Metropolitan Methodios Joins Greek Independence Day Festivities in Lowell
His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios participated in the festivities marking the 189th Anniversary of Greek Independence Day held in Lowell on Sunday, April 11. He presided at the hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Assumption Church in Dracut, and then marched in the Parade which was sponsored by the Council of Orthodox Churches in Merrimack Valley and organized by Nikitas Flaris, a Lowell businessman and president of the Parish Council of the Dracut Parish. Also participating in the Parade were the Consul General of Greece in Boston, Constantine Orphanides, State Senator Steven Panagiotakos, Lowell Mayor James L. Milinazzo, Middlesex County Sheriff James V. DiPaola, the Priests serving the Greek Orthodox Parishes in Lowell--- Rev. Emmanuel Clapsis, Pastor of the Assumption Church in Dracut, Rev. Nikolaos Pelekoudas, Pastor of the Holy Trinity Church, Rev. Stephen Lawrence, Pastor of the Transfiguration Church, and Rev. Anastasios Coulouras who is serving the St. George Church. Also present at the celebration was Eleni Vidalis, the President of the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England (Omospondeia) and many members of the Omogeneia. Children from the Hellenic American Academy and Evzones of the Omospondeia marched in the Parade, adding a special touch to the celebration. Following the Parade a dinner was held at the Olympia Restaurant
