PHILADELPHIA – With great enthusiasm and Hellenic pride, the crowds braved the cold temperatures on a sunny afternoon in Philadelphia to participate in the celebration of the 197th anniversary of Greek Independence at the annual parade on March 25.
Three generations of Greeks marched with over 30 Associations and at least 13 parishes, mostly dressed in traditional costume, giving a distinct tone to the event, reminiscent of the military and student parades that took place in Greece.
“Traditionally, we are trying with our parade in Philadelphia to open the season of parades in America and to have it as close as we can to March 25th. This year it happened to be on a Sunday and we could do it today,” former President of the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley, Stathis Karadonis told The National Herald, commenting on the fact that the parade was held on March 25th.
The parade began with Greek-American students singing the two National Anthems, followed by marchers and floats. From New York, the Consul General of Greece Konstantinos Koutras and Consul Lana Zochiou attended along with His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, who was also celebrating his name day, the officials and members of the Federation. The Grand Marshal was the former president of Pan-Macedonian Association of America, Dr. George Ahtaridis, who noted the excellent participation of Hellenism in Philadelphia.
“The parade was very successful, despite the fact that that the weather did not help very much. We did not expect such a tremendous turnout of people. Three generations paraded: Children, parents, and grandparents. There were plenty of floats and excitement. We have given special importance to the history of Macedonia and the situation we are in today,” Dr. Ahtaridis said.
Almost all the floats and banners made reference to the Greekness of Macedonia, while the parade closed with traditional Macedonian dances.
“At a great meeting we had with the other federations, we decided all the parades that would take place in U.S. territory will focus on Macedonia. Macedonia is Greece, it belongs to Greece, and is Greece,” Karadonis pointed out.
On Sunday morning, the Divine Liturgy was held at the Annunciation/Evangelismos Church in Elkins Park, PA, located outside the city of Philadelphia, presided over by Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey. A thanksgiving doxology for the liberation of Greece was also held at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
In his speech, Metropolitan Evangelos referred to the symbolic and essential significance of the dual national and religious feast, while referring to the Macedonian question.
“The falsification of history is attempted to create a state to crush the Greek name and Greek history. For those who have little knowledge of facts, it is known that the history of Macedonia is an integral part of Greek history. The Greeks everywhere, as descendants of the heroes of 1821, are shouting and demanding ‘no concession on the name of Macedonia’ and that Macedonia was, is, and will always remain Greek,’” he said.
For his part, Consul General Konstantinos Koutras, spoke about the meaning of the celebration and called on the Greek community to “have a say in American political affairs.”
He said, “It is more urgent than ever to organize and speak in American political affairs, with the speech of our Church. The Greek community can. You must have a say. Long live Greece.”
A luncheon hosted by the Philoptochos followed at the Annunciation/Evangelismos Church cultural center to celebrate three festive occasions- the feast day of the parish, the name day of Metropolitan Evangelos, and March 25th- Greek Independence Day.
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