AHEPA E-News

Volume 16, Issue 17 | Wednesday, April 27, 2022

American Hellenic, American Jewish Leadership Mission Commences

Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas will lead an AHEPA delegation as part of the 2022 Biennial Leadership Mission with American Hellenic and American Jewish organizations to Cyprus, Israel, and Greece. 

The mission commences in Cyprus today, continues to Israel on April 28, and on to Greece on May 2. It concludes May 4.

In addition to AHEPA, leaders from the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), B’nai B’rith International, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, participate on the mission.

This is the fifth three-country Leadership Mission since its landmark inception in 2014. The four participating organizations will build on the work of previous missions, which were widely recognized and praised as contributing to intergroup and international cooperation and friendship. The mission’s purpose is to explore the major political, economic and security developments underway in the eastern Mediterranean and to advance the interests of the United States in the region.

2020 Leadership Mission highlights

PSPs Hollister, Zachariades Appointed to

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation Committee

The Order of AHEPA congratulates Past Supreme Presidents Carl R. Hollister and Andrew Zachariades, who have been appointed to positions on the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation For the Sacred See of Saint Andrew, announced Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas.

PSP Hollister serves as chairman of the Foundation’s Audit Committee. PSP Zachariades also serves as a member of the Audit Committee. They are also Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

“We congratulate Brothers Hollister and Zachariades on their appointments to serve on the Foundation’s Audit Committee,” Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas said. “We swell with pride to see our Brothers serve in such meaningful positions in the community. We are confident they will be tremendous assets to the committee. Axios!”

AHEPA is a founding member of the Foundation (announcement). AHEPA presented its $100,000 donation to the Foundation at the 45th Biennial Congressional Banquet held in honor of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in October 2021.

Sacramento AHEPA Family Remembers an AHEPA Founder

In commemoration of AHEPA’s centennial, Chapter 153 Ahepans and Daughters of Penelope Artemis Chapter 5 members visited the Sacramento Historic Cemetery to hold a memorial ceremony at the gravesite of one of the eight AHEPA founders, Spiros J. Stamos, March 25, 2022.

Father Robinson from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church performed a Trisagion, and Ahepans performed a modified version of the AHEPA funeral ceremony. The AHEPA family members also laid flowers with an olive wreath at Brother Stamos’ gravesite. Brother Constantino Kuchulis, a 67-year Ahepan who knew Brother Stamos personally, spoke about how wonderful and delightful a person he was.

Armenian Genocide Remembered

April 24 marked the 107th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide.

“We join with the Armenian American community in remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who were brutally and systematically massacred by Ottomans during the Armenian genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century,” Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas said. “We welcome President Joe Biden’s affirmation of the Armenian genocide. In addition, we remember the Christian minorities who were systematically murdered during this time period, including Greeks and many others.”

• United States Holocaust Museum: Special Focus — The Armenian Genocide

(Photo via U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.)

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.

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

Supreme Convention Pre-Registration Form Released

The 2022 Supreme Convention pre-registration form is available from AHEPA Global Headquarters.

Please note that in order to register as a Delegate or Alternate, your chapter must report you as one.

If you have not been reported as a Delegate or Alternate, you will be charged the guest price, so please coordinate with your chapters early.

Deadline Extended! | AHEPA Journey to Greece

During our 100th Anniversary, we are proud to offer emerging leaders the exciting opportunity to participate on our premier educational program, Journey to Greece. Deadline to apply is April 30.

Established in 1968, the Journey to Greece program provides an opportunity for our youth to visit Greece and earn six college credits in the process. This year, we are proud to work with Webster University in Athens for a 17th year. 

The 2022 Journey dates are July 5 to 30.

AHEPA 100th Anniversary Virtual 5K

Celebrate AHEPA’s centennial anniversary by participating in a Virtual 5K!

This race is ideal for walkers or runners! Safely complete the challenge your way and at your pace. Even on a treadmill.

And you decide when and where anytime until June 15, 2022.

Participate in this event as an individual, a small group, or as a chapter and earn an AHEPA 5K Medal featuring all four AHEPA Family Orders (pictured).

Proceeds go to the AHEPA 501(c)3 Foundation.

more info

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

30 | Deadline: AHEPA Journey to Greece

May

15 | AHEPA Sunday

16 | Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to meet President Joe Biden at White House

22 | Greek Independence Day Parade, Chicago

June

1 | Deadline: AHEPA Centennial Supreme Convention pre-registration

5 | Greek Independence Day Parade, New York City

10| Greeks in New York | Become a Sponsor!

23 – 26 | AHEPA Centennial Celebration, Atlanta

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

Greek PM Mitsotakis to meet with US President Biden at White House on May 16

ANA-MPA (April 21)

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet with United States President Joe Biden at the White House on May 16, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday. read more

• Greek prime minister to give Boston College commencement address (The Boston Globe)

Greeks celebrate Easter without restrictions

Associated Press (April 25)

For the first time in three years, Greeks were able to celebrate Orthodox Easter without the restrictions made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic. read more

One of Greece’s Most Popular Islands Has a Secret Side  

yahoo!news (April 26)

My boyfriend and I were coming to the end of our weeklong holiday on Paros, Greece. Sitting on the terrace of our Airbnb, looking out over the shimmering waters of the Aegean, we discussed how to spend our last two days. read more

Athens and Boston to become twin cities, Delta launches direct flight

Ekathimerini (April 22)

Athens and Boston are to become twin cities in a bid to strengthen ties and promote tourism cooperation. read more

Egypt: Ruins of ancient temple for Zeus unearthed in Sinai

Associated Press (April 25)

Egyptian archaeologists unearthed the ruins of a temple for the ancient Greek god Zeus in the Sinai Peninsula, antiquities authorities said Monday. read more

Greek billionaire donates sculptures, multimedia works to Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art

CBS News Chicago (April 25)

Dozens of unique and colorful works of art are coming to Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art as part of an extraordinary gift from a Greek billionaire. read more