AHEPA E-News

Volume 16, Issue 27 | Wednesday, July 6, 2022

AHEPA Family Attends Consecration of Saint Nicholas

The AHEPA family leadership attended the Consecration of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center, July 4, 2022.

Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas, Daughters of Penelope Grand President Kathy Bizoukas and Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas, PSP, attended. Executive Director Basil Mossaidis accompanied them.

Saint Nicholas was the only House of Worship destroyed on September 11. 

In 2019, AHEPA fulfilled its $1 million donation to the campaign to rebuild Saint Nicholas and laid one of the 24 white marble stones at the Ground Blessing Ceremony in 2014.

The National Herald coverage

AHEPA Congratulates Father Karloutsos, A Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

The Order of AHEPA conveys its heartfelt congratulations to Reverend Alexander Karloutsos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, and servant of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for more than 50 years, upon being selected by President Joe Biden as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Biden announced 17 recipients. The presentation will occur tomorrow, July 7.  

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.

In 2013, AHEPA honored Father Alex Karloutsos with an award in recognition of his demonstrated excellence in leadership at the 40th AHEPA Congressional Banquet. Axios!

White House announcement | Archdiocese announcement

Take Action! AHEPA Centennial Resolution

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a resolution commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Order of AHEPA’s founding on June 15, 2022.

The resolution, S.Res.675, rests with the Senate Judiciary Committee (committee members). 

Help us gain support for the resolution.

• Ensure your U.S. senators become co-sponsors, especially if your senator(s) serves on the Judiciary Committee.

• Ask them to co-sponsor S.Res.675!

• Resolution text

Congressional Objection to Administration’s Proposed Arms Sale to Turkey Welcomed

AHEPA welcomes the bipartisan outcry from U.S. representatives who objected to the sale of F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey, announced Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas.

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) led Hellenic Caucus members in a July 5 joint statement objecting to the Administration’s intention to proceed with the sale as stated by President Joe Biden on June 30. U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who co-chairs the caucus; Charlie Crist (D-FL), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and John Sarbanes (D-MD), joined Titus on the statement.

Additionally, Maloney joined with Pappas and Hellenic Caucus co-chair, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), to issue statements on June 30 in opposition to the Biden administration’s planned sale to Turkey. 

Also on June 30, Bilirakis and U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), issued a joint statement in strong opposition to “any sale of U.S. military equipment to Turkey,” especially in the wake of the concerns Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis conveyed during his visit to Washington in May.

Taking Action

These Hellenic Caucus members, led by Pallone, are garnering support for a bipartisan-backed letter to be sent to President Biden that states their clear opposition to “the potential sale of next generation F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey.”

• The deadline for a U.S. representative to sign-on to support the letter is Thursday, July 7, close of business. 
• Ask your U.S. representative to sign-on to the Pallone letter opposing F-16 and weapon sales to Turkey.
• Find your U.S. representative.

The Ahepan Summer 2022 Edition Is Out!

Hot off the electronic press! The digital Summer 2022 edition of The Ahepan is out! We’re excited to share news of receiving Greece’s highest honor and how chapters are celebrating AHEPA’s centennial anniversary. Also, catch highlights from Greek Independence Day celebrations, our Leadership Mission with American Jewish and American Greek groups, our annual Leadership Excursion, and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge’s visit to AHEPA senior communities in Houston!

read the issue

Hit ’em Straight at the Centennial Supreme Convention

Attention golfers! We’re excited to bring you not just one, but two, golf tournaments at the Centennial Supreme Convention in Orlando!

Tournaments will be held Wed., July 20, at Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and Thurs., July 21, at Disney Palm Golf Course. 

more details

Hoop It Up at the Centennial Supreme Convention

The AHEPA Supreme Convention Basketball Tournament will take place Thursday and Friday, July 21 – 22, 2022. The event will be held at the Game Point Event Center, located at 6700 Kingspointe Pkwy in Orlando, a nearby 17 minutes from the convention hotel, Disney’s Coronado Springs. The venue includes six air-conditioned regulation-size basketball courts used by high school and college athletes.

The tournament is open to all AHEPA and Sons of Pericles teams and individuals interested in participating. If you are interested and don’t have a team, please let us know and we will arrange for you to play with another team or with an at-large team. 

more details

Are Your Ready? Centennial Supreme Convention Prep

We’re just weeks away from our Centennial Supreme Convention and we can’t wait to see you in Orlando!

A quick update to let you know that pre-registration is CLOSED.  That means that if you haven’t registered for convention as of yet, you will have to wait and do so once you get to Orlando.  AHEPA HQ will have a registration table set up and be able to register you on site.

Additionally, A La Carte tickets to individual events WILL be available ON SITE only for as long as supplies last. You cannot reserve these tickets in advance, so if you plan on purchasing them, please visit the AHEPA Registration desk early on at convention.  

If you are planning to join us, please make sure you’ve made all the reservations you need to. Have you booked your shuttle from the airport? Do you need a scooter to get around? Visit our convention page below and make any reservations you may have missed. We’ll see you in Orlando!

Appeal for Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

Since opening the Emergency Relief Fund to collect donations for Ukrainian aid, AHEPA Global Headquarters is proud to report that our chapters continue to answer the call, and we encourage all chapters to keep raising funds for this worthy cause.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of Ukraine as they bravely defend their country from a brutal, devastating, and unprovoked invasion by Russia. We hail the Ukrainians’ defense of democracy and freedom.

The humanitarian ruin and loss of life has been catastrophic.

More than five million refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion. These are staggering numbers not seen since World War II.

The Order of AHEPA stands in solidary with Ukrainian refugees and families.

The AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund is open to receive donations for humanitarian aid to assist the people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

read our appeal

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

17 – 22 | AHEPA Centennial Supreme Convention, Orlando, Fla.

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

Consecration held for church destroyed in September 11 attacks

WABC-TV  (July 4)

The church destroyed in the September 11th attacks was consecrated Monday morning in a ceremony that attracted more than 1,500 people to make it a permanent house of prayer. read more

In Athens, Creativity in Art, Food and More Rises

New York Times (July 3)

The Greek capital has added impressive arts venues, daring restaurants and a blossoming hotel scene to its well-known Classical draws. read more

Greece: Large forest blaze forces evacuations west of Athens

Associated Press (July 5)

Greek firefighters battled a large forest blaze that forced the evacuation of a small village west of Athens, the latest in a series of wildfires that flared as strong winds swept several parts of Greece. read more

Greece proceeds with purchase of 20 Lockheed F-35 fighter jets -PM

Reuters (June 30)

Greece has sent an official request to the United States for the purchase of 20 Lockheed Martin-made F-35 fighter jets, the country’s prime minister said on Thursday. read more

• Also: Greece getting three MQ-9s (Ekathimerini, July 5)

Return to travel: Wind-swept wandering in the Mediterranean

Sacramento News & Review (July 5)

Sometime around 850 B.C., the Greek poet Homer first mused about the seduction of a “wine dark sea,” forever linking Dionysian vines to the flaming colors of a Mediterranean evening. read more