The Foundation of the Hellenic World and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have entered into a historic collaboration, signing a memorandum of understanding that reflects their commitment to joining forces in promoting and showcasing Greek history, culture, and Orthodox Christian heritage.
This partnership aims to strengthen cultural and educational initiatives by leveraging the extensive experience and expertise of the Foundation of the Hellenic World and the "Hellenic Cosmos" Cultural Center in digital technology and historical dissemination. This aligns with the longstanding mission of the Archdiocese of America to preserve and spread Orthodox Greek faith and tradition in the United States.
Through joint exhibitions, Virtual Reality tours of Hellenic and Orthodox landmarks, and educational programs, both organizations aspire to engage the broader American audience with the help of Greek-American Orthodox communities. Their initiatives will highlight the core principles and values of Greek culture and Orthodoxy.
Mrs. Sofia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou and Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Executive Vice President of the Foundation of the Hellenic World, Mrs. Sofia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou, reaffirmed their full commitment to fostering cultural exchanges between Greece and the United States. This collaboration will support the creation of an innovative digital repository, as well as the implementation of various cultural activities and intercultural projects aimed at showcasing the vast wealth of Greek history and Orthodox Christian traditions. As part of this initiative, both institutions seek to develop enduring educational programs that will inspire future generations to embrace and appreciate their invaluable cultural and religious heritage.
Present at the signing of the memorandum were also the Director of the Greek Cultural Center of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria, Professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Protopresbyter Fr. Grigorios Stamkopoulos, and the CEO of the Foundation of the Hellenic World, Mr. Dimitris Efraimoglou.
Dimitris Efraimoglou, Ourania Efraimoglou, Sofia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou, Archbishop of America Elpidophoros, Lazaros Efraimoglou
As the collaboration progresses, the Foundation of the Hellenic World will bring its cultural and educational interactive Virtual Reality productions and digital collections to the U.S., initially making them accessible at the heart of the Archdiocese of America in New York. This initiative will allow not only Greek-Americans but also the wider American public to experience these offerings. The first production to be introduced in the U.S. will be the interactive virtual tour Hagia Sophia: 1,500 Years of History. This monumental Virtual Reality production is the result of years of meticulous research by dozens of specialized scientists and has been showcased for many years at the "Tholos" Virtual Reality theater of the "Hellenic Cosmos" Cultural Center. It presents a highly detailed reconstruction of the interior of Hagia Sophia, including its architectural, sculptural, and mosaic decorations, while also illustrating various phases of its construction along with significant historical, social, and economic aspects of the Byzantine era. Following this, other virtual tour productions by the Foundation, such as Interactive Tour of the Acropolis of Athens (circa 5th century B.C.) and A Walk Through Ancient Olympia, will also be introduced in the U.S.
Archbishop Elpidophoros expressed his great satisfaction and joy over this historic collaboration, while Mrs. Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou emphasized that "this partnership paves the way for Greek cultural heritage to shine on the other side of the Atlantic. It is not just a cultural or educational initiative; it is an ambitious vision that embraces the past, present, and future of Hellenism. It is an investment in knowledge, tradition, and memory—a promise to future generations that their heritage will remain vibrant, dynamic, and accessible."
