Kingsbridge: Greek Heritage Month Celebrated

By FAHIMA DEGIA

The Greek National Anthem is sung by sung Elaina Poulus as attendees look on during the Greek Heritage Month celebration at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue in Kingsbridge, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Traditional hymns were also sung by Afroditi Falieros at the event.
Photo by Fahima Degia

The sound of clapping echoed through St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church in Kingsbridge on Thursday, April 16, as rows of Greek American families turned their attention to a troupe of young dancers. A large blue and white Greek flag hung at the front of the room, while families waved similar smaller flags from their seats.

Children dressed in grey polo shirts which also displayed the Greek flag later moved in circles, performing various dances like the Xasaposervikos, Menousis, Palaois, Ikartiotikos, Koftos, and Sirtos. Along the back wall of the room, a table was filled with Greek desserts like honey-soaked baklava and powdered sweets, adding to a scene that felt both festive and deeply rooted in tradition.

BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT Vanessa Gibson presents an award to Gregory Tsougranis at a Greek Heritage Month celebration at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue in Kingsbridge, on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Photo by Fahima Degia

The event, held in honor of Greek Heritage Month and hosted by the Office of the Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson brought together residents, community leaders, and honorees to celebrate the contributions and legacy of Greek Americans in the borough.

Honored this year were Gregory Tsougranis, president of the AHEPA Bronx Chapter 175, associate broker at Keller Williams, and board member of the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Michael Zoulis, sales representative at Specialty Coffee; Stamatis Katechis, restaurant proprietor of Black Stone Bar and Grill; and Dr. Nick Papaioannou, pharmacist at Crescent Apthecary, along with youth honorees Afroditi Falieros, a student at Fordham University, and Nicholas Capalbo, a student at P.S.19.

YOUNG CHILDREN GIVE give a musical recital at a Greek Heritage Month celebration at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue in Kingsbridge, on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Photo by Fahima Degia

Greek Consul General Petros Dorizas also received a surprise award on the night. For many, the gathering was a reflection on community as much as on culture. Kelly Bakas, whose daughter attends the church’s school, described her connection to the event saying simply, “I’m Greek, and this is our church, our community.”

She emphasized the importance of collective celebration, adding, “It keeps our traditions alive. You know that you have to be a community in order to do that. You can’t just do it for one or two people. It has to be a community.” Bakas added, “I’m a first generation, born in America; we have kept the traditions alive.”

YOUNG CHILDREN GIVE a dance performance at a Greek Heritage Month celebration at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue in Kingsbridge, on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Photo by Fahima Degia

Honoree, Falieros, a Fordham University student, pointed to the strong presence of Greek institutions in The Bronx. “There’s a big Greek community here, especially here in St. Peter’s,” she said, while also noting the role of churches in bringing people together. The celebration also drew attendees who were less familiar with the borough’s Greek community.

William Stanford attended the event after considering others taking place that day. He had hoped more food would be served but said he enjoyed the performances, adding, “The dancers, the students.” Referring to the size of the Greek community in the borough, he commented, “I don’t think I knew that part.”

ATTENDEES APPLAUD THE speakers at a Greek Heritage Month celebration at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue in Kingsbridge, on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Photo by Fahima Degia

Speakers throughout the evening highlighted the historical ties between Greece and the United States, as well as the resilience of immigrant communities generally. Reflecting on those connections, Dorizas said, “This country was built on principles that… stand from that ancient Greek past.” He also noted the importance of maintaining cultural identity through language, faith, and education.

The borough president, who sported blue heels for the occasion, underscored its significance and the people behind it during her remarks, saying, “We are here tonight to highlight the contributions of so many of our Greek American leaders that really make us proud.”

Gibson went on to describe the borough as “a beautiful reflection of diversity, of culture coming together” and pointed to local institutions as pillars of that legacy. “Places like right here, St. Peter’s Greek Orthodox Church, stand as an enduring symbol of legacy, of faith, of foundation, of education, of empowerment,” she said.

For honoree, Tsougranis, the recognition was tied to a long history of community service both to the Greek American community and to the wider Bronx community. “The history of Greek Americans goes back very, very… very deep,” he said. “So, we’re here to celebrate.”

BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT Vanessa Gibson presents an award to Consul General of Greece in New York Petros Dorizas at a Greek Heritage Month celebration at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue in Kingsbridge, on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Photo by Fahima Degia

As the final dances concluded and applause filled the room once more, the event served both as a tribute to heritage, and as a reminder of a community that continues to shape The Bronx. As Gibson stated, “Tonight, we are all Greek American.”

*David Greene contributed to this story.

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