NEW YORK – Following the well-attended 200th Anniversary of the Hellenic Revolution of 1821 and Hellenic Genealogy Tourism Panel Discussion via Zoom in association with AHEPA and Hellenic Genealogy Geek, the East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA) announced its upcoming online events for August.

EMBCA hosts the Aghia Sophia/the Holy Wisdom Reflections on the 8th wonder of the World Panel Discussion Zoom webinar on Sunday, August, 9, 2 PM EST (11 AM PST) in association with AHEPA’s Hellenic Cultural Commission.

The event will be live on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VGzaXei3WTg.

As EMBCA founder and president Lou Katsos noted that Aghia Sofia over its long history has been an Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral, Catholic Church, mosque, and museum. More than any other building which has survived from antiquity, it symbolizes the crossing and meeting of religions, cultures, empires, civilizations and regional hegemons. After its dedication, 1,500 years ago, it has transcended its original function as a Cathedral, and transformed into a celebrated and contested symbol emblematic of the history of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Katsos said of organizing the event, “Although short notice, the recent conversion of this UNESCO World Heritage Site from a museum into a mosque recently has created global condemnation and we felt that it was important to discuss the issues around it. The panel in formation to be announced shortly will discuss Aghia Sophia’s history, architectural and cultural significance but also the geopolitics being played in the Eastern Mediterranean behind Erdogan’s reconversion of Aghia Sophia.”

On Sunday, August 30, 2 PM EST, EMBCA hosts the 2,500th Year Anniversary of The Battle of Thermopylae and Salamis Commemoration Panel Discussion Zoom webinar in Association with AHEPA’s Hellenic Cultural Commission.

The distinguished panelists for this unique event on the battles’ anniversary in August (Thermopylae) and September (Salamis) of 480 BCE will include the Mayor of Sparta Petros Doukas (and former Deputy Minister of Finance/ Foreign Affairs), Prof. Chris Carey – Emeritus Professor of Greek at University College London (UCL), Jennifer T. Roberts – Professor of Classics at the Graduate Center, CUNY, and Prof. Barry S. Strauss – the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor at Cornell University. 

These events will be among the many that are being planned by EMBCA with others for the upcoming 200th Anniversary of the Hellenic Revolution of 1821 by EMBCA's American Hellenic Revolution of 1821 Bicentennial Committee.

The EMBCA August 30 event may be viewed live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6hohKlHoNc ) 

The 200th Anniversary of the Hellenic Revolution of 1821 and Hellenic Genealogy Tourism Panel Discussion event is available for viewing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0J2pgZakAg.