December 26, 2025
Have you ever noticed a holiday decoration or sign that says “Xmas” rather than “Christmas” and wondered about its origins? The explanation reaches back much further into history than most people realize. Read how the “X” came to mean “Christ” at Greek City Times.
December 3, 2025
HPS Receives Gift for Archival Photo Restoration
November 29, 2025
Pope Leo XIV Visits the Phanar Today for Historic Joint Declaration with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Following their joint pilgrimage to Nicaea on Friday to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will unite again today at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul’s Phanar district. The visit, a significant moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations, will include the signing of a Joint Declaration and a series of ecumenical events.
See more at greekcitytimes
November 10, 2025
HPS Elects Evangelia Romoudi to its Board of Trustees
October 27, 2025
For the first time in nearly 20 years, visitors to Athens can enjoy an unobstructed view of the Parthenon, the iconic 5th-century B.C. temple atop the Acropolis. See more at Greek City Times
October 21, 2025
October 17, 2025
From the vibrant streets of Athens to the scholarly halls of Alexandria, ancient Greece was a beacon of innovation, producing ideas and inventions that continue to define modern civilization. See more at Greek City Times
September 28, 2025
Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture at CMA with Dr. Alicia Walker
Virtue and Adornment in Byzantium: Beautiful Bodies in the Christian East
The Cleveland Museum of Art hosted Alicia Walker, Professor of Art History at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, who delivered the 21st Annual Dr. John and Helen Collis lecture on Greek and Byzantine Art, endowed by the Collis Family since 2004. Ms. Walker is an alumna of Bryn Mawr and Harvard University. In December 2024 she was appointed Senior Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks, a Harvard University Research Center located in the Georgetown district of Washington, DC.
Approximately 300 people gathered in CMA’s Gartner Auditorium to hear
Dr. Walker’s discussion and see her slides as she explored the attitudes
toward women and adornment in the Byzantine world. This was a world in
which Christian symbols were used for clothing and adornment, but within
the cultural context of Byzantine society, they remained connected to pre-Christian cultural traditions. These early traditions allowed for Greco-
Roman goddesses and other female mythological characters to persist as
models of physical beauty and allure.
June 30-July 2, 2026
GOARCH announces 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, Ohio
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce that the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, from June 30 to July 2, 2026. The Holy Eparchial Synod approved Cleveland as the host city last year, and preparations are now underway. The full planning committee—comprised of volunteers, stakeholders, and representatives from the many organizations and institutions of the Archdiocese—is currently being formed and will begin its work following the visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States this fall. See more HERE
August 23, 2025
Second Annual GOMoPalooza is a Continued Success
August 8, 2025
CMA, HPS and Case Partner in Pop-Up Museum at Walkabout Tremont Event
June 17, 2025
Cleveland Hosts Greek Diplomats
On June 17, 2025, the Hellenic community in Cleveland welcomed the Honorable Ioannis Michail Loverdos, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, along with the Consul of Greece from Chicago, represented by the Honorable Emmanuel Koubarakis. The visitors’ welcome began at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Tremont. There, they toured the Georgia Pappas Hellenic Cultural School, whose students prepared a cultural program which included Greek language recitations by the students and dance performances by troupes from other churches. Deputy Minister Loverdos addressed the assembly, thanking the students and encouraging them in their Hellenic studies.
Following the cultural event at Annunciation, a reception was held at the Greek Cultural Garden on East Blvd. in Cleveland. Lou Frangos, President of the Greek Garden Association of Cleveland, welcomed the guests and turned the program over to Master of Ceremonies James Trakas, former Ohio State Representative. The invocation and remarks were delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh.
The Honorable Deputy Minister Loverdos was the keynote speaker, who spoke (in English) insightfully about Greek culture and the Greek language from ancient times and its relevance today. “You are the bridge,” he told the largely Greek-American audience, “between Greece and Greek culture to American society, and Greece will always be with you.”
May 29, 2025
Greece and Orthodoxy Shocked by Egypt’s Decision to Seize the Ancient Sinai Monastery
In a move described as “unprecedented and unacceptable,” Egypt has ordered the closure of the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai, the world’s oldest continuously functioning Christian monastery. This decision has sparked outrage from religious leaders and surprise within the Greek government, despite recent high-level diplomatic assurances. Read more from The Greek Reporter
April 20, 2025
It’s been 13 years since actress, singer, and producer Rita Wilson first wrote her heartfelt account of Greek Easter in 2012.
Today, her vivid recollections and unique perspective on this cherished holiday continue to touch hearts and bridge cultures. Here, in her own words, is Rita Wilson’s beloved story of what Greek Easter means to her:
Read more at Greek City Times
April 12, 2025
HPS and Community Outreach
On April 12, the Willowick Public Library held its second annual Around the World event, featuring cultural exhibitions of various ethnicities. Exhibits and demonstrations from Armenia, Greece, Polynesia, Scotland and Slovenia were part of the day’s adult-focused programming. Cooking, dancing, music and mythology were featured among the day’s activities.
The Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio was invited to participate in Around the World and did so with an enchanting presentation by HPS Vice President Paula Kalamaras, whose slide show was entitled Greek Myths and Heroes. With lots of details and insight, Kalamaras riveted the audience by tracing the origin of the mythological Gods of Ancient Greece, their descendants, and the stories that surrounded their interlaced relationships. Interested attendees were also treated to mythological stencils and crayons to produce their own artwork.
April 6, 2025
HPS at Greek Independence Day in Detroit
The Greek-American community gathered in Detroit on April 6 to celebrate Greek Independence from Ottoman rule in the early 19th Century. Among the numerous civic, ethnic and religious leaders was His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America (center). Also represented at the event was the Cleveland chapter of the Phoenix Pontian Society, led by HPS Board member Emmanuel Ermidis (far right), his wife Marina Ermidis (far left), and other members in traditional costume.
March 22, 2025
Annunciation Cleveland hosts Greek Independence Day Parade
The day was dull and cloudy, but spirits were bright on March 22, 2025 as the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church was the staging ground for the 2025 Annual Greek Independence Day parade. After a brief prayer service led by parade Grand Marshall Fr. Dean Dimon, several hundred people marched along the mile-long parade route. Many participants carried banners, waved flags, rode on floats, and played recorded Greek music along the streets of Cleveland’s Tremont district. Many wore ethnic costumes from the various regions or islands of Greece. The event was chaired by Cleveland businessman, Annunciation parishioner and Hellenic Preservation Society Trustee Emmanuel Ermidis and Eleni Papouras-Jenks of St. Demetrios in Rocky River. In addition to the support of several local Greek Orthodox Churches, a number of secular organizations were also represented. These included: Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio, Phoenix Greek Pontian Society, Pan-Ikarian Brotherhood, Chios Society of Cleveland, Varouh Cretan Club, Karpathos St. George/Spoa, Nestorian Philanthropic Society, Sterea Hellas Foundation, and Ditiki Makedonia. After the parade, a day of dining, music and dancing followed at Annunciation’s social hall.
March 13, 2025
Were you one of the lucky ones who got to meet Yvette Manessis Corporon at the HPS Author Event last fall? Read about her author event in Manhattan at Greek City Times, hosted by Eleni Gage.
February 20, 2025
Dr. Elizabeth Bolman joins HPS Board as Academic Advisor
HPS is proud to announce that Elizabeth S. Bolman has been added to its advisory staff as Academic Advisor. Dr. Bolman is Elsie B. Smith Professor in the Liberal Arts, and she chairs the Dept. of Art History and Art, College of Arts and Sciences of CWRU, in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a leading expert on late antique, Byzantine, and early medieval Egyptian art.
See more about Dr. Bolman here
February 15, 2025
Egypt and Greece Reaffirm Commitment to Preserve Mt. Sinai Monastery Status
In a significant diplomatic development, Egypt has committed to maintaining the current status of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, following an agreement with Greece. Read more at Greek City Times
February 14, 2025
Cleveland Museum of Art and District Attorney of New York reach agreement on Draped Male Figure (The Philosopher)
Following the results of new scientific testing, conducted in cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye and the District Attorney of New York County (Manhattan), the Cleveland Museum of Art has made the decision to transfer the Greek or Roman bronze statue of a draped male figure (the Philosopher) to the district attorney for delivery to the Republic of Türkiye. Read more at Cleveland Museum of Art
HPS had its General Meeting on January 23, 2025, with over 100 in attendance at St. Paul Hellenic Center in North Royalton. President Dean Peters discussed the Year in Review, the Odyssey Award was presented to Emmanuel Ermidis and the Iliad Award was presented to Maria Cashy. What a terrific way to start the year! See Dr. Pevnick’s address here
February 5, 2025 Cleveland businessman Emmanuel Ermidis was unanimously elected to the Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio’s Board of Trustees. Ermidis, a recent recipient of the 2025 HPS Odyssey Award, and his family have been strong and active supporters of Hellenic culture in Northeastern Ohio and far beyond. Emmanuel’s high energy and high profile in the community make him a strong addition to the HPS Board of Trustees.
January 23, 2025 The weather outside was cold and snowy, but that didn’t stop 100 people from gathering at St. Paul Hellenic Center in North Royalton to attend the Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio (HPS) annual meeting, awards presentation, and lecture. The highlight of the evening was the keynote speaker and HPS Curatorial Advisor, Dr. Seth Pevnick, curator of Greek and Roman Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and chair of CMA’s European Art from Classical Antiquity to 1800. Dr. Pevnick’s lecture was entitled “From Ancient Greece to CMA.”
The event began with a fine buffet dinner and opening remarks from HPS President Dean Peters, who presented the Year in Review summary of the HPS administrative and event activities in 2024. Highlighting this talk was the work done in re-imagining and updating the HPS website at hpsneo.org. Events supported or sponsored by HPS in 2024 included the Greek Independence Day Parade, the Africa and Byzantium exhibit at CMA, the GOMoPalooza Music and Arts Festival of the Pittsburgh Metropolis, the annual Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture at CMA in September, teaching Medina’s second graders about ancient Greek culture, and hosting the highly successful book signing and luncheon featuring Emmy Award-winning producer and author Yvette Manessis Corporon.
A featured part of the program was the bestowing of two awards in appreciation of contributions to Hellenic culture. The Iliad Award was given for “extreme dedication and exemplary effort in support of HPS in pursuit of its goals and mission.” The recipient of this award was Maria Cashy, a long-time HPS Board member, Committee Chair, strategic planner, and Ex-President. Her award was presented in absentia. The Odyssey Award was given to “a leader whose life exemplifies the finest ideals, principles and traditions of Hellenic culture.” The recipient of this award was Emmanuel Ermidis, a leader of the Hellenic community at large through his leadership in various churches, his chairing of the Cleveland Greek Independence Day Parade, his leadership in the Greek Pontian Society, and in the Pan Pontian Federation of the U.S. and Canada.
See more about the award recipients HERE
The evening culminated with Dr. Pevnick’s presentation, which was a fascinating look at what a curator does, from acquiring items for the permanent collection to writing the labels of artifacts on gallery display. He also spoke of recent acquisitions, such as a 2500-year-old Corinthian helmet and a Red-Figure vase. Considerable attention was given to the prominent Cleveland Apollo metal sculpture by Praxiteles, which has been studied in great detail by Dr. Pevnick and his colleagues.
Forget jingle bells and reindeer on Greek Christmas. Here, children, their faces bright and instruments in hand, become messengers of hope and cheer, carrying forward the ancient melody of Kalanta – Greek carols echoing through centuries. Read more here
December 12 is a huge milestone for Greece’s Presidential Guard. On December 12, 1868, the Evzones was founded as a combatant and ceremonial force, marking a historical 156 years since the Evzones began their duties in the Greek capital. See more at Greek City Times
Three time Emmy-winning producer and author Yvette Manessis Corporon came to Cleveland on November 2, 2024 to participate in a book signing to celebrate her newest novel, daughter of ruins. She was hosted by the Hellenic Preservation Society at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland Heights. Yvette Corporon, a Greek-American, spoke to a group of 120 Greek-Americans and Hellenophiles who gathered for a luncheon and an enlightening lecture on her work in TV and as a writer. Both speaker and audience shared a rather empathetic bond, as acknowledged by Corporon, who said, “my story is your story, too.”
On November 6, 2024, the Greek Garden Association of Cleveland, which administers the Greek ethnic garden off MLK Blvd in Cleveland, visited its in-progress frieze depicting luminaries of ancient Greek culture. The frieze was commissioned from Nicholas Fairplay at Stone Carvers LLC gallery in Elyria, Ohio. The entire frieze, when completed, will be mounted at the Greek Garden. Here is a preview of progress to date.
Hear HPS President Dean Peters talk about the importance of Hellenism here: Dean Peters address
November 3, 2024
HPS President Speaks to Sterea Hellas Convention
The biennial convention of the Sterea Hellas Federation of USA & Canada was recently held at St. Demetrios Orthodox Church, Rocky River, Ohio. At the invitation of the convention’s hosts, Dean Peters, President of the Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio, spoke to attendees of the event. His address covered various aspects of Hellenism and Hellenic Culture, including the mission of the Hellenic Preservation Society and the benefits of membership.
October 25 and October 28, 2024
HPS Teaches Hellenism at Ella Canavan Elementary School in Medina
HPS was recently asked to supplement the studies of four second grade classes as they explore the culture of ancient Greece. Unable to pass up this opportunity, HPS board member and ex-president Jean Porter put together a presentation that covered topics including Greek and Roman mythology, ancient Greek architecture and the types of column designs, Greek words used in English, and some ingredients used in Greek food. Along with HPS president Dean Peters, she presented to two large groups of extremely enthusiastic young students who had loads of questions and boundless enthusiasm for the topic. These students were very smart, and some already had some knowledge of the topics covered in the class. Our hope is that the students were as impressed with the teachers as the teachers were with them.
New Board Member
HPS welcomes Tom Wendland as its newest board member. Tom has been a resident of NEO for his whole life, but travels the world with his family, most recently visiting the castles of France, Germany, England, and Luxembourg. While his day job is as a scientist, he studies and has a profound knowledge of Greek and Roman antiquities and classics. Congratulations and welcome!
Award Winning Fantasy
HPS Vice President Paula Kalamaras and her writing partner Paul Kraly (writing as P.M. Amaras and Paul Driggere) recently won the Winter 2024 Pinnacle Achievement Award for Fantasy by the NABE (National Association of Book Entrepreneurs). The book, Shadows in Light, Book One of the Hidden Rims Saga, is the first in a series of adventures and mysteries that take place in a world founded by the Greek gods Castor and Polydeuces along with Celtic gods, Dônn and Dis Pater as a sanctuary for the rejected from Earth-Prime. In the magical environs of Nysi Afallon (Island Avalon in Greek and Welsh), the hub and home for millions of the dispossessed, the exiled, the mixtes, different species, creatures, and peoples, a serial killer is terrorizing the kingdom. As the body count rises, Maia Anemois is recruited to track the killer menacing the island kingdom. The plot thickens from there, but you’ll have to check it out on Amazon to find out more.
September 29, 2024
The Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture at CWRU
August 31, 2024
In 1992, HPS took on the project of the restoration of a set of long-lost icons belonging to the Annunciation Cleveland Greek Orthodox Church. The icons were written by Fr. John Zographos in 1929, and the long-awaited restoration was completed in 1999. The icons are currently on display in HPS’s Museum Without Walls, and photos can be seen here. Icons from Annunciation Cleveland Under HPS Conservatorship, 1992
The icons are being professionally photographed for an enhanced experience. Stay tuned for updated photos!
August 25, 2024
Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation Holds 78th One World Day Celebration
MLK Blvd in Cleveland was a busy and colorful place as the Cultural Gardens Federation held its 78th annual One Word Day celebration of peace, diversity and ethnicity. The day began with the naturalization ceremony for new citizens of the United States at 11 am. The boulevard was closed to vehicular traffic for the day as the parade of flags got underway.
All 46 of the individual ethnic gardens participated in the event, which featured ethnic foods, music, dances, and beautiful costumes from all parts of the world. Attendees were able to get souvenir passports, which could then be stamped at each ethnic garden visited during the day.
August 20, 2024
Meet Exchange High School Student from Greece, Sofia
AFS USA is a non-profit organization that sponsors intercultural exchange high school students from foreign countries into the U.S. They would like our membership to know what they are doing and have asked HPS to be an informational partner in the case of 15-year old Sofia. U.S. State Department regulations prohibit the publication of photos or other personal information of exchange students, but Sofia’s general profile appears below.
August 17, 2024
The First GOMoPalooza is a “HIT” in Warren
The first-ever GOMoPalooza Music and Arts Festival was held on a mostly sunny Saturday at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Community Center in Warren, Ohio. The sprawling community center complex was well-suited to the purpose, offering the several hundred attendees plenty of room for the many activities.
There was plenty of room for kids to run around and enjoy the many activities, games, hula hoop activities, face painting and much more. Adding color to the already-decorated facilities was a light circus troupe that performed juggling, stilt-walking, and other acts.
GOMoPalooza News (cont’d)
August 4, 2024
Greek Cultural Garden Honors Ted Theodore, Lecture on Aristotle’s Life Delivered by Dr. Peter Gilbert
The Greek Garden Association of Cleveland (GCAC) paid tribute to Clevelander Ted Theodore, who was honored as Board Member Emeritus by the association. Theodore has been a significant figure in education, sports, and community service. Lou Frangos, GCAC’s President, opened the proceedings with some facts about the Garden and about its honoree. Frangos invited Bert Moyar, a long-time community leader and Sts. Constantine & Helen parishioner, to introduce Theodore to the gathering of more than 60 people, informing them that Ted was present as a young boy at the Garden’s commissioning in 1939. After Ted spoke a few words, he was honored by a commemorative plaque presented by Frangos and GCAC’s executive director, Jonathan Cambouris. Ted’s lifelong dedication to Hellenism, the Greek community, and many other educational and artistic pursuits exemplify the values celebrated by GCAC, making his recognition a fitting tribute. Axios!
Dr. Peter Gilbert, chanter at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral and former teacher at the Lyceum in Cleveland, lent his knowledge of classical culture and literature to the topic On the Nature of Things: An Introduction to Aristotle’s Life and Thought. Insofar as the lecture was honoring Ted Theodore, Gilbert opened his talk with some positive parallels between the lives of the honoree and Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, scientist, mathematician, linguist, politician, etc. Dr. Gilbert spoke at length about Aristotle’s times, which spanned 384 BC to 322 BC. As a young man, Aristotle went to Athens to study at Plato’s academy. This was the start of a career of fertile thought across many disciplines. Although some of Aristotle’s writings survive to this day, much has regrettably been lost to the ages. This was Dr. Gilbert’s second lecture in GCAC’s educational series.
HPS Board Tours Africa & Byzantium at CMA
June 18, 2024
The board of HPS and their guests were recently treated to a uniquely guided tour of the Africa & Byzantium exhibit featured at the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) from April 14 to July 21. The exhibition considered the relationship between northern and eastern African kingdoms and the Byzantine empire. Our board was fortunate to have the tour guided by Dr. Kristen Windmuller-Luna, Curator of African Art at CMA, who delivered a fascinating account of the items on display with the curatorial perspectives only she could offer.
Among the items on display were a number of treasures from the Monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai. The group was additionally blessed to hear from Fr. Akakios, a monk from St. Catherine’s, who was overseeing the items from the monastery included in the exhibit. He spoke to the group in Greek, with the help of translation from board members, of the story of Moses and the role of the Sinai monastery in history. He also talked about some of the ancient and priceless icons that were on display.
Those in attendance saw items representing Christianity, Islam and Judaism and how they dovetailed into the ancient cultures of Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Nubia, Sudan, and others.
At the end of the tour, CMA’s staff was helpful in facilitating our scheduled HPS June board meeting in the museum’s atrium.
6-14-24
March 30, 2024
Annunciation Cleveland Hosts Greek Independence Day Parade
Annunciation, the original Greek Orthodox church in Cleveland hosted a Greek Independence Day parade and celebration on Saturday, March 30. The event began with a prayer service led by Fr. Dean J. Dimon, presiding priest of the church. This was followed by a parade by the Hellenic community around the church’s W.14th St. neighborhood and ended on the church’s front steps. A few hundred parade participants, many dressed in their Greek costumes, represented organizations from various regions or islands in Greece. After a group photo on the front steps of the church, a celebratory reception was held at the church’s community center.
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