Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis and offered the invocation at a reception held in the Prime Minister’s honor.
The event was hosted by an array of Hellenic organizations, including AHEPA, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Leadership 100, and The Hellenic Initiative.
Introduced by John Catsimatides, Prime Minister Mitsotakis discussed improvements in the Greek economy, technology, energy, and defense.
The Prime Minister also expressed pride in a reversal of what he called “the brain drain problem,” sharing that in the past year more Greeks returned to Greece than left the country. “Greece is back for good,” he said.
The event also included an awards presentation. John Calamos, Nick Gage, Dean Metropoulos, Nick Metropoulos (accepted posthumously on his behalf by Ariel and Alexandra Metropoulos) were presented the Order of Honor, while Paulette Poulos was presented the Order of Beneficence.
“It’s a wonderful tradition we’ve started of so many Greek American organizations coming together–όλοι μαζί–every year to honor the Prime Minister,” said Mike Manatos, Executive Director of the Hellenic Initiative. “And it’s important for him to be with those who spend every day preserving and promoting Hellenism and Orthodox Christianity in the U.S.”
Other prominent attendees included Michael Rigas, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources; Aris Kourkoumelis, U.S Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security; Alexandra Papadopoulou, Greek Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; Sevi Voloudaki, Greek Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum; Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador of Greece to the U.S.; and Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, business executive and wife of Prime Minister Mitsotakis.
In his invocation at the event’s start, Archbishop Elpidophoros prayed for “abundant blessings upon the Prime Minister of Greece, that he might fulfill his leadership with the same excellence and integrity that have been the hallmark of his service to the Hellenic Republic.”
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
