ASTORIA – The newly elected board of the Federation of Dodecanese Societies (FDS) was sworn in on October 21 at St. Catherine and St. George Church in Astoria. The Federation also held an Artoklasia and a reception with coffee and refreshments followed the services. Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos, dean of St. Demetrios Cathedral presided over the services and the swearing in of the board.

Among those present were the newly elected FDS President Maria Marangos, Kalymnos; Vice President Nikos Kartalis, Rhodes; Assistant Secretary and former youth President Zoe Pilios, Symi; former Vice President John Sakellis, Kos, and his wife Nancy Sakellis; former President Theologos Tiliakos, Patmos; Second Vice President Andreas Goustas, Tilos; Nikos Papageorgiou, Kasos; Timoleon Kokkinos, Nisyros; Alekos Romeos, Tilos; and Manolis Cassotis, Karpathos.

The Federation of Dodecanese Societies’ newly elected board:

Maria Marangos, President

Nikos Kartalis, Vice President

Andreas Goustas, Second Vice President

Adamantia Mari, Secretary

Zoe Pilios, Assistant Secretary

Evdokia Koullias, Treasurer

Stacy Figetakis, Assistance Treasurer

President Maria Marangos, Kalymnos; Vice President Nikos Kartalis, Rhodes; Assistance Secretary Zoe Pilios, former youth President, Symi; former Vice President John Sakellis, Kos, and his wife Nancy Sakellis; former President Theologos Tiliakos, Patmos; and Second Vice President Andreas Goustas, Tilos. Photo by Eleni Sakellis

The Pan-Lemnian Philanthropic Association “Hepaestus” also held a memorial service and Artoklasia at St. Catherine on October 21 in honor of the 106th anniversary of the liberation of Lemnos, October 8, 1912. A reception was held following the services at the Pan-Lemnian Association hall.

Fr. Papazafiropoulos praised both the Federation of Dodecanese Societies and the Pan-Lemnian Association, noting the importance of remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and pointing out the vital role of the various associations in supporting and maintaining the connections with the homeland and promoting the language, culture, and traditions of Greece for the generations of Greeks living abroad.

The banner of the Federations of Dodecanese Societies of America was on display at the Church of St. Catherine and St. George for the artoklasia and swearing in of the new executive board. Photo by Eleni Sakellis