His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros

Remarks at Enosis Pre-Parade Breakfast

April 7, 2024

National Hellenic Museum

Chicago, Illinois

Beloved brother in the Lord, Metropolitan Nathanael,

Your Excellency, Ambassador Evangelos Savva of Cyprus,

Honorable Consul General of Greece Koumbarakis,

President Chaniotakis of Enosis, Illinois,

Your Grace and Reverend Fathers,

Members of The Federation of Hellenic American Organizations of Illinois

Sisters and Brothers – Hellenes and Philhellenes alike,

 

We have just come from the Divine Service, where we remembered the ever-blesséd Father Nicholas Nikokavouras, and prayed in solidarity for his eternal repose in the Lord. He was an example of the best of Hellenism and the best of Orthodoxy, and I feel that today’s celebration – falling on the day of his Forty Day Memorial – is an auspicious sign for us all.

Being with all of you, in anticipation of the Parade on which we are about to march with love for the Homeland and pride in our Hellenic Heritage, I reflect on our gathering last evening, and the sincerity and genuine self-esteem that is manifested by this wonderful Chicago Greek-American community. Being here at the National Hellenic Museum sums it up for me. Your pride and your honor for your heritage is out for all to see.

I think there is a very good reason that the only National Museum of Hellenic Heritage is right here in Chicago, in the midst of Greektown. The passion and the commitment to our shared culture is an outstanding feature of the Hellenes and Philhellenes of Chicago, and you are rightfully proud of it. Whether your ancestors came from Greece or Cyprus, Asia Minor or Egypt, or even from Africa, where Greek colonies have existed for generations – we all share a culture, a language, and a history. The events of 1821, that we march to commemorate today, flow through time and remind us that there is a price for the freedom to be ourselves, and to worship God in the wondrous Greek Orthodox tradition that we have inherited, and which we also share with our neighbors and the world.

The Immortal Heroes of 1821, who brought forth the Rebirth of our Γένος as a Nation and as a People, certainly merit our prayers and our thought today. They inspire us to be our best selves. They are the giants upon whose shoulders we stand to cast our vision for Orthodoxy and Hellenism into the future.

I am honored and humbled to be with you today. Again, I congratulate all who make this great day possible.

Ζήτω Ἑλλάδα! Ζήτω τὸ Ἑλληνικὸ Ἔθνος!