Hellenic Society Prometheas Celebrates Greek Letters and Greek Language and Culture Awards
Στιγμι’οτυπο από παλαιότερη εκδήλωση του Προμηθέα. Φωτογραφία από την ιστοσελίδα της οργάνωσης
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
On January 25th, 2020, The Hellenic Society Prometheas celebrated Greek Letters Day (Των Τριών Ιεραρχών) with a well-attended event that brought together more than 200 members of the Greek and broader communities.
The celebration that took place at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church Founders Hall in Bethesda, Maryland, also honored Greek language students from the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Greek Schools.
The event’s keynote speaker, Ms. Mary Norris, former Copy Editor of The New Yorker, and author of Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen, as well as the best-selling Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen, engaged the audience with her wit and knowledge, inspiring them with her passion for the Greek language and culture. Ms. Norris also described her adventures through Greece and Cyprus, as well as her experiences in learning Greek, and highlighting its importance in understanding the English language and the world.
- In her welcoming remarks, Prometheas President Magdalene Kantartzi congratulated the recipients of the Greek Language and Culture Awards for Excellence in the Greek Language and Culture. She also praised the students’ parents and teachers for their tireless efforts and encouragement.
She noted that Prometheas is proud to support the Modern Greek Language Program, a vital part of the Department of Classics, along with Ancient Greek at the University of Maryland. This year, the Society expressed its commitment to the program with a $5,000 donation. In closing, she highlighted that Prometheas celebrates and promotes our language and culture through a variety of cultural, academic, and social programs, including lectures, symposia, film screenings, and musical events, among others.
Prometheas Vice President Lefteris Karmiris presented the Greek Language and Culture Awards to 14 students, who excelled in the study of the Greek language, obtaining the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Greek (Πιστοποιητικό Ελληνομάθειας). In addition to a commemorative plaque, the Awards included a monetary gift as well as a book on Greece. The Principals of the Greek Schools were also gifted a copy of Mary Norris’s book, Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen, for their dedication to their students and the Greek language.
- Father Stephanos Alexopoulos, Associate Professor of Liturgical Studies at Catholic University, along with several Prometheas members, chanted the hymn (Apolytikion) of the Three Holy Hierarchs, and offered the traditional Vasilopita blessing.
In closing, we were honored to have representatives of the Embassies of Greece and Cyprus, namely Mr. Spyridon Heraclis Aktypis, Head of the Consular Section and Cultural Attaché, Embassy of Greece, who congratulated the organizers for an impressive event; Mrs. Maria Savvidou-Panayiotou, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus; and Colonel Dimitris Mpitsis, Air Attaché, Embassy of Greece.
At the end of the successful and engaging event, guests enjoyed the cutting of the Vasilopita, as well as a reception.
For future events sponsored by the Hellenic Society Prometheas, please visit HERE
Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης: Δυστυχώς η εκπαίδευση στρέφει τους νέους πρωτίστως προς τον εαυτόν τους