Olympics gold medalist Pyrros Dimas and actor Christoforos Papakaliatis named Honorary Parade Marshals for 25 March

The three Grand Marshals are: General Andrew P. Poppas, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces; His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, who has been serving for 20 years the historic Church in the city of Patras where the start of the Greek Revolution of 1821 was proclaimed; and Evangelos Marinakis, representing as president, the legendary Olympiacos Soccer Club of Piraeus, Greece, champion of the 2024 European Conference League, and marking its Centennial Celebration.

The 2025 Greek Independence Parade will feature and honor two additional special parade marshals.

Christoforos Papakaliatis the Greek actor, director and screenwriter of the recent and very successful Netflix Series “Maestro in Blue,” will be honored as a celebrity Marshal. The three-times Olympic Gold Medalist Pyrros Dimas, the most decorated Greek athlete in the Olympics and one of the greatest weightlifters of all time will be the honorary Marshal.

“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. The Parade Grand Marshals General Andrew Poppas, Commander U.S. Army, His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, and Evangelos Marinakis, Businessman and President of Olympiacos Soccer Club will be honored along with the honorary Marshals Christoforos Papakaliatis, Pyrros Dimas, and other honored guests. The event will feature music by the Kyrenia Opera under the direction of Constantinos Yiannoudes.

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.