Benevolent Society of Eleftheriani
USA & Canada
The Village of Eleftheriani
The Village of Eleftheriani lies in the mountainous area just about an hour’s drive northeast of the small city of Nafpaktos, Aitoloakarnania in Central Greece. The area is also commonly known unofficially as OREINI Nafpaktia. The Village lies in a valley area with natural mountain barriers and is famously known for the immense covering of fir trees that blanket the entire region. The elevation is about 2,200 feet above sea level.
The exact age of the Village of Eleftheriani is not known, however, oral tradition as well as written documents lead to various theories and ideas. The name itself is said to have been derived from the fact no Turk ever set a foot in the Village resulted in the famous name, which is literally translated into the word "Freedom". However, it must be noted that there are other villages in the vicinity that can also lay claim to no Turks having set foot on their land as well. There are other theories on the origin of the name of the Village, but, we as "Leftheriani" enjoy the no Turk legend!!!
In 1821, prior to the Greek War of Independence, there were only 10-12 families living in Eleftheriani. The families known to have inhabited the Village were the Kouroumousis, Lois, Panagiotopoulos, Papadopoulos, Petropoulos, Pittas, Polymeropoulos, Seretis and Siamas families. Almost all of these families consisted of one patriarch and they numbered a total of 60-75 people. Every single individual alive today whose roots stem from Eleftheriani can trace their lineage back to at least three of these families if not more.
Like all the area villages at the time, Eleftheriani contributed its share of soldiers during the War of Independence. Several of our ancestors fought valiantly for their country’s freedom. Most notably is Captain, Pantelis Polymeropoulos, Kostas Seretis , and the brothers Sotirios and Demetrios Siamas. Of these men, Demetrios Siamas stands out, having sacrificed his life and dying with honors at the Battle of Arahova in 1826. He was the first known person from Eleftheriani to lose his life on a battlefield.
Soon after Greece gained its independence after the War, other families began to settle in Eleftheriani. These included the Aggelopoulos, Arvanitis, Barbayannis, Dimopoulos, Georgios, Gizas, Moukas, Nikolopoulos, Tzoumakas and Cholevas families. The population would continue to grow and peak in the 1940’s to nearly 700 people. But by the 1950’s and after the Greek Civil War, families began leaving and settling in Nafpaktos and Athens, as well as migrating with the rest of the Greek diaspora to Australia and, of course, to the US and Canada.
These immigrants never forgot their roots and have instilled that sense of identity in their children and grandchildren, many of whom still refer to themselves proudly as "Leftheriani"!!! As the last generation born and raised in the Village moves on, it is the goal of the Society to ensure that this pride and commonality continues on to future generations!
A New Life in the West - USA and Canada
The Benevolent Society of Eleftheriani was first formed in 1917 in Dover, NJ. Known as the Eleftheriani Brotherhood at the time, it was the first society established representing the village of Eleftheriani in Aitoloakarnania, Greece, also unofficially known as Oreini, Nafpaktia. The society was temporarily suspended in 1922 with the outbreak of the Greco Turkish War. Many of those here in the US at the time went back to their homeland to assist in the war effort.
Although the family of Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos, later known as Pappas, was the first family to fully emigrate to the US in 1929, it was during the late 1940’s that families from the village would slowly begin to emigrate in larger numbers. By the late 1950’s, many of the first wave of immigrants that established the original society in 1917 recognized the need to reform the society to foster a sense of identity among those whose roots stemmed from Eleftheriani.
In 1959 they did just that, and the Benevolent Society of Eleftheriani of the USA and Canada was born. Our first officers were as follows:
President- James K. Pappas
Vice President- Efthimios Papadopoulos
Secretary - Van F. Pappas
Treasurer - Christos A. Kouroumousis
These men, along with some very dedicated and devoted new members, laid the foundation for what would become one of the strongest and most tight-knit Greek- American societies in the USA Today!
By the mid 1980’s, the society would host several annual events open to all Greek Americans, most notably our Annual Dinner/Dance and Annual Picnics. Also by this time, there were well over 150 families and nearly 500 people directly linked to Eleftheriani from the New York Metropolitan Area alone. Aside from New York, it is worth acknowledging that there exist two other areas in North America with a significant population of " Leftheriani ".
Indianapolis, Indiana
The first person to emigrate to this city was Nikos Siamas in 1907, who ended up settling there and raising a family. He was followed by George Angelopoulos and Nikos Papadopoulos, both of whom also settled and raised families in the area. It is worth noting that the descendants of these men number well over 100 people today as they've been settled in Indianapolis far longer than the New York families. They are one of us whether they know it or not and will always be considered "Leftheriani"!
Montreal, Canada
Many from Eleftheriani began to settle in this city beginning in the mid 1950’s. Most notable was George T. Siamas who then sent for his brothers and sisters to join him. Eventually, many more would follow, including the families of Xenophon Nikolopoulos, Zisimos Gizas, Dimitris Panagiotopoulos, Christos Pexos and many others. By the mid 1960’s, their numbers would rival the New York immigrants, so much so that the Montreal contingent produced many prominent members and officers in the early vital years of the 1960’s during the Society's infancy. By 1980, they eventually formed their own society. The Montreal faction of the 1960’s was short lived. It continued, however, as part of the overall Benevolent Society of Eleftheriani, USA and Canada to this day!