The Greek flag flew for the first time at the Appellate Division, Second Department courthouse in Brooklyn Heights as the court celebrated its inaugural Hellenic Heritage Day, honoring the contributions of Greek judges and lawyers to the American legal system.
The ceremony, held in partnership with the Hellenic Lawyers Association, recognized former Associate Justice Peter Skelos and Father Alexander Karloutos, the former vicar general of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, according to court officials. The event typically coincides with Greece’s national independence day on March 25.
The celebration centered on the Greek concept of “philotimo,” which translates to “a love of honor” and represents a cultural principle that guides relationships with family, neighbors, colleagues and the community, according to Skelos.
“Philotimo means being active in believing in something greater than yourself,” Karloutos said during the ceremony. He added that “to be an American or to be Greek, it’s in many ways about the laws. It’s definitely the same way of thinking. It’s about philotimo-ism.”
Second Department Associate Justice Helen Voutsinas, a Greek judge who helped organize the event, conducted a lengthy interview with Karloutos during the ceremony. Voutsinas told the audience that the court chose to honor the two men because their lives and service embody enduring Hellenic democratic ideals that originated in ancient Greece.
The event brought together members of the judiciary and the greater Greek legal community, including Court of Appeals Associate Justice Madeline Singas, who serves as the first Greek-American on the state’s highest court, according to organizers.
Karloutos brings extensive experience as both a religious leader and human rights advocate. In addition to serving as one of the highest priests in the American Greek Orthodox church, he has advised every U.S. president from Jimmy Carter to Joe Biden on religious freedom and human rights issues, according to court records.
Skelos, who became emotional while accepting the award, credited Karloutos and the Hellenic Lawyers Association with supporting his first judicial election campaign. He reflected on how the Greek cultural principle influenced his approach to public service.
“Philotimo was a cultural principle that guided the actions of those people. It guided their relationships with family, neighbors, colleagues, and most of all, it guided their actions with the community,” Skelos said. “Someday, I hope philotimo will return as a guiding principle of this great country.”
The Brooklyn Heights courthouse serves as the seat for the Appellate Division, Second Department, which handles appeals from trial courts across Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.
The celebration marks a significant milestone for Greek-American representation in New York’s legal community. The Hellenic Lawyers Association has long worked to support Greek-American legal professionals and promote understanding of Greek contributions to American jurisprudence.
The ceremony highlighted the historical connection between ancient Greek democratic principles and modern American legal institutions. Greece’s influence on American democracy dates back to the founding of the United States, when the framers of the Constitution drew inspiration from ancient Athenian democratic ideals.
The inaugural Hellenic Heritage Day establishes a new tradition for the Second Department, recognizing the ongoing contributions of Greek-Americans to New York’s legal system and reinforcing the cultural bridges between Greek heritage and American democratic values.
