{"id":4798,"date":"2021-02-02T01:43:13","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T23:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.afentouli.gr\/?p=4798&lang=en"},"modified":"2021-02-02T03:33:44","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T01:33:44","slug":"education-as-a-light-highlighted-at-christmas-party-of-greek-american-education-organizations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.afentouli.gr\/en\/education-as-a-light-highlighted-at-christmas-party-of-greek-american-education-organizations\/","title":{"rendered":"Education As A Light Highlighted at Christmas Party of Greek American Education\u00a0Organizations"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Education As A Light Highlighted at Christmas Party of Greek American Education\u00a0Organizations<\/a><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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Mrs. Stella Kokolis, legendary educator\/community leader<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cSchool teachers have such powers that prime ministers can only dream about\u201d \u2013 Plato1<\/sup><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A rich program of culture was featured at the December 15th<\/sup>, 2019 evening Christmas Celebration of the Federation of Hellenic American Educators and Cultural Associations of America, the \u201cHellenic Paideia\u201d of America\u00a0and The Greek Teachers Association \u201cPrometheus,\u201d at the Stathakion Cultural Center,\u00a0 22-51 29th Street, Ditmars Boulvard and 23rd Avenue in Astoria, NY. Over 200 persons attended. His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, His Grace Bishop Ierotheos of Efkarpia, Abbot of the Sacred Patriarchal Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, Cyprus Consul General Alexis Phedonos, George Hatzimarkos, Governor of the Hellenic Republic Region of South Aegean, Prof. Demosthenes Triantafillou of the Greek Teachers Association \u201cPrometheus\u201d and prominent community members attended. Presentation of awards to Honorees was given. Musical, student participation, video film with refreshments made this an evening to remember. For detailed information, contact: \u00a0Mrs. Stella Kokolis, 718 491-2558; Mrs. Vasiliki Filiotis, 718 844-0902 and Mrs. Meropi Kyriakou 201 748-0161.\"Photo1\"<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The program consisted of the following: M.C.Dr. Despina Afentouli, Reporter; IM.C.Dr. Despina Afentouli, Reporter; Invocation, His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; National Anthems of the USA and Greece; Mrs. Stella Kokolis, President of the Federation of Hellenic-American Educators and Cultural Associations of America; Mrs. Vassiliki Filiotis, President of the \u201cHellenic Paideia\u201d of America; Mrs. Meropi Kyriakou, President of Greek Teachers Association \u201cPrometheus\u201d; Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, Director of Hellenic Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Mr. Kleanthis Meimaroglou, President of the Hellenic Societies of Greater NY; Musical interlude with seasonal songs by soprano Anna Tsoukalas and pianist Gregory Post; Twenty minute screening of the documentary film \u201cPatmos\u201d; Presentation of the Honorees awards and spiritual remarks by His eminence Archbishop Elpidophorus, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Short program by students of our schools; Benediction by His Grace Bishop Ierotheos of Efkarpia, Abbot of the Sacred Patriarchal Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou.<\/h4>\n
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Archbishop Elpidophoros addressing audience with enthusiasm with Mrs. Vasiliki Filiotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His Eminence gave an emotional address. \u201cI am a fellow educator, from the University of Thessaloniki,\u201d he said. \u201cI understand your problems. You are heroes. What you teach, you must understand the students\u2019 characters. Educators have my respect and love. Greek Paideia is my soul. We cannot do anything without a love for Greek heritage and history. Christianity, Byzantium and Greek Orthodoxy is built on Greek Philosophy and civilization.\u201d<\/h4>\n
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Youth with educators.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Archbishop Elpidophoros passionately state \u201cWe will not lose Greek Civilization here in the United States of America that is a Democracy. We must not lose our Greek language, soul, roots and history. We will support Greek language, civilization and Greek Orthodoxy.\u201d The audience responded with a standing ovation. His Eminence was born in Bakirk\u00f6y, Istanbul. The primate understands the meaning of being a Greek Orthodox\/Eastern Christian in Western Anatolia. As Aristotle said \u201cThe most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.<\/a>2<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Photo5\"
Mrs. Meropi Kyriakou<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The planned charter schools of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese were discussed with Dr. Kourlamanis. \u201cThe Charter Schools Program Title V, Part B Non-Regulatory Guidance handbook states \u201cAs with other public\u00a0schools,\u00a0charter schools\u00a0may not provide\u00a0religious\u00a0instruction, but they may teach about\u00a0religion\u00a0from a secular perspective. And though\u00a0charter schools\u00a0must be neutral with respect to\u00a0religion, they may play an active role in teaching civic values.\u201d3 \u00a0<\/sup>Dr. Kourlamanis said \u201cOpening charter schools in community buildings allows to offer children religion in aftercare programs. We need to bring our children closer to us no matter what avenues we take.\u201d Charter schools are the wave of the present.4<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"photo6\"
Dr. John Siolas (left to right) with Cyprus Consul General Alexis Phedonos and Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, Director of Hellenic Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

President Christos Vournas and second Vice-President Dimitrios Filios\u00a0 and Mrs. Angeliki Vournas educator\/international artist of the Geros Tou Morea, New York Chapter #1 of the Pan Arcadian Federation of America attended for a purpose: promote the creation of the John Giannopoulos statue in St. Augustine, Florida. Mr. Vournas and Mr. Filios presented a donation of $1500 to Mrs. Stella Kokolis for the Gianopoulos statue project.<\/p>\n

\"photo7\"
Maria Foutouli, Educator Eleftheria Oikouta, George Hatzimarkos, Governor of the Hellenic Republic Region of South Aegean (3rd from left), Mrs. Anastasia Hatzimarkos, Educator\/Community Activist Timoleon (5th from left) and M.C. Dr. Despina Afentouli.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

John Giannopoulos, also known as Juan Genopoly, was one of the three \u201cMinorcans\u201d who fled the New Smyrna Colony in 1777 to plead the case of freedom for all the colony survivors to Gov. Patrick Tonyn in St. Augustine. Tonyn granted them freedom and a place to stay. Originally from Mani, Greece, Genopoly adhered to Orthodox tradition. He married Antonia Rosella, of Minorca, and was a carpenter by trade and a teacher to children. Genopoly went on to build what we know today as the \u201cOldest Wooden Schoolhouse.\u201d He promoted knowledge through education and is regarded in high esteem by the Greek community.5<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"photo8\"
President Christos Vournas (2nd from left), second Vice-President Dimitrios Filios (1st from left) and Mrs. Angeliki Vournas educator\/international artist of the Geros Tou Morea, New York Chapter #1 of the Pan Arcadian Federation of America donated $1,500 for creation of the John Giannopoulos statue in St. Augustine, Florida.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cPlato said education is the second sun of man\u201d explained Mrs. Meropi Kyriakou, President of Greek Teachers Association \u201cPrometheus\u201d. \u201cEducation centers around the well being of the student. The Greek School instills Greek education in the Greek American youth, instilling a positive self-image. We sincerely thank the parents and grandparents who bring their children and grandchildren to Greek school with dedication.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have the responsibility to preserve the Greek legacy in education,\u201d President of the \u201cHellenic Paideia\u201d of America \u00a0President Vasiliki Filiotis explained. Parents and grandparents must encourage children from an early age of the spiritual heritage of Greek civilization. We support Modern Greek language studies and urge all youth to enroll. The Hellenic Paideia Organization\u2019s goal is to encourage Greek-Americans and their friends to speak Greek. We must leave an inheritance to the next generation. \u201cWe must survive as a nation by inspiring the study of our Greek language and history. We must transmit the sacred flame of the study of Greek to the next generation. It is an eternal symbol of Western\u00a0 civilization. Plutarch said, \u2018the very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cLet us reflect on the admirable work that the teachers have devoted to their students through the decades,\u201d President Stella Kokolis said. \u201cWith courage and perseverance, let us continue to kindle the light of Hellenic education. With the assistance of parents and grandparents.\u201d As a single parent, the educator understands the voices of the Greek-American people. She is not a transplanted intellectual from Greece. She feels it is her duty to nurture the values of the Greek language and culture that are rapidly disappearing in the United States. An intellectual with multiple degrees, she has kept our Greek legacy to the west alive.<\/p>\n

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The Honorees were Nikos Anagnostopoulos, Maria Aspras, Mary Vasilakou, Vassiliki Georgiou, Tom Georgiou, Angie Yanas; Voula Gallianou, Jennifer Gounis, Katerina Drosou, Theodora Efthimiadis, Fanny Zikopoulou Nikos Katsanevakis, Dean Katsaros, Anthi Koulouroudi \u2013 Dimidou, Calliope Kountourakis, \u00a0Christina Konstantinis, Calliope Makridis, Maria Markogiannis, Dr. Dimitrios Markouizos, Joanna Mentzelopoulou, Aphrodite Mikroutsikou, Diana Misantonis, Ourania Bountounis, Stella Moustakas, George Pampafikos, Marietta Pilarinou \u2013 Giannopoulou, Alexandra Roubous, Aginsilaos Triantafyllopoulos, Mary Trianou and Zacharias and Angeliki Fesara, Kalliopi Tsopelas \u2013 Kokkinou, Zachrias and Aggeliki Fessara. The event was co-ordinated and presented by sociologist-journalist Dr. Despina Afentouli who did an outstanding broadcast of the Event on Cosmos FM.<\/p>\n

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References:<\/p>\n

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  1. http:\/\/www.golfian.com\/102-inspirational-plato-quotes-and-sayings\/popular-power-quotes-and-sayings-by-plato\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n