Parish Community Letter – September 2026

Dear Saint Sophia Parishioners and Guests,

HAPPY ECCLESIASTICAL NEW YEAR!!! With the blessings of Father Steve and Father Gregory, the Parish Council is providing this update. We have a very busy Saint Sophia Fall Planned!!!

LITURGICAL CALENDAR: Every Sunday 8:30 AM Orthros and 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy. Please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for other services and updates.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

• Sunday, September 13, 2026:
• Father Steve will celebrate his last Orthros and Divine Liturgy as Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
• A Reception to Honor and say Farewell to Father Steve immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the EAC Ballroom.
• Sunday, September 20, 2026:
• Father Augustine will celebrate his first Orthros and Divine Liturgy as Protopresbyter of Saint Sophia Cathedral. Please see his biography on our SSC website.
• A Welcome Reception for Father Augustine immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Atrium.

SSC GENERAL UPDATES:

• Safe, Secure, and Accessible: The Parish Council continues to develop and refine the Cathedral’s Safe, Secure, and Accessible initiative.
  • In August, members of the Security Committee met with a representative from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to evaluate our facilities. The report compliments us on our many initiatives but also suggests others which the Parish Council will implement.
  • DHS reiterated the importance of limited access, or fewer entry points for improved surveillance and security. During the summer months, we reduced the number of doors accessible to the Cathedral during the Orthros and Divine Liturgies and that will continue. The main Cathedral doors to the Narthex and only the Cathedral’s basement door on the parking lot side will be open. If that basement door cannot be opened through the handicap button, please use the call box and you will be let in. All other doors will be locked but available to egress.
  • The Parish Council has been considering egress modifications to the Soleas for several years. DHS has endorsed those suggested changes, and these will be implemented over the next several months.
  • The Parish Council looks forward to sharing many of these plans at the Parish Assembly Meeting in November.
• Ministries: There are a variety of ministry offerings, and please consider volunteering Your Time + Your Talent + Your Treasures to our ministries. Please look for emails, bulletin announcements, our website, and website calendar for the schedule of events and any updates.
• Narthex Project: The last mosaic icon, the Prophet of Isaiah, was installed on July 7. Our capital campaign is winding down, and all pledges will be due by the fall of 2027. If you are still interested in making a pledge/donation of love, please contact the Cathedral’s office. At the conclusion of the campaign, we will be honoring all donors and engrave their names in marble on a wall in the Narthex Elevator Lobby.
• Offering Trays: To maintain the worship experience of the Divine Liturgy as holy and un-interrupted, in June, we suspended passing the offertory trays. We will be continuing that practice and are asking you to make your offertory gift of love as a single donation each time you enter the Narthex of our Cathedral.
• 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, Saturday of Souls, Easter, Easter Lilies, Christmas, Christmas Card, Poinsettias, Narthex, etc.) with this online Saint Sophia giving opportunity. https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/FD-408
• Stewardship: Father Steve has offered the following. “Each year Saint Sophia Stewards are asked to prayerfully review their personal circumstances and make a commitment of time, talent, and treasure in loving support of our Parish Ministries. New stewards are encouraged to do likewise when joining our spiritual family. While we encourage those who are able to commit to the average annual operating cost per steward of $3,159 (calendar year 2026), or even exceed it, we welcome ALL stewardship gifts EQUALLY, REGARDLESS of gift amount. When a financial gift is given out of love for Christ, the least is as welcome as the most. We gratefully welcome ALL with open arms and open hearts!”
• Preserve and Protect Plaque: It is with profound gratitude and appreciation that we honor those who made a sacrificial gift of love to the Preserve and Protect Campaign with a beautiful commemorative plaque. This plaque has recently been installed and is in the EAC Hallway across from the Youth Room. THANK YOU TO ALL!!!

MINISTRY AND EVENT CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS: September/October 2026

• Wednesday, September 9: Philoptochos Board Meeting – TBD
• Friday, September 11: First of the season – Friday Night Supplication Service to the Mother of God – service at 6 PM, refreshments, fellowship, and Father Gregory’s YAL Bible Study discussions follow. All are welcome.
• Saturday, September 12: 1st Day of Greek School and Agiasmos (please register online).
• Sunday, September 13: 1st Day of Sunday School and Open House (please register online).
• Monday, September 14: First GOYA Basketball Practice of the season – typically every Monday 8-9:30 PM through the season.
• Tuesday, September 15: First Baking Committee of the fall – 9:30 AM-2:30 PM in the FJ Hall Kitchen and lunch is provided.
• Wednesday, September 16: First Father Gregory’s Orthodox Catechism Class of the fall – meets via zoom Wednesday at 7-8 PM.
• Thursday, September 17: First Kali Parea (Good Company) of the fall – a guest speaker following lunch at 12:30 PM in the EAC Ballroom. All are welcome.
• Saturday, September 19: Young Adult League (YAL) Kick Off Party – 2-6PM in the Atrium. Ages 18 and up.
• Sunday, September 20: First Greek Dance Lessons of the fall: typically, every Sunday (K-4^th grade: 1-2:30PM; 5^th-8^th grades: 3-5PM; and Adults: 5-7PM) in the EAC Building Ballroom 3rd floor.
• Sunday, September 27: Sunday School and Agiasmos.
• Sunday, October 4: Philoptochos: Briefing on the charity, Friendship Place followed by a General Membership Meeting, after the Divine Liturgy in FJ Hall. A light lunch will be served.
• Sunday, October 11: Philoptochos: Briefing on the charity, House of Ruth followed by a General Membership Meeting, after the Divine Liturgy in FJ Hall. A light lunch will be served.
• Saturday, October 17: YAL Social Event – TBD.
• Saturday, October 17: Philoptochos: Oldies Night – Enjoy wine, beer, and live music starting at 6 PM in the EAC Ballroom. Charitable giving proceeds is the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve (FOCUS) in the DMV.
• Sunday, October 18: Teen Talk (7^th-12^th grades) with Father.
• Sunday, October 18: Philoptochos: Briefing on the charity, Child and Family Services Agency followed by a General Membership Meeting, after the Divine Liturgy in FJ Hall. A light lunch will be served.
• Saturday, October 24: Greek School: OKI Day Lessons and Celebration.
  
• Saturday, October 24: AHEPA Chapter 31 Annual Dance (Cathedral Ballroom) from 7PM to 11PM.
• Saturday, October 24: YAL Event – TBD.
• Saturday, October 24 – Sunday, October 25: GOYA Richmond Basketball Tournament
• Sunday, October 25: Junior Orthodox Youth (JOY – ages 8-12) and Little Angels (LA – ages 3-7) Pumpkin Decorating Event immediately after the Divine Liturgy in the Atrium.
• Sunday, October 25: Philoptochos: La Casa Event immediately after the Divine Liturgy in FJ Hall.

SSC MINISTRIES and OTHER EVENTS – Weekly and Monthly Reoccurring Events: Please see the website, website calendar, bulletins, and emails for updates.

• Sunday School: students and teachers attend the Divine Liturgy and after Holy Communion, students are excused to go to their classes.
  • Pre Little Angels: every Sunday following Holy Communion, ages 40 days to 3 years old meet in the Youth Room.
  • Face Time (Little Angels): typically, monthly for Pre-K- 2^nd graders with Father.
  • Faith Time (JOY): typically, monthly for 3^rd– 6^th graders with Father.
  • Teen Talk: typically, monthly for 7^th– 12^th graders with Father.
• GOYA Basketball Practice: typically, every Monday 8-9:30 PM through the season.
• Baking Committee: typically meets Tuesday 9:30 AM-2:30 PM during the fall, winter, and spring months in the FJ Hall Kitchen. Lunch is provided.
  • Father Gregory’s Orthodox Catechism Class: meets via zoom Wednesday at 7-8 PM.
• Kali Parea (Good Company): typically, 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: typically, the third Thursday of the month.
  • Friday Night Supplication Service to the Mother of God: service at 6 PM, refreshments, fellowship, and Father Gregory’s YAL Bible Study discussions follow. All are welcome.
• Greek School: In person on Saturday mornings 10 AM-1 PM for Children ages 3-16. Adults at any level can participate through online classes.
• Saint Sophia Table: typically 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).
• Philoptochos Food Drive: the first Sunday of the month. Place your donated dry foods and cans in the bins located in FJ Hall.
• Greek Dance Lessons: typically, every Sunday (K-4^th grade: 1-2:30PM; 5^th-8^th grades: 3-5PM; and Adults: 5-7PM) in the EAC Building Ballroom 3rd floor.
• Byzantine Youth Choir Lessons: Open to all youth ages 8-18 – Sundays following the Divine Liturgy.

Again… HAPPY ECCLESIASTICAL NEW YEAR!!!

The Saint Sophia Parish Council