Join us for EMBCA’s “2nd Nostos and Citizenship for Hellenic Adoptees” Webinar Panel Discussion on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 2 P.M. EST / 9 P.M. Athens EEST. The event will be introduced and moderated by Lou Katsos, EMBCA’s President/Founder. Our distinguished panel includes Author/ Professor Gonda Van Steen the Koraes Chair in the Centre for Hellenic Studies and the Department of Classics at King's College; State Senator of Rhodes Island and President of the World Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA) Lou Raptakis; AHEPA Supreme Vice President Chris Kaitson; Gregory Kontos the Founder of Greekancestry; and Author Dr. Mary Cardaras Director of The Demos Center in Athens.
The adoption of Hellenic children by foreign families, particularly in the United States, became widespread during the 1950s and 1960s in the aftermath of World War II and the Greek Civil War (1946–1949). Thousands of Hellenic children, often orphans or those from impoverished families, were adopted through organized legal and more than questionable efforts by international agencies. While this provided many, but not all, children with stability and new opportunities abroad, it also separated them from their Hellenic cultural heritage, language, and identity.
As these adoptees grew older, a deep longing for reconnection with their roots emerged—often referred to as “nostos” (the Hellenic word for “homecoming,” linked to the Homeric tradition of longing to return to one’s origins). For many, this quest involved rediscovering their familial lineage, reconnecting with the Hellenic language, and seeking Hellenic citizenship as a means of reclaiming their heritage. This pursuit often became an emotional and spiritual journey, encompassing identity, belonging, and cultural reintegration, as well as a current political one.
The process of obtaining Hellenic citizenship, difficult in general, for adoptees can be very complex and deeply personal. While modern Hellenic law permits citizenship restoration for individuals born in Hellas or to Hellenic parents, proving lineage or the circumstances of adoption can present challenges, particularly given the incomplete or inaccessible records from the mid-20th century. Some adoptees rely on DNA testing or archival research to trace their Hellenic roots, often uncovering long-lost family connections along the way.
Efforts to support the Hellenic adoptees have gained major traction in recent years due to the work of Gonda Van Steen and Mary Cardaras and others, with advocacy groups and individuals pressing for streamlined legal pathways to citizenship. The Hellenic government has indicated that it recognizes the emotional weight of these cases and attempting to assist adoptees in reconnecting with their homeland, and we are awaiting their stated action in this regard.
This quest for citizenship within the diaspora transcends legal status; it symbolizes a return to origins and the reclamation of a fragmented identity. For many Hellenic adoptees, obtaining citizenship is both a practical and emotional culmination of their nostos, affirming their place in the lineage, culture, and history from which they were once removed. As these stories continue to unfold, they highlight the enduring resonance of Hellenic heritage and the universal longing for belonging and self-discovery.
Join us as we explore citizenship for Hellenic adoptees , and the latest to a historical and shameful travesty.

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