Ladies Philoptochos Society 'Nausica'
CURRENT AND UPCOMING PHILOPTOCHOS EVENTS AND PROJECTS
Καλό μήνα και καλή Σαρακοστή! February was a busy month for our Philoptochos. Our membership campaign has started, and we encourage all current members to renew their membership! If you're not already a member of Philoptochos, please consider joining us!
Our Philoptochos chapter was proud to sponsor our Annunciation Dance Groups at the second annual Music and Dance Festival. We are very proud of their accomplishments and the recognition they received for their hard work. Bravo! We especially celebrate our own Stella Fisfis, who worked tirelessly as the MDF director. Our team also baked nearly 500 koulourakia for participants and guests to enjoy at MDF.
Our second annual Lagana sale took place on February 22, and we are proud to continue this tradition of freshly baked flatbreads and traditional dips for our families to enjoy on Clean Monday. Thank you to our team of volunteers who helped make it happen! On February 25, our Philoptochos fulfilled its mission by feeding the hungry through home-cooked meals as part of our partnership with FOCUS NA. Thank you to Kathy Verros and her team for coordinating and preparing the delicious meals for our neighbors in need.
And on February 27, we held our 4th annual Koliva and Coco event with our Youth groups. This is such a meaningful activity for us, as it allows us to pass down our traditions to the next generation. Over 30 kids each prepared their own bowl of koliva, with love and creativity! They learned the importance of remembering those we have lost. We look forward to continuing this tradition in the future!
As we look toward March, we prepare to celebrate 100 years of service with a luncheon on March 28th at Lulu Country Club (see poster below). Please join us and send photos of past Philoptochos events so we can preserve these memories.
.png)
%20(1).png)
Holiday Dinner, January 22, 2026
On January 22, 2026, the women of Annunciation PTO and Philoptochos gathered at La Voglia for an evening of fellowship, reconnection, and learning. We were honored to have with us Catherine Cowen and Bobbie Jenkins of Hon’s Honey, an organization empowering women survivors of trauma, addiction, trafficking, generational poverty, and abuse. All of the products displayed and sold were made with care by the women they serve. Our Philoptochos chapter was honored to present Hon’s Honey with a $500 donation, which was matched by our Annunciation PTO, to provide a whole month’s worth of daycare services for the women who work at Hon’s Honey, making handmade, all-natural honey products, soaps, and other items. Bravo ladies!
Philoptochos Sunday, November 9, 2025
Archiepiscopal Encyclical for National Philoptochos Sunday >
Each year, our Philoptochos Chapter, along with all other Philoptochos chapters in the country, celebrates the patron saints of Philoptochos, Cosmas and Damianos, with an Artoklasia for the health and salvation of its members, as well as a memorial for the blessed memory of those Philoptochos sisters who have fallen asleep in the Lord.
Today, on the Sunday of the Good Samaritan, we also remember the parable of the “Good Samaritan,” where mercy and unconditional compassion are shown as the greatest Christian virtues. A stranger was robbed and wounded, left for dead. And another stranger, a Samaritan, changes the man’s life. He refuses to pass by and answers the question, “Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?” (Jeremiah 8:22).
This is what Philoptochos does. We apply the balm of love and compassion to all who come our way. We serve to bring healing to individuals and communities who have experienced trauma in our Greek Orthodox Community of Elkins Park, and in society at large, locally, nationally, and internationally. We are the army of agape!
Philoptochos Supported the Following in 2025
- American Heart Association
- Autism Cares Foundation
- Bensalem Fire Department
- Caring for Friends
- Cole Manor Elementary School (Operation Classroom)
- Crossroads at Hellenic College
- Ecumenical Patriarchate Fund
- Face to Face Germantown
- FOCUS N.A.
- Grands Stepping UP
- Hellenic College/Holy Cross Scholarship Fund
- Holy Protection Monastery
- International Orthodox Christian Charities
- Mud Girls Studios
- National Forum of Church Musicians
- Orthodox Christian Fellowship Campus Ministry
- Orthodox Christian Mission Center
- Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
- Orthodox Volunteer Corp
- PA Special Olympics
- Rise Against Hunger
- Ronald McDonald House (including Greek Division)
- Saint Basil’s Academy
- Saint Mary of Egypt
- Saint Michael’s Home
- Saint Photios Shrine
- Schools of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
- Shoes That Fit
- Sisterhood of Saint Basil
- Support a Mission Priest
- Support of Victims of Natural Disasters
- The Breathing Room Foundation
- The SuperHero Project
- The Wardrobe
- UNICEF
- Wounded Warriors
- Zoe for Life
Φιλότιμο
Philotimo is a beautiful Greek word that cannot be directly translated. It combines two words: philo—meaning friend or love—and timo/timi, which means honor. It describes everything that reflects the best of Greek ways, character, and values that Philoptochos upholds. These include dignity, generosity, and the freedom to give and share.
Philotimo also characterizes the Samaritan in today’s Gospel parable, and is a principle that our Philoptochos chapter strives to embody every day.
The Samaritan acted spontaneously, free from prejudices. He took the wounded man to the nearest inn, checked him in, paid for his stay in advance, and promised to return. This gesture may be far from what most people would do today.
If there is one quality we need more of in the world today, it’s more philotimo. With more of it, we would be more caring, more accepting of others unlike us, more giving, more joyful… and more Christian.
So, when people in our community ask, “What does Philoptochos do?” we answer, “We give with love—our hands, our hearts—freely, without expecting anything in return, other than the knowledge that we are doing good for our fellow mankind.”
Our Philoptochos chapter strives to live by the parable of the Good Samaritan every day. We are an army of agape, inspiring women and making a difference in the world. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining us to serve with love and act with philotimo.
We serve those in need in our community in many ways. While some members prepared home-cooked meals for delivery to Ronald McDonald House, others teamed up with our GOYANs and fellow Philoptochos sisters at Saint Sophia to prepare meals for FOCUS N.A. Whether it’s a Greek meal of roast chicken with potatoes, string beans, salad, and baklava, or pans of baked ziti—we leave with the satisfaction of knowing we filled empty bellies and comforted families caring for sick children.
Metropolis of New Jersey Philoptochos Board
.jpeg)
The installation of the Metropolis Philoptochos Board took place on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at St. Demetrios Church in Upper Darby, PA. The event included Diane Saphos and Stella Fisfis, though Stella was absent due to a family baptism.
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
