ALBANY, NY – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, Senator Andrw Gounardes, Senator James Skoufis, Assembly Member Michael Tannousis and Assembly Member John Lemondes honored Greek independence at the US Capitol. State on Wednesday, welcoming His Eminence the Archbishop. Elpidophoros, who offered invocations before both houses of the state legislature. The anniversary of Greek independence was also celebrated with the adoption of a resolution (J.580) proclaiming March Greek History Month in the State of New York.
“As the son of Greek immigrants, the Greek-American experience is very close to my heart,” said Michael Gianaris, Deputy Leader of the Senate. “This is the perfect time to recognize the sacrifices of those who came before us and to celebrate the Hellenic values that have influenced the rest of the world.
“It was an honor to welcome His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros to the State Capitol as we honored Greek independence this week,” said Senator Andrew Gounardes. “As a fourth-generation Greek-American, it is not only the history of Greek independence that I am proud to celebrate this month, but also the contributions of the Greek-American community to our nation. ”
“I am grateful to the Archbishop for his invocation and leadership, spiritual and otherwise, and to my fellow Greek-American legislators for their partnership,” said Senator James Skoufis. “Greek Independence Day allows us to reflect on the many contributions – to democracy, science, theater, philosophy and many other aspects of our daily lives – of those who came before us. I will always be proud of my heritage.
“Welcoming His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros to the Chambers and recognizing the importance of his visit is one of the greatest honors of my life,” said John Lemondes, Assembly Member. “As 2sdof the Greek-American generation, whose grandparents were both direct survivors of the Pontian Greek, Armenian/Assyrian genocide, I am always aware of the gift given to me to be born here, which is a direct result of their survival. I will never forget how important it is for Greek-Americans to keep alive the spirit with which our ancestors wrested their own freedom. This is what strongly influenced my decision to serve our country in the military, with representative service in government, staying alive and being motivated by the spirit of Philotimo.
“It was a pleasure to have Archbishop Elpidophoros and members of the Greek-American and Cypriot-American communities in the room for such an important moment in the 2023 legislative session,” said Assembly member Michael Tannousis. “New York State is home to thousands of Greek-Americans who attend their local churches in various parts of the state to practice their religion and stay connected to their culture. I am proud to be a first-generation Cypriot-American and son of refugees. I am grateful to my parents who left their homeland and came to the land of opportunity to work extremely hard for the American dream. In honor of Greek Independence Day, we say long live Greece! Zito and Ellas! (Ζήτω η Ελλάς!).”
The Senate resolution proclaiming March Greek History Month marks 202sd birthday of Greek independence on March 25. Greek Independence Day commemorates the date on which Greece declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire and began the Greek War of Independence in 1821.
About Archbishop Elpidophoros: His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Right Honorable Exarch of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is the eighth Archbishop of America elected since the creation of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in 1922.
Photos of Greek-American lawmakers and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins with the archbishop are available. here. Video of the Archbishop’s invocation of the Senate is available here. Video of Senator Gianaris’ speech on the resolution is available here.
