LOS ANGELES, CA – The Greek Heritage Society (GHS) of Southern California celebrated its 37th anniversary at Loyola Marymount University on Sunday, January 8.
A rare photography exhibit titled “The Journey of the Greeks of Southern California” was on display, depicting the activities of the Los Angeles area Greek community since the early 1900s. The event also featured an additional exhibit of a photo collection of more than 24 Greek Orthodox churches in Southern California, as well as a digital photo exhibit.
The Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles, Ioannis Stamatekos, in his speech thanked the Greek community of Southern California for its support of the Greek Heritage Society and its digital oral history library project. The Honorary Consul General of Cyprus in Los Angeles, Andreas Kyprianidis, as well as the founder of the GHS, Zoye Fidler, also greeted the audience and wished everyone a Happy New Year.
GHS President Bessie Karras-Lazaris welcomed everyone and cut the vasilopita to traditionally celebrate the arrival of the new year.
GHS is a non-political, non-profit California corporation, in association with the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, California) for educational, literacy and education purposes .
It was established in 1985 with the aim of preserving the rich culture, heritage and traditions of Greek immigrants in Southern California. Through his FLOGA (flame) project, he documents the history of the first Greek immigrants and sheds light on subsequent generations.
It is worth noting that the Greek Heritage Society previously produced an award-winning three-part documentary series titled “The Greeks of Southern California Through the Century.” The trilogy is the universal story of the Greek-American experience seen through the eyes of those who settled Southern California.
“The next major goal for 2023 is an oral history project, the creation of a digital library where the hundreds of interviews that GHS has collected over the years can be housed, as well as photos and historical documents that represent three generations of our Greek community. and shared,” said Christina Bogdanou, Executive Committee member and director of the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies.
“This Greek-American archives and resource center will be used to stimulate and maintain interest in Greek culture, literature and heritage, and to promote intercultural studies,” she added in a memo addressed to friends and supporters of the two centers.
Further information on the GHS is available online: https://www.greekheritagesociety.org/
