NEW YORK, NY- [Photos by Consulate of Greece in NY]
The Consulate General of Greece in New York marked International Greek Language Day with a vibrant educational event held on February 10, 2026. Organized in partnership with the Department of Greek Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the celebration brought together students from several Greek-American day schools for a day dedicated to the heritage and future of the Greek language.
The event opened with a video message from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ioannis Loverdos. The Minister spoke on the global resonance of the Greek language and the landmark UNESCO resolution designating February 9th as International Greek Language Day, while emphasizing the vital role of language instruction within the Diaspora.
In her welcoming remarks, the Consul General of Greece in New York, Ms. Ifigenia Kanara, highlighted the Greek language as a timeless vessel of culture, values, and historical continuity. She underscored that education is the cornerstone for preserving the cultural identity of young Greek-Americans. Ms. Kanara offered a heartfelt tribute to educators, describing their work as a “high calling” (leitourgima) essential to the preservation of a language that has shaped global civilization for millennia.
The Director of the Department of Greek Education of the Archdiocese, Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos,conveyed the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. He described the Greek language as a “perennial journey” through history, philosophy, and science, reflecting its enduring contribution to humanity.
The Consul of the Republic of Cyprus in New York, Mr. Kyriakos Pogiatzis, addressed the audience, noting that Greek is one of the world’s oldest living languages. In this context, he invoked the famous words of Nobel Laureate Odysseus Elytis from his 1979 acceptance speech, regarding the unique privilege of Greeks to write and express themselves in a language with such an unbroken historical lineage.
The highlight of the day was an interactive “Greek Language Treasure Hunt.” Students were organized into teams to navigate a series of creative challenges and knowledge-based activities throughout the Consulate. The initiative aimed to present Greek not merely as a subject of study, but as a living, dynamic, and modern medium of creative expression.
Participating schools, each represented by a delegation of 7th and 8th-grade students, included:
- St. Demetrios Greek-American School (Astoria)
- Greek-American Institute of the Zoodohos Peghe Community (Bronx)
- Dimitrios & Georgia Kaloidis School of the Holy Cross Community (Brooklyn)
- William Spyropoulos School of the St. Nicholas Community (Flushing)
- A. Fantis School of the Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral (Brooklyn)
- The Cathedral School of the Holy Trinity (Manhattan)
The “Greek Language Treasure Hunt” was organized by the Education Liaison Office of the Consulate General of Greece in New York, in close coordination with the Department of Greek Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The event was also attended by Mr. Athanasios Papathanasis, Member of the Hellenic Parliament and the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad, who commended the organizers for the initiative.
