Members of the Cleveland Greek Pontian Community
welcome you to Cleveland
The Greek section of ClevelandPeople.com is sponsored in part by
The Hellenic Preservation Society
The Unified Voice of the Hellenes in NEO
The mission of the Hellenic Preservation Society is to present a unified voice of the Hellenes in Northeastern Ohio that will promote the Greek experience through programs, presentation and cultural collections.
Greek Cultural Garden Lecture Series - The Golden Ratio
The Greek Cultural Garden hosted a Lecture Series in the summer of 2023 showcasing some of the great thoughts from Greek cultural luminaries. On August 19, 2023 the topic was Demystifying the Golden Ratio and it was presented by math professor Athanasious Sarantopoulus.
Another highlight of the summer is the Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Fest, an annual weekend of authentic Greek food, traditional entertainment, and much more.
The need for a Greek Orthodox Church in the eastern suburbs of Greater Cleveland was felt prior to World War II, when many Greek Orthodox communicants had scattered throughout the city. In 1957 the first service was held at the new Sts. Constantine & Helen in Cleveland Heights. On December 17, 1967, the Archbishop designated Sts. Constantine & Helen a Cathedral.
Father Stephen Callos in front of Sts Constantine and Helen icons
Did you know that there are some 225 million Orthodox Christians worldwide and over 6 million right here in the United States? It's the second largest body in all of Christendom. On Palm Sunday, April 19, 1970 the doors of St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church opened for the first time.
Greek Consul General Emmanuel Koubarakis visits the Greek Cultural Garden
The Consul General of Greece in Chicago Emmanuel Koubarakis visited the Greek Cultural Garden in Cleveland Ohio on July 2, 2023. A ceremony was held with dignitaries and members of the Greek community.
Steve Demetriou, Jim Trakas, Mrs and Consul Koubarakis, Lou Frangos and Jonathan Cambouris
St Paul Greek Orthodox Church Summer Camp in the Greek Cultural Garden
St Paul Greek Orthodox Church is located in North Royalton, OH and Rev. Fr. Costas P. Keares is the Presiding Priest. 120 or so youngsters participated in a week learning about Greek Culture at their Greek Cultural Summer Camp. One of the activities of the St Paul Greek Orthodox Church Greek Cultural Summer Camp was a visit to the Greek Cultural Garden in Cleveland.
Among the many fun and educational activities were the presentation of 3 Aesop's Fables acted by some of the older students.
The annual Tremont Greek Festival at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is a Memorial Day tradition. Great food, Greek desserts, dances, music, tours of the Church and more.
Greater Cleveland is the home of over 20,000 Americans of Greek heritage, and the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is the oldest church, or mother church of Greek Orthodoxy in the area. The linkage of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, celebrated on March 25th, and the Greek Revolution are very sacred to the Greek people, since the church sanctioned the Revolution.
I learned this new word from these two proud Greek-Americans: Demetrios Anagnostos and Lou Frangos. It translates to "love of honor" but they said it is almost impossible to translate sufficiently as it describes a complex array of virtues.
Demetrios Anagnostos and Lou Frangos
Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation Election Ceremony
Each year the newly elected members of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) board of directors is sworn in at a ceremony at a different ethnic location. Thanks to new board member Lou Frangos and his wife Ann the venue in 2023 was the hall of the beautiful and historic Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland.
In his welcoming remarks, Lou Frangos spoke about Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the first Greek Orthodox Church founded in Cleveland, Ohio. It is considered the "Mother Church" of the Greek community in Cleveland.
Watch a video of Lou's remarks.
Besides the swearing in and official business there were performances by the Annunciation Senior Dancers, a Greek band and delicious food.
Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood was teeming with the blue and white of the Greek flag, as hundreds of celebrants paraded around Lincoln Park in celebration of the 202nd anniversary of the start of the Greek Revolution of 1821.
Greater Cleveland is the home of over 20,000 Americans of Greek heritage, and the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is the oldest church, or mother church of Greek Orthodoxy in the area. The linkage of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, celebrated on March 25th, and the Greek Revolution are very sacred to the Greek people, since the church sanctioned the Revolution.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church steps after the Parade
The goal of the dance troupe is "to preserve the rich musical and dance heritage of all the regions of Greece and the Greek diaspora by teaching our dancers the pride of performing, while also acting as ambassadors to the Greater Cleveland community."
The troupe performed dances from the Naxos, Kalymnos, Icaria and Epiros and the popular and traditional Kalamatiano Greek dance was performed as a grand finale.
Greek Cultural Garden Signing Ceremony The Gift of Greece to Civilization
The Hellenic Preservation Society (HPS) is commissioning an ambitious and exciting work for the Greek Cultural Garden, one of 35 (and growing) in a chain of Cultural Gardens in Cleveland Ohio. The Garden was dedicated in 1940 and has been sponsored by the HPS since 1992. The Hellenic Preservation Society has commissioned Master Stone Carver Nicholas Fairplay to sculpt a 5 x 15' stone relief to be installed on the Parthenon Wall featuring dozens of Greek cultural figures.
The ceremony was held in the Greek Garden on September 4, 2022 with over 100 people attending despite the rain.
The Cleveland Greek community demonstrated their proud heritage at One World Day in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. One World Day has been the official event of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation since 1946. Over 40,000 people visited the gardens on One World Day 2022.
The Greek community participated in the Parade of Flags.
Greek Garden in Parade of Flags
Here is a video of the entire Parade of Flags.
They then welcomed visitors to the Greek Garden and shared their culture.
The annual Greek Festival at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral featured delicious food and drink, Greek culture, camaraderie and music and dancing.
Food included gyros, souvlaki, smelts, keftethes, saganaki, stifado, fish piaki, baked lamb shank, moussaka, pastitsio, dolmades, spanakopita and much more. And of course there were desserts such as rizogalo, baklava, finikia, galaktobouriko, kataifi, koulourakia, tsoureki, loukoumathes and more.
A highlight was the dances performed by both the Junior and Senior Hellenic Dancers.
We have many videos of their performances of dances from all around Greece.
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Saints Constantine & Helen Cathedral is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The word “Greek” in the church’s name refers both to the ethnic heritage of its founders and to the cultural roots of its history and theology. The church is open to people of all nationalities. Its mission is “To lead people to God through Orthodox Christianity and to provide ways for them to live and share God’s love.”
Each year they hold a very popular Greek festival sharing culture and friendship, music & dancing, as well great food, with neighbors.
They also offer tours of the beautiful Church.
In this video, Father Tom told about the Church and about Greek Orthodox liturgy. He told about the icons and shared the story of St. Constantine and his mother St. Helen.
We asked community leaders of various ethnic heritages to share some holiday traditions of their culture. Rania Abbadi's mom is Greek and dad is Jordanian. Growing up they lived in Greece, England and Jordan.
She said, "We always celebrated the Greek way though, haha. Can't expect it differently since mom was in charge of the decorations, cooking and planning the activities for the Holidays. Dad was always working; he is an ENT doctor.
In Greece it's popular to decorate both Christmas trees and wooden boats. The picture is from my city (Thessaloniki) that shows a decorated ship in one of the main streets of the city.
Decorated ship in one of the main streets of the city of Thessaloniki in Greece
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation hosted the 74th annual One World Day on August 25, 2019. Police estimates say that over 30,000 people visited the Gardens and attended One World Day. There was a lot of activity in the beautiful and historic Greek Cultural Garden.
A highlight of One World Day is the Parade of Flags where people in costumes of their heritage carry the flags. This year was undoubtedly the largest and most colorful in memory.
Greek community at annual International Cleveland Community Day at the Art Museum
International Cleveland Community Day at the Cleveland Museum of Art is a celebration of the rich diversity of our region’s multiethnic communities, featuring traditional music and dance performances, cultural displays, and ingallery experiences. The Greek community was well represented with the Hellenic Preservation Society display table.
Hellenic Preservation Society
There was also a performance by the St Paul Senior Hellenic Dancers.
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted the 73rd annual One World Day on September 16, 2018. A highlight is the Parade of Flags where people in costumes of their heritage carry the flags. The Greek Garden was represented in the Parade.
Winter formal wear of Greece at Cleveland multicultural party
A highlight of the 8th Annual ICC-WIN Cleveland Multicultural Holiday Celebration on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at the Global Center for Health Innovation in Cleveland was the International Fashion Show featuring almost 100 models from about 30 countries.
Eleni Papouras-Jenks wore the winter formal wear from the villages surrounding Thebes in mainland Greece. Brides were given this dress and draped in gold jewelry as part of their dowry and the headscarf would be wrapped. She would continue to wear it as a married woman with the headscarf thrown over the shoulders.
A man's Evzone costume would be based on clothing worn by the mountain men of mainland Greece during the war of Independence, with wool leggings and vest. By adding decorations to a velvet vest and putting 400 pleats in the foustanella kilt, it became the official uniform of those guarding the tomb of the Unknown Solder in Athens.
Annunciation Senior Dance Troupe from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at Art Museum
Young people from the Annunciation Senior Dance Troupe from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Tremont performed at the Cleveland Museum of Art's International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium of the museum.
Cleveland Greek Community at 72nd annual One World Day
Over 25,000 people attended the 72nd annual One World Day in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens on Sunday August 27, 2017. The weather was beautiful and the Greek Cultural Garden looked terrific and was a popular destination.
Representatives from the Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio (HPS) were on hand to answer questions about Greek culture.
Renee Steffas from Hellenic Preservation Society
Traditional Greek bouzouki music was performed in the Greek Cultural Garden by Abraham Anastasiadis & Athanasios Sarantopoulos.
Abraham Anastasiadis & Athanasios Sarantopoulos
A group of St Paul Senior Hellenic Dancers performed traditional Greek dances.
The St Paul Hellenic Dancers under the direction of Eleni Johnson performed a Greek dance from the mainland at the 70th annual One World Day in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland 2015 International Cleveland Community Day
Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. Young people from the Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland performed at the Cleveland Museum of Art's International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium of the museum.
Stay informed about the local Greek community by signing up for the free Cleveland Greek eNews mailings. You can select other groups as well. It's easy and free.
St Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church Dancers at Continental Cup July 2, 2015
The St Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church Dancers performed at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Continental Cup put on by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
The Continental Cup is now in its 10th year and the 2015 event had 3300 athletes from 11 countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Mongolia, China, Bermuda, China, Colombia, Canada, Brazil, Nepal and Greece.
Young athletes from Greece in the Opening Ceremony
Mad Greek Restaurant in Cleveland Heights January 13, 2015
The Cleveland Food Adventurers Passport event in January 2015 was at the Mad Greek Restaurant in Cleveland Heights. The adventurers learned about Greek culture and sampled traditional Greek food and drink. One highlight was the bouzouki playing by Kosta Revelas.
Kosta Revelas played a tetrachordo (four pairs of strings) bouzouki at the Mad Greek Restaurant in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He played a Greek Zeibekiko Dance Song with a rhythm pattern of 9/8th.
This was part of the Adventure to Greece as part of the ClevelandPeople.Com Food Adventurers passport club. People who enjoy trying different foods and learning about different cultures participate in the Food Adventurer's group.
Alexander the Great - Top Ten Facts
Lt Colonel (and history buff) Joseph Meissner gave the Top Ten Facts about Alexander the Great at the Mad Greek Restaurant in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Alexander was King of Macedonia and the young conqueror of the Persian Empire. Did Alexander cut the Gordian Know with his sword? Listen to Joe.
2014
Greek Festival at Sts Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral
The annual Greek Festival at Sts Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland Heights took place from August 21-24,2014. The festival featured live music, folk dancing, Greek food and beverages, Cathedral tours, homemade pastries and even a flea market.
Greek dance Tsamiko from Epirus at International Folk Fest
The Inner Circle Hellenic Dancers performed a traditional Greek dance at the 2013 International Folk Festival at Wade Oval in University Circle in Cleveland. They performed Tsamiko from Epirus. The group is directed by Olympia Christides and practices at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Rocky River.
Greek dance Maleviziotiko from Crete at International Folk Fest
The Inner Circle Hellenic Dancers performed a traditional Greek dance at the 2013 International Folk Festival at Wade Oval in University Circle in Cleveland. They performed Maleviziotiko from Crete. The group is directed by Olympia Christides and practices at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Rocky River.
Greek dance Podaraki from Thrace at International Folk Fest
The Inner Circle Hellenic Dancers performed a traditional Greek dance at the 2013 International Folk Festival at Wade Oval in University Circle in Cleveland. They performed Podaraki from Thrace. The group is directed by Olympia Christides and practices at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Rocky River.
Greek dance goes into audience at International Folk Fest
The Inner Circle Hellenic Dancers performed a traditional Greek dance at the 2013 International Folk Festival at Wade Oval in University Circle in Cleveland. They danced through the audience and others joined the dance line. The group is directed by Olympia Christides and practices at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Rocky River.
2012
Greek Community at Opening of Ames Family Atrium Cleveland Museum of Art October 28, 2012
The Cleveland Greek community was represented at the grand opening of the Ames Family Atrium in the Cleveland Museum of Art on Sunday October 28, 2012.
Tell us about the music, food, holidays, traditions, costumes, language and other qualities that make Greeks so special.
Xenia is the Greek concept of hospitality or generosity and courtesy shown to guests or travelers.
Xenia consists of three basic rules: The respect from host to guest, the respect from guest to host, and the parting gift from host to guest. The host must provide the guest with food, drink and bath. The parting gift is to show the host's honor at receiving the guest.
The Greek god Zeus was also god of the travelers. This created a particular religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers. If you performed poorly as a host, you would incur the wrath of a god.
To this day any visitor to a Greek home will be received with the highest valued tradition of Philoxenia.
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations.
In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952.
A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy.
In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001.
Read more about the Greek and other Ambassadors. If you are interested in being considered to be an official ClevelandPeople.com Ambassador to the Cleveland Greek community, please contact us.
The Hellenic Preservation Society
The Unified Voice of the Hellenes in NEO
The mission of the Hellenic Preservation Society is to present a unified voice of the Hellenes in Northeastern Ohio that will promote the Greek experience through programs, presentation and cultural collections.
Stay informed about the news and special events of the Group(s) you choose by signing up for the free ClevelandPeople.Com e-newsletter
