Archangel Michael Ladies Philoptochos
We invite all of the women of our Archangel Michael Church to experience the beauty of Philoptochos and its mission to “help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, those with disabilities and the victims of disasters.” We would love to welcome you all to our chapter and want to take this opportunity to thank our Archangel Michael community for its support and involvement in helping us fulfill our mission. With your membership and our fundraising efforts, we are able to do so much, and your continued support is needed.
What Is Philoptochos?
While the Greek word “philoptochos” means “friends of the poor,” it does not begin to describe the many facets of the organization that chose this name. We are the philanthropic arm of the Archdiocese of America. For over 90 years, Philoptochos has made a difference in the lives of people in the United States and around the world. In November 1931, the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, who was then serving as Archbishop of North and South America established Philoptochos with a mission:
- to help those in need;
- to promote the charitable, benevolent, and philanthropic purposes through presentations, lectures and other educational resources;
- to preserve and perpetuate the Orthodox Christian family, faith, and traditions; and
- to promote participation in the activities of the Greek Orthodox community.
We need your talent and skills!
Philoptochos provides the opportunity to offer time, talent, and treasure through Christian fellowship. As women, each of us is simply asking other women to care. We are reaching out to all women in our community to invite, to embrace and to involve you in all our Philanthropic endeavors as our Philoptochos chapter and our Society continue to meet the increasing demands of our ever-changing society in the world today.
But someone will say ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ~ From the Epistle of St. James
Whether you are an active or supportive member, whether you like to cook, decorative arts, floral arrangements, sales and marketing, planning, soup kitchens, fund raising events for the hungry and those in need, cooperating in activities to support our community, increasing awareness in issues that affect us and our families through participation in instructional and educational programs and lectures.
Philoptochos will provide you the opportunities to express yourselves in the areas of your choosing. We would like to encourage those of you who are busy with your children, your jobs and your families to come and be a part of our team. Even if you only have an hour or two a month, there is a place for you and for everyone. Join the energetic, creative, and compassionate women of the Archangel Michael Philoptochos.
What your membership supports
Our local chapter supports the National and Archdiocesan District Philoptochos commitments along with local outreach activities. Some of the recipients that your membership supports are:
- Saint Basil Academy;
- Autism Assistance Fund;
- Social Services;
- Cancer and Other Major Illness Fund,
- Hellenic College/Holy Cross Scholarship Fund;
- Ecumenical Patriarchate;
- Saint Photios Shrine Fund;
- National Emergency Fund (responding to those in need in times of national or international crisis);
- Orthodox Christian Missions Fund;
- International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC);
- Orthodox Christian Fellowship Fund (OCF);
- Hellenic College/Holy Cross Beacons of Hope (tuition assistance to our district’s seminarians);
- Hellenic Cultural Center;
- Saint Michael’s Home for the Aged and Expansion Project;
- UNICEF;
- Feeding the Hungry in NYC;
- Blessings in a Backpack for Port Washington schools;
- Operation Classroom;
- Archangel Michael Church Challenge Liturgy;
- Safe Center of LI; and
- St. Mary’s Hospital for Children.
Archangel Michael Philoptochos Cooking Club
Join us for our Cooking Club events where we learn and share our traditions in the kitchen. The Philoptochos Cooking Club has been formed with the idea of sharing and documenting Greek recipes and cooking together in the spirit of community. We have brought chefs who have published their cookbooks and wonderful cooks from our Archangel Michael community. To date we have made and shared lenten dishes both sweet and savory, tsourekia, soutzoukakia, zucchini pie, fava, and we even had a Greek-flavored Thanksgiving. Sessions are scheduled for either Saturday mornings or weekday evenings. Look for our Cooking Club announcements.
Philoptochos Scholarship
The Archangel Michael Ladies Philoptochos has established a Scholarship Committee, whereby granting a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is of Greek Orthodox faith and has demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropic endeavors throughout his or her high school career. It is our belief that a scholarship has the ability to boost the morale and confidence in a student’s ability to work toward his or her future. By supporting our youth in this manner, we help them build a strong foundation to achieve their potential. Please click on link for 2024 application: https://archangelmichaelchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AMC-Ladies-Philoptochos-Society-Scholarship_2024.pdf.
Archangel Michael Ladies Philoptochos Society
C/O Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church
100 Fairway Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
If you have any questions, please contact Bessie Ziozis, Philoptochos President at 917-593-0011.
