Representing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and at the invitation of Florida congressman Gus Bilirakis, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Greek Diaspora Affairs, Terens Quick, will attend the 6 January Divine Liturgy of the Holy Epiphany and the Blessing of the Waters Ceremony at Tarpon Springs.
The Deputy Minister is departing tomorrow, Thursday, 5 January, and during his five-day visit, he will meet with Greek community organizations of the east coast of the United States of America.
Specifically, the Deputy Foreign Minister will meet with the Greek American mayors of Tarpon Springs, Chris Alahouzos, and of Clearwater, George Cretekos, as well as visit Greek schools and the University of Florida's Center for Greek Studies. He will also attend a dinner hosted by the AHEPA leadership.
On 7 January, Mr. Quick will travel to Boston, where he will meet with leaders of the Greek Community and Greek academics teaching at universities in the area.
On 8 January, he will participate in a special ceremony being held at Boston's Saint Nectarios Church on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the death of American philhellene Samuel Howe, who took an active part in the Greek Revolution of 1821, in the area of Tripoli, with the forces of Theodoros Kolokotronis.
On 9 January, Mr. Quick will be in New York, where he will meet with Elder Archbishop Demetrios of America, representatives of the Greek community, the President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Andreas Drakopoulos, and the Executive Director of the Onassis U.S.A foundation, Mrs. Amalia Kosmetatou, and he will also visit the Church of Saint Nicholas, at Ground Zero.
On 10 January, Mr. Quick will carry out a one-day visit to Washington, DC, where he will meet with members of the House of Representatives and representatives of Greek American community organizations, departing on the evening of the same day for Athens.
Finally, in New York and Washington, Mr. Quick will meet with the leadership of American Jewish organizations. In Tampa, New York and Washington, Mr. Quick will hold press conferences with local Greek community news media.
January 5, 2017