Daughters of Penelope

Penelope’s Pen – April, 2025

On Sunday, March 16th , Antiklea chapter hosted an author event with local writer and faithful Greek festival volunteer Bland Weaver. He shared with us his book, Pikes Path, his writing process, and read us a bit from the book. He was informative and amusing, and all who attended enjoyed his presentation. His book may be ordered from Amazon.

We remind everyone that our chapter is offering Easter tsourekia ($18 each), koulourakia ($10/dozen) and hand-made Paschal Lambades ($18 each). Antiklea sisters will be taking orders for these items after church services during Lent. There is also a flyer available in the hall with a QR code for ordering electronically or you can click here.

We have enjoyed a beautiful spiritual activity that started at the beginning of Lent: various individuals volunteered read Psalms each day, with each person assigned a different day and a specific set of Psalms. Readers read their assigned Psalms either silently or aloud in their homes at a time convenient for them. This is turning out to be far more meaningful for the individuals involved than one might think. There are still days of Lent available for anyone who wishes to join this group effort. Please contact either Karen Gibson or Kathy Geranios for an assignment if you wish to participate.

Finally, we remind everyone that we will be collecting women’s sanitary products (tampons, pads, and sanitary wipes) all through Lent until Palm Sunday. Our Red Tent collection box is in the hall outside of the gym. Cash donations are also welcome—we will do the shopping for you. The organizations that have received these items over the years have been sincerely grateful. Please help us give aid to women in need.

KALI ANASTASI

Chapter Officers for 2024-2025

Jackie Harmon, President

Connie Chavez, Vice President

Zoe Mouris, Recording Secretary

Kathy Bazianos, Treasurer

To Be Announced, Recording Secretary

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