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GRAPE THERAPY 2013 AZOGIRES STYLE

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The Grape Therapy was taking place in Azogires, magic vilage in the mountains above Paleochora. We were staying in Alfa hotel, had late breakfasts in Alfa café and took it really easy, day by day doing a bit we learned how to pick grapes, how to make traditional wine press and than we pressed them with our feet. Fresh air in the mountains, breathtaking views from vineyards, fresh tasty food and great company, what more you need to know to sing up for next year?? I will see you there :-)


The pictures and  article are by Karolina Smejkalova ,profesional photographer


To take part in next years grape therapy with doctor Gerard you can call 0030 28230 41620 or email at alfacafenion@aol.com










ANANOUNCEMENT

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ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ

Ο Πολιτιστικός σύλλογος Αζωγυρε σας προσκαλεί να έρθετε στο ιερό προσκύνημα τον 99 Άγιων Πατερών που θα λάβει χωρά στο χωριό και έχει ως έξεις πρόγραμμα

Κυριακή 6 Οκτώβριου εσπερινή λειτουργιά στο μοναστήρι τον 99 Άγιων Πατερών ,που μπορείτε επίσης να επισκευτείτε και το λαογραφικό μουσείο του χωρίου ,μετα το μυστηριο ακολουθει γλεντι στο κεντρο του χωριου

Δευτέρα 7 Οκτώβριου μπορείτε να παρακολουθήσετε την πρωινοί λειτουργιά στο ίδιο μοναστήρι

Και επίσης αν έχετε χρόνο αξίζει να επισκεφτείτε και τον Σπήλαιο Ζούρες ,κοιμητηριών τον Άγιων

Τρίτη 8 Οκτώβριου λειτουργιά Άγιου Ιωάννου του Ερημίτη στην γειτονιά Κουκουτσιανών διπλά στον σπήλαιο που κατοίκησε ο Άγιος

Announcement

The cultural Association of Azogires is inviting you to see and be a part of the sacred 3 day celebrations of the 99 Holy fathers , and St, John the Hermit in Azogires - .

A religious gathering that you must not miss the program is

Sunday 6 October evening ceremonial mass at the Monastery of the 99 Holy Fathers ,where you can also view the museum of the monastery.

After the ceremony there will be a traditional festival in the centre of the village.

Monday 7 October morning ceremony at the same monastery ,and after you can take the chance to visit the cave of the 99 Holy fathers .

Tuesday 8 October morning ceremony at the Church of Saint John the Hermit in the end of the Village above the neighbourhood Koukoutsiana ,right next to the Cave where the Hermit slept .



Ο πρόεδρος ,τα μελή

THIS YEARS FESTIVAL

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This years 3 day festival had a different blanket.
Every year the festival of the 99 Holy Fathers and St. John the Hermit 
was A great ceremony  ,for locals And visitors alike, for over 300 years this 3 day celebration has brought thousands of people together with two common causes A to Honor the memory of the 99 .And B to take part on the all night the October  eating and  dancing party .




But this year some villagers had a vision ,a vision for a better society  and thats when they came to the Azogires Cultural Association , who took them under its wing and organized the festival for Charity purposes . Cretes most famous musician Manolis Kontaros came to play for us and hundreds of people followed the road was jammed with the dancers and the party finished at 5 am , We managed to gather  a respectable amount of money ,that we have donated to 3 different causes.
A 700 euros to ELEPAP of Chania which is and organization who takes care of children with special disabilities
B 500 euros to the orphanage home of Agios Nektarios church  of Chania for  orphan children
C 500 euros to the school  board of Paleochora  so that they can fill the Diesel tank of the school heating system .

We thank everyone who participated ,donated , visited , of worked to make this event possible,and we wish we could do more for similar purposes in the future ,The next two days of the festival continued as usual with hundreds of people flocking to the Church receiving the blessing of the 99 Holy Fathers from the mystical ceremonies , and on the third day A crowd of few came to the festival of  St , John the hermit ,fresh steaks , mezes, wine, and Cretan songs sang by the local  residents kept us all company until the deep afternoon.












Christmas- New years -and other Azogires events

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Like Every year Christmas did not find anyone alone in Azogires .
 Every one did his part The newly found Azogires Cultural association decorated a living Christmass tree with the funding of the Koukoutsakis and the Jarvis families ,the Schaab Family turned their house into a lighthouse Of the Christmas spirit , A tradition that is slowly widely spreading in our village .


The Christmas table In the Alfa Cafe  Had a great  variety of Items Starting from free range  wild goat to minced pies and a large variety of  other sweets .And for those few hours we the  people of Azogires  under one roof became a family , a family Filled with the Christmas spirit  ,at the end of the feast our good friend art sang Christmas songs and gave us all a deeper feeling and a greater meaning of Christmas.

The days past quietly and sadly to say there was no snow not even in the mountains , so the  white Christmas was renamed  the bright Christmas since the sun was cracking the stone.
And Christmass nearly arrived it was the night before when our dedicated Priest Pater Eftihios Androulakis came to the Monastery at midnight to make the most sacred evening ceremony  of Christmas in our religion for the first time in our village , he started the ceremony not in the Church it self but in th e Cave above it , on the very same cave that the saints sat in . 

The lights were on the candles were burning while he was preaching as every one else was silent feeling deep in their hearts the Christmas spirit .And the miracle ?? although it was midnight 24 December  it was warm and the people felt blessed  for that 

then it was raining with no one getting wet . No one could explain how it is possible for the sky to be dripping water and every one under it to be dry , after 1 am the ceremony was over ,and the crowd went straight to the olive oil factory of Gabriel Papagrigorakis where the Azogires Church comity in corporation with the villagers had prepared the most delicious souvlakis followed with old red wine salads and french fries , when they finished eating and got up to go the skys opened up and it was raining non stop .

The new year came in quite peaceful by siting in the cafe drinking eating watching pirate films and listening to old and blues music the year was greeted with a bang ,we all wished each other happy new year as the new year cake came out with the good luck coin inside as we all were exited to find the coin non of us that night did .
But that is not the end for our Village some days later we had the memorial of  Gabriel Papagrigorakis someone who I consider a true Saint  .  A week  or so after the priest came early morning to the Church and started the sacred ceremony of Theofania as he blessed  water turning into Holy water , the people of the village all came to take Holy water home and drink it as we consider it to have curing abilities ,the priest filled his bottles and started from our village house to house door to door , and blessed the peoples home by splashing Holy water every where .It may be the only that all the resident Greek and  tourist alike waited with anxiety for the Priest to come and give them all the blessing  .
And so the decorations came down and got packed away leaving only one minor detail  to be taken care off The Associations Christmas tree  !, So several members of the Association took it and planted it down the road where the Koukoutsaki family will soon built a small Church in honor of the Holy trinity ,they planted the tree in order to make it into a monument symbolizing world peace and harmony  amongst the Worlds  nations Happy new year to all filled with joy happiness , and loads of joyfull moments















Article 1

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On Sunday the 23 of February the Azogires Cultural Association cut its new year cake , for the first time .
Members and friends of the association were there   , friends who share the vision of a green and beautiful Azogires a village that once had 3 -400 residents  and every patio and every garden was full of animals vegetables and countless fruit trees . fruits that were offered openly to every visitor who came upon them .
The village reminded paradise as it   is known as the paradise village   ,  together with the cutting of the cake the second international cooking competition was held with man and women alike joined together to make international dishes , dishes so tasty and so well decorated that it was hard for the judges to make a first .
But as you know not everyone can be a winner so the first prize was given to the first time contestant Vasiliko marketakis from temenia for her lovely chestnut stifado complete meal with chestnut sweet desert , she did something even braver she turned down the  monetary reward as her prize and whe returned it to the Azogires cultural Association as did every other winner after her , we thank them very much for their love and support also a big thank you to the rest of the contestants for their delicacies  the judges for their support , the spectators for theirs and their love , our sponsor A Grammh Enterprises of the koukoutsaki Family ,and to British Jannis and his band for their wonderful and joyous music that kept us going all night long , we hope next year with the help of our villagers and outside  village supporters that the gathering will become double and triple we hope that the 99 Will bless our association and guide through these difficult days to come .                                                                                                                                                                               Την Κυριακή 23 του Φεβρουαρίου   Έκοψε την πρώτη  πρωτοχρονιάτικη πίτα του Ο Πολιτιστικός σύλλογος Αζωγυρε . Στο κέντρο του χωρίου μαζευτήκαν τα μελή και η καλή φίλοι του συλλόγου για να εορτάσουν  και να συμμεριστούν το όραμα ενός ενωμένου και αγαπημένου χωρίου γεμάτο ανθρώπους , και πλούσιο σε πανίδα και χλωρίδα , η παλαιοί που έζησαν εκείνες της χρυσές εποχές μας    διηγούνται τον Αζωγυρε του παρελθόντος .

 Ένα Αζωγυρε Που  σε κάθε αυλή και σε κάθε πεζούλι τα καρποφόρα δέντρα προσέφερναν τους καρπούς τους ανοικτα   στον κάθε επισκέπτη του τόπου , και η γειτονιές με τους ανθρώπους και τα ζώα τους  θύμιζαν παράδεισο .
Αυτό είναι και το όραμα που έχουν τα μελή του συλλόγου μας  να ξαναδούν και να ζήσουν εκείνο το πλούσιο και παραδεισένιο χωριό .
Συνάμα με την Κοπή της πίτας διοργανώθηκε και ο δεύτερος διεθνές Διαγωνισμός μαγειρικής στο Χωριό ,  Όλες η νοικοκυρές προετοιμαζόταν από πρωίας στης κουζίνες τους και λίγη τολμηρή άντρες που βρήκαν το κουράγιο και τη δύναμη να ανταγωνιστούν μερικές από της καλύτερες μαγείρισσες της περιοχής  μας .
Τα φαγητά ερχόταν ένα πίσω από το άλλο τόσο νόστιμα και τόσο ξεχωριστά που ήταν δύσκολο η κριτές να ξεχωρίσουν κάπια από αυτά ,αλλά στην τελική μόνον ένας μπορεί να έρθει πρώτος , και αυτός ο ένας ήταν η Βασιλική Μαρκετακη από τα τεμενια με τα τρομερά και νοστιμότατα  Καστανά στιφάδο και το νοστιμότατο γλυκό Κάστανου . Το χρηματικό της έπαθλο το επέστρεψε υπέρ του Συλλόγου και όλη η συμμετέχοντες_ νικητές  ακλούθησαν το παράδειγμα της  ,τους ευχαριστούμε θερμά. Και ευχαριστούμε όλους όσους  παραβρεθήκαν και μοιραστήκαν μαζί μας αυτή την ιερή  και ιστορική στιγμή στην ιστορία του χωρίου και του συλλόγου μας  
Επίσης ένα μεγάλο ευχάριστο στον αποκλειστικό  χορηγό μας τον χορηγό μας  την Άλφα Γραμμή  επιχειρήσεις Κουκουτσάκι  , και το Βρετανικό ροκ Συγκρότημα που μας διασκέδασε αφιλόκερδος μέχρι πρωίας .
Ευχόμαστε του χρόνου με την βοήθεια τον 99Αγιον Πατερών και τον Άγιο Ιωάννη τον Ερημίτη που κοιμηθήκαν στο χωριό μας να ξαναβρεθούμε και περισσότερη και να γιορτάσουμε παρέα . 
     













                                         















PHILANTHROPIC BAZAAR

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  A Philanthropic Bazaar was organized in Azogires  on the 8th of march Saturday morning . For the   Animal Organization  paws , who resides in Paleochora .
Paws has been on a sacred mission to rescue and protect every single animal of Paleochora and  the surroundings , they have been quite successful at this difficult mission ,with the help of Paws friends,  and the locals of Azogires , with their purchases or donations we managed to bring together around 250 euro that will help them send Amber the cutest sweetest  Dog dumped in our village  to her new family in the Uk  .
A special thaks to Dianne and Arthur who had  the courage to take  her in and look after her all this time , let hope it will be the last Animal left in our door step for we can not handle anymore .
 We the people of Azogires will stand by paws and its loyal members , at all means and we will support them in the future for similar activities  , cause we believe in a better tomorrow for all Gods creatures .












The new ten walks around Paleochora

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Την  Κυριακή  6 Απριλίου  Ο  Γνωστός συγγραφέας και τουριστικός ανταποκριτής BobTait Παρουσίασε τη νέα και πλήρως ενημερωμένη έκδοση του πασίγνωστου βιβλίου του , TenWalksAroundPaleohora ,ένα βιβλίο που κρατεί στα χεριά του ο κάθε λάτρεις της φύσης  που επισκέπτεται την Παλαιοχωρα  .
Επί αρκετά έτη τώρα ο κύριος Tait  Γραφεί άρθρα και βιβλία για την περιοχή Προβάλλοντας τον τόπο  μας στο εξωτερικό , και έχει κάνει αμέτρητες εξερευνήσεις της περιοχής  μας καθώς   έχει πάρει πληθώρα  συνεντεύξεων από ντόπιους κατοίκους διατηρώντας  έτσι της τοπικές ιστορίες του τόπου μας  και να της  μεταφέρει ακέραιες και αλάνθαστες στον κάθε επισκέπτη .
Επί της ευκαιρίας Ο πολιτιστικός σύλλογος Αζωγυρε τον βράβευσε για την αστέρευτη του αφοσίωση και στήριξη του τόπου και πολιτισμού μας  .
On Sunday the 6 of April   Bob Tait held book launch of the revised “Ten Walks Around  Paleohora ,His new and even more glorious then before book ,filled with information  about our area with fully detailed instructions for every visitor to learn and enjoy .

With this chance the Azogires Cultural association awarded him for his endless efforts and devotion to our community   , Bob has been writing books and articles as well as exploring the southwest Crete   for a number of years . We wish him good luck with his new book and many more successful articles  .  




NATURES HEROES TAKING ACTION

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  On Saturday 12 April the Azogires organized the yearly Azogires road cleaning program.
All the volunteers split in to teams that started to clean and collect all the trash from the main roads of the village, it took over 4 hours to cleanse the roads of human made trash.

The volunteers after came to the café for an omelet – drink and friendly conversation as to who found the strangest item , and it turned out to be a statue found by one of the teams ,thank you very much to  all who participated and made our village a much better and cleaner place to live in . so we say let  it be an example to others also  in order to maintain and keep their villages clean and a more certain future for our planet.











Το Σάββατο 12 Απριλίου Ο Πολιτιστικός σύλλογος Αζωγυρε διοργάνωσε τον καθαρισμό τον κεντρικών αρτηριών του χωρίου , η εθελοντικές ομάδες που έδωσαν το Παρόν ανέλαβαν έκαστη από ένα τμήμα τον δρόμων  Αζωγυρες  Αχλαδιακες Αζωγυρε Ασφεντιλε και Αζωγυρε Λυγία  . Μετά από πολύωρες προσπάθειες ο δρόμος τελικά καθαριστικέ από όλα τα απορρίμματα όλα εκτός από αυτά πεταμένα στα γκρεμνά και στις πλαγιές ,παρακαλούμε θερμά ,να πετάτε τα σκουπίδια στον κάδο και όχι στο φαράγγι μας  ,γιατί τη ζημία την κάνετε στο  μέλλον  και όχι στο παρόν .
 Ένα μέλλον που είναι ειδή ασταθές και αβέβαιο ας μην το επιβαρύνουμε άλλο για τα παιδιά μας και τα παιδιά τον παιδιών μας  , μετά το τέλος της ημέρας όλη η εθελοντές συγκεντρώθηκαν στο καφενείο να τσιμπήσουν και να συζητήσουν για όλα τα παράξενα αντικείμενα που εντόπισαν στη διαδρομή τους , τους ευχαριστούμε θερμά και ελπίζουμε και άλλες περιοχής να ακολουθούσουν αυτό το παράδειγμα και άλλες περιοχές του νομού μας  για ένα καλύτερο και καθαρότερο και πιο σίγουρο  αύριο .


GRAPE THERAPY SEMINAR 2014

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7 DAYS GRAPE THERAPY WORKSHOP 2014
 IN AZOGIRES
WITH GRAPE DOCTOR GERARD VAN DER MEER  






Come join us in one of Cretes most breathtaking events ,and forget all your problems  just by doing what Cretan have been for the past four thousand years . Do what many others did already before you, last year’s workshop was a big success, they loved it.
 (http://azogires-alpha.blogspot.de/2013_09_01_archive.html)

Learn more about Crete and its ways of life ,take a dive in to local nearly forgotten and nowhere recorded history learn about the real life of Cretans and their secrets to longevity ,feel the presence of Ancient Cretans on every footstep you take. 

The workshop starts on 15 September and finishes on the 21 September 2014 ,seven days filled with adventure experience and everlasting knowledge ,you become one with the Cretan Earth drilling from its everlasting energies .

Doctor Gerard will take you on a step by step tour to the most virgin and wild Cretan villages , to collect grapes from ancient vineyards of Crete and press them barefeet in a traditional wine-press . You literally will feel the magic of grape therapy. Experiencing nature, by working in the open air, is all the therapy you need.

A therapy that has gone down from generation to generation with many secrets to be learnt , become one with the vineyards and enjoy the blessings they give you , the blessings and the presents of mother earth .

The seven day workshop will cost 40 euro per day per person and it includes your room with Cretan Breakfast , lunch and dinner at the local tavern.

There will be 5 days of grape picking and grape stumping to make raki and wine ,two of the most precious presents a vineyard can give us and you will learn a lot more about grapes and grape therapy, then you will have 2 free days to either scroll around the area to discover Crete even more ,go to the beach , or you can join our two guided walks down mystic path ways and down gorges all the way to the sea .

For more information you can contact us at alfacafenion@aol.com or call at 0030 28230 41620 mob 6972138588 ,and to learn more about Azogires visit our blog Azogires-alpha.blogspot.com

12TH INTERNATIONAL AZOGIRES CHAMPIONSHIP

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Με μεγάλη επιτυχία τελέστηκε το 12οδιεθνές τουρνουά τάβλι στον Αζωγυρε  με συμμετέχοντες από 7 διαφορετικές χώρες , που ήρθαν να τιμήσουν τη μνήμη του Αντρέα Μίλλαρ
Πρώτος νικητής ήταν ο Παναγιώτης από την Αλβανία
Δεύτερος ήταν ο Πήτερ από τον Καναδά
Και τρίτος ο Χορστ  από τη Γερμάνια
Όλα έγιναν πολλή γρήγορα  και η τελική μάχη όταν λες και ήσουν μέσα στο Κολοσσαίο  και πάλευες για την ζωή σου . το πρώτο έπαθλο ηταν  ήταν δώρο επιταγή τον 50 ευρώ από τον χορηγό μας Σουπερ μάρκετ Πετράκης  στην Παλαιοχωρα  
Ο νικητής αρνήθηκε να παραλάβει το έπαθλο και είπε υπάρχουν άνθρωποι  που το χρειάζονται πόλη περισσότερο από έμενα και το απόδωσε σε έναν ανάπηρο συμπολίτη μας    .
Ένα μεγάλο ευχάριστο στους χορηγούς  μας  Σουπερ μάρκετ Πετράκης  από την  Παλαιοχωρα και της επιχειρήσεις  Άλφα Γραμμή Κουκουτσάκης   


12TH  INTERNATIONAL AZOGIRES BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP
With the greatest success ever ,
the championship started  on Saturday  afternoon of  the 30th August .  All those who are loyal to the memory of Andrew Millar  were there , First Prize winner was  Panagioti from Albania Second Prize winner by just a point difference was Peter from Canada , and third prize winner was Horst from Germany .

What happened next shocked everyone First prize was a fifty euro check from the super markets Petrakis ,and the winner refused to accept the prize he said there are others who need it more than me and he gave his prize to  a person from our area who has had an accident and could not work for the time being , after actions like this one I know that there are still people in this world who care  .
A very big thank thank you  to our sponsors Supermarket Petrakis in Paleochora  and Alfa Grammh  Koukoutsakis of Azogires













GRAPE THERAPY 2014

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 Grape therapy   revived once more, in Azogires  .
For many years we have been reviving   the traditions of our ancestors and since 1913   Antonis Koukoutsakis   bought his raki distillery pot
Got his alcohol license and started going from neighborhood to neighborhood sleeping next to his distillery making peoples raki and in exchange taking a small percentage of the alcohol home to his family other times to sell and other times for personal use or medicinal purposes.
Everyone knew they could get a drink in his house he was always open to guests  he played them music with his homemade Cretan lira and let them smoke from his homegrown tobacco, he was also the villages finest carpenter.
A man of multi talents and father of nine children one of them being my grandfather Eftihis , you could say we owe him our very existence  and  by reenacting  grape picking  and raki making every year for the past 100 years   we can say we honor his memory , but we went one step further 6 years ago we started to share this tradition with others who needed to get away from the everyday life of 
 the city  step out of their offices and get their hands dirty  become tired smell the earth and then grape therapy was born.
With the help of Doctor Gerard we do it every year ,   sometimes come  many and sometimes a few but they always come to smell the aromas of the crushed grapes get their feet messy and learn the secrets of wine and raki making  , a big thank you to all participants  once more and when we start distilling getting drunk  under the dark shining moon sky we will have a drink on you .









99 HOLY FATHERS FESTIVAL 2014

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This year’s 3 day festival of  the 99 Holy Fathers in Azogires had a different touch . Real live cretan music  from an 80 year old musician called Manolis Ntaountakis and his friend Mpompolakis Giorgos  ,  played with their hearts and not for their profit , something that made a huge difference. 
People danced  until the mid morning hours as if they were children  , I can say that for the first time in over 20 years I felt the blessing of the (99) Holy Fathers  and their presence amongst the worshipers  , as soon as the evening Church service finished  they all came up the, musicians were already playing they dint even stop for water .

We even had the Honor for one of Chanias finest politicians  to be in our presence ,our very own George Kontaxakis  A man who never looked at politics for his own profit but dedicated his life serving the public ,he  always cares about the people and that’s what makes him different from the rest  .
The next morning we all went down to the Monastery  to take part in one of the most holy and most mystical church ceremonies in southwest Crete , then we had everyone up n the café for coffee  The  afternoon arrived and bus after took the people away,it was time to clean up all the tables back to the people who lend them to us .

The following day the villagers gathered at the Church of the miracoulous St, John the Hermit in the Neighborhood of Koukoutsiana  , st John was the leaderof the 99  and He has been our family’s protector  for over  300 years ,afterall he did live in our neighborhood , my Father cooked steaks for everyone my uncle pavlos and his Wife Katina laid out the tables made salads and cut cheese ,we ate we drank  and started to sign Rizitika songs  traditional Cretan songs that have their origins in the deep Minoan Period of Crete  we all went home with our stomachs full and our hearts filled with  joy  for the first time in my 20 years festival experience i did not feel tired  .
That evening we had the last Norwegian Group of the year From Liliput Reisen and we had a great time dancing,   farewell to all and hope to see you next year was the last thing I said to them with a tear hiding behind my eye lids cause I will miss doing this job , for story telling is my true passion . 
The following day I had to go to Chania for a very important event in Cretes history but that’s another story for another time . I leave you all now cause  I must recover also from the heavy drinking and  3 days of  Rizitika singing  may the 99 always walk on your path of life .





























Article 1

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28 Οκτώβριου παρέλαση  παλαιοχωρας και κατάθεση στεφάνου ,  που για πρώτη φόρα κατέθεσε και ο σύλλογος μας  τιμώντας την μνήμη  τον πεσόντων .Παρόλο την καταρρακτώδες βροχή η παρέλαση έγινε κανονικά δείχνοντας για μια ακόμη φόρα  ότι η Ελληνική ψύχη  δεν πτοείτε   . Για τον πολιτιστικό Σύλλογο Αζωγυρε ήταν μια ιστορική στιγμή  ανάμεικτων συναισθημάτων , και υποσχόμεθα  ότι θα κάνουμε και ανάλογες  ενέργειες  και στο μέλλον για να τιμάμε όσους έχουν πέσει στο όνομα της ελευθερίας

  28 October Paleochora  Parade    , for the first time  the Azogires Cultural Association laid a wreath  for the martyrs ,to honour  their memory  ,even though it was raining nonstop the ceremonies and the parade went on without any obstacles  proving once more that the Greek soul does not fall  For The Azogires cultural association it was  a historical moment  and we hope have  the chance in the future to repeat this process so that the world will know that we honour those  who fall for freedom .
















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`Ιστορική ημέρα για τον Αζωγυρε
Εορτάστηκε για πρώτη φορά πιθανός μετά από 300-500 χρόνια η Αγία Αικατερίνη η μεγαλομάρτυρας στον Αζωγυρε . Περί το έτος 1969 κάτοικοι του χωρίου ανοικοδόμησαν μια εκκλησία στη γειτονιά Αντωνιανα του χωρίου μας . 
Ακούγοντας ιστορίες από στόμα σε στόμα τον προγονών τους ήξεραν ότι ήταν το Εκκλησάκι του Άγιου Γεώργιου , έτσι και ονομάστηκε μετά την πλήρης ανοικοδόμηση του , αλλά ο δραστήριος και άξιος Ιερέας μας Πάτερ Ευτύχιος Αντρουλάκης μετά από Πολυχρόνη ερευνά ανακάλυψε ότι η εκκλησία αυτή ήταν δημαρτηρη , δηλ Του Άγιου Γεώργιου και της Αγίας Αικατερίνης και την είχε κτίσει ο γνωστός και θαυματουργός Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Ξένος .
Φέτος για πρώτοι φορά μετά από μερικούς αιώνες ξανά γιορτάστηκε η Αγία Αικατερίνη , με πρωτοβουλία της οικογενείας Γεώργιου και Ευγενίας Αντωνοβαρδακη , παρήγγειλαν μια μεγαλόπρεπη εικόνας της Αγίας , και φρόντισαν να έχουν και ένα τρικούβερτο τραπέζι από νηστήσιμα φαγητά ,ξεκινώντας με ψαρικά και καταλήγοντας στα πιο εκλεκτά όσπρια τους συγχαίρουμε και ευχόμαστε κάθε χρόνο από σήμερα και στο έξεις να λειτουργάτε η Αγία Αικατερίνη στο χωριό μας . Ευτύχιος Κουκουτσάκης πρόεδρος Πολιτιστικού σύλλογοι Αζωγυρε
.Historical day for Azogires , for the first time after several centuries the festival of St, Katherine was revived .In 1969 villagers of Azogires rebuilt a Church In the Neighborhood of Antoniana , and called it St. George , that’s the name they had hear from their ancestors but after year long research of our Priest Eftihios Antroylakis he discovered that the Church was built about 1000 years ago from the well known St Ioannis O Ksenos And he named this Church after St, George and St, Katherine . So the family of Giorgio’s and Eugenia Antonovardakis ordered a beautiful icon of St Katherine and organized a table with seafood and other vegetarian delights fit for Kings . For the first time we the new generation of Azogirians had the great honor of coming together and celebrating in honor of this miraculous Saint . We wish this newfound tradition will live upon the centuries to come uniting the people of our village .





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This year’s Christmas feast and activities in Azogires  ,
Even though  it has been a very hard year for all of us in Azogires  and many of us for different reasons were not here we don’t forget  to love and respect each other and the holidays is always  the perfect time to prove it .
All over the world everyone puts his little pebble on the wall to make it all possible but in Azogires people are willing to put a whole stone and a big one at that, and that’s how it all started. This year festivities  began in the café  with all friends coming together to celebrate Christmas locals and foreigners alike in order  to show the world that there is no racism amongst educated and civilized people .
We came together early afternoon  and rest assure  no one came empty handed  My Parents cooked for us delicious Cretan  meals , Karolina and Arthur made the table, Anna Maria and Horst    Built their world famous ginger bread house  Inge made delicious melomakarona and I can keep going for ages , But this story needs to continue .
Like every year the house of the Schaab family was full of Christmas lights and decorations  that could be seen from miles away , The Azogires cultural Association decorated his Christmas tree and that stayed on every night thru the holidays shining as a symbol of friendship and unity .
And the Azogires Church committee together with our priest Papas Eftihis Antroulakis  , they organized the most mystical Christmas eve ceremony inside the cave above the Monastery of the 99 Holy Fathers People flocked from all directions no cold could put them down and chill wind could send them away ,as the ceremony finished we all went to the Olive oil factory of The Gabriel Papagrigorakis village committee where the villagers had prepared all together  a fest ft with for kings .
We all ate and drank until early Christmas day hours and wishing  everyone merry christmass we stumbled to our beds so we could wake next day to open our presents .
We the members of the  Azogires Cultural association wish to thank  all the villagers who made our village shine one more time this year and we hope the year to come will have a lighter impact on our souls and life’s  .
Eftihis Koukoutsakis President of the Azogires cultural association
Ο πολιτιστικός σύλλογος Αζωγυρες στόλισε το χριστουγεννιάτικο του δέντρο στο κέντρο του χωρίου ελπίζοντας να λάμπει προς ένδειξη φιλίας και ομόνοιας . καθώς και η οικογένεια του  Horst-  Κώστα και της  AnnaMariaSchaab  στόλισαν τον εξωτερικό χώρο του σπιτιού τους που ήταν εμφανές από απόσταση μερικών χιλιόμετρων κάνοντας τη νύκτα μέρα με όλη την έννοια της λέξεως .
Δυο μέρες πριν τα Χριστούγεννα μαζευτήκαν όλη η κάτοικοι του χωρίου στο καφενείο  και έκατσαν όλη μαζί σαν μια οικογένεια που πραγματικά είμαστε ,και αποδεικνύοντας πώς δεν υπάρχει ρατσισμός μίσος  η αντιζηλία αναμεταξύ μορφωμένων  και πολιτισμένων ανθρώπων , η Οικογένεια Αντωνίου και Χαρίκλειας Κουκουτσάκη είχε προετοιμάσει τους πιο εκλεκτούς μεζέδες τους για να φιλέψουν την εκλεκτότατη αυτήν παρέα , καθώς και όλη η συγχωριανοί ετοίμασαν κατή από τον τόπο τους οπός    Horst-  Κώστα και η  AnnaMariaSchaab    κατασκεύασαν το παραδοσιακό στον τόπο τους χριστουγεννιάτικο σπιτάκι τους που  στην ουσία όλο  τρώγετε, ένα μεγάλο ευχάριστο στην Καρολίνα Σμεκαλοβα και τον Αρθούρο που έκαναν όλες της απαραίτητες προετοιμασίες για γίνει αυτή μάζωξη πραγματικότητα .
Την παραμονή τον Χριστουγέννων   Η εκκλησιαστική επιτροπή Αζωγυρε με πρωτοστάτη τον Εκλεκτέ μας  ιερέα Πατήρ Ευτύχιο Ανδρουλάκη  τέλεσαν την νυκτερινή Χριστουγεννιάτικη λειτουργιά  στο μικρό σπηλαίο  που βρίσκετε  στο μοναστήρι τον 99 Αγίων Πατερών   ,Βαθιά μεσάνυκτα  και η πιστοί να προσέρχονται να προσκυνήσουν και να λάβουν μέρος στη γέννηση του θεανθρώπου και σωτήρα μας Ισσού Χριστού . ούτε το κρύο ούτε ο ψυχρός αέρας δεν τους πτόησε αντίθετος τους ζέστανε η αγάπη και  η αδελφοσύνη .
Μετά το πέρας της λειτουργιάς  κάτοικοι του χωρίου  είχαν ετοιμάσει ένα τρικούβερτο τραπέζι  που θα ταίριαζε μοναχά σε βασιλιάδες και  αποδέχτηκαν τους πιστούς .
Όταν τελειώσαμε κατά τις πρώτες πρωινές ώρες της ημέρας τον Χριστουγέννων ανταλλάξαμε ευχές για το 2015  και παραπατώντας από το κρασί μπήκαμε στα οχήματα μας και κατευθυνθήκαμε στις οικίες μας  .
Εμείς τα μελή της διοικούσας επιτροπής του πολιτιστικού συλλόγου Αζωγυρες   επιθυμούμε να ευχαριστήσουμε δημοσίως όσους συγχωριανούς μας  εργαστήκαν πυρετωδώς για να λάμψει και πύλη το χωρίο μας από καθαριότητα και  εορταστικό πνεύμα .
Ο πρόεδρος Ευτύχιος Αντωνίου Κουκουτσάκις  















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It’s been a long cold and rainy winter for the residents of  Azogires   the village has had difficult times , and the area has suffered  from landslides excessive rain fall and strong winds .
But despite the difficulties the people of Azogires remained strong and active , they all have continued working for a better tomorrow most tried to make their personal environments better and cleaner others dedicated this winter to making the village look better ,either by planting trees clearing fields and bringing agriculture back to life thus creating jobs making it possible for people to survive in our community , the Azogires Church committee has done its part by making all Churches cleaner and more functional by  repairing all damages to them and their surrounding    areas , making it ready and accessible  for both worshipers and visitors  .
The Azogires Cultural Association has also  done its part , by uniting the residents and with them  moving forward for a better tomorrow  by clearing pathways building benches cleaning clogged ditches and gutters so  the water can flow freely ,and soon we will start white washing and painting the sides of the roads to make the village  even prettier .






But we have not stopped there , in the past month alone we have participated , awarded and honored, our martyred ancestors  , at first our president and members of our committee took part in the ceremony of 25th of march , which is the Greek independence day , we honored our ancestors and all those who fought for freedom by being at the monument of Paleochora and along with other official authorities placed a reef of flowers in front of the monument symbolizing that freedom will leave on .   
Then on the 2nd of April,   our president and members of our association came together to and attended the gathering of ROTARY CLUB OF CHANIA. In order to Present an award title to the ROTARIAN CLUB OF CHANIA, and to their president  EMMANUEL DELAKIS . For their 30 and more years of charitable services  to our society- worldwide , Mr. DELAKIS has dedicated his life to charity thus working many hours every day ,and sometimes even in the nights  in order to make it all possible , thanks to him and the ROTARIANS of Chania  and around the world ,  many outbursts  of disease and hunger have been stopped or prevented .
That is why our association thought that it would be an honor for us, to honor them. And indeed it is the first time in history that (A CULTURAL ASSOCIATION) has taken such a privilege and for this we  feel honored.
After we presented the awards, the Rotary Club went on to present awards on the same day to RYAN AIRLINES , for their assistance in bringing last year alone nearly one million passengers to Chania airport , for this matter there were speeches and of course  requests that in future the company would ad more flights, from other European countries to our destination to boost  our economy and help  stimulate and strengthened  tourism  .
On the 15th of April our president was at the book exhibition of Stavros Polentas that took place in Chania at the meeting hall of the Bank of Chania  , Mr. POLENTAS  has dedicated  his time to help preventing  car accidents in our country , and also founded the  Helenian association of support for families of car accident victims , he has also built the  international park (POLENTAS PARK ) Near Chania that is recognized by the UNITED NATIONS .
And this monumental park stands next to the road reminding every one of the dangers that  the wheel hides  , his association is the only one that  actually helps the families of victims after the accident and guides them thru the many windows of Greek law , so that they may find some  harmony in their hearts .And that is what his  book is about , on this little guide that will be given for free from municipalities and other official authorities to families of victims who would like to know their rights and wish to really uncover the truth .

We promise our members that we will continue hard work and try to make life ea

sier for both man and nature.

GRAPE THERAPY 2015

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7 DAYS   GRAPE THERAPY    WORKSHOP IN AZOGIRES  WITH GRAPE  DOCTOR GERARD  VAN DER MEER

Come join us in one of Cretes most breathtaking events ,and forget all your problems just by doing what Cretan have been for the past four thousand years .
Learn more about Crete and its ways of life ,take a dive in to local  nearly forgotten and nowhere recorded history learn about the real life of Cretans and their secrets to longevity  ,feel the presence of Ancient Cretans on every footstep you take.
The workshop starts on 28 September and finishes on the 04 of October, seven days filled with adventure experience and everlasting knowledge, you become one with the Cretan Earth drilling from its everlasting energies.
Doctor Gerard will take you on a step by step tour to the most virgin and wild Cretan villages, to collect grapes from ancient vineyards of Crete ,and feel  the magic of grape therapy.
A therapy that has gone down from generation to generation with many secrets to be learnt, become one with the vineyards and enjoy the blessings they give you, the blessings and the presents of mother earth.
The seven day workshop will cost 40 euro per day, per person and it includes your room with Cretan Breakfast, and dinner at the local tavern
There will be 5 days of grape picking and grape stumping to make  raki and wine ,two of the most precious presents a vineyard can give us and you will learn a lot more about grapes and grape therapy, then you will have 2 free days to either  scroll around the area to discover Crete even more ,go to the beach , or you can join our two guided walks down mystic  path ways and down  gorges all the way to the sea  .

For more information you can contact us at  alfacafenion@aol.com  or call at 0030 28230 41620  mob 6972138588  ,and to learn more about Azogires visit our blog Azogires-alpha.blogspot.com  

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Ολοκληρώθηκε  ο ετήσιος εθελοντικός  οδοκαθαρισμός στον Αζωγύρε .
Με ακόμα μεγαλύτερη επιτυχία  διεξήχθη ο φετινός  εθελοντικός  καθαρισμός τον  δρόμων και πλαγιών του χωρίου Αζωγύρε ,    που εδώ και μερικά χρόνια  διοργανώνετε  από τον πολιτιστικό σύλλογο Αζωγύρε , μια προσπάθεια που κάνουμε  για να εξαλείφει ένα φαινόμενο μάστιγα για τον τόπο μας . Τα σκουπίδια που μολύνουν φυσικά και αισθητικά το περιβάλλον μας  , ξεκινώντας αυτή την εκστρατεία δεν περιμέναμε ότι θα φτάναμε σε σημείο να  έχουμε εθελοντές από 9 διαφορετικές χώρες .
Δύστυχος ώμος αντί να μειώνονται τα σκουπίδια γίνονται περισσότερα ανά έτος  , η εθελοντές μας κατέβηκαν πλαγιές ρυάκια και κάλυψαν όλη τη διαδρομή  της περιφερειακής οδού  από Λυγία-Αζωγύρε , Αζωγύρε-Αχλαδιάκιες  . Καθώς και την Δημοτική οδό  Αζωγύρε Ασφεντιλέ στη συνεχεία έπιασαν τους εσωτερικούς δρόμους του χωρίου και δεν άφησαν ούτε αποτσίγαρο . Ευχόμαστε  η προσπάθεια μας αυτή να γίνει παράδειγμα και σε άλλες περιοχές  και σύσσωμη όλη μαζί να κάνουμε το αδύνατο δυνατό .
 Και τέλος να κλείσω ευχαριστώντας θερμά όλους τους εθελοντές μας  και υποστηρικτές εύχομαι από καρδίας να  επανέρχεστε και να δίνετε το παρόν  κάθε έτος μαζί μας για ένα καθαρότερο μέλλον για τα παιδιά μας .
 Μετά τιμής
 Ευτύχιος  Αντώνιου  Κουκουτσάκης πρόεδρος Πολιτιστικού συλλόγου Αζωγύρε      
Once again and with great success the roads of azogires were cleaned thanks to our volunteers, who came literally from all corners of the earth   , we had 9 different nationalities participating this year   helping to make our village a cleaner place to live.
Our  Heroes not only systematically cleaned all the main and side roads of Azogires but also  climbed down in trenches levis and hillsides . closing I would like to say thank you to all of you who responded to  our call and we hope that  other communities will follow this example and all together we will make this world  a cleaner and better place to live .

Yours truly Eftihis Koykoytsakis President of the Azogires Cultural association







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O Αrchie Lee Hooker στονΑζωγυρέ

Ο διάσημος μουσικός των μπλουζ Αρτσι Λι Χούκερ (ΑrchieLeeHooker) ανιψιός του επίσης ταλαντούχου μουσικού καλλιτέχνη Τζον Λι Χούκερ (John  LeeHooker) επισκέφτηκε για τέταρτη συνεχόμενη χρονιά τον Αζωγυρέ Παλαιοχώρας που είναι πλέον ένας από τους αγαπημένους του προορισμούς.



Κατά τη διάρκεια της διαμονής του στο χωριό μας, μας γέμισε χαρά με την παρουσία του  τόσο τη δική του όσο και της αξιολάτρευτης συντρόφου του και την Τετάρτη στις 17 Ιουνίου 2015 φύτεψε ένα ελαιόδεντρο σε περιοχή του χωριού που προβλέπεται να γίνει πάρκο στο άμεσο μέλλον.  Τον Άρτσι υποδέχτηκαν ο πρόεδρος Πολιτιστικού Συλλόγου Αζωγυρέ Ευτυχιος Κουκουτσάκης και ο ειδικός σύμβουλος του Συλλόγου Χορστ Σααμπ (HorstSchaab) , μέλη και φίλοι του Συλλόγου  που με ιδιαίτερη χαρά και περίσσιο δέος τον παρακολουθούσαν ενώ προσευχόταν με ευλάβεια στο Θεό, ζητώντας του η Ελιά που φύτεψε να στέκει αιώνια ως σύμβολο Ειρήνης, Φιλίας και Αγάπης μεταξύ Λαών και ανθρώπων.
Σε έκτακτη συνεδρίαση του Συλλόγου αποφασίστηκε να αναγνωρίσουν τον Άρτσι βραβεύοντάς τον για το πολυετές φιλανθρωπικό του έργο.
Τον ευχαριστούμε θερμά και ευχόμαστε να ακολουθήσουν και άλλοι το λαμπρό του παράδειγμα.

Ο ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟΣ, ΤΑ ΜΕΛΗ ΤΟΥ ΣΥΛΛΟΓΟΥ 


Archie Lee Hooker the famous Blues Artist and nephew of John Lee Hooker also famous Blues Musician visited Azogires Once more.
 Archie and his lovely Wife Mounete Have been visiting Azogires for over four years, and it has become one of their most favorite places to spend their Summer days.

In the late afternoon of Wednesday   17.June 2015 he planted an Olive tree, in an area of Azogires that will become a Park in the near future.
 He was welcomed by the president from the (Azogires Cultural Association) Eftihis Koukoutsakis . (Lucky)
 and the Special Counselor of the (ACA) Horst Schaab (Kostas) and friends.

We watched in silence and with amazement as he prayed to God and asking that the tree he planted shall always stand as a symbol of Freedom Love and Peace for all the People and Nations of the world.

Archie  will be awarded by the Azogires Cultural
Association for his lifetime Philanthropic efforts  and will be granted the title of Honorary Azogirian  we hope the tree will grow and the wishes from Archie will become true and that others will follow his example .

THE PRESIDENT AND THE MEMBERS

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This year’s grape therapy had an American touch to it. The One and only Rutan Clan Came all the way from USA to experience the magic of Grape Therapy . Along   with their European  Associates they gave Grape therapy a new meaning.
And together they delivered a message of unity between people ,under the Drunken from Grape aromas Azogires sky ,their feet sore their arms stiff and their faces full of joy was the result ,of their hard work and patience until the  Sacred











grape juice came out of the stone drain  . We wish that they will join us again in next year’s harvest.

So that all together we can bring to life the magical liquid called Raki , the potion that cure  the sorrow of Cretan Mans Heart 
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