Speech #890268667

I would like to pay tribute to the AHEPA and the contributions made by Americans of Greek origin. The GreekAmerican community is worthy of the highest praise. Its gifts are many. its accomplishments of the highest caliber. Two main forces have contributed to the cohesiveness of Greek Americans: the church and the Greek press. The great majority of Greeks everywhere belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church. This is true also of the immigrants and their descendants. New York is the see of an archbishop of North and South America who spiritually owes allegiance to the Oecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. He has under his jurisdiction in the United States some 301 churches.