Our History
The Nafpaktian Cultural Foundation orgins are from Sterea Ellas, Greece. Sterea Ellas is part of Central Greece consisting of six prefectures (similar to counties); Evia,Etoloakarnania, Evritania, Fokida, Fthiotida, and Viotia. The climate is dry in the interior and mild along the coast. The landscape is very diverse. It is one of the most mountainous in Greece, having some of the highest elevations in the country. The slopes are forested with pine, beech, oak, and poplar trees. There are fast-moving streams separated by flat lands, plateaus, and lakes, with countless bays and coves leading to beautiful beaches.
Sterea Ellas has traditionally been known as Roúmeli. The name was derived from the Turish word Rumelia, meaning “the land of the Romans”, in reference to the Byzantine Empire. The main dance of this region is tsamikos. An ancient warrior dance, it tends to be slow and controlled, in which the leader performs energetic leaps. The main instrument for this music is the clarinet.
Sterea Ellas has a rich history with many accounts still being told thanks to the great works of Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides. Many have heard of:
- Delphi, site of the Delphic oracle
- Eliknokas, home of the Muses
- The Battle of Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans stood against hundreds of thousands of Persians
- In 1571, the Ottoman Empire’s naval power was nearly completely destroyed at the Battle of Lepanto, now known as Nafpaktos.
Coming to America
In the late 1890’s, more and more Greeks began migrating to the United States. This was due to the economic opportunities in the U.S., displacement caused by hardships of Ottoman rule, the Balkan Wars, and World War I. Over 500,000 Greeks arrived in the U.S. during that time. Many settled in the Eastern and Midwest states in large cities.
The first known Nafpaktian to settle in the Northeastern Ohio area was Christos Papaefthimiou. Born in 1879 in Neohorion, he settled in Akron in the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, shortly after his arrival, he met an untimely death when he was robbed and killed. There is no record of any descendents. In 1910, Athanasios Memos, also of Neohorion settled in Akron. Since then, even though many Nafpaktians sought to make a new life in many parts of the United States. We have no records of anyone else settling in the Cleveland area until the 1950’s.
Between the 1950’s and 1970’s immigration from Greece to the United States peaked. By now, World War II and the Greek Civil War were over and the devastation left behind was felt by all. The Nafpaktians, eager for a better life for themselves and their families, began a massive exodus. They came from the villages of Agios Demetrios, Elatou, Livadaki, Ano Hora, Kato Hora, Neohorion, Terpsithea and the City of Nafpaktos, and many others.
As more Nafpaktians settled in the Cleveland area, they decided to establish an organization.The purpose of the organization would be to develop relationships among those that came from Sterea Ellas, Greece. In addition, they would help preserve the religion, traditions, and support philanthropic endeavors.
On August 19, 1964, The Nafpaktiake Fraternity of Cleveland, Ohio was formed with 20 members and approved by the State of Ohio. As the Fraternity grew it assisted many in need, especially those that had to seek medical treatment in the United States. The Fraternity supported the local Greek Orthodox Churches, including a significant contribution toward the building of the Hellenic Hall at the Annunciation Church in Cleveland.
On May 6, 2009, the name of the Fraternity was changed to be more representative of the organization’s primary purpose. The new name would be Nafpaktian Cultural Foundation, Inc.
The Nafpaktian Cultural Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) private foundation. More ->
