SAN FRANCISCO — Over 110 GOYA members from 14 parishes in southern California enthusiastically gathered on Saturday, June 19 at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim, CA for a summer Glendi. The evening featured a festively decorated hall, delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and music provided by DJ Gus Sverkos. The room quickly filled up with friends being reunited after months of social distancing, and the dance floor reconnected them in step and spirit for an evening of fellowship and friendship. Metropolis Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Father Gary Kyriacou, and Saint John the Baptist Proistamenos Father Christopher Retelas began the event with prayer and engaged with the youth and encouraged their continued participation in church ministry at their respective parishes and through ongoing regional and Metropolis youth events in the coming year.

The summer Glendi was organized by SOCAL GOYA, an organization which was established by the Southern California Greek Orthodox Parent Committee and is composed of committed parents working together in collaboration with their parish priests to coordinate regional SOCAL GOYA events. The team coordinating the planning effort for this event was led by Christina Gillotti (Assumption – Long Beach); Stacia Counelis (Saint John – Anaheim); Chrissie Zeppos (Saint Basil – San Juan Capistrano); and Presvytera Matia Prevas (Saint Nicholas – Northridge).

For more information on future events, visit. www.socalgoya.com.