Greek Language Festival in Manhattan: The Consulate General honored students of the Greek diaspora for their love of the Greek language

The event was organized by the Consulate General of Greece in New York, honoring the students' effort, dedication and love for the Greek language - a language that is the foundation of values, culture and identity.

The ceremony was honored with his presence by the Archbishop of America, Mr. Elpidophoros, who in his greeting referred to the invaluable and timeless value of the Greek language, "in which the Gospels were written and the wisdom of the ages was captured." Words that reminded everyone of the deep spiritual dimension of our linguistic heritage.

The Consul General of Greece in New York, Ifigenia Kanara, warmly congratulated the students on their success, as well as the parents who have patiently and lovingly supported them on this demanding journey. She did not fail to highlight the role of teachers, who, with consistency and passion, keep the flame of Greek Education alive and contribute decisively to the preservation of our language and culture.

The Education Coordinator, Dimitra Patronidou, presented the statistics of this year’s exams, highlighting the number of exam centers around the world and the number of students participating in the Greek Language Proficiency exams, which reflects the growing desire of young people of the Greek Diaspora to keep their connection with their roots alive.

The Greek Language Center's Certificate of Proficiency, established in 1998 and supervised by the Ministry of Education, is the official state certificate of proficiency in the Greek language internationally and is administered annually in 160 testing centers worldwide, of which 21 testing centers are located in the United States.

In particular, in the United States, this certification has been recognized and included in the Seal of Biliteracy program in 13 states, including the State of New York, upgrading the position of the Greek language in the American educational context and offering students of the Greek Diaspora the opportunity to have their Greek language proficiency officially recognized in the American educational system.

The May 2025 exams were attended by 11,178 candidates worldwide, while the Examination Center of the Consulate General of Greece in New York (code 10004) recorded 293 participations, confirming the large number of Greek Americans in New York and their continuous effort to preserve and spread the Greek language.

A special moment of the ceremony was the speech of the youngest successful student, Dionysios Pei Chen, who enthusiastically and vividly shared the reasons for learning Greek, honoring his roots and his grandmother from Kefalonia. With his words, he highlighted the Greek language as a carrier of culture, reminding everyone how deep and alive the connection to the homeland remains through the language.

The main message of the event was that the Greek language, with its centuries-old history and deep cultural and spiritual value, continues to inspire, teach and unite the Greeks of the Diaspora, proving that it is a living foundation of our national identity.