SEPTEMBER
Dear philoptochos Members,
Welcome back to all our members after a wonderful summer of rest and relaxation among family and friends. Philoptochos is gearing up for another season of support to our community with programs and events that we hope will engage the interest and participation of all. Our Board of Directors has been elected and we are poised to serve you to the very best of our abilities. They are: Efthimia Andrews, Mary Athanites, Liz Contos, Andrea Dikeou, Patrice Dovas-Hudson, Eva Fry, Phyllis Kennebeck, Alex Kitsos, Celeste Lee, Liberty Matzakos, Elaine McCoy, Niki Mott, Vasiliki Murdzia, Nikki Parker, Nikki Phillips, Christine Smith, Dianne Sweeney, Janice Thomas, and Helene Waibel.Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any one of us with a suggestion or concern you may have.
GENERAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 Annunciation Room
We are holding our first General Meeting on Tuesday, September 18th at 6:00 PM. This is an important meeting where we will be discussing our support of the Mt. Tabor Retreat Center and the extent of our donation to the Metropolis of Denver for its development. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served as we welcome our members back for another fulfilling year of Philoptochos activities. A full calendar of our activities for the year will be available for all attending.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION, October 5, 2025, 12:30 PM following Coffee Hour Annunciation Room
New members are invited to join us for a quick review and orientation to the programs and activities of Philoptochos each year. We will tell you about the support we offer local, national and international communities, our fundraising events, and the programs we conduct for our seniors and parish as a whole. A handbook will be supplied for easy reference at home. Please call Christine at 720.524.4837 or at cksmith@4edisp.net and let us know that you are planning to attend.
2025 Women’s continuing education scholarship Awardee Demetra Matzakos
Congratulations to Demetra Matzakos for her award of the 2025 Philoptochos Women’s Continuing Education Scholarship! Demetra is beginning her sophomore year at the University of Wyoming, majoring in pre-nursing. The recommendations received by our committee regarding her character and achievements were the highest endorsements we have ever seen for a candidate. Our committee was impressed by her academic achievements, participation in Young Orthodox groups at school and her ongoing community activities at the Assumption Cathedral. AXIA!
Demetra Matzakos
Hebrew Education Alliance/Philoptochos cultural exchange September 9, 2025
Greek and Jewish Cuisine and Conversation
OPA! & MAZAL TOV!
We invite women to the second Greek and Jewish cultural gathering, this time at the Greek Orthodox Church. We will have conversations together— including about our women’s groups, cook delicious foods, have a tour of the sanctuary dome sacred art, feast on our food creations, and then come full circle to learn a Greek dance which is also Jewish! We are building a sense of shared community through Philoptochos and HEA Sisterhood.
Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society & Women of Hebrew Education Alliance present Greek and Jewish Cuisine, Culture and Conversation
- With Vegetarian Delights -
September 9, 2025
Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral
4610 E Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80246
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
2025 GREEK FESTIVAL WINE & CHEESE BAR
We are pleased to announce that our Wine and Cheese Booth at the Denver Greek Festival brought in a record sum for the projects and programs we conduct throughout the year. Many thanks to Mary Athanites, Efthimia Andrews, Niki Mott, Celeste Lee, and Nikki Phillips for their planning and preparation, and special thanks to those who took time to volunteer a shift to assure that the booth was a huge success.
2025 greek festival cooking demonstrations
Each year, our Cooking Demos at the festival are a huge hit, attended by hundreds of people throughout the weekend. Recipes from our celebrated cookbook, A Festival of Greek Flavors are demonstrated and our cookbook sales are greatly enhanced after each one! Special thanks this year to Eva Fry, Dianne & Chuck Sweeney, George & Cathy Locallo and others. They made this year’s demonstrations fun and inspiring for all. Please keep in mind that it is our hope that each of our members will purchases a cookbook annually as gift for someone who has not yet had the pleasure of owning one. Books can be easily purchased on our website, denverphilptochos.com or at the Philoptochos table on any Sunday.
Our Philoptochos is also integral to the overall success of the Festival each year as so many of our members are key to the operation of popular booths. We salute them for their dedication to the parish and community each year!
prophet elias chapel celebration in hot sulphur springs
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Philoptochos was able to sponsor a very comfortable bus to facilitate the attendance of many parishioners at the Hot Sulphur Springs celebration of Prophet Elias at our Prophet Elias Chapel in Hot Sulphur Springs. It was a lovely day filled with good food and friends. The Contos family once again served a delicious meal for all to enjoy. We are blessed to have so many good people in our midst. Thank you!
gold dome holiday market 2025
Our Gold Dome Holiday Market is scheduled to take place October 24th & 25th ! Please plan to come and enjoy the many crafts and artisan items available for your holiday shopping. Our snack bar will offer a tasty bite and warm drink to keep you going. If you have a special craft person in your life that may wish to sell their wares with us, please reach out to Niki Mott for more information or with any questions nikimott59@aol.com or refer them to denverphiloptochos.com to apply as a vendor.
Childcare Need
One of our parishioners has requested our assistance in finding someone who would be interested in providing childcare for her newborn baby beginning in October as a hired caretaker. We have so much love to give. If you are interested, please call Christine for more information at 720.524.4837.
See you this September!
Love, Christine
