Philadelphia Dressed in Blue and White for Greek Independence Day Parade

Despite unpredictable weather, the Greek diaspora in Philadelphia and the wider regions of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey turned out in force for a vibrant parade on Sunday, April 6.

The parade marked the culmination of celebrations for the 204th anniversary of Greek Independence in the city’s center.

Greek Americans of all ages, including members of community organizations, local cultural associations, AHEPA, students from Greek schools, and university students, expressed their deep love for Greece—the homeland of their ancestors—and their pride in their national heritage with enthusiasm and patriotic fervor.

The day began with a Divine Liturgy and Doxology at the historic Saint George Cathedral, led by Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, alongside the cathedral’s rector, Father Anastasios Bourantas, and Archdeacon Konstantinos Loukas.

Representing the Greek government was Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Loverdos, joined by Greece’s Ambassador to the U.S., Aikaterini Nassika, Greece’s Consul General in New York, Ifigeneia Kanara, Cyprus’s Consul General in New York, Michalis Firillas, and the Honorary Consul General of Panama in Philadelphia, Georgia Athanasopoulou.

This year’s parade was once again honored by the presence of a detachment of the Greek Presidential Guard, the Evzones, who had also marched down Manhattan’s 5th Avenue the previous Sunday, March 30.

Drake and Maria Behraki from Boston were the parade marshals, while businesswoman Katerina Papoulia-Sakellari was awarded the Freedom Medal during the annual parade gala on Saturday evening, April 5.

The national anthems of Greece and the U.S. were performed at the opening by Giannis Kaitidis from the Saint Demetrios community in Upper Darby and Elena Iliadi from the Apostle Thomas community in Cherry Hill, respectively.

Festivities kicked off on Friday afternoon, April 4, with the Annual Greek Flag-Raising Ceremony at Philadelphia City Hall, attended by the Evzones of the Presidential Guard.

The Philadelphia parade was organized by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware, led by President Judge Harry Karapa.

PHILADELPHIA – GNUSA / By Rebecca Papadopoulou
[Photos: GANP / Dimitris Panagos]