The roots of the Wilmington Chapter of Philoptochos predate the parish. In 1929, a number of women formed an organization with the benevolent intention of assisting families of the young Greek community of Wilmington during turbulent economic times headlined by the Depression. Appropriately, the group fell upon the name, Elpis, and this fledgling association of ladies would be forerunner to the Philoptochos Society. Elpis started a Greek School, securing a teacher who traveled to Wilmington from Philadelphia twice a week to teach children in a second-floor room of the Woolworth Building at 9th and Market Streets in Wilmington. The organization also helped bring clergy to celebrate liturgies in local churches of various denominations. Aspasia Green (Zographos) served as the first President of Elpis along with Helen Karavasili (Vice-President), Stella (Daskalakis) Cooper (Secretary), and Chrisoula Korologos (Treasurer). They were joined by members Angeliki Karavasili, Demetra Kramedas, Fevronia Lazopolou, Politimi Manolakis, Nikonia Laskaris, Mary Bambacos, Theodosia Stavroulakis, Evangelia Tassos, Katina Michails, Anna Joannides, Ms. Vergos, Sophia Bakoulis and many others.
In 1939, the Greek community was officially incorporated and purchased the Broom Street property that would serve as the site of the future church. An existing, albeit small, building on the property brought some stability to the religious and educational programs of the Church. A Church of their own was now becoming reality and the ladies of Elpis sought to align themselves more closely with the faith and the clear trajectory of the Wilmington Greek Community. Only ten years before, in 1931, then Archbishop, and later, Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, officially founded the Philoptochos Society to assist the needy and promote family events through music, educational lectures, and performances. Mindful of the Archbishop’s efforts, Elpis along with other auxiliary women’s groups at the time recognized that coming under the umbrella of a national organization that effectively pursued the same philanthropic interests seemed like a natural progression. On February 3, 1942, Wilmington’s Philoptochos St. Agape Chapter was officially chartered, and its first President was Demetra Kramedas. The remaining officers were: Vice President P. Dimitrakopoulou, Secretary Stella Assimakopoulou; Treasurer Sophia Bakouli and Board Members N. Laskaris, L. Psyla, Maria Geanopolou, E. Karajopoulou, and Maria Vamvakou. In the years that followed, Philoptochos supported the American and Greek War Relief efforts while also tending to activities surrounding fundraising and construction of the new Church. From 1946 until 1957, Maria Geanopoulos served as President and led Philoptochos’ efforts aiding in completion of the Church’s building and contents. Among the notable contributions to the Church, the Philoptochos donated the (original) dome icons of the Prophets Amos, Abbakoum, and Jonas, the marble pulpit and the Church’s chandeliers with members largely supporting the marble throne as well.
In 1952, the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated at newly completed Holy Trinity Church in Wilmington. That same year, the Philoptochos women opened their first bank account at Wilmington Trust Bank, an account that that remains the organization’s primary account to this day.
Today, the mission of the Philoptochos Society continues in the same mold of the earliest iterations of women’s philanthropic and auxiliary organizations:
- To aid the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters, and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the Church through fund raising efforts;
- To promote charitable, benevolent, and philanthropic purposes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, through instructional programs, presentations, lectures, seminars and other educational resources;
- To preserve and perpetuate Orthodox Christian concepts and the Orthodox Christian Family, and through them, to promote the Greek Orthodox Faith and traditions, in accordance with its doctrines, canons, discipline, divine worship, usages and customs;
- To promote participation in the activities of the Greek Orthodox community, with cooperation of the Parish priest and the Parish Council
The charitable work of Philoptochos must be performed with discretion, courtesy, and kindness as reflected in the Agape’s Chapter’s longstanding tradition of aiding and comforting parishioners of Holy Trinity in times of financial and/or emotional need. Beyond the parish family, the Agape Chapter has served those less fortunate regionally, nationally, and throughout the world. Locally, the chapter has aided the homeless and those afflicted with addiction, prepared meals for the Ronald McDonald House, adopted families for Christmas celebrations, donated and served those without food and basic clothing needs, provided meals for homebound parishioners, offered financial assistance and sponsorship to Orthodox patients and their families from around the world seeking extraordinary medical care in local hospitals, and volunteered at local food shelters. Philoptochos was ahead of the times, aiding Delaware mental health patients beginning as far back as 1974 through Operation Reindeer and other endeavors. Beyond our local community, Philoptochos has been equally engaged. The Agape Chapter was a strong advocate for the Cyprus Foster Parents Plan, sponsoring dozens of children in the 1970s and has been a vital contributor to dedicated work of St. Michael’s Home in New York for the elderly, St. Basil’s Academy, and Hellenic College for many decades. Indeed, whenever called upon by the Metropolis, Archdiocese, or the National Philoptochos, the Wilmington Agape Chapter has been among the first to support international missions, lend aid to Orthodox charities, help build churches and develop Orthodox communities abroad, provide aid to victims of natural disasters such as the 2023 fires in Greece, and otherwise support the Philoptochos mission in whatever charitable manner required.
Most prominently, the Philoptochos began the annual Bazaar held every year starting in 1966. Thanks to the love and nurturing of the Ladies of Philoptochos, the Bazaar grew in size and reputation, drawing accolades from within the parish and the Community at-large and eventually evolved to become Holy Trinity’s Greek Festival, the largest Greek Festival in the region. Today, the Ladies of Philoptochos assist in all manner of preparations with the Festival. Internally, the Chapter hosts informative lectures for its membership on issues surrounding healthy living and wellness, annually supports the youth by sponsoring the CommunionBreakfast, assisted in hosting the Palm Sunday brunch, prepared and distributed holiday breads, and hosting a spectacular Bid-n-Buy as one of its primary fundraisers. Finally, the Philoptochos has been the sponsor and producer of the Community’s Christmas Card. All of these efforts, in addition to its daily presence in nearly all aspects of parish life, make Philoptochos an indispensable part of the Holy Trinity parish family.
All Orthodox women over the age of 18 are encouraged to become members of Philoptochos. Our St. Agape chapter is truly the charitable arm of our Parish.
Constantina Verikakis, President
Officers:
President, Constantina Verikakis
1st Vice President, Georgia Halakos
2nd Vice President, Maria Grigorakakis
Recording Secretary, Evaggelia Karakasidis
Corresponding Secretary, Mary George
Treasurer, Popi Papachrysanthou
Past President & Advisor, Maroula Haralambidis
Board members:
Kristie Asimos, Eleni Aslaouridis, Labrini Hantzandreou, Vickie Karakasidis, Jessica Marvel, Joanne Tarabcios and Joanna Tsaganos
Spiritual Advisor:
V. Rev. Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Fr. Christoforos Oikonomidis, Proistamenos