August 1988

I read with interest the latest newsletter and was very much impressed with its content and substance. If the newsletters are an indication of the direction in which the society is headed, then the committee of the society and all the contributors to the newsletters should be highly commended. Hopefully, this will stimulate some of …

The Call of the Earth, a novel by Evangelos Averoff-Tossizza. Translated by Andre Michalopoulos. Published in 1981 by Caratzas Brothers, New Rochelle, NY. Hardcover, 305 pages, $11.95. Although this book is explicitly called a novel, it is said by its author to be based in part on real events, and to factually describe these events. …

or Roma locuta est, causa finita est (“Rome has spoken, case closed”) After attending two American “Congresses of Macedonian-Romanian Culture” at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, I would like to take this opportunity as a second-generation Aromanian to summarize my impressions and criticisms and also to propose some beneficial changes. First, my reasons for attending …

This is a picture of my wife, Catherine, fetching water from the Aous River in December. In the background is the ancient arched bridge, The pride of Baieasa. In her right hand she is carrying the graceful metal pitcher known as ghiume, a beloved and indispensible utensil in the Vlach household. Associated with water fetching is …

Greek Orthodox was the religion of Baieasa. The sign of the cross is made with the right hand and with three fingers, first touching the forehead, then the stomach, then the right breast, and then the left. I believe that the people of our town were very religious—especially the women. The reason for this was …

The Society notes with sadness the passing of member George D. Kiosse. May his soul rest in peace. We note also some recent deaths of non-members which nevertheless touched many of us rather deeply, as these people were well-known and dear. In Woonsocket, Rhode Island: Maria Babiana and Nicola Shola. In Constantsa, Rumania: Vasilikia Balamaci …

Like any other ethnic community, we tend to hear only one side of our story from within our own group. Yet, over the centuries, many people have become acquainted with the Aromanians and have had things to say about them, and even many of our own people have a view of who we are quite …

Whom are we kidding when we speak of preserving Aromanian culture for posterity? There are two ways to preserve a culture for the future: alive, in schools, factories, mass media, government, trade, science, literature, and art; and dead, in a history book or a hermetically-sealed museum display of old colorful costumes. When was the last time you …