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In a United Nations ballroom overlooking the East River, Greek and international dignitaries gathered to mark the 205th anniversary of the Greek Declaration of Independence, which would eventually uplift millions of Greeks out of centuries-long Ottoman occupation.
Present at the Reception to Celebrate the National Day of Greece was His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. The reception was hosted by the Consulate General of Greece in New York alongside the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations. Speakers included Consul General of Greece Iphigenia Kanara and Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis.“We gather today on the anniversary of a defining moment in the Hellenic spirit,” Consul General of Greece Iphigenia Kanara said. “It was a fight for freedom, and it was a fight for self determination.”
In her speech, Consul General Kanara confronted the breadth of the Greek Democratic tradition, which not only goes back centuries, but one that also transcended borders, stating: “The story of 1821 is not, however, only a Greek story. It’s a story that resonated profoundly in the United States. A young nation itself, only a few decades at the moment, founded exactly on the same ideas that were first articulated in the Hellenic world.”
“Today, the fight of freedom has taken a new meaning. We know very well that the strength of our voice is amplified by the strength of our alliances. And it is sustained by the unwavering support of the Greek American community, whose presence here tonight reminds us that ties between nations are ultimately ties between people.”
Following Consul General Kanara was a recorded statement from Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis.
“March 25th marks the day on which our heroic ancestors dared to rise against subjugation in an adverse international environment,” Foreign Affairs Minister Gerapetritis said, also stating that the revolutionaries claimed what is the supreme asset of any nation, “liberty.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Gerapetritis connected the Greek Revolution with the American Revolution, which occurred only four decades prior.
“In this struggle the Greeks were not alone,” Foreign Affairs Minister Gerapetritis said. “The American people, who gained their independence just 45 years earlier, also became part of a spontaneous international movement of Philhellenism, which grew rapidly and was known by the American Press as ‘Greek Fever.’”
Philhellenism, or the 19th-century European and American admiration for Greek culture and thought, had a lasting impact on the development of American identity and institutions. The Founding Fathers of the United States, for example, were deeply reliant on classical Greek thought, drawing on Athenian democracy as a model and inspiration when designing the burgeoning nation’s governing structures.
During the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), American philhellenism moved from mere intellectual admiration into tangible material and humanitarian support for the Greek cause. The establishment of Philhellenic organizations in major U.S. cities such as New York City, Boston and Philadelphia enabled the shipment of humanitarian aid to Greek revolutionaries.
“These are just a few examples of the emblematic Philhellenic movement in America. We shall always remember it and be forever grateful,” Foreign Affairs Minister Gerapetritis said.
The minister concluded his remarks by addressing Greeks: “We will preserve our history, our language, our tradition, our cultural heritage, together, Greeks at home and Greeks of our diaspora, my fellow compatriots, 205 years after the declaration of the Greek Revolution, Greece has acquired a significant diplomatic footprint, much larger than the country’s size.”
> Earlier: Donald Trump proclaims March 25th as Greek Independence Day
The UN celebration in New York, unfolded against the backdrop of an affirmation from the White House itself. Yesterday, President Donald Trump officially proclaimed March 25, 2026 as “Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy. The recent proclamation added weight to the evening’s speeches as they echoed the proclamation issued the day before.
“Long before our Nation took up the torch of liberty 250 years ago, the miracle of self-government first dawned in Greece, where citizens were granted a direct voice in the destiny of their country,” the proclamation states. “Today, the Greek American community enriches the story of our Nation through their enterprise, faith in God, and unyielding passion for the principles that have defined the American way of life since 1776.”
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