By Catherine Tsounis
The ritual of the Cutting of the Vasilopita (New Year’s Bread) fosters unity and strong community bonds. A record snowfall in New York City did not prevent the Vasilopita event of Greek Orthodox Church and education organizations. The event went on, not in person, but online.
The Office of Education of the Holy Archdiocese of America, in collaboration with the Federation of Hellenic American Educators and Cultural Associations of America and Hellenic Paideia of America Organization held their 2026 Vasilopita and Three Hierarchs Greek Letters Day event online, Sunday January 25th, from 2:30-5:30 pm. The change from in person to online event was publicized through telephone, emails, and notices on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The online event communicated with representatives of the Greek government in Greece and the United States. They sent greetings to the valuable work carried out in the morning, afternoon schools and universities that promote Greek language and culture. . The organizers of this event included: Father Gregory Stamkopoulos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Director of the Office of Education of the Holy Archdiocese of America;
Mrs. Stella Kokolis, President, Federation of Hellenic American Educators and Cultural Associations of America; Mrs. Vasiliki Filiotis, President, Hellenic Paideia of America Organization and Dr. Despina Afentouli, Master of Ceremonies, Journalist/Sociologist.
The honored people in 2026 were impressive. They are the following honorees: Father Evagoras Konstantinidis, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Dean of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn: Dr. Styliani (Stella) Tsirka, Vice Chancellor of Stony Brook University, NY; Irini Prentzas, “Police Officer of the Year” 2024, former student of Agia Irini Chrysovalantou School, Astoria, N.Y.; Betsy Sideris, Deputy Principal of Agios Demetrios School, Astoria, N.Y; Eftihia (Joy) Petrakos, former student of Agios Demetrios Astoria, Chief Operating Officer of Hellenic Classical Charter Schools, overseeing both the Brooklyn (HCCS-PS) and Staten Island (HCCS-SI) campuses; Panagiota Lilikaki, Deputy Principal of A. Fantis Community School Brooklyn; and Stefania Antonoglou, Principal of The Greek School of the Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in Astoria.
Rev. Protopresbyter Gregory Stamkopoulos gave a moving explanation of the Three Hierarchs Day celebration. “The feast day of Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom celebrates their combining Christian theology and Greek education,” explained Father Stamkopoulos. “They promoted cultural heritage and the role of the Greek Orthodox in shaping the Greek identity. St. Gregory the Theologos was a supporter of Greek Philosophy. He infused Hellenism in early church. He was the most widely read writer from Homer to present time. St. Basil is considered the founder of monasticism in the East. He defended the study of pagan literature. As a means of caring for those who were ill, St. Basil of Caesarea founded the first hospital (c. 369). Christian hospitals grew apace, spreading throughout both the East and the West.”
“St. John Chrysostom was an excellent preacher whose writings are still studied and quoted,” said Father Stamkopoulos. “As a theologian, he has been and continues to be very important. The highest point of Greek learning was combined with Christianity through the contribution of the Three Hierarchs. Alexandros Papadiamantis’ deep Christian faith, complete with the mystical feeling associated with the Orthodox Christian liturgy, is one of the most important writers of modern Greek literature.” The Greek Orthodox faith that is implicit in Greek education for over 1600 hundred years.
Dr. Despina Afentouli provided the names of prominent political and education leaders. They expressed their appreciation of all teachers educating youth in Greek language and culture. They include: Mr. Panagiotis Passas, Head of the General Directorate of International European Affairs, Education of Greeks Abroad and Intercultural Education, Mr. Panagiotis Passas, Director General for International and European Affairs, Education Department for Hellenic Diaspora; Mr. Yiannis Papadomarkakis, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education; Mr. Konstantinos Vlassis, Deputy Minister of Education; , Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, Deputy Minister of Education, responsible for Higher (Tertiary) Education; Mr. Philippos Fortomas, Secretary of Greeks in the Diaspora; Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis, Former Secretary General of Hellenes Abroad: Mrs. Zetta Makri, Former Deputy Minister of Education; Ms. Ifigenia Kanara, Consul General of Greece in New York; Mr. Christos Michalakelis, President of “Study in Greece”; Dr Anna Batistatou, Rector (Dean) of Greece’s Ioannina University; Dr. Eleni Griva, Vice-Rector for Internationalization, Outreach and Holistic Care at the University of Western Macedonia; Ms. Dimitra Patronidou, Deputy Education Coordinator of the New York Education Coordination Office; Mr. George Vlachos, Education Coordinator of African Schools; Jason Pedicone, President of the Paideia Institute for Humanistic Study, Ms.Tzina Kalogirou, Professor of Modern Greek Literature and Teaching from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Father Apostolos Manoloudis, representing the Patriarchal Monastery of Agia Irini Chrysovalantou and giving greetings from the Abbot, Father Meletios. Special appreciation to Dr.Afentouli for this information. This is an incomplete list of guest speakers during the 3+hour+ zoom session. For a more accurate account, contact Mrs. Stella Kokolis at [email protected].
“We are presenting certificates of achievement to each Honoree from the Federation of Hellenic American Educators and Cultural Associations of America, said President Kokolis. “Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York’s 11th congressional district, Staten Island, is presenting Certificates of Merit to each Honoree. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros is our leader who promotes Greek language, culture and the Greek Orthodox faith.” President Stella Kokolis is known as “The Teacher of the Greek Nation.”
“Congratulations to President Stella Kokolis for her immense support,” said President Vasiliki Filiotis of Hellenic Paideia of America Organization. “Hellenic Paideia works for the reek language, and Greek Orthodox tradition We are perpetuating our Greek education and Greek Orthodox faith with Orthodox with zeal and dedication. We thank our priests, prominent political and education leaders, honorees, educators. staff, parents and friends for attending our zoom conference. We wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.”
“We established The Center for Hellenic Studies in 2012,” explained Dr. Styliani (Stella) Tsirka, Vice Chancellor of Stony Brook University, NY. “We have a minor in Hellenic language, history and culture, political life, social issues, economy. We are excited about the 2026 Faculty-led Summer Program in Greece. Strong bonds are created between between the University and the Greek American communities of Long Island and New York.”
Irini Prentzas, “Police Officer of the Year” 2024, is a former student of President Vasiliki Filiotis at Agia Irini Chrysovalantou School, Astoria, N.Y.; “Thank you for this honor,” said Officer Prentzas. “Agia Irini Chrysosovalantou
Church and Greek school made me into the person I am.” Officer Prentzas holds on to Greek values of the preservation community life.
“I have worked at St. Demetrios and St. Catherine Schools in Astoria, N.Y. for 40 years,” said Betsy Sideris, Deputy Principal of Agios Demetrios School. I come from a small town in Pennsylvania, Our children at our schools sing and dance with pride of being Greek. I am a third generation Greek American and am proud of my heritage.” My father’s family is from a former steel town of Aliquippa , Pennsylvania, with a Greek Orthodox church. I understand her Greek pride through my Pennsylvania family.
“In 2005, we were setting up our school with School Board
Chairperson Charles Capetanakis explained Eftihia (Joy) Petrakos Chief Operating Officer of Hellenic Classical Charter Schools. ‘Hellenic Classical Charter Schools are New York State & Board of Regents-approved schools. Our Park Slope school, Hellenic Classical Charter Schools – PS, is a National Blue Ribbon School. We are proud to hold Greek values in a public school setting. I am dedicating this award to my mentor, the late Timoleon Kokkinos. He was a dedicated educator that instilled Greek learning and Orthodoxy in me.” Mr. Kokkinos passed away in 2025 and was an education leader.
Panagiota Lilikaki, Deputy Principal of A. Fantis Community School Brooklyn, is a Blue Ribbon School administrator. “We support our teachers in their efforts to teach Greek with ethos,” she explained. “We have families who support our education system.” Recently Greek international singer attended A Fantis School, singing with the students.
Father Evagoras Konstantinidis, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Dean of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn was at the Patriarchate in Constantinople(Istanbul). He sends his congratulation to the teachers in helping students excel in Greek culture and following the messages of Christianity in their loyalty to family and country. Rev. Protopresbyter Apostolos Manol
“We have a strong group of parishioners who are working to perpetuate Greek education,” said Principal Stefania Antonoglou of St. Irene Chrysovalantou School. .”Since the beginning of 2024, when I was assigned the management of the Greek Afternoon School of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, I began the restructuring of the school’s educational program, enriching it with daily attractive activities related to Mythology – Greek History, and the teaching of the Greek language. I have been applying the most recent appropriate classroom management techniques, while restructuring the teaching time. We have a strong group of parishioners who support us.”
Eftihia Pylarinou Piper, who attended St. Basil’s Academy Greek Teachers College with her sister Eleni Pylarinou, congratulated the perpetuation of Greek language, culture and the Greek Orthodox faith. A rich, comprehensive view of Greek education was presented in this outstanding zoom presentation.
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