AHEPA e-News! - Vol. 13 Issue 19 - Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Successful Leadership Excursion Concludes The delegation with His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa. On a two-day visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the AHEPA family had the honor and good fortune to meet with newly-elected Archbishop of America, His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa. In addition, Supreme President George E. Loucas presented His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with a $25,000 donation to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. AHEPA and the AHEPA Canadian Foundation gifted the donation. read full news release | Coverage:The National Herald | GreekNews Online The Leadership Excursion officially concludes today as members of the delegation depart from Athens, Greece, for the United States. AHEPA has organized overseas excursions since 1928. ICYMI: Cyprus visit recap and photo gallery | Athens photo gallery Video: Charity Gala held in Cyprus AHEPA Sunday is Here. Is Your Chapter Ready?  For AHEPA Sunday, share a video about AHEPA's legacy. This Sunday, May 19, is AHEPA Sunday as proclaimed by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Do not miss the opportunity to convey AHEPA's near 97 years of service to communities in North America and abroad. Or the opportunity to hold a service-oriented event to benefit your community Plan your chapter's successful AHEPA Day today by downloading the AHEPA Day Plan Book Share our legacy with your community.  Share why we joined.  Encourage others to join. May is Older Americans Month   Did You Know? AHEPA, through the AHEPA National Housing Corp., is a leading provider of affordable housing for the elderly in the United States through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Section 202 Program for the Elderly. AHEPA's Housing Program has developed 95 affordable elderly housing communities, totaling nearly 5,000 residential units, spanning 21 states. Some stats to consider during Older Americans Month as provided by the Administration for Community Living: The population age 65 and over increased from 37.2 million in 2006 to 49.2 million in 2016 (a 33% increase) and is projected to almost double to 98 million in 2060.  The age 85 and over population is projected to more than double from 6.4 million in 2016 to 14.6 million in 2040 (a 129% increase). About one in every seven, or 15.2%, of the population is an older American. Learn more about how you can observe Older Americans Month. Also, HUD's latest Worst Case Housing Needs report found the number of older adult households with worst case needs increased by 382,000 households in 2013-2015, or 66% of the number of new cases of 582,000, reaching at total of 1.9 million. Make Plans Today! | 2019 Supreme Convention Chicago will play host to the 97th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention, July 1 to 6, 2019. The Palmer House Hilton Hotel will be the venue.  Initial details, including hotel accommodations, can be found here. Secure the $159 plus tax per night room rate by making your reservationtoday!  Attention Chapters: Report your delegates/alternates early. Reporting Form (PDF) Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:                                NEW!

Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines May 5 - 15 | AHEPA Family Leadership Excursion to Greece, Cyprus, Ecumenical Patriarchate 19 | AHEPA Day (plan book) June 13 | AHEPA's Sixth "Milk for Flint" Drive July 1 - 6 | 97th Annual AHEPA Family Supreme Convention, Chicago Greek American News Digest Editor's Note: Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.   A Journey Into Greece's Land of a Thousand Stories New York Times Style Magazine (May 13) One writer chronicles his voyage to the island of Ithaca, where Odysseus was once reputedly king.  read more | more here The worrying future of Greece's most Instagrammable island The Economist 1843 Magazine (May 9) Agata Wagemaker stops to take a picture of a blue doorway. We're wandering through the marble streets of Oia, a picturesque village on the Greek island of Santorini...If ever a place felt like it was made for Instagram, it is Santorini.  read more Οn June 22 the enthronement of the new Archbishop of America Elpidoforos GreekNews Online (May 12) The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fanar, Istanbul on Saturday unanimously elected the Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa and Exarch of Bithynia as the new Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, after his predecessor Archbishop Demetrios submitted his resignation to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew last week. The new Archbishop is 52 years old and was serving as abbot at the Halki Monastery. read more Opinion: The Mother Church is Sending Hope to America (The Pappas Post) Opinion: Our New Archbishop Brings Us Hope (The National Herald) US supports the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, says U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback ANA-MPA  (May 12) There are no excuses for the non-reopening of the Theological School of Halki said the United States ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, Sam Brownback in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA).  read more Turkey to send second drilling ship off Cyprus Ekathimerini (May 13) Ankara is continuing with its strategy of fueling tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, announcing its intention to send a second drill ship off Cyprus, while Turkish jets violated Greek airspace in the Aegean on Monday.  read more More than a scent: Cyprus promoting its perfume past Associated Press (May 12) Before Cyprus gained fame as the mythical birthplace of the goddess of love Aphrodite nearly three millennia ago, Cyprus was known around the Mediterranean for its perfumes, scents that the mighty queens of Egypt coveted.  read more Behind Sam Anas' rise in hockey, there's a special bond with one inspiring mom The Athletic (May 12) Any hockey fan from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia area knows Sam Anas is a great hockey player. Few from that neck of the woods have ever made it to professional hockey, and the Potomac, Maryland, native is in his third season with the Iowa Wild. So anytime Peter Anas wears a Sam Anas jersey to a Washington Capitals game, inevitably, somebody comes up to ask if he's Sam Anas' father. "Yes, indeed," Dad says, smiling wide.  read more  (subscription required) LAGFF's 2019 Lineup Includes Olympia Dukakis Documentary Variety (May 12) The documentary "Olympia," a revealing look at the life and career of Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, will join the other films screening at the 13th annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, which will take place at UCLA and at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre on June 3-9. read more NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2019   Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Proclaims  May 19 as AHEPA Sunday WASHINGTON, DC  -- The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has proclaimed May 19, 2019 as "AHEPA Sunday." The announcement, issued by Archiepiscopal Vicar Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, states, in part: "The AHEPA family, which also includes the Sons of Pericles, the Daughters of Penelope, and the Maids of Athena, has been dedicated to civic engagement for almost a century. Through their good works in education and philanthropy, they have let their light of service and compassion shine before others. In addition, their focus on the qualities of ancient Greek culture have supported an emphasis on civic responsibility..." A full readout of the announcement is provided below. "We are honored and deeply grateful for the kind words of Archiepiscopal Vicar Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, who eloquently described the commitment of AHEPA family members to civic engagement for nearly a century," Supreme President George E. Loucas said. "The AHEPA family values the close ties and shared history it has with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and we look forward to continuing that bond with new Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros. We are also grateful for the blessings Archiepiscopal Vicar Metropolitan Methodios has bestowed upon the AHEPA family and our members."    # # #   Date: May 15, 2019   Protocol 67/19   May 19, 2019 AHEPA Sunday   To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America   Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,               Christ is Risen!  Χριστός Ἀνέστη!   In the glorious light and joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and as we commemorate the Sunday of the Paralytic, I am happy to convey to you the greetings and blessings our new Archbishop, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.   In the healing of the paralytic, not only did Jesus reveal His power to renew life, but He also anticipated His Resurrection and the victory over death for all who believe.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).    Throughout these days following the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha, we exult in our salvation.  We give thanks to God for His infinite wisdom and marvelous grace, for through Christ we are redeemed and are heirs of the promise of eternal life.  With joy in our hearts and the Gospel on our lips, we are sharing this light and life with all so they may hear His word and believe.  We are commissioned by our Lord to engage with each and every person so that they may find abundant life.   This engagement with the world and with those in need is also the focus of the members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, also known as AHEPA.  The AHEPA family, which also includes the Sons of Pericles, the Daughters of Penelope, and the Maids of Athena, has been dedicated to civic engagement for almost a century.  Through their good works in education and philanthropy, they have let their light of service and compassion shine before others. In addition, their focus on the qualities of ancient Greek culture have supported an emphasis on civic responsibility.  The members of AHEPA are committed to the quality and value of life, knowing that people of all ages are more engaged with their societies when basic needs are met, that our youth as our future need guidance and opportunities, and that our strength in engaging with the critical issues of today is found in our unity, our volunteerism, and our faith.    In this season of Pascha and on this commemoration of the Sunday of the Paralytic when we rejoice in the power and life that comes from Christ, I ask the parishes of our Holy Archdiocese to observe AHEPA Sunday.  Please recognize and honor the members of the AHEPA family, highlighting the work that AHEPA continues to do throughout this nation and around the world.  Through their work and our service through our parishes, we continue to offer a witness of the power of our faith and heritage, seeking to engage and enlighten others to secure and protect life here and now and for all eternity.   With Archpastoral love in the Risen Lord, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston Archiepiscopal Vicar    Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.     AHEPA's mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.    For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.