AHEPA E-News Volume 15, Issue 34 | Wednesday, October 27, 2021 AHEPA Honors His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA) hosted its 45th Biennial Congressional banquet in honor of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and to mark the commencement of his historic third Apostolic Visit to the United States, at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C., Oct. 24, 2021. His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon represented His All-Holiness, who felt unwell Sunday morning and was hospitalized overnight for observation. His All-Holiness was released from the hospital Monday morning. “AHEPA promotes all the values and principles that are the rich legacy of Hellenism – Ancient, Byzantine, and Modern,” His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel said during his toast. “And the Holy Archdiocese, as the daughter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, embodies these values and principles as they have been baptized into Christ through the preaching of the Gospel. For the Omogeneia, the Archdiocese and AHEPA are two hands of one body, and we are grateful for their cooperative spirit.” In his tribute to His All-Holiness, Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas spoke about the effectiveness and meaning of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s message of unity, love, and compassion, and Kokotas pledged AHEPA can do more to amplify his message. “We also must make sure His All-Holiness’s ministry, his message and his spiritual home—the Ecumenical Patriarchate—are safeguarded from the plight they face daily," Kokotas added. "They must be sustained…they must flourish.” His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America received AHEPA’s presentation of $100,000 to become a Founding Member of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation: For the Sacred See of Saint Andrew. Supreme President Kokotas and Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas, PSP, made the presentation, along with a gift to His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel. Ahepan, Archon and Prominent Businessman Michael Psaros delivered the Keynote Address. Several members of Congress addressed the audience: U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues and co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus; U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues; U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), and U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), who serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Daughters of Penelope Grand President Kathy Bizoukas presented a gift to His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel. Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Washington correspondent, served as the Master of Ceremonies. Chairman of the Board Karacostas, PSP, delivered welcome remarks. photo album | The National Herald Top (L-R): Psaros, Rep. Malliotakis, Rep. Maloney, Metropolitan Emmanuel, Grand President Bizoukas, DOP Executive Director Saviolakis, Rep. Sarbanes, Senator and Mrs. Van Hollen. Top Right: Metropolitan Emmanuel looks on as Supreme President Kokotas delivers remarks. Photo Credit: Bill Petros AHEPA Service Dogs Program Chair to be Recognized AHEPA Service Dogs for Warriors Program Chairman George Karatzia, PSG, will be recognized as the "Man of the Year" by Canine Companions, a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs at no charge to the recipient, on November 11, 2021, 10 a.m. Chairman Karatzia will accept the award on behalf of the entire AHEPA family. "Congratulations to Brother Karatzia on this well-deserved honor," Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas said. "We commend the entire AHEPA family for its overwhelming support for a worthy program that serves veterans who are suffering from PTSD." AHEPA Responds to Call to Action, Opens Emergency Relief Fund Shortly after concluding business at our Athens Supreme Convention, an onslaught of wildfires devastated Greece. Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas immediately opened the Emergency Relief Fund and called on Ahepans from across the globe to mobilize. As they have in the past, Ahepans heeded the call and stepped up to assist in any way possible. As monetary donations continue to pour in, Ahepans also have volunteered their time and resources by donating bottles of water or by contributing to actual fire relief. Stateside, Hurricane Ida came barreling through the Gulf, leaving devastation in her wake in Louisiana and causing severe flooding and tornado damage in the mid-Atlantic up to parts of New England. AHEPA is working with the District 16 AHEPA family to determine how we can assist those affected by the hurricane to help them recover as quickly as possible. Click Here to make a tax-deductible Donation to the AHEPA Emergency Fund Upcoming Events & Deadlines October 28 | Oxi Day November 1 | Deadline: Winter 2021-22 The Ahepan 2 | Thyranoixia - Opening of the Doors Ceremony of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at World Trade Center 8-12 | AHEPA Golf Tournament, Daytona Beach, Fla. (For more information, contact Supreme Athletic Director, Chris Atsaves.) 20 | Testimonial Dinner for PSP George G. Horiates, Philadelphia, 6 p.m. The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA (Proceeds to benefit the AHEPA Capital Campaign Fund. Contact 856.986.8972 for information.) 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 Orthodox Patriarch Praises Biden After Meeting VOA News (Oct. 25) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, resumed a busy American visit Monday after an overnight hospital stay, meeting with President Joe Biden after earlier meetings with the Turkish ambassador and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. read more White House Readout Beware of Greeks Riding American Ships The National Interest (Oct. 23) Lockheed Martin is building a specialized kind of frigate for the Greek navy. read more Pope to visit Cyprus and Greece, including Lesbos island, Dec. 2-6 Reuters (Oct. 26) Pope Francis will visit Cyprus and Greece, including the Greek island of Lesbos to meet migrants, from December 2-6, a Vatican source said on Tuesday. read more Greek Socialist leader Gennimata dies after long illness Ekathimerini (Oct. 25) The leader of Greece’s third-largest political party, Fofi Gennimata, has died after being hospitalized for treatment for a long-term illness earlier this month. She was 56. Gennimata had served as leader of the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement, or PASOK, since 2015. It was later made part of a center-left umbrella group known as the Movement for Change. read more  Cyprus aims for Mars with X-Ray rock dating instrument Associated Press (Oct. 21) Tiny Cyprus aims to join the global space exploration drive by developing a compact, X-Ray instrument capable of dating Martian soil and rock samples relatively accurately to potentially reveal more about the Red Planet’s geological history and offer a glimpse of Earth’s own future. read more