their principles. All the charm, all the salt of their questions and answers is so concise, simple and ambiguous at the same time that there is nothing left but to bow before this mind.
Geronda, why did they abolish stress in Greek grammar?
Now, just as people cannot tolerate anything and throw themselves at everyone, so letters cannot tolerate anything - neither sharp nor clothed accents! The letters have become like people: they jump at full speed and do not even put a dot behind them.
What language do some people write in? In one modern translation of the New Testament, I read: "I called my son out of Egypt"? You are my brother, is it possible! The sacred is not separated from the unholy. They write in this way allegedly in order to "level" the language, to bring it to uniformity. But what kind of person, even from the most remote village, would not understand what it means " Out of Egypt I called my Son"? And once on the Holy Mountain, while reading in the refectory of some holy father, translated into modern Greek, I heard that the words "bread", "wine", "Divine Communion" were replaced by modern mundane words used in everyday life. But such words are not suitable [for conveying sacred concepts]! Is it possible? Which of the Greeks does not know what " Artos" and " Enos"?
Geronda, they say that they are going to replace the Greek script with Latin.
Don't worry, it won't happen. They won't get that number. Fortunately, God draws good even from the crooked and evil. Otherwise we would be lost. Tradition, the language did not die even at a time when all written monuments were handwritten, when there were no copiers or other technical devices. So, will they die now, when so many technical means have appeared? No, tradition and language will not perish, no matter how hard you try to destroy them. Look at the Greek settlers from Russia - how they have preserved their customs! They knew the Pontic language, and this helped them. Thus they preserved the tradition. But they left Russia to find freedom, despite the fact that some small freedom was given to them there, in Russia. If they had not left, they would have lived like a bird that was released from its cage and left to fly freely around the room. Wouldn't this bird be homesick in a room? And imagine what it was like for the unfortunate Pontians before!
There are those who want to create a new language. However, the Greek language has a "tongue" from the fiery tongues of Holy Pentecost. No other language can convey the tenets of our faith. And therefore, according to the Providence of God, the Old Testament was translated by seventy interpreters into Greek and the Gospel was also written in Greek. If someone, not knowing the ancient Greek language, is engaged in dogmatics, then he may fall into error. And we removed the ancient Greek language from the school curriculum! A little more time will pass, and Germans will come to our universities to teach us ancient Greek. Then, having become a laughingstock at first, our intellectuals will appreciate the significance of the ancient Greek language and say: "Look, it means that the Church has not in vain preserved the ancient Greek!"
Our Orthodox people seek to destroy. Do you understand what this means? To be an Orthodox people today is a great thing. Before we had a philosophy. Saint Catherine stopped the lips of philosophers, based on philosophy. Philosophers have prepared the way for Christianity. The gospel was written in Greek and spread throughout the world. Then the Greeks enlightened the Slavs. The fact that Hellas exists is very disturbing to some. "She," these people say, "does harm to us. We must destroy her."