Daughters of Penelope

                

Kali Chronia! Daughters of Penelope (DOP) District 3 Antiklea Chapter #68 continues our charitable and giving efforts throughout the year.

In October, we collaborated with Order of AHEPA Chapter #83 holding a silent auction with a variety of gift baskets compiled by our sisters with 100% proceeds benefiting Daughters of Penelope. We met for lunch in November for a Book Talk on “I am Anastasia” thanks to our dear sisters Kathryn Geranios, a volunteer at VMFA, and Zoe Mouris.

We celebrated DOP Founders Day and St. Katherine Name Day on November 23rd after church at coffee hour. Then a Christmas Bake Sale of Vasilopita and Koulourakia was held in December that was very 

successful.

As our beloved Proistamenos Father Nicholas Bacalis and Presvytera Vivian retired after 30 years serving our parish, all welcomed our new Proistamenos Father Philemon Patitsas and Presvytera Maria with a reception coffee hour on January 4th to usher in the new year.

Please join us for a Book Talk on “The Mad Wife” on Wednesday, February 25th from ~4:30 to 6:30pm at The Brass Tap in Libbie Mill. RSVP to Zoe Mouris at (804)357-4765 by Sunday, February 22nd so we know how many to expect. Bring a friend who may want to know more about DOP!

 

Chapter Officers for 2024-2025

Jackie Harmon, President

Connie Chavez, Vice President

Zoe Mouris, Recording Secretary

Shelia Demetriadis, Corresponding Secretary

Kathy Bazianos, Treasurer

Daughters of Penelope

The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) was the realization of Alexandra Apostolides' dream.  Her desire was to create a woman's organization and because of her perseverance and the encouragement of her husband Dr. Emanuel Apostolides, a devoted AHEPAN, she formed EOS Chapter #1 with 25 charter members on November 16,1929 in San Francisco, California. The objectives of the Daughters of Penelope are to promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence.     


Who is Penelope?

In ancient Greek legend, Penelope was the wife of Odysseus, King of Ithaca. Odysseus left her and their son, Telemachus when he went to the Trojan War. When the war ended, many mishaps and weary wanderings kept him from returning home. As time went on and he did not return, many suitors claimed her hand and her kingdom. For a long while she put them off with a plea that she must finish weaving a robe for Laertes, her father-in-law. However, every night she unraveled what she had woven by day, thus remaining faithful to the memory 0f Odysseus and steadfast to the sanctity of her home.

Finally, Odysseus appeared after an absence of twenty years to reclaim his wife, his throne, and his home. In the name of our Order, the Daughters of Penelope, the word Penelope symbolizes all the noble virtues, of kindness, tolerance, unselfishness, truth, goodness, beauty, self-improvement, purity, loyalty, and patience, which were evident in the character of Penelope. As her Daughters, we strive to exemplify and uphold these same values in today's world.

Antiklea Projects and Events:

Red Tent Project for Homeless Women

Koulourakia Baking

Holy Land Crafts Booth

Tsourekia, Koulourakia, and Psalms CD Sale

New Year’s Vasilopita Sale


Charities that DOP Supports: 

Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc. Scholarships
Penelope House-Domestic Family Violence Center: Mobile, AL
Penelope House-Domestic Family Violence Center: Brockton, MA
Penelopean Foundation Day Care Center: Athens, Greece
University of Miami, Sylvester Cancer Research Center
Saint Basil Academy-Home for young children