AHEPA PRESIDENT TO WELCOME ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE

 WASHINGTON-Supreme President Andrew T. Banis will accompany His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios as they greet His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base today.  The Patriarch begins a six-day visit to the United States that includes stopsin Washington, Brookline, Mass., and New York. 

 "I look forward to offering warmhearted greetings on behalf of the Greek-American community," said Banis. "We certainly wish His All Holiness the best for a successful excursion that includes a meeting with President George W. Bush."

 The supreme president will attend a Welcome Dinner in honor of His All Holiness hosted by Archbishop Demetrios this evening.  He will also attend a dinner hosted by the Administrator of USAID Andrew Natsios tomorrow evening and a luncheon hosted by His Excellency Alexander Philon, ambassador of Greece to the United States, on Wednesday afternoon.

 "I intend to continue our dialogue with His All Holiness, reaffirming our encouragement of Greek-Turkish rapprochement and discussing our initiatives for the reopening of the Theological School of Halki and the proper protection and safety of the Ecumenical Patriarchate," added Banis.  "I also  aim to provide an update of our reforestation efforts in Greece, a project  of which His All Holiness is an Honorary Chair."

 The supreme president also will be attending events in Brookline and New  York, including the annual banquet of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, this Saturday in New York.

 AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with 521  chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, and Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia.  It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek-Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from theKKK, and in its history, AHEPA has joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith to fight discrimination.

 The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ideals of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence. The AHEPA family consists of four organizations:  AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena.

For more information about the AHEPA family, or any of its programs,please contact AHEPA Headquarters, 202.232.6300.

  For instant information visit :  www.ahepa.org.