ΝΕΑ ΙΕΡΣΕΗ. Ξεπέρασε κάθε προσδοκία η εκδήλωση που διοργάνωσαν από κοινού τα τμήματα της AHEPA της Μείζονος Περιοχής της Φιλαδέλφειας το βράδυ της Τετάρτης, 12ης Νοεμβρίου 2025, στο Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο «Ντανιέλ Κουσούλη» της κοινότητας του Αγίου Θωμά στο Τσέρι Χιλ της Νέας Ιερσέης.
Την εκδήλωση φιλοξένησε στην έδρα του το 69ο Τμήμα του Κάντμεν και παρέστησαν νέα μέλη από όλα τα τμήματα, τα οποία ορκίστηκαν ως μέλη.
Στην εκδήλωση παρέστησαν ο ύπατος πρόεδρος της AHEPA, Κρις Κάιτσον (Chris Kaitson), από το Χιούστον του Τέξας και ο ύπατος κυβερνήτης της Περιφέρειας, Ντιν Μόσκος (Dean Moskos), από τη Νέα Υόρκη και οι οποίοι απένειμαν τα βραβεία μεταξύ άλλων στον Τάσο Ευστρατιάδη, πρόεδρο της κοινότητας του Αγίου Θωμά στο Τσέρι Χιλ της Νέας Ιερσέηςγια την προσφορά του στο πρόγραμμα «Journey to Greece» και στον πρόεδρο της Ομοσπονδίας Ελληνικών Σωματείων Φιλαδέλφειας και Μείζονος Ντελαγουέαρ, δικαστή Χάρη Καραπαλίδη.
Παραθέτουμε το πλήρες κείμενο της ανακοίνωσης της AHEPA στην αγγλική γλώσσα:
Supreme President Chris Kaitson and Supreme Governor Dean Moskos came to Cherry Hill, NJ to meet with chapters and preside over the Philadelphia area’s annual mass initiations of AHEPA members. The annual event was hosted on November 12, 2025 and took place in Grand AHEPA Hall of Camden Chapter 69. Members of chapters from all over the district and members from the Philadelphia based chapters were in attendance.
Each chapter brought candidates for induction into AHEPA. After a dinner in the Danielle Kousoulis Center hall, the overwhelming crowd went to the meeting room. They came to see AHEPA’s Supreme Presidenmt, Chris Kaitson of Houston, Texas, escorted by the Region’s Supreme Governor Dean Moskos from New York. These brothers were introduced by District 5 Governor Lou Stefanou of the host chapter and his lodge.
The Supreme President presided over the initiation of 11 members. He says any time a new member comes it is a cause for a celebration of Hellenism. The new members were impressed with AHEPA and expressed appreciation to the Supreme Lodge officers.
Special Recognition was given to the district’s Ahepan of the Year, Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church President Anastasios Efstratiades for his support of the Journey to Greece Program. It was noted that past President Savas Tsivicos is having a fundraiser at the Greycliff as his testimonial on December 27, 2025 as he approaches the million dollar mark.
Also the Hon. Harry Karapalides of thermopylae Chapter, the local federation President, was bestowed the AHEPA Heroes medal. Finally the chapter was presented its AHEPA Chapter of the Year plaque from last year by the Supreme President to a standing ovation.
Thereafter, AHEPA Vice Chair Board of Trustees George Horiates, a past supreme president, gave a moving tribute to both of the Supreme Lodge members. He presented them with teak wood gifts from the original deck of the USS New Jersey.
He noted that these gifts are a symbolic start to next year’s AHEPA Supreme Convention celebration of the 250th year anniversary of the United States of America, in July 2026 in Philadelphia. AHEPA has secured the Battleship New Jersey for a special evening during the convention.
