2025 Greek Parade Grand Marshals

February 25, 2025
Written by E.Tsiliopoulos

^Featured

The 2025 Parade Committee of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, marking the 204^th Anniversary of the start of the Greek War for Independence of 1821, has named three Grand Marshals for the celebrations, which culminate in the magnificent Greek Parade to take place for the 86th year on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, Sunday, March 30, 2025.

The three Grand Marshals are:

1) General Andrew P. Poppas, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command since 2022; As Commander of the U.S. Army’s largest organization, a total of 710,000 soldiers and 13,000 civilians. A native of Wisconsin, General Poppas graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned in 1988.

2) His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, who has been serving for 20 years the historic Church in the city of Patras, established by Saint Andrew the Apostle, and has been the See of a bishop since the 3^rd century A.D. This Metropolis (diocese) is where the start of the Greek Revolution of 1821 was proclaimed.

3) Evangelos Marinakis, representing as president, the legendary Olympiacos Soccer Club of Piraeus, Greece. Olympiacos FC is the 2024 European Conference League Champion (UEFA) and this year celebrates its Centennial.

The Greek-American Community has been a thriving and vibrant presence in America for over five generations, contributing to our Great American Democracy and honoring its ancestral roots and Greek Heritage.

“GREECE: The Birthplace of Democracy and Strategic Partner of America,” is selected as the parade theme to emphasize the historical, deep, and timeless bonds of friendship and cooperation between our motherland, Greece, and the United States, where we raise our families and promote the timeless values of Hellenism.

The week-long festivities include:

Friday, March 28, 2025 - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Annual Bowling Green Flag Raising Ceremony. Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Presidential Guard from Greece will lead a procession from Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center to Bowling Green Park (Wall Street) for the raising of the Greek and American flags

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Greek Independence Gala at Ziegfeld Ballroom (141 W 54th St, NYC) 7:00 p.m. Cocktails, 8:00 p.m. Dinner. Honoring Parade Grand Marshals General Andrew Poppas, Commander U.S. Army, and Evangelos Marinakis, Businessman-Investor in shipping and media; President of Olympiacos Soccer Club.

Sunday, March 30, 2025, 1:00 p.m.

Greek Independence Day Parade on Fifth Avenue

More than one hundred thousand people are expected to attend the Parade as hundreds of organizations, churches and schools from the tri-state area will march up Fifth Avenue from 64th to 79th Streets.

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