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
Greek Cultural Garden
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.
Since HPS re-dedicated the garden in 1994, we have seen the realization of several new gardens. Our involvement has helped to sustain this unique cultural gem in the city of Cleveland. Our long-term plans call for a Poet’s Bench and a stone relief sculpture on the Parthenon wall to fully realize the original garden plans. You can support the new sculptures here: Project 83
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
HPS has donated to Ukraine relief through IOCC. Your donation is appreciated, donate here: IOCC Ukraine Support
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
Click here to see our newsletter library: Newsletters
Calendar of Events
See a list of previous Collis lectures here
- Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture at CMA: September 24, 2023
- 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
More items from the collection can be found here: HPS Virtual Museum
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.
HPS underwrote the cost to fully restore 30 icons from Annunciation Church of Cleveland, Ohio. These icons were painted by Reverend John Zographos in 1929. After the restoration, the icons have been displayed at area churches. Those icons can be seen here: Icons loaned in 1992.
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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Related Organizations
- Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Cleveland
- Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Akron
- Sts Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Cleveland Heights
- St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Rocky River
- St Paul Greek Orthodox Church, North Royalton
- Cleveland Cultural Gardens
Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio 