Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Greek community celebrated Greek Independence day this past Sunday. Some 45 organizations and churches came together along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to commemorate the 194 anniversary of liberation from under the Ottoman yoke. The day began in Olde city Philadelphia at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the heart of the historic Greek community. It concluded at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox church in Upper Darby, where poems were read and traditional folk dancing was performed in honor of their native land and freedom.
The two-day event also awarded and recognized Spiros Spireas and the Kousoulis family who were honorary Grand Marshals. Spireas was awarded the Eleftheria medal for his dedication to Hellenism, while the Kousoulis were part of the weekend theme, to help bring awareness to the rebuilding of the St. Nicholas church in New York to a national Shrine. Their daughter Danielle was lost during the 9-11 attack and was recognized with a float in the parade.