The statue of Prometheus by Paul Manship at the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, NY. The Greek flag symbolizes the white foam of the "wine dark sea" in Homer's words and the limitless blue skies. The cross symbolizes the Byzantine and Greek Orthodox Christian tradition of the Greek nation. Traveling, love for freedom and knowledge, and inspiring landscapes of endless seas and skies are what make up Greece. Nobel Prize-winning modern Greek poet, Odysseus Elytis said "If you deconstruct Greece, you will in the end see an olive tree, a grapevine, and a boat remain. That is, with as much, you reconstruct her". Autoplay Music: The National Greek Anthem composed by Nicolaos Manjaros and the lyrics were written by national modern Greek poet Dionysios Solomos, one of the most influential Modern Greek Enlightenment scholars who inspired the Greek War of Independence of 1821. Both the Greek flag and the Greek anthem symbolize the struggle for Greek people's freedom and survial through the centuries, so that they can continue their mission of spreading knowledge and wisdom to humanity. The Greek vase image shows an Attic black-figured kylix of 550 BC (Archaic Age) depicting Prometheus bound on Mt Caucasus while Zeus orders the eagle to eat Prometheus' liver which regrew the next day. In Greek mythology, Prometheus, a titan, stole fire, the gift of the gods, against Zeus' will, and gave it away to humanity. The picture below belongs to St Cosmas the Aetolian, known as "Patrocosmas" ("patro" comes from "pater" that is "father/"Fr.", as he was a monk-priest, but also from "patrida" or fatherland), since this 18th century saint and national martyr was killed by the Turks, because he was teaching the Greek children Greek language, classics, history, byzantine music and the Orthodox Christian religion in "secret schools" (Krifa scholia) despite the Ottoman prohibition of Greek schools. The legend of his picture below is an excerpt from his writings: "For the preservation of Faith and the Liberty of the Homeland, make sure you found Greek Schools"!!! Dedicated to this idea, "Prometheus" supports every endeavor to preserve, found or stop the closing of Greek Schools in the United States and especially in New York where the association is located. We also support all Greek teachers whose school closed down and were laid off without getting paid to get compensated.
Just as Prometheus paid a high toll for his efforts to enlighten humankind, Hellenic (Greek) Studies teachers of the Hellenic Diaspora, often by making a lot of sacrifices and going through a lot of efforts and pains just like Prometheus, bring the gift of ancient wisdom to the world enlightening young minds by teaching them Greek language and culture. Often underpaid, discouraged and unappreciated, Greek teachers continue their mission to teach Greek language and culture to the youth of Greek Diaspora and any one interested in being a Philhellene or friend of Greeks and their culture and language. Prometheus Greek Teachers Association is based in New York, USA and is the first and only professional association and union for Teachers of Greek-American schools and all those who teach Greek language and culture as well as all teachers and professors of Greek descent that offers advocacy, advice and support and struggles to get financial resources for the foundation of a Retirement and Pension Fund for Greek Parochial School Teachers who have no insurance and no retirement/pension plans. Help us bring the light of Prometheus to all those who need it. If you are a teacher or professor, Join us today! If you are a friend of teachers and Prometheus, your donation can make a difference!
