TheLeader VOLUME XXV ISSUE2 Spring2024 - Flipbook - Page 23
Chicago Greek Heritage Parade
Celebrates Greek Independence
commandment – an ἐντολή
that rises above every canon,
every dogma, every tradition
that we hold so dear. For if we
do not hold this
commandment first and
foremost, everything else in
the Church is devoid of
meaning."
After Divine Liturgy,
Archbishop
Elpidophoros with
Archbishop Elpidophoros at Chicago’s Greek Independence Day Parade.
Photos: GOARCH/Brittainy Newman
Metropolitan Nathanael,
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi
Greektown in Chicago was a wave of blue and white as
Giannoulias, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas,
Greek Americans, Chicagoans, and spectators from near
Ambassador Evangelos Savva of Cyprus, Consul General
and far attended the Greek Heritage Parade on April 7,
of Greece in Chicago Emmanuel Koumbarakis,
2024 to commemorate Greek Independence Day, which
Leadership 100 Chairman Jim Logothetis and
was March 25. Presented by The Federation of HellenicLeadership 100 member Dimitris Bousis, President
American Organizations (ENOSIS) and sponsored by
Costa Chaniotakis of Enosis, Illinois, President of the
Greektown Special Service Area #16, the Greek Heritage
Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) Endy
Parade has been established as one of the biggest annual
Zemenides, Members of The Federation of Hellenic
events in the Chicago Greek community since its
American Organizations of Illinois, Hellenes and
founding in the 1960s.
Philhellenes gathered at the National Hellenic Museum
before the parade officially began. Archbishop
The day began at Annunciation Greek Orthodox
Elpidophoros praised the Chicago Greek community for
Cathedral to celebrate a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with their love and pride for their Hellenic heritage. President
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and of HALC Endy Zemenides thanked His Eminence for
His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago. The
continuing to remind us about the unjust and illegal
service commemorated the Veneration of the Holy
Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the importance of
Cross, marked the beginning of the Greek Independence supporting Cyprus in the nation's struggle for freedom.
Day festivities, and the Forty Day Memorial for the late
Father Nicholas Nikokavouras, Proistamenos of the
Though it was a rainy day, this did not deter anyone
Annunciation Cathedral of the Metropolis of Chicago
from marching. Umbrellas in one hand and Greek flags
for decades.
in the other, participants proudly marched to celebrate
the resilience of the heroes of 1821 and the fight for
Archbishop Elpidophoros honored the admirable and
Greek Independence. Children and adults donned
generous leadership of Fr. Nicholas in his Homily and
traditional Greek costumes, performed dances to the
reminded parishioners to follow his example of love as
songs of our homeland, and waved Greek flags and
commanded by our Lord, “'Τhis is my commandment:
Church banners with smiles emanating great joy. Clergy
love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no and faithful from many local Greek Orthodox Churches
one than this, to sacrifice your life for your friends.' As
participated in the parade procession, proudly
Christians, as Orthodox Christians, we are bound to this
highlighting their Greek Orthodox faith.
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