AHEPA E-News
AHEPA Participates at Greek Independence Commemoration Events
The Order of AHEPA, represented by Supreme President George G. Horiates, participated at several high-profile celebrations of the Bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence during the week.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, led by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, held its Greek Bicentennial celebration at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Manhattan, March 25, 2021 (more here). Supreme President Horiates was an honored speaker at the event (See video at top right).
In addition, Supreme President Horiates attended a Greek Bicentennial Celebration with President Joe Biden and Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, March 25, 2021. Grand President Celia Kachmarski and Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas, PSP, also attended (President Biden's Greek Independence Day message at right.)
Supreme President Horiates also presented remarks at a press conference hosted by U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Gus Bilirakis, co-chairs, Congressional Hellenic Caucus, to celebrate Greek Independence, March 25, 2021. Grand President Celia Kachmarski also provided remarks along with several other Greek American community leaders. (Pictured at right.)
Most recently, Horiates presented remarks at a virtual celebration of Greek Independence hosted by U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and held in honor of Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla, March 29, 2021. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandra Papadopoulou and Cypriot Ambassador to the U.S. Marios Lysiotis, joined U.S. Rep. Malliotakis in the celebration. Malliotakis also commended AHEPA for its natural disaster relief efforts following Superstorm Sandy and other devastating natural disasters throughout the world. Several community leaders also participated. (See video at bottom right.)
"On behalf of AHEPA, thank you to all who hosted and participated at these important celebrations," Horiates said.
Ahepans, U.S. Ambassador Pyatt Memorialize American Philhellenes
Athens Chapter HJ-1, Athens, Greece honored the American Philhellenes who supported the Greek Revolution of 1821 and fought alongside the Greeks during a special ceremony organized at the Monument of the Athens Chapter of the American Legion, March 24, 2021.
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt and Secretary General of Hellenes Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Giannis Chrysoulakis participated.
Hellas District 25 Governor Konstantinos Varsamis and Chapter HJ-1 President Dimitris Chondros laid a wreath at the monument.
"On behalf of the American Embassy in Greece, I am proud to be here with AHEPA leaders to pay tribute to the American philhellenes who helped Greece regain its patriarchal right to democracy and marked the beginning of an excellent friendship between the countries," Ambassador Pyatt said. "The American Philhellenic Monument serves as a daily reminder of the long-standing ties between our democracies and how American society has been enriched since the early days of our relationship with Greece and the Greek people."
Located near the Ambassador's residence, the Monument features the relief busts of American citizens who supported the struggle of the Greeks during the Revolution, including Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe and Congressman Daniel Webster, and inscriptions of names of those who fought alongside the Greeks. An appeal authored by Petrobeis Mavromichalis to the Messinian Senate of 1821 to the United States also is inscribed. AHEPA attended the Monument’s rededication in October 2000.
In Pictures | AHEPA Family Secures Recognition of Greek Independence
We are proud to share a few highlights we received of events to commemorate the Bicentennial of Greek Independence that have taken place in the United States. More to come!
A banner moment for New York City-area Ahepans following a flag-raising ceremony in Manhattan. They also reenacted NYC's first Hellenic Independence Day Parade held in 1893.
Montreal Ahepans display pride following a flag-raising ceremony held at the City of Pierrefonds, Quebec. Mayor Dimitrios Jim Beis led the ceremony.
Hon. Bill Saffo, Mayor of Wilmington, N.C., and Ahepan, issued a proclamation on 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence. (L-R): Cape Fear Chapter 408 President Nick Lazaridis; Mayor Saffo; Director of Greek School and Ahepan Anesti Logothetis.
Proclamations Received!
Thanks to your outstanding outreach and diligent efforts, AHEPA Global Headquarters has received numerous city and state proclamations to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence. The collection is presented in two parts due to file size and represents proclamations received as of March 24, 2021. More to come!
Part 1 | Part 2
Hel-lumination!
AHEPA commends global diaspora initiatives to light up cities and towns in Hellenic blue and white to celebrate Greece's Bicentennial.
For example, the San Jose AHEPA family secured the illumination of San Jose City Hall for five nights.
Worldwide landmarks such as The Empire State Building, The Eiffel Tower, and the Sydney Opera House, and many more, were illuminated in honor of Greece's Bicentennial.
Pictured clockwise: The George Washington National Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Va.; AHEPA Global Headquarters in Washington, the Embassy of Greece in Washington, and the Rhode Island State Capitol Building.
Hellenic Nights (and Days) at the Museum!
In honor of the bicentennial of the 1821 Greek Revolution, the Tampa Museum of Art premiered Opa! A Celebration of Greek Independence, March 25. This video celebration of Greek culture highlights the intersection between the 200th anniversary of Greek independence and the 100th anniversary of the Tampa Museum of Art through the artwork in the Museum’s permanent collection. With support from members of the Tampa Bay area Greek community, the presentation also features a dance performance, poetry reading, and messages that unite Tarpon Springs, the City of Tampa, and Tampa’s sister city Heraklion, Greece. Ahepans Hon. Chris Alahouzos, mayor of Tarpon Springs, and Past Supreme Governor Gus Paras, are featured in the video.
AHEPA Releases Global Greek Bicentennial
Schedule of Events
AHEPA, the largest Hellenic-based organization worldwide, released a comprehensive schedule of events for the Greek Bicentennial. AHEPA’s districts and chapters globally will commemorate the Bicentennial of Greece in the upcoming months, with social distancing and public health being of primary concern.
To view the schedule, which is comprised of AHEPA communities throughout America, Canada, Europe, Greece, and Cyprus, please click here.
Help Commemorate the Greek Bicentennial through Outreach and Awareness
Catalog | View and Share Works that Celebrate the Bicentennial of Greek Independence and America's Contributions to it
Pictured: Daniel Webster
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence, AHEPA shares with its audience links to publications, articles, and webinars that mark Greece's Bicentennial and America’s contributions to the Greek Revolution.
Reflections on 1821: A discussion with Mark Mazower | World-renowned historian Mark Mazower, a professor of History at Columbia University, gave an online celebratory lecture co-hosted by the Consulate General of Greece in Boston and College Year in Athens. watch here
“1821 Before and After” | The Benaki Museum is offering an online preview of its monumental exhibition for the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution ahead of its physical opening to the public. Visit benaki.org
University of Michigan Classical Studies/Modern Greek | Constantine G. Hatzidimitriou, ed., “Founded on Freedom & Virtue”: Documents Illustrating the Impact in the United States of the Greek War of Independence, 1821–1829 (New York/Athens: Caratzas, 2002).
AHEPA-published book | “The 1821 Greek War of Independence and America’s Contributions to the Greek Cause“
"The Cause of the Greeks": Philadelphia and the Greek War for Independence, 1821—1828
Philhellene Samuel Gridley Howe in the Greek War of Independence (Greek Reporter)
Poetry in Honor of the Bicentennial of Greek Independence (The National Herald)
Hellenic Supreme Joint War College and Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki | From Kalavrita to Navarino - The military narrative of the revolution
AHEPA Applauds Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring Greece's 200th Independence Day
House Resolution Recognizing 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence Needs More Co-Sponsors - Ask Your U.S. Representative to Co-sponsor!
Thank you to everyone who has outreached to their members of Congress and who have secured their co-sponsorships! We've received quite a few emails of your success stories.
AHEPA applauds the Senate's passage of a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, sponsored by U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Barrasso (R-WY), on March 25, 2021, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.
The resolution, S.Res.34, celebrates the commitment to democracy that Greece and the United States share as well as the two nations’ lasting partnership and rich history of friendship, according to a statement from Senator Menendez, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
“Greece’s 200th independence anniversary serves not only as a reminder of our countries’ long friendship, but also as a time for us to look to build on that history and strengthen our partnership for generations to come,” Chairman Menendez said in a statement submitted to the Senate record, lauding Greece as an invaluable partner to the United States as a NATO member, as an EU member, and in promoting peace and stability in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean region.
Senator Menendez's remarks in the Senate record are found here.
“Congratulations to the people of Greece as they celebrate 200 years of independence. I’m pleased the U.S. Senate passed our bipartisan resolution honoring this significant milestone for Greece, our strong partner and important ally,” Senator Barrasso said.
A companion bipartisan resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the 200th anniversary of the independence of Greece introduced by lead sponsor U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and several original sponsors from the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, rests with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The resolution, H.Res.246, emphasizes the hard-fought struggle for independence of the Greek people, and the historic and dynamic relationship that defines the deep American-Hellenic ties. The resolution has eight co-sponsors
"AHEPA sincerely thanks Senators Menendez and Barrasso, and Congressman Bilirakis, for championing these resolutions that recognize the landmark bicentennial of Greece’s independence,” Supreme President Horiates said. “We encourage the community to outreach to their U.S. representative to urge their co-sponsorship of the House resolution. We call for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass it swiftly."
Take Action | Find/Contact Your U.S. Representatives
The Ahepan
Hot off the electronic press! The Spring 2021 edition of The Ahepan magazine is out!
Learn how AHEPA's affordable senior housing program is protecting its residents, ensuring they have priority access to Covid vaccinations. Read about how Allied troops used AHEPA's Constitution during WWII. Professor Alexander Kitroeff details AHEPA's contributions to strengthen Hellenic issues. U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt recounts AHEPA's contributions to the U.S.-Greece relationship.
And catch up on the latest service work our worldwide network of chapters are doing to strengthen our communities!
read the issue
Greece Is the Word in 2021
Make Reservations! | Athens Supreme Convention
AHEPA is preparing for the 99th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention to be held in Athens, Greece, July 25 to 31, 2021. The official convention hotel will be the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Reservation deadline is March 31, 2021.
Emirates Airline is the official airline partner of the 2021 AHEPA Supreme Convention. A special AHEPA-only rate will be announced in March.
Greece will be celebrating the bicentennial of its independence in 2021 and the AHEPA family will be there to join in the celebration! See you there!
