The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) and Amaryllis Athens Chapter 421, in collaboration with the Academy of Athens, co-hosted the Greece and Cyprus Chapter Leadership Conference at the Academy of Athens on April 12, 2025.
Journalist Nikos Eleftheroglou served as the moderator for the conference agenda. Athanasios Stephanis, the Academy of Athens Director of Sciences, offered greetings and Angeliki Roubou, Researcher, KEEΛΓ of the Academy, followed with a presentation on the “The Role of Penelope from Homer’s Odyssey to the Present Day.”
Remarks followed by Eirini Xakousti, Amaryllis Chapter President 421, Christos Karipiperis, AHEPA Hellas 25 District Governor, Konstantinos Varsamis, AHEPA Supreme Governor Region 10, Athanasia Vassiliadou, Region Governor of Europe and Australia, Maria Sofianou, Region Governor of Greece & Cyprus, Nicholas Karacostas, AHEPA Past Supreme President and AHEPA Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Margaret Dritsas, Daughters of Penelope Grand President, National Project Penelopean Day Care Center by Board President Maria Zacharia, National Project Open Door Cerebral Palsy Greece by Founder Daphne Economou, National Project Community House Damaris by Anthi Intzigianni, Program Coordinator, Community House Damaris, and Margaret Pitiris on behalf of the DOP Foundation, Inc.
Conference Presentations and Messages.
Reports were given by almost all 23 Daughters of Penelope Chapter Presidents of Greece & Cyprus and a Headquarters Presentation by Daughters of Penelope Executive Director Elena Saviolakis.
Daughters of Penelope chapter presentations were made by Karyatides Chapter No. 271 President Dora Spachi of Athens, Hesperus Chapter No. 359 President Anna Goritsa of Athens, Sparta Chapter No. 406 President Ms. Georgia Zaharaki of Sparti, Promahos Chapter No. 410 President Dr. Ioanna Mastora, Lysippi Chapter No. 418 President Eirini Stefatou of Kefalonia, Amaryllis Chapter No. 421 President Eirini Xakousti of Neo Psyhiko, Athens, Niriides Chapter No. 423 President Fani Arampatzidou of Komotini, Arsinoi Chapter No. 424 President Pela Vovou of Xanthi, Atrytone Chapter No. 426 President Stavroula Avramidou of Serres, Evridiki Chapter No. 427 President Roula Mpitsiou of Alexandroupolis, Athinaides Chapter No. 430 President Rena Vasilaki of Moshato, Athens, Ypatia Chapter No. 443 President Athina Poziou of Pireaus, Olympiades Chapter No. 446 Maria Apostolopoulou of Patras, Agnodiki Chapter President No. 447 Lena Mouka of Vari-Vouliagmeni-Voula, Promeniea Chapter No. 448 President Popi Zavakopoulou of Ioannina, Minoitisses Chapter No. 450 President Popi Paterianakis of Hrakleion, Crete, Kallityches Chapter No. 456 President Fenia Stamouli of Thessaloniki, Aglaoniki Chapter No. 458 Roumpini Leontari of Larissa, Alia-Rodi, Chapter No. 464 President Chrysanthi Pappou of Rodos, and Amazones Chapter No. 453 President Angela Hatjicosta of Nicosia Cyprus.
Daughters of Penelope chapter greetings were made by the European delegation in attendance including Athanasia Vassiliadou, Region Governor of Europe and Australia, Eurynome Chapter President No. 454 of Stuttgart, Germany Dr. Dimitra Potsi, Phaetuse Chapter President No. 437 Niki Kalogera of Paris, France, Thetis Chapter President No. 439 Eleni Maglara of Brussels, Belgium, Eleni Chapter No. 440 Treasurer Stella Bompotsiari of London, UK, Pallas-Athena Chapter President No. 459 Althea-Maria Papoulias of Vienna, Austria, and Kallirroi Chapter No. 467 President Athena Kapsali of Ulm, Germany.
Organizational Awards.
Grand President Margaret Dritsas had the honor and pleasure of presenting several awards at the 2025 Daughters of Penelope Greece and Cyprus Leadership Conference.
The 2025 Daughters of Penelope Human Rights Award was given to Sister Margaret A. Pitiris, United Nations Women Chair, Subcommittee on Labor & Pay Equality, in appreciation of her work with the United Nations in conflict areas to protect the human rights of women and girls.
The 2025 Daughters of Penelope Service Award was given to Region Governor of Greece and Cyprus Maria Sofianou in recognition of her ten years of distinguished service as Region Governor of Greece and Cyprus and for her unselfish contribution to the AHEPA Family.
The 2025 Daughters of Penelope Appreciation Award was given to Amaryllis Chapter No. 421 of Athens, in appreciation as the official Host Chapter of the 2025 Greece and Cyprus Leadership Conference and for their distinguished service to the Daughters of Penelope.
The 2025 Daughters of Penelope Appreciation Award was also given to the Academy of Athens in appreciation of their collaboration with the Daughters of Penelope as the official host venue of the 2025 Greece and Cyprus Leadership Conference.
Thank you to the Academy of Athens for the beautiful and significant collaboration as the official venue host of the conference. Thank you to our AHEPA family officers, chapter presidents, and 200-plus Sisters who came from near and far to be with us and participate.
Special and warm thanks to Region Governor of Greece and Cyprus Maria Sofianou, Amaryllis Chapter No. 421 President Eirini Xakousti, Amaryllis Chapter Vice President Thekla-Evangelia Paraskevoudi, Amaryllis Chapter Secretary Christina Tourgeli, Amaryllis Chapter Treasurer Katerina Michaelidou, and the Amaryllis Sisters of Athens for not only their hard work to make the weekend and conference a success but also for their wonderful hospitality as the official host chapter of the conference.
Special thanks also to Former Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy & AHEPA International Committee Chair Professor John Chrysoulakis, for joining us.
“It was a pleasure and honor to be with the leadership in Greece and Cyprus to discuss our goals and projects and to engage in thought-provoking dialogue about how we can further empower and inspire women to become future leaders via our mission statement,” said Grand President Dritsas.”
About the Daughters of Penelope.
Founded in San Francisco in 1929, the Daughters of Penelope (DOP) is the first women’s organization of its kind established in the United States. It is an affiliate organization of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA).
The mission of the DOP is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence. For more information about the DOP, or any of its programs or projects, please visit www.daughtersofpenelope.org.
