On Sunday, March 26, 2023, Metropolis of Chicago Archons walked in the Greek Heritage Parade in the heart of Greektown Chicago. The U.S. Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, George J. Tsunis, Archon Hypomnematografos, served as the parade’s Grand Marshal. Presenting the parade was the Federation of Hellenic American Organizations of Illinois (ENOSIS); its sponsor was Greektown Special Service Area #16, the business improvement committee for the area.
Prior to the parade, the Archons gathered at the National Hellenic Museum in Greektown for a pre-parade event hosted by the Hellenic Museum. Chicago-area Greek-American clergy, community members and politicians also attended the event, including His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago; His Grace Bishop Timothy of Hexamilion; Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas; Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias; Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas; and Commissioner Mariyana T. Spyropoulos for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Participating Archons included the Metropolis of Chicago Archon Regional Commanders, Archons Dr. George Bovis, Robert Buhler, Hon. Jeffery Chrones, John Gountanis, Esq., John Hilaris, John Koudounis, Hon. Paul Lillios, Theodore Sepsis, Yianni Sianis, and Constantinos Zografopoulos.
Chicago’s annual Greek Heritage Parade is one of the biggest annual events for the Chicago area Greek American community; it has been taking place since the 1960s.