ASTORIA – The Pan-Rhodian Society of America Apollon New York Chapter No. 3 held its annual cutting of the Vasilopita on January 22 following the Divine Liturgy, memorial service and Artoklasia at the Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Orthodox Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou in Astoria. Fr. Gerasimos Maroulas presided over the services and the cutting of the Vasilopita wishing all the best to the Chapter and all those present.

Pan-Rhodian Society of New York President Nikos Kartalis gave the welcoming remarks at the event thanking everyone for attending and for their support including past presidents of Pan-Rhodian of New York Savvas Sotrillis and Kostas Malonoukos. Also present were Federation of Dodecanese Societies President Maria Marangos, Pan-Rhodian Society of America President and University of Connecticut Hellenic Studies Center ‘Paideia’ Director Ilias Tomazos, Dodecanesean Youth President Sotiria Zouroudis, Symi Society of New York Vice President Alex Constantopes, and Hellenic Aesthetic’s Marianthi Vlachos who has roots in Rhodes on her mother’s side.

Past president Malonoukos offered his greetings and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year along with best wishes from two Rhodes-natives unable to attend the Vasilopita- His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia who is “keeping everyone in his prayers” and Fr. George Kazoulis who is “currently in Jerusalem and is praying for all of us.”

Pan-Rhodian Society of America President Tomazos then shared his greetings and noted that he just recently returned from Rhodes and mentioned the effort to build an educational camp at Kolymbia to connect youngsters with the homeland. He pointed out that scholarships are also available for college students to study in Rhodes through the University of Connecticut’s longstanding study abroad program. Tomazos also mentioned that he expects to see everyone in Rhodes during the last two weeks of July for a conference. He then congratulated Kartalis and the board members, Vice President Kalliopi Ziangos, Treasurer Thalia Tzortzis, and Secretary Eleni Sakellis, and thanked the members of the clergy for attending.

The Pan-Rhodian Society of New York in collaboration with the Dodecanese Institute of Letters and Arts also presented for the first time in the United States, The History of Rhodes by Manolis Makris, available in Greek and English editions. Copies of the book were available for purchase at the event.

Kartalis concluded his remarks by thanking everyone for their support and all those who helped make the event possible with their contributions, including the homemade foods and sweets.

It should be noted that the lucky coin in the Vasilopita was found in the piece for the church.

Upcoming events are also in the works for the Pan-Rhodian Society of New York. To learn more, follow the Pan-Rhodian Society of New York on Facebook and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panrhodian.society.ny/.