On Wednesday 8 November a double event on the internationally renowned writer Nikos Kazantzakis took place at the University of New South Wales. On the occasion of the 140th anniversary of his birth, the School of Humanities and Languages, UNSW, in collaboration with the Foundation for Greek Studies at UNSW, the Hellenic Society of UNSW, and the Sydney Branch of the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis, organised a screening of Menios Karagiannis’ documentary 33,333: The Odyssey of Nikos Kazantzakis and also a roundtable discussion on the topic The Enigma of Kazantzakis: Writer, Poet, Philosopher or Theologian?
The event was well attended and lasted for three whole hours. People of all ages, both from the Greek community and from the broader Australian society, comprising past as well as present students of UNSW, created an almost cinephile atmosphere and a vibrant audience, which towards the end of the event participated through a brief Q&A session. The Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Ioannis Mallikourtis, honoured the organisers with his presence and in his welcome speech referred pertinently to the work and life of Nikos Kazantzakis, emphasising the importance of such cultural events as to the preservation and engagement of Hellenism in Australia. The Head of the School of Humanities and Languages, UNSW, Professor Timothy O’Leary was represented by Senior Lecturer Dr Natalia Ortiz Ceberio. Present were also the President of the Foundation for Greek Studies at UNSW, Mr Kostas Vertzagias, and also the President and the Vice President of the Hellenic Society, Jonathon Cremen and Kassandra Pegios.
The MC of the event was Mr Themis Kallos, Executive Producer of the Greek Program SBS, who also facilitated the roundtable discussion. The academics that took part in latter were Dr Alfred Vincent, Dr Maria Zarimis and Dr Vassilios Adrahtas. Dr Vincent spoke about Kazantzakis’ self-consciousness as a poet and the varying difficulties of his literary language depending on the genre one considers. Dr Maria Zarimis stressed Kazantzakis as a thinker and a receptor of ideas, especially the ideas related to evolution and Darwinism, while Dr Adrahtas focused on the paramount importance of Kazantzakis as an alternative theologian through his adaptation of process theology and his own peculiar vision of charismatic nihilism.
Present at the event were also many members of the Sydney Branch of the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis, the President of the Hellenic Lyceum Sydney, Mrs Liana Vertzagias, and the President of the Panachaian Philanthropical Association, Mrs Katerina Vetsikas.
Dr Vassilis Adrahtas holds a PhD in Studies in Religion (USyd) and a PhD in the Sociology of Religion (Panteion, Athens). He has taught at several universities in Australia and overseas. Since 2015 he has been teaching ancient Greek Religion and Myth at the University of New South Wales and Islamic Studies at Western Sydney University. Currently he teaches Modern Greek at the School of Humanities and Languages, UNSW. He has published ten books. He has extensive experience in the print media as editor-in-chief, and columnist, and for a while he worked as a radio producer. He lives in Sydney, Australia, his birthplace.
