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.

Battle scene from the Greek War of Independence by Georg Perlberg
Battle scene from the Greek War of Independence by Georg Perlberg

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.


Read also: President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Proclaims March 25, 2021, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy


Greek Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia, 2012 - Image courtesy of Eleftherios Kostans / Cosmos Philly
Greek Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia, 2012 – Image courtesy of Eleftherios Kostans / Cosmos Philly

Program of Events

FRIDAY – March 31, 2023

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

SATURDAY – April 1, 2023

5:00 PM – Greek Independence Eleftheria Banquet (Open to Public by Tickets)
Adelphia Restaurant and Events
1750 Clements Bridge Road
Deptford, New Jersey 08096

SUNDAY – April 2, 2023

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)


Parade Instructions

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. 

BUSES (If arriving by bus) 

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. 

INCLEMENT WEATHER

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


Parade Formation

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. 

GENERAL

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

DIGNITARIES (Marching as one group)

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

EVZONES

18. Hellenic Republic Presidential Guard 

INVOCATION/NATIONAL ANTHEMS

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

CHURCHES

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)

MISC

48. The Warriors of Greece 

49. Philadelphia Police 

50. Philadelphia Fire Department

ORGANIZATIONS/SOCIETIES

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)