Cosmos Philly
A $15 Haircut and a Lifetime of Filotimo: Giota’s Barbershop Says Goodbye to Media
Giota’s West End Hairstyling and Barbershop in Media, Pennsylvania, will close May 30 after 36 years, ending a quiet Greek-American landmark shaped by Giota and Foti Hartas.
Latest Stories
The Battle of Crete and the Island That Refused to Fall Quietly
On May 20, 1941, German aircraft filled the sky over Crete. What followed was a costly airborne invasion, a hard Allied defeat, and a lasting story of Greek resistance.
Why May 19 Is Not Just a Date for Pontian Greeks
May 19 marks Greece’s remembrance day for the Pontian Greek Genocide. For Pontian Greeks and the diaspora, it is a day of memory, loss, survival, and recognition.
Tina Fey Turns 56: Upper Darby, Greek Roots, and a Comedy Career
Tina Fey turns 56 today. Born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey, the Upper Darby-raised comedian has Philadelphia-area roots and a Greek family story.
Pontian Akritai Lead Genocide Commemoration at St. Demetrios in Upper Darby
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby hosted the annual Pontian Genocide commemoration organized by the Pontian Society “Akritai” of Philadelphia.
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In the Community
Greek American life, institutions, and people
Greek Name Days This Week: May 17 to May 23, 2026
Greek name days for May 17 to May 23, 2026, including Andronikos, Iounia, Julia, Lydia, Constantine, Helen, Emilia, and other names celebrated in the Orthodox calendar.
Upper Darby Greek Festival Continues All Weekend Under the Big White Tent
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby continues its Greek Wine and Food Festival with food, pastries, wine, music, dancing, free parking, and online ordering.
Hellenic Hearts Prepares for 10th Gala as Giving Tops $500,000
Hellenic Hearts marks its 10th annual gala on May 31, celebrating scholarships, community aid, and more than $500,000 in giving rooted in Philadelphia’s Greek-American community.
Greece Expands 2026 Programs for the Greek Diaspora
Greece has expanded its 2026 diaspora programs, including camps, language courses, cultural programs, and a new Heritage Surf Camp on Lemnos.
THI Volunteer Connect Links the Greek Diaspora with Service Opportunities Across Greece
The Hellenic Initiative’s Volunteer Connect platform helps Greek Americans, diaspora Greeks, and philhellenes find volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations across Greece.
From Greece & Cyprus
Politics, society, and current affairs
George Polk’s Murder and the Cold War Case Greece Never Solved
CBS correspondent George Polk was found murdered in Thessaloniki Bay in 1948. His death remains one of the unresolved crimes of the Greek Civil War.
No Sunbeds, No Beach Bars: Greece Expands Protection for 251 Fragile Beaches
Greece has expanded its list of highly protected beaches to 251, restricting sunbeds, beach bars, concessions, motor vehicles, amplified music, and other activities in fragile coastal zones.
Ukrainian Orthodox Splinter Group Claims New Presence in Greece
An unrecognized remnant of the former Kyiv Patriarchate says it has created a new “Metropolis” in Greece, separate from the recognized Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
New Safety Review Ordered for Panagia Soumela as Visitor Numbers Reach Record High
A new safety review is underway around Panagia Soumela in Trabzon, focusing on possible rockfall risks along the visitor access route as the historic Pontic Greek monastery draws record visitor numbers.
Greece Is Recruiting Foreign Students. Some English-Language Programs Still Run in Greek
Greece is working to attract foreign students, but a recent report suggests some English-language university programs still primarily serve Greek-speaking students.
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Cultural Life
Heritage, language, and the arts
What Amphipolis’ Water System Tells Us About the Life Beneath the Monuments
A Spanish-led project is mapping Amphipolis’ ancient water system, revealing how hydraulic infrastructure sustained the city across Classical, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
Who Gets to Reimagine Homer? Nolan’s Odyssey and the Fight Over Casting
Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey has sparked debate over Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, raising questions about Homer, Greek culture, Hollywood, and myth.
The Onassis Yacht Christina O Is for Sale Again, but Its Value Goes Beyond Steel
Aristotle Onassis’s legendary yacht Christina O is for sale at a reduced price. Its story runs from World War II to Churchill, Kennedy, Maria Callas, Jackie Kennedy, and Greek shipping history.
Pontus, Memory, and the Black Sea: What an Overlooked Council of Europe Project Still Tells Us Before May 19
Ahead of May 19, an overlooked Council of Europe history-education project helps place Pontic memory inside the wider Black Sea world that shaped it.
Digital Imaging Restores Lost Pages of Early Christian Manuscript Linked to Mount Athos
Researchers have recovered the text of 42 lost pages from Codex H, a sixth-century manuscript of St. Paul’s Letters whose later history passed through the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos.
Events
What’s coming up
Who celebrates today
Christine Lee
Christine Lee of Jamison, Pennsylvania, passed away on May 10, 2026, at 56. She is remembered for her devotion to family, friendships, and St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church.
Angeliki Doulis
Angeliki P. Doulis, whose life carried the handwork, food, and family traditions of Chios into her years in Philadelphia, passed away on May 6, 2026. She was 90.
Paraskevou Phyrillas
Paraskevou Phyrillas, who carried her Cypriot roots into a life of family, work, and parish service in Reading, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026. She was 85.
Anastasia Theodoropulos
Anastasia Theodoropulos, née Economou, is remembered as a mother, grandmother, seamstress, cook, and creative woman whose life was shaped by family and generosity.
Chrystalla Gabriel
Chrystalla Gabriel of Hamilton, NJ, a Cyprus-born mother, grandmother, restaurateur, and longtime volunteer at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, passed away on May 3 at 84.
Helen Xenos
Helen Diane Xenos passed away on April 30, 2026. She is remembered for her devotion to family, her independent spirit, and the care she gave to those she loved.