BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — An AHEPA leadership delegation concluded a visit to Brussels, Belgium where it assisted with the growth and expansion of the Order in Europe and attended events celebrating the visitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the 50th anniversary of the Orthodox Metropolis of Belgium, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.
Supreme Secretary Jim Stasios, Supreme Treasurer Savas Tsivicos, Supreme Governor Phanos Pitiris, and Past Supreme Presidents Andrew C. Zachariades and Carl Hollister comprised the delegation. They oversaw the installation of a new chapter, Oranje Eagle Chapter 616, Amsterdam, and conducted a mass initiation of candidates into European Eagle Chapter 610, Brussels, which made Chapter 610 the largest in European District 28. District 28 is headed by District Governor George Kritios.
“We are excited about AHEPA’s expansion in Europe and commend the hard work of our brothers who are working hard to grow our membership there,” Supreme President Horiates said. “Our mission and service programs are really taking off in Europe as are our efforts to raise awareness to defend the tenets of Hellenism.”
The leadership delegation attended a gala in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Orthodox Metropolis of Belgium. AHEPA, through the generosity of Past Supreme President Carl Hollister, and his wife, Cynthia, donated $25,000 to the Metropolis of Belgium in support and honor of the visitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
“We were thrilled to be able to support these special events hosted by the Metropolis, which marked a momentous occasion for the Brussels community,” Horiates said, adding, “I commend our leadership delegation for a successful mission, and I thank them for their time and energy to the Order.”
Also while in Brussels, the AHEPA delegation met with European Union officials to discuss the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
AHEPA’s mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.
For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.