On Sunday, November 9, the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, New York, was filled with joy as Deacon Gregory Gatanas was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. The event took place on a symbolic day, the Feast Day of Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis.
New York, NY-The 27th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum, held December 8 at the Metropolitan Club in New York City, placed the deepening relationship between the United States and Greece firmly at the center of the investment conversation. Organized in cooperation with the New York Stock Exchange and the Athens Exchange Group, and under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in New York, the Forum brought together senior government officials, global investors, and business leaders to examine how bilateral cooperation is translating into economic opportunity.
A defining moment of the Forum was the luncheon keynote by Joshua Volz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe, Eurasia, Africa, and the Middle East at the U.S. Department of Energy. Volz framed U.S. - Greece relations as a strategic partnership shaped by geography, shared democratic values, and a growing alignment on energy security. He praised Greece’s ambassador to Washington and emphasized how recent energy agreements between American and Greek companies are strengthening transatlantic resilience by expanding choice and abundance rather than dependence and scarcity.
Volz underscored that U.S. liquefied natural gas exports represent more than fuel; they signal long-term commitment between allies. He highlighted Greece’s unique comparative advantages; its geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Balkans; its technical expertise; and its globally dominant shipping industry, as critical to Europe’s effort to reduce reliance on Russian energy. Greece, he noted, is poised to play a central role in the emerging “vertical corridor” of energy infrastructure extending northward into Central and Eastern Europe.
While the opportunities are significant, Volz was clear that the challenge ahead is immense. Meeting European commitments to fully eliminate Russian energy resources within a compressed timeline will require unprecedented public-private coordination. He described the moment as one that demands collaboration at speed and scale, likening it to historic mobilizations where government leadership enabled private-sector execution. Energy, he stressed, must be used as a tool for cooperation and commerce not coercion if Europe is to remain secure and economically competitive.
That theme was echoed by Kostis Hatzidakis, Vice President of the Government of the Hellenic Republic, who outlined why American companies and funds are increasingly turning their attention to Greece. He identified four priority areas: strategic infrastructure and connectivity; defense and high technology; research, innovation, and artificial intelligence; and higher education. Greece’s location along major trade and energy corridors, combined with EU defense spending growth and some of Europe’s most competitive R&D incentives, positions the country as a natural partner for U.S. investment.
Hatzidakis also highlighted recent reforms allowing foreign universities to establish campuses in Greece, signaling a broader opening to global talent and research collaboration. Above all, he emphasized Greece’s political stability and consistent pro-investment orientation, noting that predictability—often scarce in today’s Europe—has become one of Greece’s strongest competitive advantages.
With participation from Greek and U.S. government officials, more than 100 senior speakers, and the symbolic ringing of the NYSE Closing Bell during Greek American Issuer Day, the Forum reinforced a clear message: U.S. Greece relations are no longer only historical or cultural, they are strategic, forward-looking, and increasingly central to energy security, investment, and growth on both sides of the Atlantic.
ASTORIA, NEW YORK — The story of one of Greece’s most significant statesmen arrived on the big screen in New York, as “Kapodistrias– The Governor: Sacrifice Leads to Freedom” by Greek director Giannis (Yannis) Smaragdis, premiered at the Redstone Theatre of the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria on Saturday, November 29, 2025, ahead of the Greek theatrical releases cheduled for December 25, 2025.
The evening was organized by Nick Stamatakis, of the online news site, Hellenic scope. Attendees included officials from Greece and the diaspora, including the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Medoni, Consul General of Greece, Iphigenia Kanara, the Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, Agi Balta, as well as leaders of Greek American organizations and members of the wider community. The atmosphere in the hall reflected both pride and emotion, as the audience honored a man whose life was defined by duty and sacrifice.
A Statesman Between Heaven, Europe, and Greece
The film focuses on Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of modern Greece and one of the most influential diplomats of his time. Born into a noble family—with a father of count rank and a mother from an aristocratic Cypriot lineage—Kapodistriaswas known for his sharp mind, gentle character, and deep faith in God.
Smaragdis chooses to follow the most decisive period of his life,roughly between the ages of 30 and 55. During these years, Kapodistrias rose from local politician to Foreign Minister of Russia under Czar Alexander I, where he took part in major diplomatic negotiations that helped shape post-Napoleonic Europe. Among his achievements was his role in securing Switzerland as a free and unifiedcountry andinfluencing discussions around the future of France and the most important role he played in helping liberate Greece from the Ottoman Empire’s Occupation.
Despite his prominence in European politics, his heart never left Greece. Behind the scenes, Kapodistrias supported the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire, offering strategic guidance, financial and political support at a time when the great powers; Austria, France, and Britain, often tried to protect their own interests at Greece’s expense. The film shows how these foreign powers initially avoided backing the uprising,and after the liberation,seeking to gain influence over the newly liberated nation,by working through different Greek sides, competing for influence and power.
Portrayal
Greek actor Antonis Myriagkos delivered a compelling interpretation of Ioannis Kapodistrias, capturing both his multilingual sophistication and the quiet authority associated with the statesman’s aristocratic background. Finbar Lynch offered an equally strong performance as Kapodistrias’ formidable rival, Klemens von Metternich, bringing sharpness and restraint to the role.
Smaragdisfocused on the Hero’sLeadership as Sacrifice
At the core of the film is the idea that Kapodistrias’ entire life was a mission. His path is portrayed almost as a sacred assignment: to help Greece stand on its feet after centuries of foreign domination, from Rome’s conquest, through the Byzantine era, and then under Ottoman occupation in Greece, Kapodistria’s big dream was to return to the ancient ideals of Democracy. One of the most moving threads in the film is his relationship with Roksandra Sturdza, the great love of his life. Political obstacles and interventions from powerful circles in Austria prevented their marriage to break and undermine him. The film underlines how Kapodistrias accepted this loss as part of his larger duty, putting the future of Greece above his own happiness.
A Martyr for a New Nation
When Kapodistrias was called to become the first Governor of Greece, he knew that enemies at the homeland and abroad were plotting against him. Localleaders and tax collectors of the time who had prospered with the Ottomans,under Ottoman rule, and now wanted to maintain their hold over the new Greeknation, saw Kapodistria’s ancient Hellenic ideals, reforms, and his push for a more just, democratic order, as a threat to their position and power.
Despite warnings of an assassination plot, Kapodistrias proudly accepted andtraveled to Greece to assume his role. Smaragdis connects his decision with the path of Christ: accepting suffering and death for the sake of others and the rebirth of Hellas. Ultimatelyin the end, he was assassinated with the help of foreign powers and by the members of the families who now opposed his efforts to install the ancient Greek Ideals of democracy, which would limit their power and put personal gainabove the nation- and usher in the new oppressors.
A Premiere with a Message to the Diaspora
The choice to unveil the film abroad, particularly in Astoria, New York, home to one of the largest Greek communities outside Greece, was symbolic. It acknowledges the enduring contribution of the Greek diaspora, whose support has repeatedly strengthened the homeland: from raising money during the fight against Ottoman / Turkishrule, to aiding Greece through the World Wars, and remembering themore than one million Greeks of Asia Minor who were lost by the Ottoman Turks during the early 20th-century persecutions that erased communities rooted there for over three millennia. That same spirit continues today, as Greeks abroad advocate for national interests and share Hellenic culture on the world stage.
Kapodistrias– The Governor: Sacrifice Leads to Freedom” is aproduction that has already drawn international attention. Even before filming began, Giannis Smaragdis received the 1st International Personality “IoannisKapodistrias” Award from the Academy of Greek Arts Awards, recognizing his commitment to bringing pivotal Greek historical figures to the screen.
With this new film,Smaragdis adds another chapter to his long engagement with stories of faith, courage, and national identity. The film invites viewers not to just to learn about Ioannis Kapodistrias, but to reflect on what true loyalty, determination and leadership looks like, and on the sacrifices that often stand behind the freedom of a nation and it’s people.
ATHENS – On Friday, 21 November 2025, ACS Athens (The American Community Schools of Athens) welcomed home one of its most celebrated graduates: Greg Kinnear, the Oscarnominated actor, director, and proud member of the Class of 1981. More than four decades after walking its hallways, Kinnear returned for an emotional visit that reminded everyone present how deeply the spirit of ACS Athens shapes lives and careers.