WASHINGTON, DC – The Hellenic American Women’s Council (HAWC) is hosting a special Bicentennial Celebration to honor four extraordinary Greek Heroines, June 26-28, in Spetses, Greece. HAWC joins Greece 2021 in celebrating the Greek identity and cultural heritage while commemorating the 200 years since the Greek Revolution of 1821 that established Greece as an independent nation.

HAWC invites the Hellenes and Philhellenes to join in this once-in-a-lifetime event that will take place at the renowned Anargyrios & Korgialenios Foundation Estate and also at the Bouboulina Museum. Register in advance through May 5.

HAWC will be honoring women who defied the proscribed roles for women in their century and emerged as powerful heroines and role models for all of us: Bouboulina (19th century), Manto Mavrogenous (19th century), Lady of Ro (20th century) and Stella Kokolis (21st century).

Highlights of the program include a panel discussion on the heroines with Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis, a 6th generation descendant of the Greek revolutionary heroine Laskarina Bouboulina and the Director of the Bouboulina Museum in Spetses.

Annita N. Prassa, a historian specializing in Greek history of 19th and 20th centuries will speak about Manto Mavrogenous. An author of seven books and many articles, Prassa collaborates with the Hellenic Open University and participates in many conferences in Greece and abroad.

Fotini Baxevani, an acclaimed Greek actress and HAWC member, will discuss Despina Achladioti, the Lady of Ro. During the evening, she will perform The Lady of Ro and transform into Despina, the patriotissa who became a folk legend. The play is written by Gianni Skaragas and directed by Stavros Litinas.

Stella Kokolis, Keynote Speaker and Aristeon Award honoree, is also a HAWC co-founder. She is widely known as a preeminent community leader, educator and humanitarian in the United States and abroad. Kokolis nurtures the values of Greek language and culture, and she has kept them alive for thousands of people. Kokolis continues to kindle the light of Hellenic education for more than 50 years.

Also scheduled is a Greek dance performance by the renowned Lykeion Ellinidon, which was founded in 1911 by Callirrhoe Siganou-Parren, the country’s first woman journalist and leader on women’s issues. In the 110 years of its existence, it has played an active and important role in the preservation and presentation of Greek cultural traditions and folk customs. They will embody the spirit of the four heroines in their traditional performance.

A guided museum tour of Bouboulina’s mansion is scheduled as well with the opportunity to learn the fascinating story of the heroine of the 1821 Greek War of Independence, who until recently had the honor of being the only female Admiral in world naval history.

Dignitaries from Spetses, Greece, the USA, Austria, notable Hellenes, and Greek women leaders from throughout the world are expected to participate.

Attendees will also have free time to take in the Kaiki Beach Club at the Anargyrios and see the sights of Spetses.

Those interested in participating in the celebration should complete the Advance Registration Form online: shorturl.at/bxASU.

The final registration and program will be available in early May.

Additional information is available online: hawcnet.org, and review the MORE tab.

Sponsors will be promoted on the HAWC website, social media, program and e-news to HAWC members.

For questions, in kind donations or to show support as a sponsor, please contact: East Contact: Ekaterini Malliou by phone: 202-413-2322, Midwest Email: [email protected] or Pacific Email: [email protected].

The Hellenic American Women’s Council is a non-partisan, nationwide network whose mission is to identify and harness the tremendous talents of Hellenic American Women, HAWC encourages awareness of public policy issues and promotes women who wish to play leadership roles in their communities, the nation and their professional fields of endeavor. HAWC is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit and donations are tax deductible.

Source: Thenationalherald.com