Thousands Join Celebrations and Parade for Greek Independence in Boston

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Evzones astatine the Boston Greek Parade 2026

The 30th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade of Boston – hosted by the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England (FHASNE), supported by the City of Boston, and successful practice with The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston and The Consulate General of Greece successful Boston – returned to Boston connected Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Celebrating its pearl anniversary, this milestone twelvemonth honored 3 decades of preserving and promoting Hellenic practice successful Boston.

Reflecting some the historical bequest and continued relevance of Greece’s combat for freedom, this year’s authoritative taxable was “From 1821 to Today: Freedom, Dignity and the Human Spirit.” The parade welcomed astir 70 Hellenic groups, arsenic good arsenic thousands of spectators on Boylston Street successful commemoration of Greece’s independence from Ottoman Rule, which began connected March 25, 1821.

Evzones instrumentality to Boston for the Greek Independence Parade

As a centerpiece of this 30th anniversary, the elite Presidential Guard of Greece – known arsenic the Evzones – traveled to Boston to enactment successful the parade, marking their archetypal authoritative quality successful the metropolis successful 25 years.

Their instrumentality represents a profoundly symbolic moment, honoring the enduring enslaved betwixt Greece and the Greek-American assemblage of New England. Known for their historical foustanella uniforms and precision ceremonial duties astatine Greece’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier successful Athens, the Evzones are among the astir recognizable and revered symbols of Greek nationalist pride.

The parade

The parade commenced astatine the intersection of Boylston Street and Exeter Street successful beforehand of The Lenox Hotel with a ribbon-cutting ceremonial conducted by parade dignitaries, including Grand Marshal & FHASNE President Eleni Vidalis; Grand Marshal & Consul General of Greece successful Boston, Symeon Tegos; Honorary Grand Marshal & Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, David Paleologos; Honorary Grand Marshal, President/CEO of Ferro-Ceramic Grinding Inc. & Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate successful America, Costa Sideridis; and more.

Following the ribbon cutting, the parade procession began with Boston Police, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard, representatives holding banners including the America 250th Anniversary (sponsored by Alpha Omega Council) and Military Guards presenting the United States and Greece flags.

The visiting Presidential Guard of Greece (Evzones) proceeded, marching successful afloat ceremonial uniform. They were followed by the Kariatides presenting the Greek Flag, the Boston Evzones, the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England interval and Board of Directors.

Next successful the procession were a scope of Greek taste organizations, churches, pupil groups, and assemblage organizations from passim New England.

All groups marched on Boylston Street until they reached the authoritative parade reappraisal basal astatine the intersection of Boylston Street & Charles Streets, emceed by reporters & quality anchors Arielle Mitropoulos, Nicholas Antonakas, and Mariah Janos.

Greek taste solemnisation pursuing Boston parade

Following the parade, each parade participants and spectators walked to the Boston Common, wherever it transformed into “Plaka,” Athens’ historical cardinal square. The day was completed with a vibrant Greek taste solemnisation featuring accepted cuisine from nutrient trucks, creation performances from the Metropolis of Boston Dance Group representing regions crossed Greece, and a unrecorded show by Greek vocalist Christina Maragozi.

New England is location to much than 200,000 Greek Americans and implicit 60 Greek Orthodox parishes, making the Boston parade 1 of the largest Greek Independence Day celebrations successful the United States.

Pre-parade Boston events

As portion of preparations for The 30th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade of Boston, the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England acceptable this twelvemonth isolated from those successful the past by hosting an expanded scope of nationalist civic and assemblage celebrations, including:

Annual Dinner Gala (Saturday, April 18th astatine Venezia Restaurant successful Dorchester): The Annual Dinner Gala awarded 9 scholarships to Greek-American students, underscoring the community’s committedness to younker and education. The evening opened with a supplication by Protopresbyter Romanos Karanos, representing Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, and featured nationalist anthem performances by assistance recipient Vasilios Karanos. Remarks were delivered by Consul General of Greece successful Boston Symeon Tegos, President of Athens Medical Association and Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute Dr. George Patoulis, and FHASNE President Eleni Vidalis, portion attendees included Dimitris Kyriakidis, lad of Stylianos Kyriakidis. Honorees included David Paleologos and Costa Sideridis arsenic Honorary Grand Marshals, on with Dr. George Patoulis. The evening included accepted creation performances by Greek-American Evzones and marked a departure from tradition, arsenic the meal was held 1 week earlier than usual.

Forum connected the Greek Healthcare System (Thursday, April 23rd astatine Boston College): The Forum connected the Greek Healthcare System, portion of the Greek American Lecture Series, took spot astatine Boston College. The lawsuit brought unneurotic distinguished leaders successful medicine and healthcare from Greece and the United States for an engaging treatment connected the aboriginal of healthcare successful Greece and beyond. The programme featured keynote talker Dr. George Patoulis (President of Athens Medical Association and Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute), alongside an adept sheet including Panagiotis Andreadis (General Manager of ELITOUR), Ioannis Chatzistefanou (Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Surgeon astatine Athens Medical School), Irene Souter (Reproductive Endocrinologist astatine MGH Fertility Center), and was emceed by Dr. Peter Moschovis (Pulmonologist & Critical Care Physician astatine Mass General Brigham).

Greek Flag Raising Ceremony (Friday, April 24th astatine Boston City Hall Plaza): The authoritative Greek Flag Raising Ceremony took spot astatine Boston City Hall. The ceremonial marked the authoritative accomplishment of the Presidential Guard of Greece (Evzones) successful Boston for the parade, their archetypal quality successful the metropolis successful 25 years. Opening remarks were provided by parade big Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England’s president Eleni Vidalis, Boston metropolis councilor at-large Erin J. Murphy, Boston metropolis councilor Edward M. Flynn, and Boston Mayor’s Office lawman manager of planetary affairs & protocol James Reginald Colimon. The Evzones past hoisted the Greek emblem successful beforehand of Boston City Hall, and the ceremonial concluded with Hellenic College Holy Cross (HCHC) adjunct prof of Byzantine liturgical euphony Vassilios Karanos performing the Greek and American National Anthems.

Greek Independence Day Commemoration (Friday, April 24th astatine Massachusetts State House): Following the Greek Flag Raising Ceremony, a commemoration lawsuit took spot astatine the Massachusetts State House, located a abbreviated region from City Hall, which was presided implicit – arsenic successful galore erstwhile years – by Greek-American Republican State Senator Bruce Tarr (Taliadouros). His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston was represented by the Dean of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England successful Boston, Fr. Odysseas Drossos. The Holy Cross St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Choir chanted Resurrection hymns and patriotic songs nether the absorption of Protopresbyter Professor Romanos Karanos. Greetings and remarks were delivered by Consul General of Greece successful Boston, Symeon Tegos and Federation President Eleni Vidalis, portion Warrant Officer of the Presidential Guard contingent Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos offered a little presumption connected the Evzone uniform. This was followed by the speechmaking and presumption of a proclamation issued by Governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey. The Federation past honored its erstwhile president, Vasilios Kafkas.

The 30th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade of Boston took spot connected Sunday, April 26th. For much information, delight sojourn bostongreekparade.org.

About The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England (FHASNE)

The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England, founded successful 1982, is the premier umbrella enactment of implicit forty Hellenic-American associations, representing implicit thousands of individuals successful the community.

The Federation celebrates Hellenic practice by sponsoring and organizing programs and activities that beforehand and sphere the values and ideals of the Hellenic civilization thereby enriching our assemblage and nation.