The Unified Voice of Hellenes in Northeast Ohio

Greek Independence Day Parade, March 25, 2023


On the weekend of March 4-5, 2023, HPS President Jonathan Cambouris visited Washington DC to attend the American Hellenic Institute Dinner

Madam Ambassador of Greece, Jonathan Cambouris, Bishop Apostolos, Consul of Cyprus

George Loizou of Cyprus Embassy, Jonathan Cambouris, Christopher Skenteras

Jonathan Cambouris with Jeannie Ranglas

Elizabeth Bartz, Nick Larigakis, Jonathan Cambouris


New Acquisitions to the Virtual Museum


7th Annual convention Pan Icarian Brotherhood of America, 1941. Gift of Lee Saphos

Greek Cultural Garden

Archbishop Athenagoras at Greek Garden dedication, 1940. Gift of Mary Karagiozis

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are a collection of public gardens located within the City of Cleveland’s Rockefeller Park. Within the 276 acres of wooded parkland on the city’s East Side are 32 distinct gardens, each commemorating a different ethnic group whose immigrants have contributed to the heritage of the city over the centuries. 

The Greek Cultural Garden was dedicated June 24, 1940. HPS maintains the Greek Garden, restoring and replanting, and preserving this landmark reflecting our Hellenic heritage to the city. Two doric columns frame the garden’s entrance opening into a plaza, laid out in the shape of a cross, containing a reflecting pool. A wall and pylons symbolize the wall of the Parthenon. Stone tablets on the wall are inscribed with the names of prominent Greek artists, philosophers, writers and scientists. 

The Greek Garden is a popular location for weddings and wedding pictures throughout the year.

The Annual One World Day Festival is a fun event with a parade of nations, a naturalization ceremony, music, food, dancing, and tours throughout the gardens. The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation has hosted this event since 1946. 

Help Us Stand with Ukraine

Message from our President: Jonathan Cambouris

I am honored to be elected Board President for the 2023 term.

I wish to take a moment in gratitude to recognize our former President, Jean Wendland Porter, for her hard work, and our former Secretary, Bea Meros, for her many years of scrupulous recordkeeping. You have both provided HPS with tremendous service.

Over the past several months of my joining HPS, I have had the opportunity to understand the historical, three-decade-long significance of HPS and how it continues to stay relevant. As the pandemic tapered throughout 2022, HPS expanded its outreach efforts. Aside from meeting new and familiar faces at various Northeast Ohio Greek festivals, we had remarkable participation at the Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture, the Greek Garden Signing Ceremony, the General Meeting, and One World Day. 

Locally, HPS became recognized across multiple Greek regional organizations, including the Chian, Cretan, and Kalymnian Societies. In Chicago, Prince Nikolaos, and Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark embraced us at the National Hellenic Museum’s Gala. Additionally, the Consulate General recognized HPS at the Greek Consulate.

This year, HPS will remain connected and dedicate its support to education and cultural heritage initiatives. As HPS continues to achieve its mission through programming, presentations, and collections, we are confident that membership will grow to meet our commitment to serving all Hellenes and Philhellenes of Northeastern Ohio. 

HPS is devoted to seeing all of our commitments, past and future, prosper. Our board and standing committees are working diligently to create an eventful calendar that aims to provide inclusive fellowship, service, and funding to Project 83, the realization of the frieze on the Parthenon Wall in the Greek Cultural Garden.

By paying homage to our past, we pave the way for our future progress.

Now is the perfect time to bridge the gap. Receive the latest updates and join HPS by clicking this link.

I wish you all a healthy, warm, and joyous 2023.

Let us make this a memorable year.

Contact us at communications@hpsneo.org to join our organization or use the Membership button above.

Our Vision

HPS provides resources and guidance to the Greek community in Northeast Ohio with the goal of perpetuating Hellenic cultural identity across generations.

Your sponsorship helps us to continue to grow and preserve our Collections and Archives which document the immigrant experience of the Greeks in Northeastern Ohio, support the Annual Collis Lecture at the Cleveland Museum of Art, maintain the Greek Garden at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, and provide speakers and programs of interest to the community.

Contact us at communications@hpsneo.org to see how you can get involved!

Newsletters

Calendar of Events

  • Annunciation Greek Festival, Cleveland
  • St. Demetrios Greek Festival, Rocky River
  • St. Paul Greek Festival, North Royalton
  • Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Festival, Cleveland Hts.
  • Annunciation Greek Festival, Akron

Our Collections: Virtual Museum

Black and white photograph of the Pancretan Union of America Sixth National Convention, 1938. Gift of Dr. John and Helen Collis
Christmas Dinner, Daughters of Theano, 1946.
7th Annual convention Pan Icarian Brotherhood of America, 1941. Gift of Lee Saphos
Part of a collection of photos and memorabilia of Philoptochos and church events. Gift of Estelle Callas
Panoramic photo. Greek War Relief Fundraiser Dinner 1946. Gift of Eleni Tartara
Panoramic photo. Pan-Arcadian Convention circa 1940. Gift of Harriet Lalos
Group photograph. Possibly a choir convention, Looks like late 1960s-early 1970s. Back of envelope reads “BP Oil ATTN: Argerie”
Testimonial dinner C. Gatsos, 1955. Gift of Elaine Simon
AHEPA 9th annual conv San Francisco
AHEPA 8th annual conv Boston, 1930. Gift of Irene Bates
AHEPA 8th annual conv Boston, 1930. Gift of Irene Bates
PanSamian 2nd annual picnic, 1926. Gift of Themistocles and Rose Rodis
AHEPA Convention Cleveland, 1950
AHEPA picnic McKirahan’s Grove
AHEPA Supreme Lodge with Pres. Coolidge, 1929
AHEPA 8th Anniversary, Warren, OH. 1930
AHEPA 8th Annual Convention, Boston, 1930
13th Annual picnic of the Pythagoras Society, 1937
4th Annual AHEPA Convention, 10th District, 1935
4th Annual picnic of the PanCretan Union in America, 1932. Gift of Rose Vourlis
AHEPA 3rd Annual outing at Mara’s Grove, 1928. Gift of Tom Pastis

HPS preserves artifacts of Greek immigration to Northeast Ohio. These artifacts are donated by members of the Northeastern Ohio Greek Community. Our diverse collection consists of items made by or used by Greek immigrants as they emigrated to the area and made a new life for themselves.

In addition to the collection, the archives consist of photographs, manuscripts, and documents describing the Greek immigrant experience.

If you have items that represent the Greek Immigrant experience and are interested in donating, please contact us at hpscleveland@gmail.com.


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HPSCleveland@gmail.com

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