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Sisterhood of Presbyteres Meeting Reveals a Spiritual Family

 


As 2016 draws to a close I am looking back at a year when I have travelled more than at any time in my life. My experiences included the incredible blessing of being present on Crete during the Holy and Great Council, but it was also wonderful to participate the Clergy - Laity Congress of the Archdiocese of America that was held in July in Nashville, TN. Among the events I enjoyed was the NSP meeting. 

The National Sisterhood of Presbyteres (NSP) held their biennial meeting in a spirit of joviality, mutual support, and devotion to the Orthodox Church on July 4.

After NSP President Presbytera Pauline Pavlakos, who is married to Father Constantine Pavlakos, Pastor of the Church of St. Catherine’s in Falls Church, VA, welcomed her sisters in Christ and asked Fr. Michael Kontogiorgis to offer the invocation. She then invited Paulette Poulos and George Tsandikos, Executive Director and Chairman of the Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, respectively, to address the guests.

Pavlakos expressed the deep appreciation of the sisterhood for the material support their organization has received through from Leadership, especially for the underwriting of its retreats.

George Tsadikos, newly appointed Vice  Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, addresses the Sisterhood.

Tsandikos was moved when he noted that his personal support is rooted in the deep appreciation being the son of a priest and presbytera has given him for the sacrifices of presbyteres and their children.

Poulos echoed that appreciation and added that presbyteres are the church’s valued silent soldiers.

“You are ones who stick with your husbands no matter where in the world they go. All of you have made the sacrifices, and as George said, you have given your lives to Christ and you are the silent voices of Christ. We love you and we will always try to support you in every way we can…we wish we can do more.”

Pavlakos then invited Cynthia Paleologos to lead an icebreaker that led into the business portion of the meeting, which included Pavlakos’ annual report.

NSP President Presbytera Pauline Pavlakos

Fr. Kontogiorgis returned to the podium for a thought-provoking presentation on contemporary social issues and the current turbulent political environment, and offered a warning based on his experience about the assumptions and judgements people tend to make about others. Regarding his own, he said “generally, they have not been right.”

As a prelude to focusing them on the Church’s crucial mission to its youth, which many presbyteres contribute to, he urged them to “take a moment to think about what advise you would give your younger selves…and how your lives would have been different…The world is a complex place and young people need our help.

Pavlakos marked the close of her two-year term with warm thanks for the work and support of the sisterhood’s Board and members, and Anastasia Cassis then presented Pavlakos with a gift expressing their appreciation for the latter’s work. The lovely silver necklace with a perfect circle engraved with hearts had a practical counterpart: Pavlakos was nominated for a second term.