About Saint Katherine’s Philoptochos

Our Local Chapter

The St. Katherine Greek Women Society was chartered by the state of South Carolina on January 12, 1938. The purpose of the society was defined as religious, educational and social.

Our First Officers and Board Members

The following were the officers and board of the society:
Kalliope P. Verge - President
Stavroula N. Constan Vice - President
Angeline P. Xepapas - Treasurer
Emaline N. Constan - Secretary
Marina N. Papadea - Trustee
Pithia J. Siokos - Trustee
Constantina P. Papajohn - Trustee

Our Legacy

Since there was no established church at the time, the ladies met in individual homes and planned many activities to raise money to help the Greek community. By 1940 St Katherine’s had become a part of the National Philoptochos Society.

With their sewing machines, the ladies played an active part during World War II in the Red Cross Drives.

The society’s first funds were derived from initiation and membership fees. These funds were not enough to meet its obligations, so the organization began having bake sales. Once the community had a community center all the baking was done in the center’s kitchen. Many pastries and homemade breads came out of this kitchen.

The Bake Sale and Luncheon is our number one annual fund raising project. Through these efforts, our National, Metropolis and local commitments are met.

Bake Sales have been held every spring since 1947, and all the ladies work hard to make them bigger and better every year.

Our Mission Statement

The Saint Katherine’s Philoptochos Society at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbia South Carolina, is a chapter of the Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society headquartered in New York City, NYC. The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc., is the duly accredited women’s philanthropic society of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The mission of the Society shall be:

• 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, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the Church through fund raising efforts;
• To promote the 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 the cooperation of the Parish Priest and the Parish Council.

The charitable work of the Society shall be performed with discretion, courtesy and kindness.

Feel free to print your copy of the Philoptochos Prayer. To read more Orthodox prayers, be sure to visit our official blog.