AHEPA E-News Volume 19, Issue 23 | Wednesday, June 18, 2025 The Journey Continues! Journey to Greece 2025 Commences! AHEPA Supreme President Savas Tsivicos recently stated, “The Journey to Greece program is the best AHEPA offers. It not only educates our students on the golden history of Greece, reacquaints them with their rich heritage, and brings students together from all over the world to create lasting relationships, but it also raises awareness of the AHEPA and all the great things that the AHEPA stands for and does!” In the past two years, the Journey to Greece program has reached new heights. The Supreme President has made this annual four-week program his most important project, and it’s amazing what he has accomplished! Through his fundraising efforts, an endowment has been established with just over $700,000. By year’s end, it’s expected that the endowment will reach $1M! For the year 2025, twenty-five students will participate in the Journey to Greece program. Through this endowment, AHEPA will cover the nearly $5000 tuition for each of those students. They departed the United States on June 15, 2025, and will return on July 11, 2025. The students will be based at Webster University’s satellite campus, located in central Athens near the historic Plaka area at the foothills of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. From there, they will go beyond the classroom setting and travel to many historical sites throughout Greece’s mainland and select Greek islands to learn through experience. As in previous years, this year’s program promises to be an unforgettable and life-changing experience! The Supreme President went on to say, “What is more valuable than our students? The AHEPA needs to do all that it can to educate them on our rich past, present, and future. These students are the future of this great organization!” AHEPA Participates in PSEKA Conference AHEPA was well represented at PSEKA’s 40th Annual Cyprus Conference last week in Washington D.C., displaying our unwavering support for a liberated Cyprus by co-sponsoring the conference. The PSEKA, the International Coordinating Committee of Justice for Cyprus, “remains (in) the pursuit of a just and viable solution to the Cyprus Problem, which will see the people of Cyprus free from the tyranny of an invading force – that of the Turkish Armed Forces – which occupies over 35% of its territory.” Spanning three days, the conference began without a hitch, starting with an unforgettable briefing from the State Department. The following day, the group of lifelong Cypriot and Greek-American leaders met in the Capitol Building for discussions with important Congressmen and Senators, notably, House Majority and Minority leaders Steve Scalise and Hakeem Jeffries. That evening, a distinguished crowd of Greek and Cypriot American organizations attended the conference banquet, taking time to honor the individual leaders for their outstanding accomplishments guiding the United States towards the policy of peace and freedom for the Cypriot people. Attending the banquet on behalf of AHEPA was Supreme President Savas Tsivicos, Chairman of the Board Nicholas Karacostas, PSP, Vice Chairman George Horiates, PSP, Executive Director Basil Mossaidis, and Lieutenant Colonel Praxitelis N. Vamvakias. At the banquet, Supreme President Tsivicos awarded Philip Chrsitopher, President of the PSEKA with the AHEPA Heroes Medal. This award is given to exceptional members of the Hellenic Community, honoring not only their commitment to their cause, but to the betterment of all Philhellenes. The following day, the conference concluded with a panel on the future of American investments, focusing on the key importance of Cyprus for the future of Greek and American energy. Sons of Pericles Host Greeks in New York The Sons of Pericles Supreme Lodge hosted their annual Greeks in New York event last weekend. The weekend featured a basketball tournament with ten teams, a boat cruise hosted by AHEPA Delphi Chapter 25 and after hours parties at Skinos and Skybar. AHEPA Family members from all over the U.S. and Canada were in attendance for the weekend that celebrated Greek culture and additionally served as a networking event, creating lasting memories across the New York City boroughs. The Bayside, New York, Chapter Sons won the basketball tournament, displaying excellent effort and teamwork, embodying the spirit of brotherhood and Hellenism to defeat the other teams in friendly competition. The SOP Supreme Lodge thanks all those who attended the weekend event, and congratulates all teams that participated! Supreme President Tsivicos Attends St. Basil Academy's Graduation Event, Honors Prominent Ahepan Supreme President Savas Tsivicos attended the 2025 graduation ceremony for Saint Basil Academy this weekend. Saint Basil Academy is (according to their website), "the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s home for children in need (and their) mission is to provide a safe and loving Orthodox Christian environment where resident children, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, are nurtured to become healthy members of society with vision and hope." AHEPA has been the proud sponsor of St. Basil Academy since it's founding in 1944, consistently donating in pursuit of building new dorms, academic buildings and athletic facilities. Taking this opportunity to honor a dedicated and admirable Ahepan at this wonderful event, Supreme President Tsivicos awarded Chris Pappis the AHEPA Heroes Medal. This award is given to exceptional Philhellenes, honoring their unwavering dedication to their communities in all that they do. Congratulations to Chris Pappis and all the graduates at St. Basil Academy! District 6 MOA Open Sensory Room at St. Basil Academy The Sensory Room project at St. Basil Academy — a residential school and ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America — was officially unveiled on June 14, 2025, with over 100 attendees gathered on the beautiful Hudson Valley grounds in Garrison, NY. St. Basil Academy serves as a home and educational environment for children in need, offering love, care, and guidance within the framework of the Greek Orthodox faith. The sensory room was made possible through an extraordinary collaboration led by the Maids of Athena D6 lodge, alongside countless community volunteers and donors. The effort raised over $34,000 in monetary donations, with an additional $22,000 in donated services — bringing the total project value to just over $56,000. Of the funds raised, $14,000 was awarded back to St. Basil Academy to establish a fund for ongoing maintenance and related therapeutic services, ensuring the sensory room will continue to support the students' well-being for years to come. Supreme Vice President E. Chris Kaitson Initiates New Legacy Member into Texas Chapter This weekend, Supreme Vice President Kaitson visited Chapter 356 in Clear Lake, Texas, initiating Mario Mourtakis, the youngest son of District 16 Past District Governor Demetrios Mourtakos. The trip and initiation is part of Kaitson's tour of the AHEPA domain, solidifying his support of Ahepans across the diaspora. This stop in his home state demonstrates his commitment our cause and his roots. Congratulations SVP Katison and welcome to AHEPA, Mario Mourtakis! Supreme Convention Registration is OPEN! Registration for the AHEPA Family 103rd Annual Supreme Convention is officially OPEN! AHEPA and DOP Registration can be done via ahepa.org, and SOP and MOA Registration will take place via maidsofathena.org. Remember, in order to register as a delegate or alternate, you MUST have been reported by your Chapter. If you are unable to access delegate/alternate pricing, your Chapter has likely not turned in their delegate reporting form, so please follow up with your Chapter officers to make sure they have reported you as a delegate. If you have NOT been reported as a delegate, your only option will be to pay the full guest price in order to take advantage of Early Bird Registration. Click here to access AHEPA  Registration Click here to access DOP Registration Click here to access SOP & MOA Registration Be a part of the AHEPA Convention Digital Ad Book! In advance of the 103rd Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention, we have made full page digital ads available for purchase! Make sure your District, Chapter, Family or Business is represented. The digital ad book will play throughout the AHEPA Supreme Convention and be available for download on the AHEPA Website as well, so your ad will receive maximum exposure throughout the week! Download the ad form below! AHEPA Convention Digital Ad Form Book your hotel room before our Room Block Ends Friday! Book Today! Our 103rd Annual Supreme Convention is going to be here sooner than you think! Delegate return forms are already coming in, and online registration opens in just a couple of weeks! Make sure you get your hotel room while you still can! We're less than two months out and rooms are going FAST! If you know you're going but just putting making your reservation off until later, please reconsider and book today, we will not be able to help you get rooms with the AHEPA discounted rate once our block sells out, and we're already more than three quarters of the way there! We’ve got a week full of fun for the whole family that you’re not going to want to miss out on! Join us once again at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, where we’ve secured a special convention rate for our attendees starting at $199/night plus tax. As to Disney property/artwork ©Disney Click to Book Your Hotel Room! The Spring 2025 AHEPAN is Here! Hot off the electronic press! The Spring 2025 issue of The AHEPAN is here! Read the latest issue of The AHEPAN today! Read the Issue! Supreme Convention Information Station! Click to Visit the Supreme Convention Page! Individual & Chapter Sponsorships Corporate Sponsorships Click for Discounted Park Tickets! Click to Book Your Airport Shuttle! Dust off your Mickey ears, The Order of AHEPA is going back to the happiest place on earth, the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida! We’ve got a week full of fun for the whole family that you’re not going to want to miss out on! Join us once again at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, where we’ve secured a special convention rate for our attendees starting at $199/night plus tax. You know the deal, these rooms are going to sell out quickly, so book now! As to Disney property/artwork ©Disney Publicize Your Chapter & District Events! Is your Chapter or District hosting an event you want publicized on a National Level? Starting this week, you can submit your event to have it posted on the AHEPA Website! Fill out the form linked below with your event information to have it publicized. Remember that this information will be public on our website, so keep that in mind before you submit personal phone numbers or home addresses. We recommend listing an email address as a point of contact rather than a telephone number. Upcoming Events & Deadlines July 7 | Early Bird Supreme Convention Registration Ends 21-27 | AHEPA Supreme Convention August 16 | SOP Supreme President Alec Economakis' Testimonial  Submit Your Events! 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 Yale delegation visits National Bank of Greece for climate and innovation dialogue ekathimerini.com (June 16) "Chairman of the National Bank of Greece (NBG), Gikas Hardouvelis, hosted Yale University President Maurie McInnis and a delegation of Yale faculty in Athens, NBG announced on Monday. The visit to Athens, part of Yale’s “Yale for Humanity” campaign, included a working lunch on Friday at NBG headquarters. The event was attended by NBG CEO Pavlos Mylonas, Yale Club of Greece President Kyriacos Sabatakakis, senior executives, academics, and nonprofit leaders. The campaign aims to highlight Yale’s role in addressing global challenges like climate change, sustainability and public health." read more Israeli Authorities Urge Citizens Not to Travel to Greece, Cyprus in Attempt to Return Home Haaretz (June 15) "Israel's Transportation Ministry is currently exploring the possibility of returning Israelis via sea routes, but this solution, if arranged, will require military approval and provide only partial relief for the approximately 80,000 Israelis stranded abroad." read more Earthquakes Damage Centuries-Old Monasteries in a Secluded Religious Community in Greece Associated Press (June 13) "Centuries-old monasteries have been damaged by an ongoing series of earthquakes in a secluded monastic community in northern Greece, authorities said Friday. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck the Mount Athos peninsula on June 7, followed by a series of both undersea and land-based tremors that continued through Friday. The quakes caused “severe cracks” in the dome of the Monastery of Xenophon, which was built in the late 10th century, and damaged religious frescoes at that site and several others, the Culture Ministry said." read more Djokovic obtains the necessary residence permit to live in Greece Puntodebreak.com (June 15) "A significant and unexpected piece of news has been reported by the Greek media Protothema, stating that Novak Djokovic has already obtained the necessary residency permit to move his permanent residence to Greece. The Serbian player is going through a tumultuous period in his relationship with his country's government after taking a clear stance in support of students who have been protesting against the authorities for months. By choosing to return to his home country only for vacation periods, Novak and his family wanted to have a new experience in a country they feel close to and that is near Serbia, where most of their relatives live. read more Greece wildfires: Towns evacuated as blaze threatens area around Athens The Independent (UK) (June 16) A wildfire raging through a dense forest near Ano Souli, a village northeast of Athens, has prompted evacuation orders as dozens of Greek firefighters battle to bring the blaze under control. Around 120 firefighters, supported by 17 aircraft and 30 engines, have been deployed to the village, which is located approximately 25 miles from the Greek capital. Authorities have urged residents of Ano Souli and the nearby town of Marathonas to evacuate their homes as the fire continues to spread. read more Click the link above for the latest in Greek American Sports News! Celebrating 100+ Years of Brotherhood

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