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Volume 20, Issue 2 | Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Ribbon Cutting in Thessaloniki Wednesday, January 14, 2026 was a particularly important and historic day for AHEPA The ribbon cutting ceremony of the reconstruction of the 3rd Wing of the Surgical Clinic of the University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA , in line with the history and name of the Organization. The AHEPA was honored by the presence of the American Consul General of Thessaloniki. Today not only marks the handover of a renovated site, but also reaffirms AHEPA's timeless and unbreakable relationship with the Thessaloniki University General Hospital AHEPA, which the Organization itself founded. A relationship that was not confined to establishment, but has been going on uninterrupted for decades, with AHEPA remaining a steadfast supporter of Hospital, public health . A Hospital-landmark for the entire Northern Greece. Today's action is yet another practical proof of the Organization's timeless commitment to social service and commitment to community service. AHEPA Family Braves Blizzard to Honor Constas AHEPA family members from across North America gathered on January 15 at the Canadiana ballroom in Toronto, Canada, to pay tribute to past Canadian president Emmanuel Constas. Joining in the celebration along with the Supreme President were PSP Savas Tsivicos, Canadian Order of AHEPA President Anastasios Moussas, Supreme Secretary Themistocles P. Frangos, Supreme Treasurer Marshall Monsell, DOP PGPs Margaret Dritsas & Celia Kachmarski, and SOP Past Supreme President Timothy Noitsis. Many members of District 23's leadership, as well as multiple Past Canadian Presidents attended as well. Despite a winter storm that grounded flights in the midwest and northeast and prevented many individuals from attending, AHEPA family members showed up and gave our Brother Manny a party to remember as they honored his four years of diligent and unwavering devotion to our Order. Axios! Oh Canada! Supreme President Ventures North Recently, Supreme President Chris Kaitson toured Beaver District 23 and made visitations to Chapters in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. The Supreme President was accompanied by Canadian President Anastasios Moussas. of District 23 Eastern Canada alongside Canadian President Anastasios Moussas. During the tour, the delegation met with the Consul General of Greece in Toronto and the Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General, as well as with His Grace Bishop Athinagoras and students of the Theological Academy at the Archdiocese of Canada. Additional meetings included discussions with District 23 Governor Nick Pantieras, AHEPA Family Charitable Foundation of Canada Chairman James Hutchison, Deputy Head of Mission Markos Tripolitakis, and the Ambassador of Greece to Canada, Katerina Dimakis, in Ottawa. While in Toronto, Supreme President Kaitson, joined by Canadian President Moussas and Immediate Past Canadian President Emmanuel Constas, attended a Toronto Chapter meeting and new member initiation. During the visit, a $50,000 donation was presented to the Athens Neoclassical Library, and Toronto City Councillor Nick Mantas honored the Supreme President’s visit with a formal proclamation, recognizing AHEPA’s continued commitment to Hellenism, education, and community service. Cheers to 100 Years in Canton, Ohio! Canton Chapter 59 of Canton, Ohio, celebrated their 100 year anniversary on January 17th. Supreme President Kaitson with Supreme Secretary Themistocles Frangos and Supreme Governor Craig Theros were in attendance for the event. Also present were AHEPA Past Supreme Presidents Andy Zachariades and George Loucas, as well as DOP Grand President Antoinette Marousis-Zachariades, Sons of Pericles Past Supreme Presidents Mike Paxos and Bill Poulos III, District 11 Governor Nick Cassudakis, and Canton Chapter President John Karipides. Congratulations to the brothers of AHEPA Chapter 59! 2026 Journey to Greece Applications Online Now! AHEPA is pleased to announce applications for the 2026 Journey to Greece program are now open! The AHEPA Journey to Greece is an immersive summer program that takes young students on excursions throughout Greece to learn about, appreciate and celebrate Greek society and culture. The program enables high school seniors(18+) and college undergraduates to earn up to six college course credits all while doing so. Originally initiated in 1968, the program transported a generation of Greek American youths to explore their ancestral culture and land. After a hiatus, it was revitalized in 2006 in collaboration with Webster University. Now in its 20th year, the 2026 AHEPA JTG program is accepting applications for individuals eager to delve into the rich culture and history that Greece offers. More information on the program can be found at our website or through the pamphlet linked below. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2026. Click to Download the 2026 JTG Application! Click to Download the 2026 JTG Informational Packet AHEPA Mourns the Passing of Former President of Cyprus, George Vassiliou AHEPA is saddened to hear of the passing of former President of Cyprus, George Vassiliou. Vassiliou passed last night at the age of 94, having been in critical condition for over a week from a chest infection. AHEPA worked closely with the former President on many issues during his tenure, including the missing persons issue onset by the illegal Turkish invasion in 1974. This and other issues pertaining to international law still persist on the island nation, and AHEPA will continue to address them in lieu of the deceased leader's absence. "Today, I was saddened to hear of the passing of the former President of Cyprus, George Vassiliou," said Supreme President E. Chris Kaitson. "He was an incredible leader with a vision for peace and prosperity that inspired all. As Ahepans, our hearts go out to the people of Cyprus and the family of the former President as we grieve this truly sorrowful occasion." Two Days Left to Buy SOP Centennial Tickets! We're right around the corner from the Sons of Pericles' Centennial Gala, to be held January 31, 2026 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Almost every deadline has passed, but you can still purchase tickets for the event until Friday, January 23! Guests can purchase tickets for the Centennial Gala alone, or for the full weekend of activities. Don't miss out on what promises to be a memorable weekend as the Junior Order of AHEPA celebrates 100 years! Tickets and sponsorships are available at the links below! Please contact Stephanie Maniatis at AHEPA headquarters if you would like to make a donation via an alternative method at stephanie@ahepa.org. Active members of the Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena are entitled to a discount on their ticket cost and can receive it by contacting @sopcentennial on instagram, or emailing sopcentennial@gmail.com. Click to Purchase Tickets! Click to Become a Sponsor! Submit your SOP Testimonial! Sign Up for 2026 Capitol Hill Day! The AHEPA Family returns to Capitol Hill this year on May 14, 2026! If you plan on joining the AHEPA Family at this annual event, please visit the link below and fill out the form. Sign up for Capitol Hill Day! The Winter AHEPAN is Here! The Winter 2025 issue of The AHEPAN has arrived! Get a sneak peek of it at the link below! Read the Winter AHEPAN Attention Chapters & Districts with Publications! The AHEPA Publications committee is now accepting submissions for the annual publications competition, in which District or Chapter publications (newsletters etc.) are eligible to win awards at the 2026 AHEPA Supreme Convention in Philadelphia, PA. If your Chapter or District wishes to have a publication considered, please contact committee chair John Melonopoulos via email to john.melonopoulos@comcast.net in order to request a questionnaire. The deadline for competition submissions is April 30, 2026. Applicants must submit two copies of their publication with a properly completed questionnaire. 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 January 30 - 31 | Sons of Pericles Centennial Celebration, Manchester, NH May 13 | AHEPA 47th Biennial Congressional Banquet 14 | AHEPA Capitol Hill Day July 26 - 31 | AHEPA Supreme Convention, Philadelphia, PA 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 Greece, Israel to cooperate on anti-drone systems, cybersecurity, Greek minister says Reuters (January 20) Greece will cooperate with Israel on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on Tuesday after meeting his Israeli counterpart in Athens. "We agreed to exchange views and know-how to be able to deal with drones and in particular swarms of unmanned vehicles and groups of unmanned subsea vehicles," Dendias said in joint statements with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. read more Greece Golden Visa Program Launches A New Investment Pathway For 2026 Forbes (January 19) The Greece golden visa program is evolving with a new startup pathway for investors, in addition to the existing golden visa that focuses on real estate. Here's what to know. Greece has one of Europe’s most popular golden visa programs. For just under $300,000 in investment to convert commercial real estate into residential, holders receive residency without the need to permanently live in the country. For a $400,000 investment, holders can invest in real estate in less-populated areas, or $800,000 in more sought-after areas, such as Athens, Thessaloniki or a Greek island with more than 3,100 residents, as per CNTraveler. read more Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark Remembered at Special Memorial Service Vanity Fair (January 17) Members of Spain's royal family gathered Saturday in Madrid for a special memorial service for Princess Irene of Greece, who died Thursday at age 83. Spanish emeritus Queen Sofia, who earlier this month had canceled her royal engagements to care for her ailing sister, was joined by son King Felipe and his wife, Queen Letizia, as well as their eldest daughter, Princess Leonor and her sister, Infanta Sofía of Spain. The family came together at Madrid's Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Andrew and St. Demetrius, at a prayer service also attended by relatives including Infanta Elena, Victoria Federica de Marichalar, Infanta Cristina, and Princess Alexia of Greece. read more Greece Ranked 3rd Most Promiscuous Country Globally in New Study Greek Reporter (January 20) Greece has secured a surprising bronze medal in a global ranking of sexual habits. According to the 2026 Global Promiscuity Index (GPI) published by the World Population Review, Greece is now the third most promiscuous country in the world, trailing only Australia and Brazil. The index, which analyzes 45 countries, is not based on rumors but on a complex metric of six key indicators: the average number of sexual partners, the age at which virginity is lost, STI rates, the legality of prostitution, and social acceptance of premarital sex. read more Greece’s Navy Just Got Its Newest Flagship The National Interest (January 20) Last week, Greece’s navy welcomed its new flagship. The HS Kimon, an FDI multipurpose frigate, arrived at the Salamis Naval Base near Athens, marking the first new major surface combatant to join the Hellenic Navy in almost three decades.With a displacement of 4,5000 tonnes, the FDI is considered relatively small by modern frigate standards. However, its smaller size is an intentional feature of the frigate to minimize costs. read more Celebrating 100+ Years of Brotherhood

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