Eleni Gage’s North of Ithaca is a wonderful, true story of her personal journey to her family’s village Lia in Northern Greece. She travels to Greece, leaving behind her New York apartment and job as a writer. Eleni, stays one year in Lia trying to rebuild the home of her grandmother, who she never got a chance to meet.

Years before she was born, in 1948, the communist guerillas occupied this tiny village
and took over Eleni’s Yiayia home. She tried to escape with her children, but she
was taken prisoner. Soon after, she and many others from the village were killed
by these guerillas. Luckily, her children escaped from Greece and came to live with
their father in America.

There is nothing that can repair the broken hearts of Eleni’s family. Only time heals,
but she discovers a way to put some of the pieces together: by rebuilding the original
house that her grandmother lived in. At first, her family shunned the idea especially
her funny aunts that she fondly called them “thitsas.” They wouldn’t give her
project their blessings, in fact, they warned her not to rebuild their mother’s house
– saying it was a bad omen! Eleni was determined to follow through with her plans,
so she departs for Greece in Spring of 2003. Building a home in Greece, especially,
by using traditional stone carving craftsmanship takes time and patience.

Eleni had to hunt down an architect, several builders and a lot of luck to get the project finished within her one year time frame. The process was slow, but while she was there, Eleni got to know the neighbors in her village and spent time with them in church, at festivals and as a dinner guest in their homes. Many older neighbors knew her Yiayia and would tell Eleni wonderful stories of the “good times” in Lia, before the War. So, in the process of rebuilding the house, she was in a sense getting to know her Yiayia Eleni. Ω

Eleni Gage was recently in St. Augustine, Florida giving the keynote speech at the 27th Annual St. Photios Greek
Orthodox National Shrine Pilgrimage Weekend. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with her during this
time. The purpose of St. Photios Shrine Pilgrimage is to honor the memory of 500 Greeks who settled the New Smyrna
Colony in 1768. Thus, honor all pioneers who later established the churches that now comprise our Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America.