Greek Independance Day Parade 2007

Details: Created on Monday, 23 April 2007 23:16

On Sunday, April 22, New York City's infamous Fifth Avenue became a sea of blue and white as it hosted the 76th Annual Greek Independance Day Parade. For the first time in the parade's history, the parade was postponed from its original date of April 15th due to a powerful nor'easter storm. The Holy Metropolis G.O.C. of America participated, as it does each year with representation of the parishes of the Cathedral of Saint Markella of Astoria and the church of Saint Isidoros of Bethpage in New York, the Greek School of Saint Markella and the Philoptochos Society. The Metropolis was pleased to present one of the 56 floats in this year's parade, made possible by the generous donation of a parishioner of the Cathedral of Saint Markella. The theme of the float was The Secret School or κρυφό σχολείο and the importance of the teaching of the Greek language for the preservation of Holy Orthodoxy and Hellenism.

In Greek history, the term Krif scholi or "Secret school" refers to underground schools for teaching the Greek language and Christian doctrines, provided by the during the time of Ottoman rule in Greece between the 15th and 19th centuries. These schools are often credited with having played a decisive role in keeping the Greek language and Greek literacy as well as our Holy Orthodox faith alive throughout the period of Turkish rule.
A popular nursery rhyme conveys the notion that these schools typically took place at night for greater secrecy:

My little bright moon,
shine on my way,
that I may go to school,
to learn to read and write,
and the teachings of God.

Orthodox Awareness

A Miracle of Saint Spyridon

This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.

It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door

the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.

The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.

Missions

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Mission, Tucson, Arizona

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is a beautiful mission parish near downtown Tucson, a city in southern Arizona. It was started in 1997 by Father John Bockman, who was a missionary Priest formerly serving missions in Tennessee and Massachusetts since 1990. Father John served the faithful in Tucson and the surrounding area in his home Chapel until his repose in November of 2000. His wife, Presbytera Valerie, continued to make her home Chapel available for the mission, with clergy from Saint Nectarios Orthodox Church in Seattle and His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto (then of Portland), visiting to provide the Divine Services.

Youth

2025 Youth Conference

Please join us for the 2025 youth conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! To learn more, visit the conference website.

Ask A Priest

Morning and Evening Prayers

Q. Are the prayers in the blue prayer book [A Prayerbook for Orthodox Christians by the Holy Transfiguration Monastery —ed.] compulsory for everyone? I mean their morning prayers and the service of Small Compline. My confessor gave me a special rule but wasn’t clear about whether this replaced the book prayers or was in addition to them. Read more...

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