TheLeader VOLUME XXV ISSUE2 Spring2024 - Flipbook - Page 24
Greek Independence Day Parade
in New York City
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros with dignitaries
at Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City.
On Sunday, April 14, 2024, Greek Americans, Hellenes,
and Philhellenes marched up Fifth Avenue for the New
York City Greek Independence Day Parade. Greek
Independence Day was March 25. On Friday, a Flag
Raising was held at Bowling Green, where participants,
led by the Εὔζωνες, the elite Presidential Guard of the
Hellenic Republic, proudly marched in a downpour of
rain to honor the Greek Flag and to celebrate Greek
Independence.
At the pre-parade banquet on April 13, 2024, Archbishop
Elpidophoros of America thanked the President of the
Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, for gracing
the parade with the presence of the Evzones, reminding
all Hellenes of the Heroes of 1821, who gave their utmost
so that Greece might be reborn a free nation. His
Eminence encouraged attendees to remember that this is
the fiftieth anniversary of the illegal and unjust Turkish
invasion of Cyprus, promoting a just and peaceful
settlement for a unified Cyprus.
The parade celebration began at the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Orthros and
Divine Liturgy were officiated by His Eminence
Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria and
Naousa—concelebrating with His Eminence
Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey and Their Graces
Bishop Irinej (Serbian Orthodox Church), Bishop
Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Bishop Christophoros of
22
Amphipolis, and Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia. His
Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
presided over the doxology for Greek Independence Day.
His Eminence acknowledged and honored the brave
actions taken by the Heroes of 1821, and their actions
that allow all Hellenes to proudly march up Fifth Avenue
and celebrate
their Greek
heritage. Ioannis
Plakiotakis, First
Vice President of
the Hellenic
Parliament,
Children wave Greek flags at Greek
Alexis Vafeades,
Independence Day Parade in New York City.
Minister of
Transport of Cyprus, and Stefanos Kasselakis, President
of the main opposition party in Greece, SYRIZA, also
addressed the faithful in anticipation of the parade later
in the day.
The parade procession began with Archbishop
Elpidophoros marching along with the Chairman of the
Parade Committee, Philip Christopher, President of
PSEKA and the Pan Cyprian Association, and Grand
Marshals Alexis Vafeades, Minister of Transportation
and Communications of Cyprus and George Karlaftis,
football player of the NFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The Evzones followed and garnered an eruption of
cheers from the crowd, led by Commander Elias Kriezis.
