Community
March 30, 2025
With the participation of the communities of Archangel Michael, St. Nicholas and St. John, Greek Independence Day was celebrated in the city of Campbell, Ohio. Photo: Courtesy of Archangel Michael Church
CAMPBELL, OH With the participation of the communities of Archangel Michael, St. Nicholas and St. John, the anniversary of Independence was celebrated in the city of Campbell, Ohio, on Saturday, March 29.
The events began with a parade, with the participation of the entire Parish Council, the associations of Kalymnos, Symi, Crete, Chios, students of the Greek schools, and local elected officials.
This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Archangel Michael Church and a school celebration in the community hall with keynote speaker Nikos Kastrinakis, President of the Venizelos Foundation USA and President of the World Council of Cretans, on the life and work of Theodoros Kolokotronis.
Presiding priest of the Archangel Michael community Fr. Steve Denas, spoke to The National Herald about March 25th noting that it is a day of double celebration for the nation, both a religious and national holiday.
He said: “We celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, the hopeful announcement of the salvation of man, and at the same time we honor the beginning of the Greek Revolution of 1821 that led to the freedom and independence of the Greek people.”
“The parade is an exceptional event that our community has been honoring for several years,” Fr. Denas continued. “Today’s Greeks must claim and fight for freedom. As we see from history, there are forces that have taken away this freedom, causing the enslavement of man. May God bless the freedom fighters of 1821, but also those of today, and especially those in the Church who believe that ‘one hour of freedom is better than 40 years of slavery.’”
Event organizer, Nicholas Kalouris, President of the Pan-Kalymnian Association of America as well as the President of the Kalymnian Association in Campbell, told TNH: “This year, we were very happy to have the parishes of St. Nicholas and St. John join us in the festive program. The parade began, as every year, from the Kalymnos Association ‘Prodromos’ building and ended in the church courtyard, crossing 12th Street.”
“Then there was the laying of wreaths and speeches by the officials, a school celebration with poems and dances in the community hall, and we concluded with a Lenten meal for the guests,” Kalouris said. “Campbell’s Hellenism keeps traditions alive and we do our best to honor our glorious past and teach children the values ??and ideals of our homeland.”
Greek School Principal Maria Vamvakis said that the theme of this year’s celebration is the life and history of Theodoros Kolokotronis and gave TNH a brief account of the school’s history. “It was founded in 1938 by the teacher, George Theodorou-Kaleris, with the first years of lessons taking place in his home, later in a nearby school building and from the founding of the church in 1955 until today in our community halls,” she said. “Throughout these decades, the Greek School of Archangel Michael has been a beacon of knowledge of the Greek language, culture, customs and traditions. It is the pride and joy of the community. Thousands of students have graduated with all the necessary tools for a successful life and career. They have become doctors, scientists, businessmen, good Christians and family members, with principles, values ??and love for Greece.”
“We celebrate and honor all religious and national holidays,” Vamvakis said. “At the school we have 46 students with grades from pre-kindergarten to 7th grade, teachers Niki Koullias, Irene Zembillas, and Fr. Denas teaching religion to the older grades.”
On March 28, at the Community Literacy and Cultural Center (CLWCC) in Lowellville, OH, the award-winning documentary ‘Venizelos: The Struggle for Asia Minor’ was screened.
Venizelos Foundation USA President Nikos Kastrinakis said of the event: “It is our great joy that we were able to screen the documentary about Eleftherios Venizelos in an area that, while seemingly remote, the large, enthusiastic and substantial participation proved that Eleftherios Venizelos continues to inspire everywhere.”
Among those in attendance at the film screening were the former and first president of the community and former president of the Pancretan Association of America Stavros Simantiris, as well as Maria Vamvakis, who were honored as a sign of gratitude for their contributions to the community.