• By Jacqui Argyres
  • March 26, 2026

SAN JOSE, CA – On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 5:00 pm, the City of San Jose held a Greek Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall Plaza to commemorate the 205th anniversary of Greece’s independence. The event, hosted by San Jose Vice Mayor and District 9 Council member Pam Foley, brought together the Greek-American community and local leaders to honor this historic occasion.

Organized by the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) and the Daughters of Penelope (DOP), the event featured distinguished guests including His Eminence Metropolitan Tarasios of Rhodopolis, Hierarchical Proistamenos of St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, and Alicia and Chris Frangos, Past District 21 Governors for the DOP and AHEPA, respectively.

To commemorate the occasion, Vice Mayor Pam Foley presented a proclamation from Mayor Matt Mahan and the San Jose City Council recognizing March 25 as Greek Independence Day.

“It was an honor to host the Greek Independence Day Flag Raising at City Hall and celebrate with San José’s vibrant Greek community,” said Vice Mayor Foley. “Greek Americans have long helped shape our city’s culture and economy, and their contributions continue to enrich our community. We are proud to recognize and celebrate the enduring legacy of Greek heritage and the core values of freedom and democracy it represents.”

Reverend Father James Kumarelas, of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, spoke on the event’s deeper significance, connecting Greek history to the Orthodox faith. “Our celebration of Greek Independence is a spiritual, cultural, and universal festival, joined together with our Greek Orthodox Church’s feast of the Annunciation,” stated Father James. “It is fitting that we reflect on this ‘announcement’ to the world, as it reminds us where our roots of Democracy are planted, of Hellenism, embodied in the ethos of the Greek people, and of the fight for freedom, of which we here in America can all understand.”

Members of AHEPA Silicon Valley Chapter 251. Photo by Panayiota Good