202 years ago, on March 25, 1821, the Greek Revolutionary Forces raised the standard of the cross and declared that Greece would be free from Ottoman rule. 400 years of agony, suffering, and enslavement under the yoke of a brutal conqueror was about to end.
Inspired by the classical Hellenic standards of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis, the gallant patriots of 1821 showed the world that courage was indeed the word of Greek invention and lived their motto: “VICTORY or DEATH” to the fullest.
Greece is the mother country of Freedom and knowledge of western culture and democracy, and each of us in the Western World is her child, no matter what our national origin might be.
The Greek War of Independence restored Freedom and eventual democracy to the place that gave birth to these concepts.
Many Americans contributed their actions and voices to the Greek cause. The Greek-Americans will never forget the names like President James Monroe, President John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and Edward Everett, among others, who so gallantly championed the cause of Greek Freedom in the halls of Congress.
2:00 PM – Phila. Greek Flag Raising Ceremony (Open to Public)
Philadelphia City Hall
North Broad St. and JFK Blvd. (City Hall North Apron)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6:30 PM – Akathist Hymn (Open to Public)
St Thomas Greek Orthodox Church
615 Mercer Street
Cherry Hill, NJ
5:00 PM – Greek Independence Eleftheria Banquet (Open to Public by Tickets)
Adelphia Restaurant and Events
1750 Clements Bridge Road
Deptford, New Jersey 08096
10:00 AM – The Official Great Doxology (Open to Public)
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. George
256 S. 8th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12:00 PM – Dignitaries Luncheon (Open to Public-Hosted by St. George)
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. George
256 S. 8th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2:00 PM – Greek Independence Day Parade (Open to Public)
Formation Time: 1:00 PM
Step-off Time: 2:00 PM
Starting Point: 22nd St and Ben Franklin Parkway
Parade Route: Heading East on Ben Franklin Parkway
Reviewing Stand: 18th St. and Ben Franklin Parkway
(Inclement Weather Number: 609-741-7275 and FHAS social media)
4:00 PM – Reception and Dance Performances (Open to Public – Free Admission)
Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown – Liberty Ball Room 3rd Floor
201 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(In the event the parade is canceled due to inclement weather, the reception and
Dance performance shall continue as scheduled)
1. Formation begins at 22nd Street and Ben Franklin Parkway heading east on Ben Franklin Parkway.
2. First groups will form at 22nd Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, and all other groups will continue forming behind on the Parkway.
3. Group/marchers will begin forming at 1:00 PM
4. Parade step-off shall begin at 2:00 PM sharp. Parade will head EAST on Ben Franklin Parkway.
5. Any group arriving late MUST form at the end of the line. The City of Philadelphia’s Parade Permit is for a limited time, and the parade must commence on time.
1. Instruct bus driver to drop off at 22nd & Ben Franklin Parkway.
2. Bus drivers must drive NORTH on 22nd Street. Once they get to intersection of 22nd & Parkway they will turn RIGHT onto the CENTER lanes of the Parkway and immediately drop off passengers.
3. Once passengers are dropped off, buses will drive to Race Street between 16th and 17th streets to park. This is the designated bus parking zone until the end of the post parade reception.
1. In case of inclement weather, a decision on whether to march will be made by 9:00 A.M. on the day of the parade. You may call 609-741-7275 or go on FHAS social media to hear the decision.
(In the event the parade is canceled due to inclement weather, the reception and Dance performance shall continue as scheduled)
PLEASE OBEY ALL PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICERS AND FEDERATION PARADE COORDINATORS
All churches are grouped together. All societies and organizations are grouped together. Each year they move up one position within the group. Formation of the parade begins at 1:00 pm, and the parade shall commence at 2:00 pm. Any church or society that arrives late shall be placed at the parade’s end.
1. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eleftheria Post #6633
2. Icon of Annunciation (Annunciation of Elkins Park)
3. Icon of Annunciation (Evangelismos of Theotokos)
4. Banner of Agia Lavra/Palaion Patron Germanos (Peloponnesian Society)
5. Color Guard
6. Federation Banner
7. Metropolis Banner and any other banner
8. Grand Marshal – US Ambassador to Greece, The Honorable George Tsunis
9. Eleftheria Recipient – Greek Ambassador to US, Her Excellency Alexandra Papadopoulou
10. US Federal/State/Local Officials
11. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Most Honorable Exarch of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
12. Greek Orthodox Clergy, Philoptochos, and Archons of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle
13. Hellenic Republic Officials
14. Honorary Grand Marshals
15. Honorary Guests
16. AHEPA/Daughters/Maids of Athena/Sons of Pericles/District Officers
17. Federation Officers and Board Members
17.1. Odyssey Charter School of Wilmington, DE
18. Hellenic Republic Presidential Guard
19. Invocation by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Most Honorable Exarch of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
20. American National Anthem – Popi Pylaras-Karapalides
21. Hellenic National Anthem – Popi Pylaras-Karapalides
22. St. Sophia, Norristown (Valley Forge), PA
23. St. Demetrios, Wildwood, NJ
24. St. Nicholas, Atlantic City, NJ
25. St. Thomas, Cherry Hill, NJ (FLOAT)
26. Holy Trinity, Egg Harbor, NJ
27. Evangelismos of Theotokos, Philadelphia, PA
28. St. George, Media, PA – (FLOAT)
29. Academy of Aristoteli School
30. St. Anthony, Vineland, NJ
31. St. Demetrios, Upper Darby, PA
32. St. Lukes, Broomall, PA (FLOAT)
33. Annunciation/Evangelismos, Elkins Park, PA
34. Holy Trinity, Wilmington, DE (FLOAT)
35. St. Nicholas, Bethlehem, PA
36. St. Barabra, Toms River, NJ
37. St. George, Piscataway, NJ
38. St. Demetrios, Union, NJ
39. Evangelismos, Easton, PA
40. St. George, Trenton, NJ
41. St. Anna, Flemington, NJ
42. Cathedral of the Annunciation, Baltimore, MD
43. Holy Cross, Stroudsburg, PA
44. Sts. Constantine and Helen, Reading, PA
45. Annunciation, Lancaster, PA
46. St. Mathew, Blandon, PA
47. St. George Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA (FLOAT)
48. The Warriors of Greece
49. Philadelphia Police
50. Philadelphia Fire Department
51. AHEPA – General (FLOAT)
52. Daughters of Penelope, Upper Darby Chapter
53. Maids of Athena Ariadni Chapter #243
54. Maids of Athena Demetra Chapter #33
55. Maids of Athena, Grand President, Maria Ana Pantelous
56. AHEPA, Thermopylae Chapter #449
57. AHEPA, Camden Chapter #69
58. AHEPA, Hercules Spartan Chapter #26
59. AHEPA Chester –Delco Chapter
60. Sons of Pericles, Hippocrates Chapter
61. [Reserved]
62. Peloponnesian Society
63. Pieria Society
64. Pieria Society
65. Ladies Pieria Society
66. Cyprus Brotherhood of Philadelphia
67. Cretans of Delaware Valley Knossos Chapter
68. Society of Epirotes of Philadelphia – Omonia (FLOAT)
69. Brotherhood of Demati Society
70. United Chios Society “O Korais” Chapter (FLOAT)
71. Corthon Andros Society of New Jersey
72. Velvendinon Society
73. Hellenic University Club
74. Hellenic Medical Society
75. Garrison Carida – Star Wars
76. Miss New Jersey 2022 – Augostina Mallous (Convertible)
77. National Hellenic Student Association
78. Federation of Hellenic Student Societies of Philadelphia (FLOAT)
79. Temple Hellenic Student Society
80. Villanova University Hellenic Society
81. Drexel University Student Organization
82. University of Pennsylvania Students Organization
83. Saint Joseph’s University Hellenic Student Union
84. University of Delaware “OPAH” Hellenic Students
85. West Chester University Students Organization
86. Intercollegiate Hellenic Society Global
87. Mummers – Woodland String Band
88. Pan Macedonian Society
89. “Pavlos Melas” Chapter
90. “Amalia” Chapter
91. “Youth of Alexander” Chapter
92. Pan Icarian Brotherhood of America “Atheras” Chapter
93. Pontian Society “Akritai”
94. Nafpaktian Society (FLOAT)
95. Dance Group Performances: Pan Macedonian Society – Youth of Alexander (2 songs) Pontian Society “Akritai” (1 song – Tribute to Asia Minor)
