Karavitiko Symposium. 1970's.

Left to right.

Con George (Tzortzo)Poulos
Nick Pittas (Goulburn)
Mrs Faros
Lucky (Tzortzo)Poulos (Holding arm up. Prominent Sydney businessman, great benefactor, and stalwart of, the Karavitiko.)
Mr Faros (kneeling. Later to return to Kythera to live.)
George Anastassios Levantis. (Exuberant Karavati and Kytherian. Initially proprietor of a Fruit and Vegetable business in Goulburn, later purchased the Newtown Hot Bread shop, located above the railway station in Newtown, from Lucky Poulos.)

During this era, Karavitika were very well attended, attracting more than 300 people.

Karavitiko history

The first Karavitoko Symposium was instigated in 1967. It has been conducted every year since. The Symposium was designed to perpetuate the enormous panayiri that was held annually in Karavas to celebrate the name day of the patron saint of the village - Ayios Haralambos.

For an extensive background history of the Karavitiko Symposium see:
http://www.kythera-family.net/index.php?nav=97-26&cid=14&did=5968&pageflip=1

A formal luncheon or dinner is organised for the first Sunday after Ayios Haralambos's feast day. The Symposium organisers lay claim to the fact that "..we are the only Kytherian village group anywhere in the world who have managed to maintain this tradition in this formal manner". Are there other village groups in the world who also formally celebrate the feast day of their patron saint in this way?

Initially profits from the function were sent back to Karavas to keep the Church of Ayios Haralambos in good order.


***Winner of the GND 2006 Coroneos ("Melasafaos") Prize, for Best Photograph of Person/Group Portraits - of people from Karavas.***

The winner is, the Karavitiko Symposium for this photograph, which includes many stalwarts from Karavas.

The Committee thanks the Symposium for its ongoing support and contributions to the web-site***