On January 11, the Hellenic Foundation hosted its Annual Blessing of the Foundation, Vasilopita Cutting, and Annual Foundation Meeting at the Hellenic Foundation offices at 6251 W. Touhy Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Hellenic Foundation Board Members, Staff, and the members of the Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Board were in attendance.
As per Hellenic Foundation tradition, the Hellenic Foundation offices were blessed for the new year by Fr. Dean Botsis and Fr. Tilemahos Alikakos of Holy Taxiarhai and St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church. According to Greek Orthodox custom, the month of January is the time for home (and office) blessings.
Hellenic Foundation Board President Demetrios Soukoulis, Executive Director Peter Valessares, and Board Treasurer Bill J. Vranas presented the state of the Foundation to the attendees. They stressed the importance of the relationship between the Hellenic Foundation and the Metropolis Philoptochos.
Two delicious Vasilopitas were blessed and cut for attendees. This tradition of cutting the vasilopita began in the fourth century, when St. Basil the Great, as Bishop, wanted to give money to the poor and hid gold coins in sweet bread that he distributed to families in his diocese. This year, Hellenic Foundation Executive Board Member Dorian Bezanis and Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos President Marilyn Tzakis received the lucky coins in their slices of vasilopita.
Και του χρόνου!
For more pictures from the Vasilopita and other events, visit our Gallery HERE.
