A Greek flag-raising ceremony will be held in Philadelphia’s historic City Hall on April 15, an initiative spearheaded by the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of Philadelphia & Greater Delaware in cooperation with the philhellene mayor of the city of “Brotherly Love”, Jim Kenney.
The flag-raising ceremony comes ahead of a weekend of events in Philadelphia organized by the federation to commemorate the 195th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence (March 25, 1821) against dour Ottoman rule.
A dinner honoring local and national Greek-American dignitaries comes on Saturday, April 16. A day later a hierarchical divine liturgy and official great doxology, will be celebrated by His Eminence, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (256 S 8th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
A Greek Independence Day Parade follows at 2 p.m., with the starting point at 17th and Parkway and the review stand on Parkway before Art Museum Drive.
This year’s parade highlight includes a unit of Greek Presidential Guard, Evzones, taking part in the parade march.
A reception and dance performances will follow at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 229 Powell Lane, Upper Darby, PA.
AHEPA President John Galanis and Daughters President Connie Pillalis will serve as grand marshals of the parade.