By Helleniscope Editorial Staff
Over the weekend of June 28–29, 2025, the picturesque seaport town of Nafplio—one of Greece’s most romantic and historically rich corners—became the site of a truly special event: the wedding of Michael (Michalis) Bilirakis, son of long-serving U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis, and his bride Sofia Poulos.
Roots, Legacy & Greek-American Pride
For decades, Congressman Gus Bilirakis and his wife Eva have been pillars of the Greek-American community, balancing public service in Washington and advocacy for Hellenic causes with deep faith and family values. Michael, their eldest son, continues this legacy—this time in his personal life, embracing his heritage and starting his own family.
Ceremony & Reception Highlights in Nafplio
The couple’s formal wedding ceremony was held at the scenic Church of Agios Anastasios, set against the dramatic backdrop of Neptune’s Gate and the rocky outline of Bourtzi fortress. Family accounts describe a moving Orthodox ceremony, followed by a lively celebration where Greek music, traditional dances, and heartfelt toasts captured the joyous spirit of Hellenism .
Distinguished Greek-American and Greek dignitaries, including former Tampa mayor Chris Alahouzos, served as witnesses and contributed to the weekend’s warmth . A farewell brunch the next day offered a more informal moment for relatives and close friends to mingle by the sea—typical of Greek hospitality.
Family, Faith & Future
Congressman Bilirakis, visibly moved, shared this message:
“Congratulations to my eldest son Michael and his beautiful new bride, Sofia! We are so blessed to welcome such a wonderful daughter into our family. I wish the happy couple a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments.”
This sentiment—deeply rooted in faith, family, and heritage—echoes the values that have defined the Bilirakis family for generations. His role within the Greek-American community, including his co-chairmanship of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus and advocacy for issues such as Cyprus and communal heritage, adds further poignancy to the occasion.
Why Nafplio? A Symbolic Choice
Nafplio, Greece’s first capital, holds a special place in Greek hearts—steeped in history but intimately connected to the sea and community. For a Greek-American family so deeply connected to heritage, the town offered the perfect setting: ancient olive groves, neoclassical streets, and the Aegean breeze creating a magical atmosphere for a union that bridges two worlds.
To our fellow Greek-Americans, this is more than a wedding—it’s a celebration of who we are: our faith, traditions, and love that travels across oceans and generations. As Michael and Sofia begin their life together, they carry forward a legacy strengthened by family, generosity, and a profound connection to both our American experience and Greek roots.
Χρόνια πολλά και πάντα εὐτυχία, Μιχάλη και Σοφία!
June 30, 2025, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
How is it that we have the Bilirakis family in government along with the new guy running in Texas and other conservative Greeks…yet we’re constantly stuck with Karloutsos and Elpidohphoros…it makes no sense
Good question.
George!
What has happened to Monomakhos? Will it be coming back?
Petros, there is a very easy answer to your question…
In the first example, the people have a say in whether or not Bilirakis is voted into a position of authority and power.
In the second example, the Synods have “conveniently removed” the people from their Canonical right (and Scriptural tradition) to participate in the election of clergy, including bishops. But that’s how corruption proliferates, by constantly “promoting” from within, and ignoring the will of the people (who in Greece several times have proposed individual A to replace a deceased Metropolitan, only to be ignored by the Synod who voted in individual B instead). The Synods achieved this “antitraditional process change” mostly during the years of the Ottoman Empire, where the people were enslaved anyway, and collective societal memory of the “original practice” as well as access to general education, as well as the instinct to “fight abusive authority” were lost.
And don’t forget the fiascos we are witnessing in Cyprus, where in the last two Archbishop Election cycles, the will of the people (who are interestingly allowed to vote actively in the process) was blatantly ignored by the Synod, and the people just went along with the insult to their intelligence like “sheep”…
We have to demand that the people get involved in the election (and deposing) of bishops just like in the first 15 centuries of our Church, and not be left with only a “shadow of participation”, by merely being told to say “Axios”, without being advised that they have the right to say “Anaxios” and stop the entire proceedings of ordination. In the diaspora, this is easy to do, because it has been done, and people forget quickly…isn’t that how Archbishop Spyridon was removed? When the “Archons” decided to discontinue donations to Constantinople unless he was removed? The same can easily be done with any hierarch in the diaspora…except that for some reason, the Archons seem to like Elpidophoros enough to keep donating…so if the coffers keep filling up, it means that the “sheep” are happy…if the “chickens” keep laying eggs, keep playing the same tune in the chicken coop…correct?
Congratulations
To The Bilirakis Family from Florida Celebrating The Ceremony in Nauplio Greece!
You are correct Markos, but even if people do exercise their rights to object they are still ignored and overpowered. Case in point: I was unable to find this event on the internet, but my father remembers a time when the people of Larissa filled one or two coach buses to travel to Athens for the sole purpose of shouting ANAXIOS at the ordination of of their next ‘imposed’ bishop who they didn’t want. When they arrived, they were locked out of the church and the ordination and subsequent appointment took place without them. Perhaps Helleniscope could dig up this piece. What does one do in a situation like that?
That was in the 1990s, it was all over the media, and that was the first of a series of situations that became the “norm” in this modern era of corruption. Here is the link you are looking for:
https://www.vimaorthodoxias.gr/mitropoleis/i-eklogi-kai-i-epeisodiaki-cheirotonia-tou-mitropoliti-larisis-ignatiou/
Similar situations of the people’s choice being ignored occurred in Argos, Kalampaka, Lamia, and elsewhere in subsequent years…(let alone what has been transpiring in Cyprus).
In Larissa, they even “took over” the Metropolis building as well as locked the doors of the Metropolitan Cathedral as part of their protests, drawing the attention of the media for many days, but eventually the police cracked down and arrested a bunch of them…I will not comment upon the “well known secrets” that occurred under the leadership of the Metropolitan that the Athens Synod eventually put into power in Larissa, but you can keep doing your internet research to find mention of additional “ecclesiastical scandals” of unbelievable magnitude that occurred in the wider Larissa metropolis in subsequent years reportedly as a result of the new Metropolitan’s selections for the priesthood, etc…they are well-published in the Greek media…
What to do in those situations, you ask? Unless the people are united, nothing can be done, and in this modern era of spiritual apathy and apostasy, even though 10% of the “zealous” population may end up producing hundreds of protesters – impressively enough to take over a Metropolis building in Larissa for a few days – 10% is not sufficient to effectively reject a Metropolitan. If however at least 60 to 70 % of the faithful rise up in protest against the Synod in a united voice, then effective change can occur. Why that number? because there is always a baseline ~20% of “faithful” in this world who are baptized once upon a time, but the next time they show up to a Church is when it is time for their own funeral…when you remove that 20% from the equation, the original “60%” becomes much higher among those who actually go to Church…that’s how politicians win elections with a smaller percentage of the vote, and that’s also you get to the “80:20 rule” that always results in lasting transformation. If you recall the historical event in Constantinople after the treasonous “pseudo-Council of Ferrara”, where the people jeered the traitors at the docks and effectively rejected the “treaty” that was signed, that’s the model of “what can be done” in these situations…it was a lot more than 10% of the population that protested back then…