Ilias I. Katsos - Thanksgiving Day in America

 To family and dear friends I am honored and blessed to have you in my life-

I wish all of you and your families a wonderful, glorious , and blessed upcoming Thanksgiving on Thursday. Let us all not forget and give thanks for all the positive things that has been given and bestowed upon us in spite of the negative that sometimes appear around us. This has been one of my favorite holidays and a universal one celebrated on different days and ways in many nations for centuries. During this holiday season let us not forget those less fortunate than ourselves and dedicate ourselves to help as much as we can to make this a better place for all. Let us also not forget those who have departed but are always in our thoughts and prayers and may their memories be eternal.

Thanksgiving Day in America is a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.since FDR and originated as a harvest festival. It has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789, starting with a proclamation by George Washington after a request by Congress. It became a U.S. federal holiday in 1863 , during our devastating Civil War, under President Lincoln who proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens," and to be celebrated in November. Together with Christmas and the New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the broader fall–winter holiday. Many like to use this day, and others, for political statements but that’s not what this day is about. Let us give thanks.

Ilias I. Katsos

Ilias I. Katsos - Alexander Billinis - Peter S. Giakoumis - Eric Hill East - Mediterranean Business Cultural Alliance (EMBCA, Inc.)

 

Many thanks to Alexander Billinis, Peter S. Giakoumis, and Eric Hill, contributors to EMBCA panel discussions, who have agreed to be Directors in the East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA). embca.com

Upcoming EMBCA Events-

January 9- “”100 Anniversary of The “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues”: Johnny Otis/ Ioannis Veliotes (12/28/1921-1/12/2012) Panel Discussion Webinar

February 6- “”Revolution of 1821, Hellenic “Cotton Triangle” Merchants, and the American Civil War”” Panel Discussion Webinar

About EMBCA

The East Mediterranean Business Cultural Alliance (EMBCA, Inc.) was established in New York by professionals and scholars, from various backgrounds and expertise, to organize and promote the professional and educational interests of East Mediterranean Americans. Although a relatively new organization EMBCA currently has over 5,000 contacts and members in the community including among others executives from various industries including the development, design and construction community as well as from the legal, banking, educational/scholar, think tank, research, art, music professions and communities. EMBCA’s goals are to organize, promote and fund all manner of business, educational, artistic and cultural programs, seminars, concerts, recitals, performances, exhibits and similar events for the benefit of all persons in the New York area and beyond interested in the business, history, culture, activities, affairs, and accomplishments of the Eastern Mediterranean and its people and of the people of East Mediterranean ancestry in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Among our goals are to work with other organizations to promote through collaborate efforts our mission and enhance theirs, to provide resources and strengthen our professional and social ties among members, and to expand our membership and mission.

Our History

The Eastern Mediterranean was the cradle of western and eastern civilization. It gave the world its art, politics, and philosophy - all of it fueled by a combination of trade and transmission of cross-cultural learning. Its people, for millennia, were traders and merchants, scholars and artists...

We celebrate our roots in this region in America, and are reconnecting to its common legacy of culture and commerce. EMBCA will be working with others to promote these ideals. We welcome you to join us!

Ilias I. Katsos

Ilias I. Katsos - Archbishop Elpidophoros // THE HELLENIC PEOPLE UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED

 THE HELLENIC PEOPLE UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED !!! -

I am happy and honored to have been in the discussion that led to all sides of the Federation of Hellenic Societies agreeing to be United and Work Together relating to the New York Greek Independence Day Parade 2022.

CONGRATULATIONS

(!!!) and BRAVO to everyone who was there for their devotion to Hellenism and to the Hellenic people. The parade down 5th Avenue is the largest Greek Independence Day Parade in the world.

I was surprised to see this photo and announcement in the National Herald today since our meeting was yesterday in the late afternoon. In the photo I am to the right of Archbishop Elpidophoros. John Catsimatidis who was with us is not in the photo since he left earlier to make his 5 P.M. radio program on his radio station WABC.

Ilias I. Katsos

Ilias I. Katsos and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

 It was a great honor for me last night to be introduced to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Ecumenical Patriarch Foundation Founders Dinner as a completed Founder at the Hilton Hotel Midtown in Manhattan. When introduced he said to me in the Hellenic with a smile and twinkle “I like your mustache.” I responded “Your-Holiness and I yours.” He responded back “ But yours is thicker.” to which I responded “Perhaps but you also have a beard.” To which we both laughed.

#EcumenicalPatriarch #Constantinople #GreekOrthodox #EasternOrthodox #EcumenicalDialogue #Interfaith #GreenPatriarch #OrderofStAndrew

The photo is by professional photographer and friend Jill Nelson.

Ilias I. Katsos

This weekend will be a busy one for me with Patriarch Bartholomew in New York and the Annual Archon Weekend with many of the events at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan where I am staying. Tonight was the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation Founders Dinner I was invited to being an original completed Founder. The Foundation in a relatively short time has raised $18 million. It was a very nice elegant Black Tie event with some good friends in attendance. My son John flew in from Dubai to be with us for the weekend and added to the moment.

The Raising of the Cross and the ΘΥΡΑΝΟΙΞΙΑ/ Door-Opening Service at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

  

The Raising of the Cross and the ΘΥΡΑΝΟΙΞΙΑ/ Door-Opening Service at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

It was a busy day for me before the event to discuss the construction and what had to be done to get ready for Easter at St. Nicholas and after with Santiago Calatrava and others to go over his thoughts relating to the lighting design within the Church. It was a wonderful day with the raising of the Cross and the ΘΥΡΑΝΟΙΞΙΑ/ Door-Opening Service with his All-Holiness and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I love that the Cross was landing at the top of the St. Nicholas Dome on Pantelic Marble from the same vein as the Parthenon as the rest of the building.

Ilias I. Katsos

The Raising of the Cross and the ΘΥΡΑΝΟΙΞΙΑ/ Door-Opening Service at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

It was a busy day for me before the event to discuss the construction and what had to be done to get ready for Easter at St. Nicholas and after with Santiago Calatrava and others to go over his thoughts relating to the lighting design within the Church. It was a wonderful day with the raising of the Cross and the ΘΥΡΑΝΟΙΞΙΑ/ Door-Opening Service with his All-Holiness and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I love that the Cross was landing at the top of the St. Nicholas Dome on Pantelic Marble from the same vein as the Parthenon as the rest of the building.

Ilias I. Katsos