St. Sophia Website

"Kali Hronia!." In Greek, this salutation is so much more meaningful than the American greeting of "happy new year." Translated, the expression is a wish for "a good year!" And, so even now, we can repeat this wish to all our friends and family. May you and your loved ones have a very good year. In addition, may you also work to make this a very good year. We can wait for good things to happen but we can be proactive and work to make good things happen. Fortunately, in Philoptochos, we have women willing to work to make a difference.

To start off the New Year properly, bakers Marietta Caladim, Maria Mahar, and Kathryn Sokaris gave up an afternoon of their time to come in and make the traditional vasilopita. The bread was blessed by Father Pat and then cut and served to those many individuals who work year-round for the good of St. Sophia. Thank you to our bakers and our many workers.

As to the upcoming calendar, Orthodox Easter is unusually early this year. It falls on April 4^th, the same as Western Easter. This means that Lent and all the church services and special activities associated with Lent will also start early. Lent actually begins February 15^th.

Philoptochos will be assisting in the following:

Lenten Luncheon, Saturday, February 20^st. This luncheon follows Liturgy on the Third Saturday of Souls. The luncheon is free but a basket is available for donations. Donations will benefit Hellenic College/Holy Cross. Vickie Lembesis is chair.

Vespers Reception, Sunday Of Orthodoxy, February 21^st. We will be host church for Vespers at 4:00 PM and Fellowship at 5:00 PM on Sunday of Orthodoxy. It is customary to have a reception for all the guests following services. We will need 20 to 25 donations of lenten refreshments to serve the usual guest list of 150 or more people. Volunteers will also be needed to help set up and serve. Please call me if you are able to assist in this evening of Orthodox fellowship. We need a lot of help for this.

Collection of donations for the Epitaphio. More than 800 stems of carnations, lilies, and other flowers will be used to decorate the Epitaphio on Good Friday. This collection for the flowers will begin on Sunday, February 21^st. A special basket is set up in the exonarthex for donations. Dolores Bachandouris and Maria Patelos are chairs.

Traditional coloring of Easter eggs, Holy Thursday, April 1^st. Three and a half cases of eggs need to be colored. This task begins at 6 a.m. Maria Sokaris is chair.

The Agape Fellowship, Easter Sunday, April 4^th. This special fellowship hour follows the 11 am services. There is tsoureki, Easter eggs, cheese, fruit platters, and a nameday cake for Father Pat. The children look forward to the excitement of the annual Easter candy hunt. Colleen Nelligan and Margaret Danes are chairs.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we wish everyone an abundance of love. Not only may you receive love but also share and give love. As Philoptochos members, we endeavor to demonstrate that love for others through our many endeavors; and, since there’s never an overabundance of love, we always welcome newcomers.