What is it? How do I get involved? Why would I want to?
Philoptochos (pronounced: phil-OP-toe-kose) means “friends of the poor”. The mission of our Saints Mary and Martha chapter is “To offer comfort where we see pain, sustenance where we find hunger, and hope where we encounter despair.” Our inspiration comes from the grace of God and is founded on our unwavering faith.
The members of Sts Mary and Martha Philoptochos (women and men) fulfill our mission by helping those within our parish and through outreach to the greater community.
What We Do
While not limited to the following, our outreach focus is:
- Serve local families facing homelessness through Family Promise of Beaverton. See our Family Promise page for more information.
- Work with Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral’s Philoptochos to support children with cancer and their families attending Camp Agape (KidsNCancer).
- Support the Bishop Anthony Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund, which provides financial assistance for seminarians and students from our Metropolis attending Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and Hellenic College; we also reach out to all of our own parish’s college students.
- Fundraise for the Benevolence Fund through Tasso the Turkey and Christmas Cards;
- Coordinate Parish Visitation/Meals/“Grab and Give Bags”/Oregon Food Bank Drive
A wonderful advantage of belonging to Philoptochos is that membership allows us all to connect as sisters and brothers in Christ. By working along-side one another in outreach, we strengthen our parish community while fulfilling God’s calling to love and serve those in need.
Your once-a-year financial commitment not only helps support our local Philoptochos, but the ministries of the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos and the National Philoptochos Society. A once-yearly minimum offering is $50. Of this amount, $15 goes to the National Philoptochos, and $15 to our own Metropolis Philoptochos. The remainder stays in our own Sts. Mary and Martha chapter to help pay for our ministries, all of which is ultimately for our commitment and obligation to Christ. Humbly serving one another is a sign of greatness in the eyes of God.
Light the Path
“Light the Path” is the annual fundraiser for the Bishop Anthony Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund, a fund which has given out more than $1.5 million in the last decade alone—to any student of Hellenic College/Holy Cross who is from the Metropolis of San Francisco.
All of these members of our community have been directly supported by our very own Metropolis Philoptochos through this “Light the Path” endowment fund:
- Fr. Matthew Swehla
- Fr. Constantine Trumpower
- Fr. Steven Tussing
- Debora Swehla
- Fotini (Dorrance) DiMatteo
- Nathaniel Corazza
- Despina (Bailey) Thabit
- Elaine (Van Sickle) Cremeens
- Talia Chiprout
In years past, “Light the Path” was a fundraising dinner. This year, due to coronavirus there will instead be a FREE virtual celebration on December 5, 2:00-3:30 pm. You must pre-register. The need is still great! Please join us at this special event, and “light the path” across the country together.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of the Sts. Mary and Martha Philoptochos board members: Charity R, president; Jennifer D, 1st VP; Lois R, 2nd VP, Diane C, secretary; Bethany D, treasurer, Carmen R or Stephanie M.
“Let us visit Christ whenever we may, let us care for him, feed him, clothe him, welcome him, honor him.” ~ St. Gregory the Theologian
