'Mazi' with our Sponsors
May 21, 2026
Kalimera Mazi Readers
We're halfway through May, the season of graduations, festivals, and the first real talk of summer. This week spans the cosmos to the kitchen, from a physicist explaining why the universe owes us nothing to a 53-year-old church festival still drawing thousands in New Jersey. And don't forget to check out our special Real Estate and Investments edition focused on the motherland - this one is especially worth a read...
Before we dive in, we'd love to hear from you. As we keep shaping Mazi and Ethnikos Kirikas / The National Herald for our readers across the Diaspora, please take a moment to fill out our readership survey and let us know what you'd like to see more of.
There's no shortage of headlines this week. The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity went quiet after its priest was suspended, a former Buffalo priest was charged with siphoning $450,000 from a parish fund, and a former Queensland doctor of Cypriot descent faces 148 sexual offence charges. On a brighter note, Navios CEO Angeliki Frangou told Columbia's newest engineers to "build boldly, break things, make them better," HABA named Dean Dakolias its Executive of the Year, and the LA Greek Film Festival turned 20. We also mourn Sam Sianis, the man behind Chicago's legendary Billy Goat Tavern, and educator Christina Siounis, who passed away after a battle with cancer at 46.
As always, efharistó to our sponsors: North Shore Farms, Limani Restaurant, Divani Collection Hotels, Aria Hotels – La Divina, Sand Castle, and Ethnikos Kirikas / The National Herald. We couldn't do it without you.
Now grab your kafé and let's get into it.
ECONOMIC ESPRESSO
Greece Stays on Everyone's 2026 List
Global and U.S. Market Pulse
Greece remains a top travel destination for 2026, according to a new Visa survey, with 55% of would-be visitors having been before. Americans spend the most, an estimated 3,080 euros per person, gravitate toward Attica, and lead the shift toward AI trip-planning and eco-conscious travel, with three in 10 using AI tools to plan.
CROSS-ATLANTIC CURRENTS
A Shipping Magnate's Charge to Engineers
Insights from Greece, Cyprus and America
Navios CEO Angeliki Frangou, a 1988 Columbia Engineering grad, gave the school's class of 2026 commencement keynote, pitching them on a maritime industry mid-revolution and sending them off to "build boldly, break things, make them better."
A Defense Bill Clears the Committee
Insights from Greece, Cyprus and America
The bipartisan U.S.-Greece Defense Cooperation Advancement Act advanced out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reauthorizing military education and training assistance to Greece for five years. Introduced by Hellenic Caucus co-chairs Chris Pappas, Gus Bilirakis, Dina Titus, and Nicole Malliotakis, the bill is backed by AHI, AHEPA, and HALC.
Cyprus and the U.S. Toast Their Own
Insights from Greece, Cyprus and America
The Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce honored Technico Construction Services CEO Steve Aniftos and the NBA's Erica Kontos at its annual dinner. Aniftos traced his path from arriving in New York in 1983 to building one of the city's largest construction firms, and urged the diaspora to keep the Cyprus cause alive.
HELLENIC HORIZONS
Skipping the Ferry, Greek-Island Style
Greek & American Business Highlights
ifly, which bills itself as Greece's leading private helicopter and jet operator, is betting on year-round luxury travel as the country shifts from a seasonal destination to a premium one. Chief Business Development Officer Spyros Vermpis told The National Herald the company turns a five-hour ferry to spots like Porto Heli into a 35-minute flight, partners directly with resorts like Amanzoe and One&Only, and is building out a helipad network through its iHelipad arm.
Twenty-Five Years on the Red Carpet
Greek & American Business Highlights
Getty Images photographer Dimitrios Kambouris, a Greek-American with roots on Kasos, has shot the Met Gala for 25 years, capturing fashion's biggest night from Long Island City to global stages. He noted that this year's "Fashion Is Art" theme produced plenty of Greek-inspired looks, including Anne Hathaway's Michael Kors gown.
A Greek Island Lands in SoHo
Greek & American Business Highlights
Selene, a new Greek restaurant at 23 Grand Street, opened May 18 as a 10,000-square-foot Aegean escape with three dining floors, a garden terrace, and a retractable roof atrium named for the moon goddess. Founded by Reno Christou and James Ragonese with chef Christos Bisiotis, the menu leans into coastal Greek cooking, whole grilled fish, crudos, lamb chops, all citrus and olive oil.
The Universe Owes You Nothing
Greek & American Business Highlights
Over orange juice at the Harvard Club, physicist Dimitri Nanopoulos talked multiverses, the "post-human" future, and a cosmos indifferent to us. The CERN veteran has moved to New York for his foundation's new health-literacy hub and publishes The Quantum Myth of Sisyphus in June.
Sand Castle
The perfect Cinderella setting
for your big day
Discover Long Island’s premier venue for life’s most memorable celebrations. From breathtaking gardens to exquisite ballrooms, Sand Castle offers the perfect blend of tradition, elegance, and personalized service for weddings, galas, and special events.
Start Planning Today
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Cathedral Goes Quiet
Diaspora in Focus
Services and programs at New York's Cathedral of the Holy Trinity are being canceled after presiding priest Archimandrite Chrysostomos Gilbert was suspended over allegations of inappropriate communications with an adult and left for Arizona. Parishioners are being sent to the Annunciation community uptown, with no replacement named.
A Discretionary Fund, a $450K Hole
Diaspora in Focus
Former Buffalo priest Christos Christakis, 57, was charged with bank fraud, accused of siphoning roughly $450,000 from a parish discretionary fund he controlled at the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. Federal prosecutors say only 11 of some 725 checks deposited over seven years were actually designated for the fund. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
A Doctor Faces 148 Charges
Diaspora in Focus
A 74-year-old ex-Queensland doctor of Cypriot descent, Stellios "Stan" Theodoros, faces 94 counts of rape and 54 of sexual assault involving 15 women. He appears in a Brisbane court June 23.
HABA: Banking on Roots and Refugees
Diaspora in Focus
The Hellenic-American Bankers Association named former Fortress Investment Group Co-Chairman Dean Dakolias its 2026 Executive of the Year on May 13. Honorees and speakers spotlighted his philanthropy, especially his work on refugees and unaccompanied minors in Greece, and Dakolias urged young attendees to capture their families' stories before they're gone.
The Cheezborger King
Diaspora in Focus
Sam Sianis, the Greek immigrant who turned Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern into a legend and inspired the famous SNL skit, died May 15 at 91. He grew his uncle's bar of "Curse of the Billy Goat" fame into seven locations and became a city icon.
A Beloved Teacher, Gone Too Soon
Diaspora in Focus
Greek-American educator Christina Siounis, who taught at the William Spyropoulos Day School in Flushing, died at 46 after a courageous fight with cancer. Colleagues remembered a teacher adored by her students, with one principal calling her "an angel on earth."
Half a Century of Service Honored
Diaspora in Focus
The American Hellenic Council of California gave Andreas Kyprianides, longtime Honorary Consul General of Cyprus in LA, a Lifetime Achievement Award, only the third in its 52-year history. His wife Mika was honored alongside him for her own design career, and Rep. Darrell Issa received the Pericles Award.
A Room to Call Their Own
Diaspora in Focus
The Ronald McDonald House New York Greek Division named room 906 for the Pan Gregorian Fund of Metro NY and Long Island, following a $60,000 gift to the Niki Sideris Legacy program. The room alone has already hosted 15 families this year, with stays for children in cancer and transplant treatment averaging about two weeks.
A New Fix for a Stubborn Heart Condition
Diaspora in Focus
Our Health Column: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common inherited heart condition affecting roughly 1 in 500 people, has long been managed with repurposed drugs and, in severe cases, surgery. That changed with mavacamten (Camzyos), the first therapy to target the disease at its molecular root by calming overactive myosin motor proteins, with a next-in-class drug, aficamten, now under regulatory review.
The Council Sets the Table for Cleveland
Diaspora in Focus
The Archdiocesan Council met by teleconference May 8 ahead of the 48th Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland this summer, themed "Rise Up and Build." Among the headlines: Hellenic College has more than doubled its undergraduate enrollment in three years, and St. Basil Academy is eyeing a relocation, not closure, to Nassau County on Long Island.
Parea with a Purpose in Houston
Diaspora in Focus
The National Hellenic Society brought the spirit of parea to YiaYia's Pappas Greek Kitchen on May 6, blending good company with its cultural mission. President Lea Soupata recounted the group's founding 14 years ago and previewed its Heritage Weekend gala in Washington this fall, doubling as a tribute to the founders and the U.S. 250th anniversary.
Perth Amboy Sends Off Its Graduates
Diaspora in Focus
The St. Demetrios community in Perth Amboy honored its Greek School and Sunday School students, high school and college graduates, and altar boys on May 17. Fr. Nicholas Petropoulakos urged graduates to stay close to the church, and the celebration closed with a reception in the community hall.
Piscataway's Festival Turns 53
Diaspora in Focus
The 53rd Annual St. George Greek Festival in Piscataway drew thousands over four days of food, music, and dancing, powered by 200-plus volunteers. Fr. Nektarios Cottros called it one of New Jersey's largest, with preparations starting back in January.
Mamma Mia Meets Charity on Staten Island
Diaspora in Focus
The Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Philoptochos in Staten Island threw its annual dinner May 14 with a Mamma Mia theme and a packed house at Li Greci's. President Dee Sidiropoulos noted the society raised $55,000 for charity over the year.
Essays, Scholarships, and a Brother Remembered
Diaspora in Focus
Port Jefferson AHEPA Chapter 319 awarded three Stony Brook students $1,000 each on May 10 for essays documenting how elderly Greek immigrants built their lives in America. Renamed in 2024 for late chapter co-founder Bobby Gemelas, the scholarship paired its ceremony with his three-year memorial service.
FOOD & CULTURE
Cleese, Dafoe, and 30 Years of SNF Nostos
Tastes and Traditions Explored
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation marks 30 years of philanthropy with its Nostos festival, themed "Human-Centric," running June 21-28 at the SNFCC with free admission. The lineup of discussions, performances, and exhibitions features surprise guests including Monty Python's John Cleese, actor Willem Dafoe, and author Karen Hao.
Remembering the Pontian Genocide
Tastes and Traditions Explored
Athens marked the Memorial Day of the Genocide of the Pontian Hellenes on May 19 with solemn ceremonies at Syntagma Square, where Evzones stood in traditional Pontian fighters' costume. A memorial service for the estimated 500,000 victims was followed by a wreath-laying and a march to the Turkish embassy.
Nolan Puts You Inside the Trojan Horse
Tastes and Traditions Explored
Director Christopher Nolan talked about his upcoming film, The Odyssey, on 60 Minutes, calling it his most ambitious film yet and the first shot entirely on giant-format IMAX. Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, said it was the hardest movie he has ever made. It opens July 17.
Sweet Endings for Grill Season
Tastes and Traditions Explored
Recipe of the Week: Barbecue season calls for a homemade finish, and two Greek-inflected desserts fit the bill: a lemon cake made with Greek extra virgin olive oil and yogurt under a bright lemon glaze, and a fresh strawberry pie on a lemon-zest crust. Both lean on Greek pantry staples to round out a backyard gathering.
The Liquid Gold of Lesvos
Tastes and Traditions Explored
On Lesvos, olive oil is more than an export, it's the island's economy, cuisine, and identity, with roughly 8.5 million trees and a tradition stretching back to antiquity. Producers are increasingly bottling under their own names, leaning into native varieties like robust Kolovi and milder Adramytini, while restored mills and tasting tours turn the island's dramatic groves into a growing agrotourism draw.
The LA Greek Film Fest Hits 20
Tastes and Traditions Explored
The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival celebrates two decades with a West Coast premiere of Georgopoulos's Patty Is Such a Girly Name, a tribute to Oscar-winning designer Dean Tavoularis, and the Orpheus Award going to composer Alexandre Desplat. It closes May 31.
When Seven Films Find One Thread
Tastes and Traditions Explored
The Hellenic Film Society's second annual short film program at the Museum of the Moving Image featured seven Greek-American filmmakers whose work all circled back to family and legacy, from a yiayia's orange-rind jam to two estranged brothers reconciling.
Troy's Women Speak Across Millennia
Tastes and Traditions Explored
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center and Eclipses Group Theater NY staged Euripides' anti-war tragedy The Trojan Women, May 14-17, directed by Ioanna Katsarou with a new translation and original music by Demetri Bonaros. The multicultural cast, led by Anthoula Katsimatides as Hecuba, brought audiences to tears.
Bringing the Agora to Life
Tastes and Traditions Explored
Book of the Week: Ancient coins, monuments, and everyday objects are taking center stage once again as the ASCSA reissues its classic Agora Picture Book series. The updated volumes combine colorful photography with historical context to bring the world of ancient Athens closer to today’s readers.
A Busy Day at the Acropolis Museum
Tastes and Traditions Explored
Free admission and live music helped draw crowds to the Acropolis Museum as Athens marked International Museum Day with culture, history, and a unique piano recital.
Nisyros Takes a Bow in Bodrum
Tastes and Traditions Explored
A delegation from the Municipality of Nisyros earned awards and praise at the Bodrum International Festival, held on the site of ancient Halicarnassus. Greek Consul General in Smyrna Alexandros Konstas, himself of Nisyros origin, joined the three-day showcase of the island's culture and tradition.
ECONOMY & SOCIETY
Mitsotakis Works the Room at Costa Navarino
Sna
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a round of meetings on the sidelines of the Europe Gulf Forum at Costa Navarino, sitting down with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and UK Deputy PM David Lammy. Talks ranged from the Gulf crisis and energy supply to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
A Diaspora Buyer's Guide to Greek Property
Snapshots of Change
With diaspora interest in Greek real estate climbing, a wave of firms is positioning itself to guide buyers from abroad. Brokerages like Savills, Keller Williams Athens Center, Dontas, Revithis, Lifenet, and Goutos Properties span everything from northern-suburb homes to Porto Heli luxury developments, while Home Watch Athens looks after empty properties month to month, Stama Greece represents short-term rental managers handling 10,000-plus homes, and the law firm S. Sotiriadis – K. Lidorikis & Associates steers buyers through the Cadastre, due diligence, and Golden Visa process.
The Tax Side of Investing Back Home
Snapshots of Change
For diaspora investors eyeing Greece, the accountants say structure is everything. Athens Financial Services and I. Lagos & Associates both stress proper tax-residency declarations, AML and KYC preparation, and getting the foundation right from the start, while pointing to incentives like the flat €100,000 alternative tax regime and the 7% rate for foreign pensioners.
Cocaine Bust at Piraeus Port
Snapshots of Change
Greek authorities seized 46 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a shipping container originating from Ecuador at the Port of Piraeus. The shipment, valued at more than €1.7 million, marks a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks.
Mitsotakis Eyes 2027 — But Questions Linger
Snapshots of Change
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis used New Democracy’s party congress to call a third consecutive electoral victory in 2027 a “national necessity,” laying out a vision centered on stability, reform, and growth. But beyond the official message of unity, the gathering also exposed internal undercurrents, ideological differences, and growing speculation about the party’s longer-term direction.
Gaza-Bound Flotilla Stopped Near Cyprus
Snapshots of Change
Israeli forces detained activists aboard the remaining vessels of a flotilla headed toward Gaza after stopping boats in waters near Cyprus. The operation has sparked international criticism and renewed discussions over aid access and regional tensions.
TRAVEL & CONNECTIVITY
They Kneel to Kiss Greek Soil
Expanding Horizons
The Argentine cultural society Nostos is launching its 16th organized journey to Greece on July 31, a 19-day pilgrimage across the mainland and islands that has brought more than 700 travelers to the country over two decades. President Christina Tsardikou says many arrivals, plenty of them with no Greek roots at all, kneel to kiss the ground at the Athens airport.
GOINGS-ON: MAY 21ST - 31ST
Spotlighting some upcoming community events:
BERKELEY, CA – Kombos Collective performs Vardari at The Cheeseboard Collective (May 22)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral hosts its annual Greek festival (May 22-24)
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY – Mosaic ArtSpace presents ‘Antonia Papatzanaki: Unseen Brought to Light’, a solo exhibition by the renowned artist, featuring a series of light sculptures that explore the hidden structures of life through a visual language that bridges art, science, and technology (May 22-September 30)
ASTORIA, NY – The Greek Cultural Center presents ‘To Noema Tis Zois’ (‘The Meaning of Life’) (May 23-24)
AMAGANSETT, NY – The beloved Mati Café has announced the opening of their second location which will take place over Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25)
LOS ANGELES, CA – The 20th edition of the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF) takes place (May 26-31)
STAMFORD, CT – Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church hosts its annual Ethos Greek Festival (May 28-31)
LOCUST VALLEY, NY – The Pan-Rhodian Society of New York ‘Apollon’ hosts its Greek Night Mixer 2026, a vibrant night of networking, cocktails, and community spirit at The Valley Piano Bar and Lounge (May 29)
BOISE, ID – Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church hosts its annual Greek Food Festival (May 29-30)
SAN JOSE, CA – St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church hosts its annual Greek Festival (May 29-31)
ASTORIA, NY – The internationally acclaimed theatrical play ‘Mirrors’, written by Ada Tsesmeli Edwards, arrives in New York for a limited run at Newtown Stage (May 29-31 and June 5-7)
GLENDALE, CA – ‘Antigone’ by Sophokles, newly translated and adapted by Kenneth Cavander and directed by Andy Wolk, this live theatrical performance celebrating Hellenic culture takes place at the Antaeus Theatre Company (May 30)
ASTORIA, NY – The Greek Cultural Center hosts its Annual Fundraiser Dinner, celebrating its 52nd anniversary at the Stathakion Cultural Center (May 30)
WASHINGTON, DC - The 5th Project Glow Festival takes place (May 30-31)
NEW YORK, NY – Daughters of Penelope Evryklea Chapter #36 Manhattan hosts their annual event at Skinos Restaurant (May 31)
ASTORIA, NY – Koukla Espresso Bar hosts a Blue Full Moon Party in collaboration with Anemi Modern Greek (May 31)
NEW YORK, NY – A Greek 'Mamma Mia'-inspired immersive cooking class and dance party in New York takes place every Thursday night at Pappas New York. Features wine and flowing hors d’oeuvres - but also lessons about Greek cuisine and how to cook your own Grecian delicacies alongside professional chefs (thru July 23)
THROWBACK HEADLINES
The National Herald Archive
Digitalization thanks to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
May 21, 2001
Dora May Run for Athens Mayor
Pontic Greek Genocide Commemorated
Possible Cyprus Tensions over EU Issue — Bush Takes Positive Stance
Simitis Faces Criticism in Chios
Young Man Attacks Archbishop Christodoulos
New Insights into the Battle of Crete
Memorial Honors Those Killed During the Cyprus Invasion
“Kori” Assistance Supports the Greek-American Community and Schools
Opinion: Inconsistencies and Unjustified Hesitation in Foreign Policy
GREEK WORDS/PHRASES OF THE WEEK
Μου τη δίνει
moo tee THEE-knee
Literal: “It gives it to me”
Meaning: It annoys me
