About my name

I would like to share with you why I picked that name.

A chick is cute and fluffy and adorable. I see it and I smile. Brand new in the world, eager to learn and see, but so vulnerable to the elements. It comes from an egg which symbolizes the dormant life and the immeasurable power of Christ's resurrection. (How much I would like to remember Christ's shattering of Hades whenever my daily anxieties engulf me!). That little chick is making baby steps towards growing, and so many dangers are lurking in the shadows.

On the other hand, a "chick" is also a young woman. I want to remain a "chick" for my husband, the upbeat young girl he fell in love with in the first place. Now, when I think of a "chick" it also brings in my mind the natural forces of attraction that God instilled in us in order to find our soulmate (those who do not choose the monastic life). I embrace these forces and want them in our married life the way I want salt and herbs and spices in my cooking. I wear high heels, makeup, and flattering blouses and hemlines. But I would like to see myself as a person who had that as a starting point and evolved into an "orthodox chick". What does it mean? Is it just the above image of high heels, etc. plus a Bible in hand? A tad bit more complicated.



After working for several years in education, I am currently a stay home mom. A year and a half ago I had to quit my job in Boston because my husband was offered an excellent job opportunity in NY. At that time we had our second baby and it was obvious that my husband's new job would keep him out of the house for a good part of the day. I was faced with 2 options: I could just say no, thank you we are staying in Boston or go to NY and hold the home front. I opted for the latter. I was surprised by how fast and easily I decided but here is the why: God loves me and takes good care of me; my little girls will be so much happier if I am 100% there for them; my husband's happiness makes me happy; I can find joy everywhere because there are wonderful people that God brings in my path all the time. So why not? And I took the plunge. Ever since I have been contemplating "what is it that defines who I am?" My work was so important to me, so rewarding and fulfilling that after that what?



Here is when "orthodox" became a defining adjective of my identity. I realized that being Orthodox is definitely something that defines who I am; along with it came all the images of my upbringing in Greece where the Church is central: all the celebrations and holidays that somehow are always related to a major feastday. While the girls were in their preschool I started attending the Bible study in my parish and and at the same time I tried to extend Sunday school in our home: books, music, crafts, discussion and prayer. My daughters are very eager to learn; their hearts are like rosepetals that absorb thirstily the morning dew. I feel so responsible for their tender souls! But I so long for more fellowship with other young families in our area, a community where my older girl can share the story of her patron saint (St. Mary of Egypt), sing troparia and color a saint's icon while I enjoy the fellowship of other mothers with similar priorities. Not just on Sundays but also on regular playdates. I would like for my kids to feel that God and His love it's not just a matter of going to church on Sunday, having a snack in the Sunday school room and then go home (by the way, I love her Sunday school teacher, may St. Irini always bless her!). I pray to God and hope...



That's how "orthodox chik" came to my mind when I was brainstorming on names. An orthodox young woman; a fragile creature vulnerable to the elements of our fallen world; a Christian mother who wants to learn what makes other mothers grow in Christ; a woman who cherishes our Lord's eternal victory over Death.



Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen!

I just started my blogging journey today. I feel the excitement in my stomach and the feeling that this is something that I will enjoy at this stage of my life. I should not be intimidated by not being a native speaker as I hope it will be a humbling but rewarding experience.
My family of four had a wonderful Holy Week even though I long for more young families in our parish. I so much want my girls to have some Orthodox buddies so that they don't feel a minority in our community (given that we usually celebrate Easter later than the Catholics and Protestants). Therefore, Sylvia's "adventures of an orthodox mom" was a revelation to me: it does not matter how many Orthodox christians you have in your everyday life; Church starts from our home. I want to learn from all the wonderful women who are out there, blogging or not, and are doing their best to live in Christ and grow in their Faith. I don't know what to expect from me starting a blog (I was never good at keeping a diary; I'd start the first few days all happy and excited at the prospect of expressing myself on these wonderfully designed pages, pink and all, and then my excitement would wane and fade. I have a bunch of diaries from my childhood that are empty but the first few pages). I am very happy to be out there, too, and connect with other people who strive to learn, listen, smell, taste and see our Lord and to pass on everything onto my two little angels. St. Kyriaki help me and guide me!