Parish Community Letter – March 2026

Dear Saint Sophia Parishioners,

With the blessings from Father Steve and Father Gregory, the Clergy, Parish Council, and Staff wish everyone a Blessed Lenten Season!

LITURGICAL CALENDAR: Every Sunday 8:30 AM Orthros and 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy. Our weekday worship now begins at 7:30 AM Orthros and 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy – please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for other services and updates. We also have published a 2026 Lenten Schedule for your convenience. There are copies available in the Narthex and online.

SSC GENERAL UPDATES:

• February Ministry Activities: Our February ministry events included a YAL Fellowship and Discussion with Father Gregory, at Zorba’s Café, and a Philoptochos sponsored presentation by Father Steve on “The Prodigal Son – Finding the Way Home.” Ladies of all ages gathered for a social evening, celebrating Saint Sophia Galentine’s Wine Night. The YAL celebrated Valentines with a Vespers service followed by a Young Adult Matchmaking Valentine’s Day event. We held our inaugural Byzantine Youth Choir lesson and Philoptochos held their General Membership Meeting. Due to inclement weather, the GOYA: Greek Dancing with Joy/Little Angels, Men’s Social Hour, Doughboys Event (Tsoureki Time), and Acolyte Cookout events will be rescheduled.

• Alexandros J. Alexandrou Three Hierarchs Award: Congratulations to the 2026 youth recipient Elaine Komis and the 2026 adult recipient George Mantalvanos, who have demonstrated excellence pursuing their love and skill of the Greek language and culture.

• The Hellenic Society Prometheas Cultural Heritage Awards Gala: On February 14, Dr. Nicholas Patrons, Ms. Sophia Tsangali, and Reverend Father Steven P. Zorzos were honored for their many contributions to our Greek Culture and Faith.

• Holy Week Visitations to Homebound and Nursing Home Residents: If you, a family member, or friend would like to be visited during Holy Week by Father Gregory, please contact the Cathedral’s office to schedule a visit.

• Saint Sophia Cathedral Veterans Album: Several years ago, we started to assemble information celebrating all Saints Sophians who served our country. We want to continue and complete this effort, and we are looking for individuals who will help assemble pictures and data, compose text, and finally help publish this very important historical document. What a grand way to celebrate our country’s 250-year anniversary and our Saint Sophia history! If you are interested in helping, please contact Demo Kolaras at 703-915-1621or dkolaras2@gmail.com.

• ParishSOFT: For your convenience, you can manage ALL your donations online. ParishSOFT will email your receipts and year-end statements. Please take this opportunity to administer your stewardship and all donations (Weekly Offering, Candles, Memorial, Saints, Saturdays of Souls, Easter, Easter Lilies, Christmas, Christmas Card, Poinsettias, Narthex, Preserve & Protect, etc.) with this online Saint Sophia giving opportunity. https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/FD-408

• The Saint Sophia Mercedes-Benz Raffle: Coming Soon!

SSC MINISTRY AND EVENT CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS: Please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for updates.

• February 23-April 3 – Psalter Prayer Group – for more information email saintsophiacathedralbookstore@gmail.com.
• March 1 – Sunday of Orthodoxy – Sunday School Icon Procession – We welcome all our past, previous, and future Sunday School Students, JOY, Little Angels, GOYA, Acolytes, and YAL to take part in the Procession of Icons on the Sunday of Orthodoxy!
• March 8 – Sunday School Teen Talk (Grades 7th – 12th).
• March 14 – GOYA Retreat.
• March 15 – Altar Boys and Men in Black La Casa Event.
• March 21 – Greek Independence Day: Greek School Celebration in Ballroom.
• March 21 – Philoptochos: Lenten Retreat 10 AM – 1 PM.
• March 22 – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros visits.
• March 22 – Sunday School Faith Time (3rd – 6th grades).
• March 29 – Sunday School Face Time (Pre K – 2nd grades).
• April 2 – Philoptochos: Clean and Make Palm Crosses in FJ Hall.
• April 4 – Saturday of Lazarus – Family Communion – Confessions with the Fathers – JOY/LA Palm Making – GOYA Plaki Prep.
• April 5 – Palm Sunday – GOYA will host a Plaki Luncheon. All are welcome! And JOY/LA Arts Activities in the Ballroom.
• April 6-11 – Holy Week Visitations to Homebound and Nursing Homes by Father Gregory.
• April 9 – Philoptochos: Prepare Flowers for Epitaphio.
• APRIL 12 – ORTHODOX EASTER! CHRISTOS ANESTI!!!
• April 18-19 – Saints Constantine & Helen Basketball Tournament.
• April 18 – Men’s Social Hour at 6 PM.
• April 19 – Sunday School Faith Time (Grades 3rd – 6th).
• April 19 – Acolyte Cookout.
• April 25-26 – Saint Demetrios Basketball Tournament.
• April 26 – 9th – 12th Grade Girls Behind the Scenes Visit to the Altar with Father Steve.
• April 26 – Philoptochos: The Myrrh Bearing Women with Diane Apostolos-Cappadona.
• May 3 – Sunday School Face Time (Grades Pre-K – 2nd).
• May 9 – Last Day of Greek School.
• May 10 – Last Day of Sunday School and Graduate Sunday.
• May 15-17 – Annual Spring Festival – Volunteers needed!!!

SSC MINISTRIES – WEEKLY AND MONTHLY RECURRING EVENTS: Please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for updates.

• Father Steve’s Bible Study – meets October-May via zoom Tuesday evening at 7-8 PM.
• Friday Nights with Mother of God – service at 6 PM, refreshments, fellowship, and discussions to follow with YAL. Others are welcome.
• Baking Committee – meets Tuesday 9:30 AM-2:30 PM during the fall, winter and spring months in the FJ Hall Kitchen, where delicious Greek sweets are made. Lunch is provided.
• Philoptochos Food Drive – the first Sunday of the month. Place your donated dry foods and cans in the bins located in FJ Hall.
• Saint Sophia Table – meets in the FJ Hall Kitchen the second Saturday of the month, where food is prepared for those in need. Food Prep 11 AM-1 PM and Service 1-3 PM (formally St. Stephen’s Table).
• GOYA Basketball Practice – typically every Monday 8-9:30 PM through the season.
• Good Company – Kali Parea – the third Thursday of the month (September-November and January-April), with a guest speaker or activity following lunch at 12:30 PM in the EAC Ballroom.
• Parish Council Meetings – the third Thursday of the month.

SSC MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT:

Sunday School: St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival – Calling all speakers, essayists, and poets!  Open to all Saint Sophia Sunday School students in grades 7th – 12th grade, to share your opinions, thoughts, and most of all, your feelings of faith. The junior division is for grades 7th – 9th and the senior division is for grades 10th – 12th. Email: amanda.k.lockhart@gmail.com

To participate, students can either deliver a 4 – 5 minute speech, draft an essay, or pen a poem on any of the topics from this year’s topic list. At the district level, speakers from Saint Sophia compete against speakers from Saints Constantine and Helen and we can send two finalists to the regional competition in New York (transportation and hotel provided by Saint Sophia’s for any Saint Sophia finalists). The district competition will be held on March 29th at Saint Sophia and the regional contest is in New York at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on May 9, 2025. We have competed at the regional level several times and we even made it past the regional level to the national level competition.

Philoptochos: If you personally or you hear of an individual, couple, family, who are in financial or other social service needs, please reach out to Philoptochos.

OTHER EVENTS or OPPORTUNITIES: Please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for more information.

• Washington Metropolitan Area AHEPA-DOP Scholarship Program: For 56 years, AHEPA has recognized and celebrated outstanding Greek Orthodox Graduating High School Seniors for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. Please contact Karen Polizos 571-216-4099, karenspolizos@gmail.com; Ergini Martnishn 571-215-8695; or Sophia Alpos 571-225-3330.
• Scholarship Opportunities for Greek Orthodox Christians: Philoptochos Scholarship (Deadline March 31, 2026, for an annual academic scholarship of $3,000 to one eligible male or female high school senior, undergraduate or graduate student), and Helen Apostolos Scholarship (Deadline March 31, 2026, for a academic scholarship of $1,000 to a female accepted by, or enrolled in, an accredited program of study directly related to a career in business). Contact Philoptochos for more information.
• Meraki Laographic Arts: Hellenic Dance classes for all ages – Sundays: grades K-5^th 12:30-1:30 PM @ Potomac United Methodist Church; Tuesdays: grades 5^th-8^th 6:30-8:30 PM @ Winston Churchill High School; and grades 5^th-8^th 7-9 PM @ Walter Johnson High School; Mondays: adults 18+ 7-9 PM @ St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
• Armenian Art and the World: Lecture Helen C. Evans, Ph. D. March 26 at 5 PM Heritage Hall, Catholic University.
• Heritage Greece: The National Hellenic Society opened their applications for all Summer 2026 Heritage Greece Programs, offering Greek American/Canadian college students a two-week, immersive journey into Hellenic history, culture, and identity.

A Blessed Lenten Season to all!

Yours in Christ,

The Saint Sophia Parish Council