8th Annual Clean Monday Celebration in NYC

March 17, 2008

On March 10th, a record crowd of 180 guests celebrated Clean Monday, “Kathari Deftera" at Estiatorio Milos in New York City. Among those in attendance were the Ambassador of Greece, Alexandros P. Mallias; President of the Board of Directors of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, Anthony S. Papadimitriou along with Board members from Athens and the U.S.; and the Honorable Constantine Mitsotakis, former Prime Minister of Greece.

Since 2001, the Library has celebrated this traditional Greek holiday in New York City, with a feast of special Lenten foods prepared by Milos’ famed chef Costas Spiliades, and dancing to traditional Greek music performed by Grigoris Maninakis and the Mikrokosmos Ensemble.

The Clean Monday benefit raises funds towards the Library’s ongoing capital campaign. The Library’s first capital campaign, completed in 2005, raised over $11 million for renovating and expanding the historic Main Building including the addition of an auditorium; for technological infrastructure; and for endowment. This next phase of the campaign will complete the building renovations and raise additional endowment.

A greek language review of the event appeared in Kathimerini. The New York Times also provided coverage of the event.

Additional Photos (click on any of them to begin the slideshow):

Since 2001, the Gennadius Library has brought the celebration of this traditional Greek holiday to New York City, with the collaboration of Estiatorio Milos’ famed chef Costas Spiliades.

Zoe Kosmidou, Counselor for Cultural Affairs of Greece with Consul General to New York, the Hon. Mrs. Aghi Balta.

From left: Mr. Apostolos Zabelas, Honorary Vice President of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, Catherine deG. Vanderpool, and Ambassador Michael Sotirhos, Vice President of the Onassis Foundation.

ASCSA Administrative Director Irene Romano chats with Nikolaos Kaltsas, Director of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Former Prime Minister of Greece, the Hon. Constantine Mitsotakis, with Catherine deG. Vanderpool, President of the Board of Trustees, Gennadius Library.

This year’s Clean Monday event at Estiatorio Milos held a record crowd of 180 guests to benefit the Gennadius Library in Athens.

Anthony S. Papadimitriou, President of the Board of Directors of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation greets guests.

Ambassador Loucas Tsilas, Executive Director of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA), listens to remarks made by Ambassador to the U.S., Alexandros Mallias.

Ambassador to the U.S., Alexandros Mallias addresses the crowd.

Carlos Picón, Curator in Charge of the Department of Greek and Roman Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art enjoys the evening with Gennadius Library Trustee Irene Moscahlaidis.

Gennadius Board members Alex Zagoreos and Leo Milonas chat.