Dodecanese Federation Honored the 78th Anniversary of Unification with Greece (Video & Photos)

ASTORIA – The Federation of Dodecanese Societies of America, on March 8, celebrated the 78th Anniversary of the Unification of the Dodecanese with Greece beginning with the Divine Liturgy, Artoklasia, and Doxology at St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, followed by a special cultural program in the Petros G. Patrides Cultural Center.

The event also marked the 30th anniversary of the Imia Crisis, a moment that underscored the strategic and symbolic importance of the Dodecanese within the Hellenic nation, and this year’s national commemoration was dedicated to the memory of the late Antonis Vezyropoulos. A native of Kalymnos who found himself at the center of those events, he has since become part of the modern historical memory of Imia and a reminder of the enduring Greek presence across our island frontier.

The event, with Dimitris Filippidis of Hellas FM as MC, began with an opening prayer led by the community’s presiding priest Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos. The National Anthem of the U.S. was sung by Anna-Maria Frangoulis and Elena Toumaras-Kambouris sang the Greek National Anthem and the Dodecanese Anthem.

Maria Marangos, at the podium, during the presentation of the traditional Dodecanese dress worn on each of the islands. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

Federation of Dodecanese Societies of America President Nikos Kartalis gave the welcoming remarks, thanking everyone for attending and noting the two historically significant events for the Dodecanese and for Greece that were being commemorated, the 78th anniversary of the unification of the Dodecanese islands with Greece on March 7, 1948, and the 30th anniversary of the Imia Crisis.

“The Unification gave Greece its modern identity and the final shape to the country that we recognize today,” Kartalis noted. “The soul and spirit of the Dodecanese continues to flourish and was always Greek and always Greece. The unification is a reminder that our freedom is not a given… but with hard work and sacrifice it is strengthened and secured and identity of a region does not disappear however many years of occupation may pass. The Dodecanese islands’, the history and identity were tried again just 30 years ago with the Imia Crisis in January of 1996, marked contemporary history and reminding everyone of the Dodecanese spirit and soul.”

Sevasti Pantelis, at the podium, spoke about her late father Antonis Vezyropoulos. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

He spoke about the three Hellenic Navy officers killed in the helicopter crash, Christodoulos Karathanasis (lieutenant and pilot), Panagiotis Vlahakos (co-pilot), and Ektoras Gialopsos (flight engineer/technician) who gave their lives for Greece and for the Dodecanese.

Irene Panopoulos, at the podium, read her great-grandfather Antonis Vezyropoulos’ biography. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

Kartalis then introduced the family of the late Antonis Vezyropoulos, his daughter Sevasti Panteli, youngest son Mikes Vezyropoulos, and great-granddaughter Irene Panopoulos, to accept an award in his honor. Irene then read her great-grandfather’s remarkable biography. Panteli then shared how moved she was to learn that her father would be honored at the event, expressing her thanks to everyone and her pride for her worthy and brave father who honored Greece in his own way.

Left to right: Federation of Dodecanese Societies of America President Nikos Kartalis with the family members of the late Antonis Vezyropoulos who was honored posthumously at the event on March 8. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

Kartalis also shared the greetings sent by elected officials from Greece for the occasion and Filippidis read one in particular from Nikolaos Vlahakos, the brother of Imia hero Panagiotis Vlahakos, who noted that the commemoration has special meaning for family members of the three heroes who served their country with dignity and made the ultimate sacrifice without a second thought. “Their sacrifice reminds us that the defense of the homeland is not words but actions,” Vlahakos noted.

Left to right: Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos, Consul General of Greece in New York Iphigenia Kanara, Federation of Dodecanese Societies of America President Nikos Kartalis, and Dodecanese Federation former President Maria Marangos. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

The keynote address was delivered by Consul General of Greece in New York

Iphigenia Kanara, who noted that “we are not just celebrating a historic date… but a moment of historic justification for your ancestors, our ancestors, and all of us. March 7, 1948 is one of the most moving moments in the history of Hellenism, the day of unification with Greece, the culmination of many years of struggle for freedom and self-determination.”

The Federation of Dodecanese Societies of America, on March 8, celebrated the 78th Anniversary of the Unification of the Dodecanese with Greece beginning with the Divine Liturgy, Artoklasia, and Doxology at St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

The event continued with the presentation of the traditional dress of each of the islands, described by Dodecanese Federation former President Maria Marangos, and poems recited by Harilaos Perselis and Adamantia Mari, Dodecanese Federation First Vice President.

The dance groups of Kalymnos, Kasos, Leros, and the Dodecanesian Youth then performed in traditional costume. Everyone was invited to dance to music by Antonis Makris, Konstantinos Makris, Tommy Kavoudinidis, and DJ Katerina Figetakis.