NANUET, NY –
Marianna Afentouli, an internationally recognized artist, presented her second solo fine arts exhibition entitled “Byzantine Art & Symbolism” to an international audience in reception in the Gallery of the Nanuet Public Library on April 1, 2024.
The fine arts exhibition that will last between April 1 and May 31, was organized by the Adult Program coordinator of the Nanuet Public Library, Kristen McInerney, who delivered welcoming remarks.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was represented by Fr. Michael Palamara, presiding priest of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of West Nyack-New York, who delivered an invocation (“The Akathist Hymn”) and a greeting, congratulating Marianna Afentouli: “On behalf of H.E. Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, I wanted to congratulate Ms. Marianna Afentouli. We are so proud to see this Byzantine Artwork come to life prominently displayed in a public place, here in our home county, Rockland.”
The Meteora Chapter 455 president of West Nyack, NY of AHEPA, Michael Tribunella, greeted, co-sponsored the event and honored Marianna Afentouli with the “International Art Excellence Award For her Outstanding Contribution and Commitment to Traditional Unique Byzantine Iconography Art globally”. Mr. Tribunella described the fine artist, Marianna Afentouli, as an “Exceptional Byzantine Mosaic Iconographer”.
During her speech, artist Marianna Afentouli, highlighted: “Byzantine art is part of who I am, as I grew up in an artistic family. Throughout my life, my path to the Byzantine art was so conscious thanks to my late grandfather, Vasileios Afentoulis, and my father, Miltiadis Afentoulis. […] I would like to express to you all my gratitude for making my second solo exhibition so special.”
Afentouli
The reception was coordinated by the journalist-sociologist, Dr. Despina Afentouli, who also talked about Christian symbols in the Byzantine art.
Among the honorary guests were the chairman of Greek Education of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey, Demosthenes Triantafillou, the Parish Council president of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Jackson Heights-New York, Amalia Bournias, the president of the Hellenic Civic Society of Fort Lee in New Jersey, Catherine Blue, the general secretary of the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey, Despina Kolokithas, the treasurer of the Parade Committee of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Dimitrios Paliouras, the senior executive advisor of Alma Bank, Nancy Papaioannou, the BronxNet executive director, Michael Max Knobbe, the Greek chef, Diane Kochilas, the Rockland Tutor Program manager, Christina Mandara, and cinematographer, Robert Davidian.
On the occasion of Marianna Afentouli’s reception wishes were sent by the Consul General of Cyprus in New York, Hon. Michalis Firillas, the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, director of the Archbishop’s Office, Protopresbyter Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos, Fr. Porphyrios Fragkakos from St. Catherine’s Monastery of Sinai-Egypt, the assistant director of the Greek Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Athina Filippou-Katehis, the co-chair of the Parade Committee of the federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Nomiki Kastanas, the president of the Federation of Hellenic American Educators and Cultural Associations of America, Stella Kokolis, the businessman, Bob Geroulanos, and others.
