The Hellenic Congress of America (HCA) held its Vasilopita Cutting Ceremony on February 4 at the Petros Patrides Cultural Center at St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, with the organization looking forward to continuing its efforts to unify Hellenism. During its first eight years of operation, the HCA was one of the organizations that pushed for Greeks living abroad to finally be able to vote from where they lived.
HCA Secretary General, Dr. Despina Afentouli, a journalist and sociologist, delivered the welcome speech and served as master of ceremonies for the event.
HCA President Dr. Demetrios Markouizos emphasized that the goal of the Congress is “to creatively and progressively unite Omogeny,” while referring to the new goals that have been set, such as writing of global Greek history, but also the establishment of a Day of Greeks Abroad by the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
HCA Executive Advisor Demetris Filios spoke with the National Herald and recalled the creation of the HCA in 2016, as everyone highlighted the contributions of founding president and now President Emeritus Nick Apostolopoulos, who shared his greetings during the event. Theodora Abazis, HCA Advisor to the President and head of the event organizing committee, also shared her remarks and best wishes.
During the event, the “Geros tou Morea” chapter of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America received the Hellenic Community Excellence Award which was accepted by the organization’s president, Evaggelia Lamproulou Sarafoglou. Former President of the Pan-Arcadan Federation of America “Geros tou Morea” Christos Vournas and President of the Society of Kastorians “Omonia” of New York, Demos Siokis, were also honored with the Hellenic Leadership Award.
The prayer and cutting of the Vasilopita was presided over by the assistant priest of St. Demetrios Cathedral, Archimandrite Gedeon Varytimos, who represented His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, conveying his best wishes and support for the efforts of the HCA. He also conveyed the best wishes of the dean of Saint-Demetrios Cathedral, Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos. Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral Music Director Maestro Costas Tsourakis, bass-baritone, performed the national anthems of Greece and the United States.
A traditional Greek meal was also served at the event, accompanied by live Greek music by Giannis Kyriazis.
Among those present were Nikos Thomopoulos, Head of the Economic and Commercial Affairs Department of the Consulate General of Greece in New York, Mary Vaxevanidou, Head of the Greek Office of Public Diplomacy, Angeliki Vournas, President of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America, Panos Adamopoulos, president of the Society of Athenians, and General Secretary Sylvia Adamopoulos, former president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York Cleanthis Meimaroglou, and HCA First Vice President Gus Lambropoulos.
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