Today in History: January 30, 1923, The Treaty That Uprooted 1.6 Million Lives
On this day in 1923, the forced population exchange between Greece and Turkey became law, tearing 1.6 million people from their homes and reshaping the region forever.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester Visits Odyssey Charter School, Highlights Food Justice and Greek Language Program
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester visited Odyssey Charter School in Wilmington to highlight student-run food programs, bilingual education, and new higher education pathways in Greece.
John Solomon Obituary
John Solomon, a longtime pillar of St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church and a beloved community figure, passed away on January 23, 2026, at age 90.
Full Circle: HUC Celebrates 90 Years With Major Scholarship Announcement
The Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia marked its 90th anniversary with a sold-out gala and announced a new $20,000 annual scholarship for students.
Tsiknopempti: Between Thessaloniki and Tsotyli, the Smoke Knows My Name
A personal reflection on Tsiknopempti in Greece, tracing memory, smoke, and belonging between Thessaloniki and the town of Tsotyli during Apokries.
Icarian Dinner Dance Featuring Violeta Ikari to Be Held in Cherry Hill
The Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America, Atheras Chapter 12, will host its Dinner Dance on February 21, 2026, at the Danielle Kousoulis Center in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Military Tourism in Greece: Where Heritage and Memory Meet
Discover another side of Greece—where battlefields, forts, and war memorials reveal how conflict shaped the nation’s identity from ancient times to World War II.
Name Days This Week: January 25 – 31, 2026
The final week of January includes Greek name days for Grigoris, Margarita, Xenophon, and Evdoxia. See who’s celebrating January 25–31, 2026.
Philadelphia Federation Cuts Vasilopita at Pan Icarian Atheras Center
The Philadelphia Federation of Hellenic Societies cut its New Year vasilopita at the Pan Icarian Atheras Center in Pennsauken, NJ.
Apokriatiko Glendi Set for February 7 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton
An Apokriatiko Glendi will be held on February 7 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton, bringing families together for an evening of music, food, and community celebration.
- Acropolis Pizza
- AHEPA
- Artistacon
- Astra Foods, Inc.
- Cedar Farms
- Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies
- Dodoni
- GM Efestos Contracting Inc.
- KAST Distributors Inc.
- Krissos Designer Jewelry
- Law Offices of George G. Horiates
- Lundy, Beldecos & Milby, P.C.
- Marinis Brothers, Inc.
- Modern Auto Crafters
- Sigmapharm Laboratories, LLC.
- Step By Step Learning Center and Child Care
- Vraim Funeral Home
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Fifty Years Later, Greek-American Families Still Seek Justice for Properties Lost in Cyprus
Fifty years after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, thousands of Greek-American families are still seeking justice for homes and land they were forced to abandon in 1974.
St. Thomas Hellenic School PTO to Host 30th Annual Dinner Dance
The St. Thomas Hellenic School PTO will host its 30th Annual Dinner Dance on February 7, 2026, at St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
MDF 2026 Music & Dance Festival Set for February 13–16 in Philadelphia
The 2026 Music & Dance Festival will take place February 13-16 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, bringing together youth from parishes across the Metropolis of New Jersey.
Greek Music Anthology Concert at NBPAC to Support Elytis Chair Fund at Rutgers
A fundraising Greek music concert will take place Feb. 6, 2026 at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center to support the Elytis Chair Fund at Rutgers University.
Panagia Soumela to Host Winter Gala in Bayside on February 7
Panagia Soumela will host its Winter Gala on February 7 in Bayside, bringing together Greek music, live performances, and a four-course dinner in support of the institution’s ongoing mission.
Upcoming Events
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Church festivals, fundraisers, concerts, lectures, and community gatherings from individuals, parishes, schools, and organizations are all welcome.
Share your event with the Greek American community.
Obituaries & Memorials
John Solomon Obituary
John Solomon, a longtime pillar of St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church and a beloved community figure, passed away on January 23, 2026, at age 90.
Stamatia Giannakos Obituary
Stamatia Giannakos, born in Chios, Greece, a seamstress and beloved matriarch of her family, passed away peacefully in Upper Darby at the age of 95.
Despina Croussouloudis Obituary
Despina Croussouloudis, a longtime children’s librarian at the New York Public Library, passed away January 3, 2026, at age 93. Funeral services will be held January 15 in Wilmington, Delaware.
Christos D. Pappas Obituary
Christos D. Pappas, a devoted family man and longtime member of Philadelphia’s Greek-American community, passed away on January 1, 2026.
Penelope Mitoulis Obituary
Penelope “Penny” Mitoulis, a longtime member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby, passed away on January 1, 2026. She was 93.
Community Voices
Elias Pantelidis and the Quiet Work of Keeping Greek Alive
In a video interview, educator Elias Pantelidis reflects on decades of teaching Greek language, music, and culture to children in the Philadelphia Greek-American community.
Elias Pappas: A Greek American Leading With Purpose
Elias Pappas shares his journey from the parish halls of St. Nicholas in Northridge to leading Odyssey Charter School in Delaware, blending Greek heritage with a modern vision for education.
The Heart of Service: Father Emmanuel Pratsinakis in His Own Words
Cosmos Philly speaks with Father Emmanuel Pratsinakis about his life, ministry, and the message that defines his forty years of service: to lead with faith, humility, and heart.
John Pogas: From Corporate Success to a Life of Service
After a corporate career, John Pogas found real purpose in serving others through his church, FOCUS Philadelphia, and volunteer work with Project Mexico.
Faith Has A Way Of Surprising Us: Father Symeon Williams’ Journey To St. Sophia
From a Baptist upbringing in Virginia to his priesthood at St. Sophia in Philadelphia, Father Symeon Williams’ unexpected path shows how faith can transform a life.
Greek-American Organizations
Full Circle: HUC Celebrates 90 Years With Major Scholarship Announcement
The Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia marked its 90th anniversary with a sold-out gala and announced a new $20,000 annual scholarship for students.
Philadelphia Federation Cuts Vasilopita at Pan Icarian Atheras Center
The Philadelphia Federation of Hellenic Societies cut its New Year vasilopita at the Pan Icarian Atheras Center in Pennsauken, NJ.
AHEPA Camden Chapter 69 to Honor Anastasios Efstratiades as AHEPAN of the Year
AHEPA Camden Chapter 69 will honor Anastasios Efstratiades as AHEPAN of the Year on January 30, 2026, at Adelphia Restaurant in Deptford, New Jersey.
AHEPA Chapter 26 Marks 100 Years in Philadelphia
AHEPA Chapter 26 will mark 100 years of service in Philadelphia with a centennial celebration on February 15, 2026, at The Arts Ballroom in Center City.
Marking Nine Decades: Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia Celebrates 90 Years
The Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia will mark its 90th anniversary with a gala on January 24, 2026, returning to the historic Ballroom at the Ben.
Greek Orthodox Churches
Apokriatiko Glendi Set for February 7 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton
An Apokriatiko Glendi will be held on February 7 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton, bringing families together for an evening of music, food, and community celebration.
St. Thomas Hellenic School PTO to Host 30th Annual Dinner Dance
The St. Thomas Hellenic School PTO will host its 30th Annual Dinner Dance on February 7, 2026, at St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Panagia Soumela to Host Winter Gala in Bayside on February 7
Panagia Soumela will host its Winter Gala on February 7 in Bayside, bringing together Greek music, live performances, and a four-course dinner in support of the institution’s ongoing mission.
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church in New Jersey Burns Mortgage, Advances Toward Consecration
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church in Flemington, NJ, retired its mortgage on Dec. 8, clearing the way for church consecration in 2026.
Theophany on the Schuylkill River: St. Sophia Marks the Feast in Valley Forge
From basil blessings inside the church to the casting of the cross into the Schuylkill River, St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church marked Theophany with prayer, tradition, and a renewed sense of community.
Greek-American Societies
Icarian Dinner Dance Featuring Violeta Ikari to Be Held in Cherry Hill
The Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America, Atheras Chapter 12, will host its Dinner Dance on February 21, 2026, at the Danielle Kousoulis Center in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Epirotes of Philadelphia Mark New Year with Vasilopita at St. George Cathedral
The Society of Epirotes of Philadelphia “Omonia” held its annual Vasilopita cutting at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, honoring Agios Georgios of Ioannina.
Beginning the Year Together: Corthion Andros Society Vasilopita Celebration, January 17
The Corthion Andros Society will hold its Annual Vasilopita Celebration on January 17, 2026, at Adelphia Restaurant & Events in Deptford, New Jersey.
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia “Omonia” to Host 18th Annual Tsipourovraidia on February 7
The Epirotes Society of Philadelphia “Omonia” will host its 18th Annual Tsipourovraidia on February 7, 2026, in Upper Darby, featuring music, food, and free tsipouro.
Pontian Akritai of Philadelphia Welcome the New Year with Community Gathering in Upper Darby
Families and members of the Pontian Akritai of Philadelphia gathered in Upper Darby for a New Year celebration centered on tradition, food, and community.
Greece & Cyprus
Today in History: January 30, 1923, The Treaty That Uprooted 1.6 Million Lives
On this day in 1923, the forced population exchange between Greece and Turkey became law, tearing 1.6 million people from their homes and reshaping the region forever.
Military Tourism in Greece: Where Heritage and Memory Meet
Discover another side of Greece—where battlefields, forts, and war memorials reveal how conflict shaped the nation’s identity from ancient times to World War II.
Fifty Years Later, Greek-American Families Still Seek Justice for Properties Lost in Cyprus
Fifty years after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, thousands of Greek-American families are still seeking justice for homes and land they were forced to abandon in 1974.
Olive Oil Shock: From Crisis to Structural Decline
New EU and international data show Greece’s olive oil crisis is shifting from short-term shock to long-term structural decline.
Today in History: The SS Heimara, Greece’s Deadliest Maritime Disaster
On this day in 1947, the SS Heimara sank near the Verdugia islets, claiming nearly 400 lives in Greece’s deadliest maritime disaster.
History
A Century of Latin and Greek in Philadelphia, and Why Students Are Still Listening
Why students across the Philadelphia region are still engaging with Latin and Greek, and what classical myths reveal about education today.
The Greeks of Jerusalem Are Vanishing
Once thousands strong, Jerusalem’s Greek community has dwindled to fewer than 100. A look at history, faith, property, and quiet disappearance.
Today in History: The Battle of Lemnos, January 5, 1913
On January 5, 1913, the Greek navy sealed its control of the Aegean at the Battle of Lemnos, forcing the Ottoman fleet back into the Dardanelles and shaping the map of the region for generations.
When Athens Turned Against the Refugees of 1922
How Athens turned against the refugees of 1922. The forgotten story of fear, xenophobia and survival in the capital’s streets.
The Women Who Stayed Behind: What Old Greek Songs Reveal About Emigration
Before letters, before phone calls, there were songs. A look at the women who stayed behind and the Greek music that carried their lives across the ocean.
Video Spotlight
In Pictures
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- Astra Foods, Inc.
- Cedar Farms
- Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies
- Dodoni
- GM Efestos Contracting Inc.
- KAST Distributors Inc.
- Krissos Designer Jewelry
- Law Offices of George G. Horiates
- Lundy, Beldecos & Milby, P.C.
- Marinis Brothers, Inc.
- Modern Auto Crafters
- Sigmapharm Laboratories, LLC.
- Step By Step Learning Center and Child Care
- Vraim Funeral Home
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