Hellenic American Academy Students Visit Philoxenia House

 

They came in spite of the inclement weather. They brought their smiles, their love and concern, and gift baskets for all. Students from the Hellenic American Academy in Lowell were welcomed by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston to the Philoxenia House of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis on Friday, December 21 where they cheered the residents who, due to serious illnesses, are far away from home during this Christmas Season. The students who knew that "Philoxenia" is a Greek word which means "friends to strangers," delighted everyone with their singing, in Greek, of Christmas hymns and traditional Greek songs. They spoke with the residents who are from Cyprus, Salonika, and Athens, Greece, all far away from their families while undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals.

"I hope you make this an annual pilgrimage here," said Metropolitan Methodios to the students who were accompanied by the Academy's Principal, Douglas Anderson and teacher Maria Booras. The Metropolitan reminded them that there are people in need, for various reasons, in every community, and asked them to always remember the less fortunate in the Philoxenia House, in Lowell, and in their neighborhoods . Metropolitan Methodios expressed the hope that on December 25 Christ is born in every student's heart. During the holiday season, students of the Sunday School of the Holy Trinity Parish in Lowell also visited the Philoxenia House and brought cheers to all.