Ladies Philoptochos Society 'Nausica'
CURRENT AND UPCOMING PHILOPTOCHOS EVENTS AND PROJECTS
Hierarchical Great Vespers of the Annunciation. March 24, 2026
Welcoming Remarks by Cathy Avgiris, Philoptochos President
Your Eminence, Metropolitan Apostolos,
Nausica, the philanthropic organization of one of the oldest Greek Orthodox parishes in America, the Church of the Annunciation, has been documented in the parish annals as having been founded in 1926 under the spiritual leadership of Rev. John A. Danaskos.
Our organization’s main concern in those early years was to assist newly migrated families and help the needy during the “depression years.” During World War II, we devoted much of our efforts to aiding the American Red Cross and raising funds for the Greek War Relief.
Today, in addition to sharing time and resources with human beings in need, we continue to serve our parish, the Metropolis of New Jersey, our National Philoptochos Society, and the National and International levels of our Orthodox Church. ‘Nausica’, through the enlightenment of our spiritual leader, Reverend John Johns, and all our past Parish Priests, has broadened its philanthropic scope to include inter-faith and civic involvement.
Our Mission
To help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the handicapped, and the victims of disasters, locally, nationally, and internationally.
To promote the charitable and philanthropic purposes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America through instructional programs, lectures, seminars, and educational resources.
To preserve and perpetuate Orthodox Christian concepts and the Orthodox Christian family, and through them, to promote our Faith and traditions
To promote participation in the activities of the Greek Orthodox community, with the cooperation and support of the Parish Priest and the Parish Council.
Women and Philanthropy in the History of Hellenism
In the more than three-thousand-year history of Hellenism, several women have been recorded as paradigms of virtue, faithfulness, sacrificial love, and philanthropic activity. Whether we study archaic, classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine, or modern Hellenism, the beliefs and culture of the Hellenic, the Greek people, we find that women played leading roles in family, social, national, and religious life.
There is no better beginning than the examples we find in Homeric epics. There we find the basis of Greek ethics, of philosophy, and the justification of philoxenia, of philanthropy, of civility.
“The stranger and supplicant are like your brother. And stranger, you are welcome. Our house is yours.” (Homer, Odysseus)
Nausicaa and her mother, Arete, are the first classical examples of philanthropy in Pre-Christian Hellenism. Exhausted from his struggle against the waves, the long-suffering Odysseus is lying on the beach. And Nausica, who was the first to see him, immediately felt that a fellow human needed help. Spontaneously, with true sympathy and affection, she called her friends to assist.
“Come, this unfortunate came here shipwrecked, and we must save him. Well, come girls, give him to eat – water for the stranger and wash him in the river in a place sheltered from the wind.” And Nausica emphasized, “Cheerful must be the little that you give.”
%20(1).png)
Philoptochos Society 'Nausica' Board for 2025 - 2027
- President: Cathy Avgiris
- 1st Vice President: Patra Karidas
- 2nd Vice President: Maria McNally
- Recording Secretary: Stella Nikolopoulos
- Corresponding Secretary: Ginny Markos
- Treasurer: Kathy Verros
- Assistant Treasurer/Advisor: Stella Fisfis
Philoptochos Cookbook & Apparel
MISSION
Philoptochos is the philanthropic and charitable organization of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It is one of America's largest women’s philanthropic and religious organizations. Philoptochos's mission is to help the poor, destitute, hungry, elderly, sick, unemployed, orphaned, widowed, disabled, and disaster victims in the United States and elsewhere in the world. The Philoptochos Society's charitable work is carried out with discretion, kindness, and respect, and is funded through donations and fundraisers.
PARTICIPATION
There are 19 board members and approximately 107 active members. Philoptochos assists in every ministry of Annunciation Church and is the umbrella organization for several ministries, some of which are included in the following pages.
We meet monthly on the 1st Thursday at 7:00 PM, with general meetings throughout the year. All parish women are invited to join Philoptochos, working together to serve the Church and Greek Orthodox Community.
Visit the National Philoptochos Society for news, programs, history, leadership, membership, and bylaws.
Learn about the Patron Saints of the Philoptochos, Cosmas and Damianos.
CONTACT
