Philadelphia, PA – This past Friday, the Philadelphia Greek community gathered to share in a traditional Vasilopita cutting and raise funds for the Hellenic Relief Foundation.
The Foundation is the initiative of Americans of Hellenic descent who wish to address Greek needs in health and nutrition. The recipients of the Hellenic-American community’s support, delivered through the Foundation, are identified through ongoing communication with persons and organizations presently engaged in charitable activities in Greece.
From across the metropolitan Philadelphia area, they came. The GAHSP (Greek American Heritage Society of Philadelphia), the Hellenic Medical Society, the Greek Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic Lawyers Association and Hellenic and Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley all joined together and raised approximately $3,000 for the evening.
The event was also a way for Greek-Americans to network and find out about who and what is going on in the area. Members of the various organizations took turn addressing the crowd and announcing the latest.
Nick Yiantsos from the GAHSP spoke about the Philadelphia Interview Series that continues to feature and gain recognition for its historical documentation of the Philadelphia areas Greeks. While, Dimitri Rozanitis of the Hellenic-American Societies of Philadelphia, discussed the St. Nicholas Shrine project in New York and the upcoming Greek Independence Day in Philadelphia.
With the New Year, 2015, came a new priest in Philadelphia – Father Ambrosios. Ambrosios was given the honor of cutting the first Vasilopita of the season as he began his work and his relationship with his new congregation of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia.