We are the Springdale, Arkansas chapter of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America, a part of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (DOMSE). We are “A Sisterhood Serving Christ through Serving Others.” We welcome women from the ages of 19 to 99, and urge you to join us in our ministry, remembering that EVERY woman in the Antiochian Archdiocese is an “Antiochian Woman”!
What is Our History?
Our chapter began with the founding of St. Nicholas Church, Springdale in 2003. The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America was founded in 1973 “through the Vision of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP (Saliba) of Thrice-Blessed Memory. Today, it is an organization of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and is led by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph.” Our parish now numbers ## Antiochian Women!
What is Our Purpose?
“Our purpose is to develop among the women a spirit of Christian leadership, awareness, and commitment; to foster a genuine expression of love and service through works of charity; and to install a sense of fellowship and a deeper understanding of our Holy Orthodox Faith.” His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH once said, “When everyone left our Lord Jesus Christ alone on the cross, the women were there. Can you see how important the women are? You are the myrrhbearing women!”
For more information on the women’s group or to be added to the women’s email list, please contact Kate Salem using the form below.
For specific ministries please contact the women who coordinate them. Select a ministry in the form below, fill out the form, and click “Send” to send that person an email.
[ministries form]
More about the Ladies of St. Nicholas in Springdale, AR:
We seek to truly be “myrrh-bearing women” within our parish, helping in many areas and ministries: choir, Sunday School, parish council, church beautification, youth activities, coffee hour, special dinners, and so much more. We plan for and carry out acts of mercy throughout the year, and raise most of our funds during an annual Holiday Baklava fundraiser. We aim to meet or exceed our North American Board (NAB) dues and other financial obligations each year. We are fortunate to have a very loving and supporting parish and priest, Fr. John, and Kh. Marilyn, our choir director and Ladies of St. Nicholas devotions coordinator.
Our year officially begins on September 1, observing the Ecclesiastical New Year. Meetings are held once per month, following the Divine Liturgy and fellowship coffee hour. We share devotions, prayers, and song, in addition to working on our business agenda. Our group (which numbers from 8-14 active participants) will often forego business meetings during the Pascha season and mid-summer months. Each March, during Antiochian Women month, we plan a Lenten Dinner Night Out, enjoying some relaxation and fellowship time together.
We have recently adopted the Holy, Glorious, Great Women Martyrs as our patron saints: Thekla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriaki, Photeini, Marina, Paraskeva, and Irene. We are always exploring new ideas, such as Book Club, Lenten Retreats, parish patron saint Feast Day activities, as well as new ways to witness to our community through additional charitable projects.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
0 Christ our God, we are all pledged to serve Thee with our whole being. Help us to continue to work for Thee through our Church without seeking praise, without seeking personal gain, without judging others, without a feeling that we have worked hard enough and now must allow ourselves rest. Give us strength to do what is right and help us to go on striving and to remember that activities are not the main thing in life. The most important thing is to have our hearts directed and attuned to Thee. Amen.
