Chapter News - September 2026

Summer is over, and Philoptochos is back in full swing!

We started off with our Paint and Sip Event on August 29, where participants let their inner artist shine through. Thanks to Maria Platis for chairing this event and to our energetic instructor Tracy Lewin for showing us that we can all be artistic!

Save the dates for these upcoming Philoptochos events:

Sunday, November 1 – Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk (Balboa Park)

Sunday, November 8 – Thanksgiving Luncheon (Cypress Room)

Sunday, November 15 - Light the Path Metropolis Event (Lakewood, CA)

Saturday, December 5 – Christmas Luncheon

Sunday, February 7 – Membership Fellowship Event (Cypress Room)

As many of you may know, Philoptochos supports our COLLEGE CONNECTION ministry. This ministry helps connect our youth to St. Spyridon while they are away at college by sending them letters and gifts to make their time away from home a little easier and keeps their connection to St. Spyridon strong. Under the leadership of Bill Navrides, this ministry also connects students from out of town who are studying at our local universities to St. Spyridon, so they feel comfortable attending church. As our children have told us, it is a little bit daunting walking into church without the comfort of your family whenyou are in a new city. As the new school year has begun, and our St. Spyridon students have moved away to start their college careers, Bill needs the addresses of our students to continue our ministry while they are away at college. Parents of College Students, please send your children’s home address while at college to Bill Navrides at Bill.navrides@sharp.com or text their address to (619)992-6775. Bill does a wonderful job of keeping our college students connected, but he can’t do it without your help.

AGAPE MEALS are offered to our community members during difficult times. If you know of a family in need or are interested in volunteering in providing meals, please reach out to Marian Dougenis 619-520-3660 or mkdougenis@prodigy.net.

ICON ADORNMENT Philoptochos invites every family to commemorate a special Feast Day in honor of your special someone by offering a donation to cover the cost of decorating the icon with beautiful fresh flowers for veneration in the Narthex. The liturgical year presents many opportunities to honor your family members and an important day in the life of the Church (suggested donation is $85). Please contact Soula in the church office at 619-297-4165 to reserve your date now.

SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP Please consider sponsoring a Sunday Fellowship Hour with your friends and family by providing simple refreshments (donuts or bagels, fruit and juice). You can honor family members or celebrate special occasions. Contact Olympia Kyriakidis at 619-507-6521 or karpenisiotisa@gmail.com, or sign up on the easel in the church hall.

As a reminder, please visit the Membership page on this website to join or renew your membership for this year. Please note that the National and Metropolis Philoptochos treasuries each receive $15 of every membership donation; any amount over $30 remains in our local chapter’s treasury. Contact Maria Platis at mplatis@hotmail.com with any questions about membership.

Please follow us on Facebook at ‘Philoptochos Anthousa Chapter’, on Instagram at ‘anthousaphiloptochos’ or visit this website to stay in the know about the activities of the chapter.

In Christ’s Sisterhood,

Michelle Defelippi

Anthousa Chapter President