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Home , Agia Lavra, Andreas Miaoulis, Demetrios Ypsilantis, Laskarina Bouboulina, Manto Mavrogenous, Odysseas Androutsos

MARCH 24, 2018 Celebrating Greek Independence Honoring the Hellenic Triumph of Liberty

Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix on the Ruins of (1826), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux

Delacroix produced a second painting in support of the in their war for independence, this time referring to the capture of Missolonghi by Turkish forces in 1825. Greece Expiring on the Ruins of Missolonghi displays a woman in Greek costume with her breast bared, arms half-raised in an imploring gesture before the horrible scene: the suicide of the Greeks, who chose to kill themselves and destroy their city rather than surrender to the Turks...

The National Herald T H D E L N A AT ER IONAL H www.thenationalherald.com 2 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

Happy and Joyous

JOHN CATSIMATIDIS, Jr. Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 Greek Independence Day 3 4 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 Greek Independence Day 5 Celebrating Greek Independence Day

By Eleni Sakellis

On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the . The cry “Freedom or death” became the motto of the revolution. The date of March 25 is also a religious holiday, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her she would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. The double celebration honors the Mother of God, the Theotokos, and the faith that sustained the Greek people through the hard years of Ottoman oppression and then through the brutal years of war in the fight for freedom. Very few holidays have such powerful connections in the minds and hearts of the people through faith and history.

For those of us who grew up in the Greek- American community, Greek Independence Day was one of the most special days of the year not only as a religious and national holiday, but it gave us the opportunity to show our pride in our Greek heritage, language, history, and faith as we marched in the annual parade. In our country’s northern states, the weather can be trying for a parade this time of year. Cold temperatures and a little rain are not enough dampen our patriotic spirit, however. Waiting in the side streets along Fifth Avenue is probably the most nerve-wracking for the marchers in the New York parade. Once the marching starts, the parade can fly by for those marchers, waving flags and shouting, “Long live Greece!” Honoring those who fought and died for

The National Herald freedom, the heroes of 1821, is an well-known, , had been inspired important aspect of the celebration. by his travels in Greece before 1821 to write A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, Those heroes still inspire us today with some of his most famous works. In his INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and their strength and steadfastness, their poems, he wrote movingly about the addressing the issues of paramount interest to the dedication to fight for the freedom of the struggle of the people suffering under the Greek American community of the United States of homeland in spite of the odds being oppression of the and America. against them. The lessons they have to brought wider attention to Greece and the teach us are many and timeless. One of fight for freedom. He died at Missolonghi, Publisher-Editor the most important being that the people Greece on April 19, 1824. Another perhaps Antonis H. Diamataris endure even under the worst conditions, less well-known historical figure, the their spirit is indomitable and their love German Karl von Normann-Ehrenfels, sailed Assistant to Publisher, Advertising of the homeland is profound. It is our to Greece in early 1822 with other Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos duty to remember those heroes and the philhellenes to help in the revolution. He Special Section Editor history that they shaped with their efforts served as chief of staff to Alexandros Eleni Sakellis as we celebrate the 197th anniversary of Mavrokordatos in the Battle of Peta on July Production Manager Greek Independence. 16, 1822, and died of his wounds a few months later at Missolonghi. Philhellene Chrysoula Karametros , Georgios committees in Europe and United States Karaiskakis, Yannis Makriyannis, raised money for the war effort and for the 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 , , relief of its victims, including the survivors of Tel: (718) 784-5255 • Fax: (718) 472-0510 , Constantine Kanaris, Manto the 1822 massacre on . Working e-mail: [email protected] Mavrogenous, Miaoulis, together, the dream of freedom for Greece Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, , and Laskarina was realized. , 10671, Greece Bouboulina are among the most famous Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598 heroes of the revolution, but there were So as we celebrate Greek Independence Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776 also countless others who fought for and remember those who fought for e-mail: [email protected] freedom including the many philhellenes freedom, we say ΖΗΤΩ Η ΕΛΛΑΣ! ΖΗΤΩ Η who embraced the cause. Perhaps most 25η Μαρτίου! CosmoYannis Creates They Were Super Greeks

By Penelope Karageorge drawings. “Based on the pictures, I got Just in time for Greek Independence Day, They Were Super my ideas of what the characters Greeks by artist CosmoYannis arrives like a glorious rendition of looked like and gave it my own the Greek National Anthem. This brilliant coloring book makes rendition. I got really hooked on you want to celebrate being Greek, and the heroes who fought this. I really wanted to tell the and won the revolution, from priests to Klefts, to women and war - story to kids. I made it a color - riors. Although created for kids, the book provides delights and an ing book so that kids could pick education in history for adults as well. it up and read it and know who Talking about his inspiration for Super Greeks, CosmoYannis their heroes were. The coloring says: “My grandmother used to tell me stories about the revolution. book idea just came to me. How I realized that there was less and less information about it – the can I best get this to the kids? great heroes, the great victories. The Blacks, for instance, have So that’s where I started. I had their heroes. Look at the billion-dollar film hit, Black Panther. How to boil down thousands of words to a few sentences and what made them heroes. “When I discovered the poem the kids would recite every night during the dark years of Turkish domination, I was thrilled. It’s the same poem that we would recite as kids in Greek school. ‘My little moon, my lantern, light my lamp to walk, to go to school, to learn my lessons, lessons most important, God’s things.’ I dedicated the book to the kids who were taken by the Turks and lost to their families.” CosmoYannis began to pur - sue life as an artist as soon as he could pick up a pencil. The poem recited by children during the dark days of Turkish domination came to America to “When I was a kid, I had the be recited in Greek schools. greatest fascination with comics. There were so many newspa - pers filled with cartoons. My Uncle Mike would go out and buy the papers and give me the cartoons. ‘This is the most worthwhile thing to read in the paper,’ he would say. In those days they had great comics. Dick Tracy. The Katzenjammer Kids. Lil Abner. Joe Palooka. The Phantom. Valiant is still being published. “I started drawing comics myself, making my own cartoons. My grandmother had an iconostasis. At night, I would put my own comics up there and pray so hard to God to have my cartoons come to life, like in the movies. Of course they did not! I was a big fan of Walt Disney. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and Brer Rabbit. At the Triboro Theater, for 25 cents, an enormous amount of money, you could go and spend the entire day looking at car - toons.” After high school, CosmoYannis joined the Marine Corps. “I really loved it. I found a home in the Marine Corps.” He then studied at Radford College, initially planning to be an art teacher, but changed his mind. He did a number of things, always coming back to art. For twenty years, he created a cartoon page every month for the popular magazine High Times. Artist CosmoYannis created They Were Super Greeks, a coloring They Were Super Greeks is sold at the Holy Trinity Cathedral book offering an inspiring history of the heroes of the Greek Fellowship Bookstore in Manhattan. Now CosmoYannis says he Revolution. would be happy if a major publisher would take it on for wider distribution. “It would be wonderful if it could reach many more youngsters.” about the Greeks? Charles Connant, manager of the Cathedral Fellowship Book - “I went to the library on 42nd Street. For over a month, I would store, says of They Were Super Greeks: “A publisher would be walk up there every day from my house on the lower East Side – I doing himself and the entire Greek community a huge favor by like to walk – and take notes about the revolution. I don’t know publishing this gem of a book. It’s historically valid and wonderfully how many notes! Too much! Too much! I had to consolidate what entertaining, for grown-ups as well as kids. We Greeks need this to I found out. I could write a book about each hero.” remind us of our wonderful history, to bolster our Greek pride.” Then he discovered the mother lode. “I found two books that the Greek government had put out on the revolution. The books were very large and very heavy. Historical Album of the Greek War of Independence, 1821, Melissa Publishing House, Athens. An Il - They Were Super Greeks, a coloring book for youngsters and lustrated Chronicle. These are huge books, roughly 12 by 17. Every adults as well, offers a dynamic story of the heroes of the page is chock full of information. Page after page of paintings and Greek Revolution 6 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ The Greek American Institute students performed in traditional costume at the celebration of Greek Independence and posed for a photo with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Greek Independence Celebrated in the Bronx

By Demetris Tsakas

BRONX – The Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and elected officials held a celebration for the 197th anniversary of Greek Independence at the community hall of Zoodohos Peghe Greek Or - thodox Church on March 8. The event also honored Dr. Demetre Daskalakis- the Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Dis - ease Control at the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Theodore Kaltsas- en - trepreneur and former president of the Agios Athanasios Association of Perista, Kostas Malo - noukos- businessman and parish council president of Saint Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church in the Bronx, and Haeda Mihaltses- St. Michael's Home Board of Trustees President and Vice Presi - dent of External Affairs and Community Engage - ment for the New York Mets. The presiding priest of St. Peter the Apostle Church, Fr. Maximos Politis, offered a prayer, and expressed gratitude to the Bronx Borough President and the other elected officials, because each year, he said, they honor Greece and the Greek commu - nity. New York State Assemblymember Aravella Simotas, who also served as the MC for the event, spoke about the Greek community’s achievements. She also noted that her landslide reelection victory, as well as that of State Senator Michael Gianaris and New York City Council Member Costa Con - L-R: Kostas Malonoukos, Fr. Maximos Politis, Theodore Kaltsas, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Haeda stantinides were due to the tremendous support Mihaltses, State Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblymember Aravella Simotas, and Marricka Scott-McFadden- Deputy Bronx Borough President. of the Greek community. Zoodohos Peghe Parish Council President Sofia run Greek Orthodox School in the United States. Greek Independence and the honored ones. tion of the anniversary of Greek Independence. Zarvos welcomed President Diaz and the elected George Spiliotopoulos gave the panegyric of Diaz referred to Greece's contributions to West - The 7th and 8th grade students of GAI per - officials and highlighted the efforts of the commu - the day. ern culture and the role of the Omogeneia in the formed traditional dances in costume, delighting nity and the Greek-American Institute (GAI) of the Senator, Michael Gianaris congratulated Diaz progress of the city and the state. He then gave the audience. Panagiotis Papastefanou sang the Bronx, founded in 1912, the oldest continuously for his decision to hold the annual celebration of out the proclamations to the honorees in celebra - Greek National Anthem. Art and Films Inspired by the Greek War of Independence

By Eleni Sakellis

Art and artists are often inspired by the world around them. When dramatic events are taking place, even far from home, it can be difficult to ignore them and not be moved to some action, especially when the cause is freedom. The Greek War of Independence inspired many artists, and not only Greek artists who created the many mon - uments throughout Greece, but among philhel - lenes of all nations. Among the most famous was French painter and leader of the Romantic school Eugene Delacroix whose Massacre at Chios brought the terrible slaughter vividly to life for viewers many of whom were immediately moved by the plight and the suffering of the Greeks to offer some kind of help for the survivors. Delacroix followed up the iconic painting in support of the Greeks and their fight for freedom with Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi (1826) which was inspired by the capture of the city by the Turkish forces in 1825. For the heroic effort of the people and the subsequent massacre of the population, Misso - longhi was given the honorary title of Hiera Polis (Sacred City). Delacroix sympathized with the heroic spirit of the Greeks and was also a great admirer of Lord Byron who had died at Misso - longhi in 1824.

The Greek War of Independence also inspired the (German: Propyläen), a city gate 's Statue, . located in on the west side of Königsplatz, constructed in Doric order, and com - pleted by Leo von Klenze in 1862. Evoking the monumental entrance of the Propylaea for the The Massacre at Chios by Eugene Delacroix helped raise awareness of the suffering of the Acropolis in Athens, the gate was created as a Greeks and increased in the West. memorial for the accession to the throne of , a son of King Ludwig I of . As oulis, and Dionysis Papa - early as 1816, planning began for the Propylaea giannopoulos. though 30 years passed before the order for con - struction was issued. In order to promote the pro - Another heroine of the Greek ject, Klenze painted a picture of the planned struc - War of Independence, Manto ture. King Ludwig I resigned in 1848, jeopardizing Mavrogenous also inspired a the entire project since by that time the city gate film adaptation of her life story. was not needed in Munich. As a gesture of friend - Directed by Kostas Karagiannis ship between Greece and Bavaria and as a mon - the 1971 film Manto Mavroge - ument to the Greek War of Independence, Ludwig nous starred Jenny Karezi in the I eventually financed the project himself from his title role. Petros Fyssoun played private funds. Sculptor Ludwig Michael Schwan - the role of Demetrios , thaler created the reliefs and statues that decorate another important historical fig - the structure and celebrate the Bavarian prince ure in the Greek Revolution. and Greek Independence. The Propylaea opened shortly before King Otto was forced to resign as The 1965 film I Exodos tou king of Greece. While visiting the Peloponnese in Mesolongiou (The Exit from 1862, a coup took place in Greece, a provisional Missolonghi), directed by Dim - government was then set up, and a national con - itris , starred many top vention announced. The king and queen were ad - actors of the time, including vised by the Great Powers at the time not to resist Manos Katrakis, Tzavalas the coup, leaving Greece on a British warship, The Greek War of Independence also inspired the Propylaea Karousos, and Anna Iasonidou. and returning to Bavaria. The Propylaea, however, (German: Propyla ̈en), a city gate located in Munich. remains a tourist attraction in Munich and a po - The 1971 film I megali tent reminder the inspiration drawn from Greece, stigmi tou ’21: Papaflessas (The ancient Greek architecture, and the Greek War of written and directed by Kostas Andritsos starred Great Moment of ’21: Papaflessas), was directed by Independence. Irene Papas as the famous heroine of the Greek Erricos Andreou and starred Dimitris Papamichael The monument to on War of Independence Laskarina Bouboulina. The and Alekos Alexandrakis. It depicts the life of one In film, Bouboulina , the 1959 Greek drama . film also starred Koula Agagiotou, Andreas Bark - of the most famous heroes of 1821, Papaflessas. THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 Greek Independence Day 7

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ Fr. Eugene Pappas, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, keynote speaker Paulette Poulos, and all the honorees posed for a commemorative photo. Greek Heritage and Independence Celebrated in Brooklyn

TNH Staff Greek heritage was cele - brated at Brooklyn Borough BROOKLYN – Brooklyn Borough President Eric Hall with traditional dances. L. Adams commemorated the rich contributions and history of Greek-Americans in the borough at his annual Greek heritage celebration in the Haskopoulos, Jimmy Tampakis, Courtroom at Brooklyn Borough Hall on March and Sandy Vallas 19. The event was held in partnership with the Consul General of Greece in Greek-American Heritage Committee, an organi - New York Konstantinos Koutras, zation whose mission is to educate the public on Consul Lana Zochiou, Deputy Greek culture, literacy, and history across New Permanent Representative of York City. The festive occasion featured Greek to the UN, Ambassador cuisine and libations as well as traditional dancing Menelaos Menelaou, and Rhode from the A. Fantis Parochial School in Downtown Island State Senator Leonidas Brooklyn, D.G. Kaloidis Parochial School in Bay Raptakis also attended. Ridge, and Hellenic Classical Charter School in The keynote speaker of the South Slope. Among those present were Consul event was the Leadership 100 General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Executive Director Paulette Pou - Koutras, Consul Lana Zochiou, and Andrew los, and greetings were deliv - Gounardes- Counsel to the Brooklyn Borough ered by the Consul General Kon - President, as well as many members of the com - stantinos Koutras and Andrew munity. Borough President Adams thanked and Gounardes, Brooklyn Borough honored members of Brooklyn’s Greek-American President Counsel. community for their service to improving the lives Adams presented the cita - of people across the borough. tions to the honorees Ula The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Dikeakos, Teddy Dikeakos, Panagiotis Kouroumplis was among those at the James Ladis, John S. Makrinos, event. He congratulated the honorees and noted Valerie Markou, Helen Pavlides, that “they are an example for their fellow citi - Maria Tsoukaris, and Sylvia Vel - zens. lios. “Today, we celebrate together the Revolution Nations of America.” He then referred to the Eugene Pappas gave the opening prayer and led Immediately after the presentation, the dance of 1821 that shook the world, the revolution that ideals of the Greek Revolution and the role of the singing of Ti Ypermacho. He congratulated groups from D.G. Kaloides School of Holy Cross was the child of the Enlightenment. The Revolu - Greek civilization in the formation of Western the honorees and praised their contributions to in Bay Ridge, A. Fantis Parochial School of Saints tion, which had many similarities to the American civilization. At the same time, he spoke about the the community, their social and charitable efforts, Constantine and Helen Brooklyn, and the Hellenic Revolution,” Kouroumplis said. role of the Greek community in the progress of and made special mention of the sponsors of the Classical Charter School, performed in traditional President Adams said, “47 percent of the peo - Brooklyn and its achievements in the economy, event and the restaurants that donated the Greek costumes in the Brooklyn Borough Hall Rotunda. ple of the borough of Brooklyn speak a language education, and other sectors. food, as well as the organizing committee of the The dancing was presented by Sophia Stasinou- other than English at home; this is the United Three Hierarchs Church Presiding Priest Fr. event, Zoe Koutsoupakis, Basil Kapetanakis, John Ensemble Dance Groups Coordinator.

Hellenic Independence Day means freedom from oppression, heroism of Hellenic freedom fighters through the ages, democracy, and the contemporary message of the Filiki Etaireia.

The demographics of Greece are being threatened as its youth leaves for opportunities abroad, birth rates decline, the economy falters, foreigners are being resettled en masse in its territory that could be occupied by its neighbors.

The Hellenic Community of the United States is demanding a unified front against all aggressors and rejuvenation of its organized societies! In unison we stand! ΖΗΤΩ το ΕΘΝΟΣ ! b

Dr. Spyros Mezitis a New York City 8 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

AHEPA Salutes the Heroes of 1821! ZHTO H ELLAS

Since 1922 the Order of AHEPA has initiated over 500,000 members into its 400 chapters worldwide. With chapters in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Cyprus, England, France, Germany, Bulgaria and . Our mission and our reach are ever growing.

AHEPA is the world’s leading membership organization of Hellenes. We salute you, our members, who promote our active works of charity and promote the great deeds our chapters do in our communities. We are a brotherhood and we should be happy and feel proud of all the work we have done.

Listed below is a sample of the work we have accomplished together the last 5 years.

1. Launched a fundraising initiative to raise $1Million in support of the rebuilding of the St. Nicholas shrine at the World Trade Center collecting over $816,780 to date. 2. Raised over $502,800 for Greek Relief securing shipments of medical supplies totaling $12 Million. 3. Awarded $1,250,000 in AHEPA Educational Scholarships in 2017 cumulatively. 4. Awarded $54,750 in Athletic Department Scholarships. 5. Fed thousands of needy children and families in Greece since 2011 6. Received a $1,249,000 donation from the Estate of Nancy Horton, wherein the interest will support the charitable work carried out in our hospitals in Greece 7. Maintained the AHEPA Journey to Greece Program which sends 25 students to participate in the summer credited program, tuition free, on an annual basis 8. A donation of $25,000 from L.M.Kohn and Company for the Educational Seminar and sponsorship of the annual Hellenic History Tournament where $10,000 in scholarships are awarded. 9. $10,000 to the Ionian Village towards their rebuilding after the recent tornadoes. 10. $3,000 sponsorship of the three regional Hellenic History tournaments 11. Donated $60,000 to the Ecumenical Patriarchate 12. Raised over $35,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief in 2012. $100,000 for Hurricane Harvey Relief in 2017 13. Raised $23,000 since the 2012 AHEPA Athens Marathon for AHEPA charities. 14. $5,000 in children's toys to Children's Hospital at Christmas time. 15. AHEPA Veterans Committee launched the web site for registration of veteran members of the AHEPA and for the collection of donations to Veteran’s Programs. 16. Publish The AHEPAN AHEPA’s quarterly magazine. 17. Coordinated and donated over 7700 gallons of milk to the families affected by the lead poisoning in Flint, MI. 18. Raised awareness and funds for the K-9 for Warriors project where AHEPA has purchased 5 dogs valued at $20,000 for PTSD veterans. 19. Hosted events across the United States and Canada in support of the Sons and Maids and many other projects. 20. $50,000 sponsor of Religious Freedom Conference, Washington, DC. 21. Establishment of Hellenic Department Chairs in Universities in the U.S. & Canada

The AHEPA is the only group of its kind in the world, and the work we do is unmatched. Congratulations to our chapters and members for making AHEPA great.

Find out more on our web site, JOIN TODAY! www.ahepa.org “Often imitated, Never Duplicated” THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 Greek Independence Day 9 10 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

Drs. Spiro & Amalia Spireas and Sigmapharm Laboratories

(A translation in English by Rudyard Kipling in 1918)

I KNOW YOU of old Long did you dwell Oh, unfortunate one! Oh divinely restored, Amid the peoples that mourn The only consolation you had By the light of your eyes Awaiting some voice were the past glories, And the edge of your sword. That should tell you to return and remembering them you cried.

From the graves of our people Ah, slow broke that day Long you have awaited Shall your spirit prevail and no man dared call, for a freedom-loving call As we greet you again- For the shadow of tyranny and in despair one hand Hail, Liberty, Hail! Lay over all. hits the other one.

Lyrics: , 1824 Music: Nikolaos Mantzaros, 1828 Adopted: 1864

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