Cosmos Philly
AHEPA Marks America’s 250th in Philadelphia, Honors Dr. Elias Iliadis
At a convention gathering overlooking Independence Hall, AHEPA recognized the South Jersey cardiologist’s pandemic service and Greek-American leadership.
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Greece Moves to Reopen Toronto Education Office for Greek-Language Schools
Greece is moving to restore a Toronto-based education coordinator after oversight of the office was handled from New York beginning in 2021.
ReGeneration Has Helped More Than 5,000 Young Greeks Find Work, but ‘Brain Waste’ Remains
Michael Printzos, Country Head of The Hellenic Initiative, discusses ReGeneration’s employment record and the gap between finding work and building a viable career in Greece.
Malagari Takes Pennsylvania’s Pontian Genocide Resolution to Greece, Plans 2027 Measure
The Montgomery County lawmaker carried HR 553 to Athens during WHIA’s 30th anniversary program. Five days later, the Greek president passed the resolution to leaders of two Pontian federations.
AHEPA Receives Pennsylvania Senate Recognition and Philadelphia Proclamation
State Sen. Maria Collett reflected on her Greek-American upbringing as AHEPA received state and city recognition during its Philadelphia Museum of Art reception.
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In the Community
Greek American life, institutions, and people
AHEPA Cooley’s Anemia Walk Opens Convention Week on Philadelphia’s Parkway
Delegates followed the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the Sheraton to the Art Museum, stopping at the Rodin Museum and Philadelphia’s Charioteer of Delphi.
Greek Name Days This Week: July 26 to August 1, 2026
The week opens with the feast days of St. Paraskevi and St. Panteleimon, followed by celebrations for Eirini, Chrysovalanto, Androniki, Eudokimos, Solomoni, Kassandra, and many others.
Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey Elected Archbishop of Canada
His election opens a leadership transition in the Greek Orthodox metropolis serving Greater Philadelphia and the mid-Atlantic.
AHEPA to Honor Elias Iliadis, Carl Hollister and Nicholas Vamvakias in Philadelphia
Iliadis will receive the Hellenism Award near Independence Hall, while Hollister and Vamvakias will receive Military Service Awards aboard the Battleship New Jersey.
Greek Name Days This Week: July 19 to July 25, 2026
Late July brings name days for Elias, Magdalini, Markella, Christina, Anna, Eupraxia, Olympia, and others, with Prophet Elias and the Dormition of Saint Anna among the week’s major commemorations.
From Greece & Cyprus
Politics, society, and current affairs
Greece Retains U.S. Coast Guard QUALSHIP 21 Eligibility Through June 2027
Greek-flagged ships recorded no U.S. safety detentions in 2025 and a three-year detention rate of 0.44%, keeping Greece among 22 flag administrations eligible for the program.
How to Stay Connected in Greece’s Remote Islands and Villages
A roaming plan or eSIM will cover most trips, but visitors heading to isolated homes, mountain villages or smaller islands should check the local network, ask about Wi-Fi and prepare for time offline.
Mount Olympus Added to UNESCO World Heritage List After 12-Year Effort
UNESCO has listed the wider Mount Olympus area as a mixed cultural and natural property, recognizing its mythology, archaeological connection to Dion and exceptional biodiversity.
Greece Secures Temporary Exemption for Russian LNG Shipping in EU Sanctions Deal
The narrow carveout protects qualifying prewar contracts tied to Dynagas, caps shipments at 2025 volumes and leaves the EU’s January 2027 import ban intact.
Greece Sets E-Scooter Age at 17 as Rules Differ Across the U.S. and Europe
The minimum riding age will rise to 17, while insurance, registration and road-use requirements differ sharply from those in the Delaware Valley and other jurisdictions.
Cultural Life
Heritage, language, and the arts
Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Drives UK Interest in Learning Greek
Search interest and sales of Homer’s epic climbed in Britain around the film’s release, while Penn translator Emily Wilson criticized the adaptation but welcomed the renewed attention.
German Insurer Allianz Calculates Odysseus’ Damage Bill at €8.7 Million
Burned towers, a fallen Trojan Horse and one badly damaged ship make for an expensive journey home, especially before anyone reads the war exclusion.
Hellenic Museum of Michigan Seeks Family Photos and Immigration Stories
Greek-American families can submit one photograph and a brief account by August 5. Selected entries will be displayed during Assumption GreekFest in St. Clair Shores.
Before Nolan, N.C. Wyeth Brought The Odyssey to the Brandywine
Nearly a century before Christopher Nolan brought Odysseus to IMAX, N.C. Wyeth illustrated Homer’s epic in Chadds Ford. One painting later resurfaced in a Philadelphia corporate hallway.
Mary Linda, Singer Who Helped Define Postwar Greek Music, Dies
Her career stretched from childhood performances in Athens to recordings with Manolis Chiotis, Greek cinema, the music of Mikis Theodorakis, and appearances before Greek-American audiences across the United States.
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Obituaries & Memorials
Remembering members of our community
Angelo Stamatogianis
A Greek immigrant and longtime New Jersey restaurateur, he spent 25 years building the Oyster Bay Restaurant into a familiar gathering place in Forked River.
Christos “Chris” Katsifis
Christos C. Katsifis, a Greek-born engineer, restaurateur and longtime Central New Jersey resident, passed away at age 90.
George Panagiotis Kousoulis
George Panagiotis Kousoulis built a long career in South Jersey restaurants and supported church and scholarship efforts honoring his daughter Danielle, a victim of the 9/11 attacks.
Rev. Protopresbyter Andrew Eugenis
The Rev. Protopresbyter Andrew Eugenis, who served the Saint George Greek Orthodox community in Ocean Township for nearly 25 years, passed away at age 66.
Aphrodite “Afro” Nazirides
Aphrodite “Afro” Nazirides, 94, of Swarthmore, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2026. Born in Serres, Greece, she devoted her life to her family, church, and community.
Konstantinos Mavridis
Konstantinos Mavridis, a tailor from Xanthi, Greece, built a life with his wife and daughters in Upper Darby after immigrating to the United States.