The National Heraldwww.thenationalherald.com

TH

E NATIONAL HERA

LD

MARCH 24, 2018

CelebratingGreek Independence

Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix

Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi (1826), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux

Delacroix produced a second painting in support of the Greeks 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...

Honoring the Hellenic Triumph of Liberty

Greek Independence Day2 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

JOHN CATSIMATIDIS, Jr.

Happy and Joyous Independence Day

Greek Independence DayTHE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 3

Greek Independence Day4 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

Greek Independence DayTHE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 5

By Eleni Sakellis

On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos ofPatras raised the flag of revolution over theMonastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese.The cry “Freedom or death” became the mottoof the revolution. The date of March 25 is also areligious holiday, the Annunciation of the VirginMary when the Archangel Gabriel appeared tothe Virgin Mary and told her she would be themother of Jesus, the Son of God. The doublecelebration honors the Mother of God, theTheotokos, and the faith that sustained theGreek people through the hard years ofOttoman oppression and then through thebrutal years of war in the fight for freedom. Veryfew holidays have such powerful connections inthe minds and hearts of the people through faithand history.

For those of us who grew up in the Greek-American community, Greek Independence Daywas one of the most special days of the year notonly as a religious and national holiday, but itgave us the opportunity to show our pride in ourGreek heritage, language, history, and faith aswe marched in the annual parade. In ourcountry’s northern states, the weather can betrying for a parade this time of year. Coldtemperatures and a little rain are not enoughdampen our patriotic spirit, however. Waiting inthe side streets along Fifth Avenue is probablythe most nerve-wracking for the marchers in theNew York parade. Once the marching starts, theparade can fly by for those marchers, wavingflags and shouting, “Long live Greece!”Honoring those who fought and died for

freedom, the heroes of 1821, is animportant aspect of the celebration.Those heroes still inspire us today withtheir strength and steadfastness, theirdedication to fight for the freedom of thehomeland in spite of the odds beingagainst them. The lessons they have toteach us are many and timeless. One ofthe most important being that the peopleendure even under the worst conditions,their spirit is indomitable and their loveof the homeland is profound. It is ourduty to remember those heroes and thehistory that they shaped with their effortsas we celebrate the 197th anniversary ofGreek Independence.

Theodoros Kolokotronis, GeorgiosKaraiskakis, Yannis Makriyannis,Athanasios Diakos, Rigas Feraios,Papaflessas, Constantine Kanaris, MantoMavrogenous, Andreas Miaoulis,Odysseas Androutsos, and LaskarinaBouboulina are among the most famousheroes of the revolution, but there werealso countless others who fought forfreedom including the many philhelleneswho embraced the cause. Perhaps most

well-known, Lord Byron, had been inspiredby his travels in Greece before 1821 to writesome of his most famous works. In hispoems, he wrote movingly about thestruggle of the people suffering under theoppression of the Ottoman Empire andbrought wider attention to Greece and thefight for freedom. He died at Missolonghi,Greece on April 19, 1824. Another perhapsless well-known historical figure, theGerman Karl von Normann-Ehrenfels, sailedto Greece in early 1822 with otherphilhellenes to help in the revolution. Heserved as chief of staff to AlexandrosMavrokordatos in the Battle of Peta on July16, 1822, and died of his wounds a fewmonths later at Missolonghi. Philhellenecommittees in Europe and United Statesraised money for the war effort and for therelief of its victims, including the survivors ofthe 1822 massacre on Chios. Workingtogether, the dream of freedom for Greecewas realized.

So as we celebrate Greek Independenceand remember those who fought forfreedom, we say ΖΗΤΩ Η ΕΛΛΑΣ! ΖΗΤΩ Η25η Μαρτίου!

Celebrating Greek Independence Day

The National HeraldA weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD,INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news andaddressing the issues of paramount interest to theGreek American community of the United States of

America.

Publisher-EditorAntonis H. Diamataris

Assistant to Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos

Special Section EditorEleni Sakellis

Production ManagerChrysoula Karametros

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By Penelope Karageorge

Just in time for Greek Independence Day, They Were SuperGreeks by artist CosmoYannis arrives like a glorious rendition ofthe Greek National Anthem. This brilliant coloring book makesyou want to celebrate being Greek, and the heroes who foughtand won the revolution, from priests to Klefts, to women and war-riors. Although created for kids, the book provides delights and aneducation in history for adults as well.

Talking about his inspiration for Super Greeks, CosmoYannissays: “My grandmother used to tell me stories about the revolution.I realized that there was less and less information about it – thegreat heroes, the great victories. The Blacks, for instance, havetheir heroes. Look at the billion-dollar film hit, Black Panther. How

about the Greeks?“I went to the library on 42nd Street. For over a month, I would

walk up there every day from my house on the lower East Side – Ilike to walk – and take notes about the revolution. I don’t knowhow many notes! Too much! Too much! I had to consolidate whatI found out. I could write a book about each hero.”

Then he discovered the mother lode. “I found two books thatthe Greek government had put out on the revolution. The bookswere very large and very heavy. Historical Album of the Greek Warof Independence, 1821, Melissa Publishing House, Athens. An Il-lustrated Chronicle. These are huge books, roughly 12 by 17. Everypage is chock full of information. Page after page of paintings and

drawings.“Based on the pictures, I got

my ideas of what the characterslooked like and gave it my ownrendition. I got really hooked onthis. I really wanted to tell thestory to kids. I made it a color-ing book so that kids could pickit up and read it and know whotheir heroes were. The coloringbook idea just came to me. Howcan I best get this to the kids?So that’s where I started. I hadto boil down thousands ofwords to a few sentences andwhat made them heroes.

“When I discovered the poemthe kids would recite everynight during the dark years ofTurkish domination, I wasthrilled. It’s the same poem thatwe would recite as kids in Greekschool. ‘My little moon, mylantern, light my lamp to walk,to go to school, to learn mylessons, lessons most important,God’s things.’ I dedicated thebook to the kids who were takenby the Turks and lost to theirfamilies.”

CosmoYannis began to pur-sue life as an artist as soon ashe could pick up a pencil.“When I was a kid, I had thegreatest fascination with comics.There were so many newspa-

pers filled with cartoons. My Uncle Mike would go out and buy thepapers and give me the cartoons. ‘This is the most worthwhilething to read in the paper,’ he would say. In those days they hadgreat comics. Dick Tracy. The Katzenjammer Kids. Lil Abner. JoePalooka. The Phantom. Prince Valiant is still being published.

“I started drawing comics myself, making my own cartoons. Mygrandmother had an iconostasis. At night, I would put my owncomics up there and pray so hard to God to have my cartoonscome to life, like in the movies. Of course they did not! I was a bigfan of Walt Disney. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and BrerRabbit. At the Triboro Theater, for 25 cents, an enormous amountof money, you could go and spend the entire day looking at car-toons.”

After high school, CosmoYannis joined the Marine Corps. “Ireally loved it. I found a home in the Marine Corps.” He thenstudied at Radford College, initially planning to be an art teacher,but changed his mind. He did a number of things, always comingback to art. For twenty years, he created a cartoon page everymonth for the popular magazine High Times.

They Were Super Greeks is sold at the Holy Trinity CathedralFellowship Bookstore in Manhattan. Now CosmoYannis says hewould be happy if a major publisher would take it on for widerdistribution. “It would be wonderful if it could reach many moreyoungsters.”

Charles Connant, manager of the Cathedral Fellowship Book-store, says of They Were Super Greeks: “A publisher would bedoing himself and the entire Greek community a huge favor bypublishing this gem of a book. It’s historically valid and wonderfullyentertaining, for grown-ups as well as kids. We Greeks need this toremind us of our wonderful history, to bolster our Greek pride.”

CosmoYannis Creates They Were Super Greeks

Artist CosmoYannis created They Were Super Greeks, a coloringbook offering an inspiring history of the heroes of the GreekRevolution.

The poem recited by children during the dark days of Turkish domination came to America tobe recited in Greek schools.

They Were Super Greeks, a coloring book for youngsters andadults as well, offers a dynamic story of the heroes of theGreek Revolution

Greek Independence Day6 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

By Eleni Sakellis

Art and artists are often inspired by the worldaround them. When dramatic events are takingplace, even far from home, it can be difficult toignore them and not be moved to some action,especially when the cause is freedom. The GreekWar of Independence inspired many artists, andnot only Greek artists who created the many mon-uments throughout Greece, but among philhel-lenes of all nations.

Among the most famous was French painterand leader of the Romantic school EugeneDelacroix whose Massacre at Chios brought theterrible slaughter vividly to life for viewers manyof whom were immediately moved by the plightand the suffering of the Greeks to offer some kindof help for the survivors. Delacroix followed upthe iconic painting in support of the Greeks andtheir fight for freedom with Greece on the Ruinsof Missolonghi (1826) which was inspired bythe capture of the city by the Turkish forces in1825. For the heroic effort of the people and thesubsequent massacre of the population, Misso-longhi was given the honorary title of Hiera Polis(Sacred City). Delacroix sympathized with theheroic spirit of the Greeks and was also a greatadmirer of Lord Byron who had died at Misso-longhi in 1824.

The Greek War of Independence also inspiredthe Propylaea (German: Propyläen), a city gatelocated in Munich on the west side ofKönigsplatz, constructed in Doric order, and com-pleted by Leo von Klenze in 1862. Evoking themonumental entrance of the Propylaea for theAcropolis in Athens, the gate was created as amemorial for the accession to the throne of Ottoof Greece, a son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. Asearly as 1816, planning began for the Propylaeathough 30 years passed before the order for con-struction was issued. In order to promote the pro-ject, Klenze painted a picture of the planned struc-ture. King Ludwig I resigned in 1848, jeopardizingthe entire project since by that time the city gatewas not needed in Munich. As a gesture of friend-ship between Greece and Bavaria and as a mon-ument to the Greek War of Independence, LudwigI eventually financed the project himself from hisprivate funds. Sculptor Ludwig Michael Schwan-thaler created the reliefs and statues that decoratethe structure and celebrate the Bavarian princeand Greek Independence. The Propylaea openedshortly before King Otto was forced to resign asking of Greece. While visiting the Peloponnese in1862, a coup took place in Greece, a provisionalgovernment was then set up, and a national con-vention announced. The king and queen were ad-vised by the Great Powers at the time not to resistthe coup, leaving Greece on a British warship,and returning to Bavaria. The Propylaea, however,remains a tourist attraction in Munich and a po-tent reminder the inspiration drawn from Greece,ancient Greek architecture, and the Greek War ofIndependence.

In film, Bouboulina, the 1959 Greek drama

written and directed by Kostas Andritsos starredIrene Papas as the famous heroine of the GreekWar of Independence Laskarina Bouboulina. Thefilm also starred Koula Agagiotou, Andreas Bark-

oulis, and Dionysis Papa-giannopoulos.

Another heroine of the GreekWar of Independence, MantoMavrogenous also inspired afilm adaptation of her life story.Directed by Kostas Karagiannisthe 1971 film Manto Mavroge-nous starred Jenny Karezi in thetitle role. Petros Fyssoun playedthe role of Demetrios Ypsilantis,another important historical fig-ure in the Greek Revolution.

The 1965 film I Exodos touMesolongiou (The Exit fromMissolonghi), directed by Dim-itris Doukas, starred many topactors of the time, includingManos Katrakis, TzavalasKarousos, and Anna Iasonidou.

The 1971 film I megalistigmi tou ’21: Papaflessas (The

Great Moment of ’21: Papaflessas), was directed byErricos Andreou and starred Dimitris Papamichaeland Alekos Alexandrakis. It depicts the life of oneof the most famous heroes of 1821, Papaflessas.

Art and Films Inspiredby the Greek War of Independence

The monument to Manto Mavrogenous onMykonos.

The Greek War of Independence also inspired the Propylaea(German: Propylaen), a city gate located in Munich.

By Demetris Tsakas

BRONX – The Bronx Borough President RubenDiaz Jr. and elected officials held a celebration forthe 197th anniversary of Greek Independence atthe 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 ofHealth & Mental Hygiene, Theodore Kaltsas- en-trepreneur and former president of the AgiosAthanasios Association of Perista, Kostas Malo-noukos- businessman and parish council presidentof Saint Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Churchin the Bronx, and Haeda Mihaltses- St. Michael'sHome 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 ApostleChurch, Fr. Maximos Politis, offered a prayer, andexpressed gratitude to the Bronx Borough Presidentand the other elected officials, because each year,he said, they honor Greece and the Greek commu-nity.

New York State Assemblymember AravellaSimotas, 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 Gianarisand New York City Council Member Costa Con-stantinides were due to the tremendous supportof the Greek community.

Zoodohos Peghe Parish Council President SofiaZarvos welcomed President Diaz and the electedofficials and highlighted the efforts of the commu-nity and the Greek-American Institute (GAI) of theBronx, founded in 1912, the oldest continuously

run Greek Orthodox School in the United States.George Spiliotopoulos gave the panegyric of

the day.Senator, Michael Gianaris congratulated Diaz

for his decision to hold the annual celebration of

Greek Independence and the honored ones.Diaz referred to Greece's contributions to West-

ern culture and the role of the Omogeneia in theprogress of the city and the state. He then gaveout the proclamations to the honorees in celebra-

tion of the anniversary of Greek Independence.The 7th and 8th grade students of GAI per-

formed traditional dances in costume, delightingthe audience. Panagiotis Papastefanou sang theGreek National Anthem.

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

L-R: Kostas Malonoukos, Fr. Maximos Politis, Theodore Kaltsas, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., HaedaMihaltses, State Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblymember Aravella Simotas, and Marricka Scott-McFadden- Deputy Bronx Borough President.

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ

Laskarina Bouboulina's Statue, Spetses.

The Massacre at Chios by Eugene Delacroix helped raise awareness of the suffering of theGreeks and increased Philhellenism in the West.

Greek Independence DayTHE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 7

TNH Staff

BROOKLYN – Brooklyn Borough President EricL. Adams commemorated the rich contributionsand history of Greek-Americans in the boroughat his annual Greek heritage celebration in theCourtroom at Brooklyn Borough Hall on March19. The event was held in partnership with theGreek-American Heritage Committee, an organi-zation whose mission is to educate the public onGreek culture, literacy, and history across NewYork City. The festive occasion featured Greekcuisine and libations as well as traditional dancingfrom the A. Fantis Parochial School in DowntownBrooklyn, D.G. Kaloidis Parochial School in BayRidge, and Hellenic Classical Charter School inSouth Slope. Among those present were ConsulGeneral of Greece in New York KonstantinosKoutras, Consul Lana Zochiou, and AndrewGounardes- Counsel to the Brooklyn BoroughPresident, as well as many members of the com-munity. Borough President Adams thanked andhonored members of Brooklyn’s Greek-Americancommunity for their service to improving the livesof people across the borough.

The Minister of Shipping and Island PolicyPanagiotis Kouroumplis was among those at theevent. He congratulated the honorees and notedthat “they are an example for their fellow citi-zens.

“Today, we celebrate together the Revolutionof 1821 that shook the world, the revolution thatwas the child of the Enlightenment. The Revolu-tion, which had many similarities to the AmericanRevolution,” Kouroumplis said.

President Adams said, “47 percent of the peo-ple of the borough of Brooklyn speak a languageother than English at home; this is the United

Nations of America.” He then referred to theideals of the Greek Revolution and the role ofGreek civilization in the formation of Westerncivilization. At the same time, he spoke about therole of the Greek community in the progress ofBrooklyn and its achievements in the economy,education, and other sectors.

Three Hierarchs Church Presiding Priest Fr.

Eugene Pappas gave the opening prayer and ledthe singing of Ti Ypermacho. He congratulatedthe honorees and praised their contributions tothe community, their social and charitable efforts,and made special mention of the sponsors of theevent and the restaurants that donated the Greekfood, as well as the organizing committee of theevent, Zoe Koutsoupakis, Basil Kapetanakis, John

Haskopoulos, Jimmy Tampakis,and Sandy Vallas

Consul General of Greece inNew York Konstantinos Koutras,Consul Lana Zochiou, DeputyPermanent Representative ofCyprus to the UN, AmbassadorMenelaos Menelaou, and RhodeIsland State Senator LeonidasRaptakis also attended.

The keynote speaker of theevent was the Leadership 100Executive Director Paulette Pou-los, and greetings were deliv-ered by the Consul General Kon-stantinos Koutras and AndrewGounardes, Brooklyn BoroughPresident Counsel.

Adams presented the cita-tions to the honorees UlaDikeakos, Teddy Dikeakos,James Ladis, John S. Makrinos,Valerie Markou, Helen Pavlides,Maria Tsoukaris, and Sylvia Vel-lios.

Immediately after the presentation, the dancegroups from D.G. Kaloides School of Holy Crossin Bay Ridge, A. Fantis Parochial School of SaintsConstantine and Helen Brooklyn, and the HellenicClassical Charter School, performed in traditionalcostumes in the Brooklyn Borough Hall Rotunda.The dancing was presented by Sophia Stasinou-Ensemble Dance Groups Coordinator.

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 BrooklynGreek heritage was cele-brated at Brooklyn BoroughHall with traditional dances.

PHOTOS: TNH/COSTAS BEJ

a b

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!

Dr. Spyros MezitisNew York City

Greek Independence Day8 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 chaptersworldwide. With chapters in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Cyprus,England, France, Germany, Bulgaria and Constantinople. Our mission and our reach are evergrowing.

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

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

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”

1. Launched a fundraising initiative to raise $1Million in support of the rebuilding ofthe 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 suppliestotaling $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 Greece7. Maintained the AHEPA Journey to Greece Program which sends 25 students to

participate in the summer credited program, tuition free, on an annual basis8. 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 inscholarships 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 tournaments11. 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 201713. 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

Greek Independence DayTHE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018 9

Greek Independence Day10 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 24, 2018

Drs. Spiro & Amalia Spireasand

Sigmapharm Laboratories

I KNOW YOU of oldOh divinely restored,

By the light of your eyesAnd the edge of your sword.

From the graves of our peopleShall your spirit prevailAs we greet you again-Hail, Liberty, Hail!

Long did you dwellAmid the peoples that mourn

Awaiting some voiceThat should tell you to return

Ah, slow broke that dayand no man dared call,

For the shadow of tyrannyLay over all.

Oh, unfortunate one!The only consolation you had

were the past glories,and remembering them you cried.

Long you have awaitedfor a freedom-loving calland in despair one hand

hits the other one.

(A translation in English by Rudyard Kipling in 1918)

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Lyrics: Dionysios Solomos, 1824Music: Nikolaos Mantzaros, 1828

Adopted: 1864