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When a Young Woman’s Death Brings New Life to A Unique Special Needs Ministry: Project Sam Available Throughout (and Even Beyond) Archdiocesan District

Samantha Eliades was embraced by Archbishop Elpidophoros during a Challenge Liturgy event before she passed away in September, 2023.

GLEN COVE, N.Y. – by Sophia A. Niarchos

For 32 of her 34 years of life, Seraphima (Samantha) Eliades found in the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church (AMC) Challenge Liturgy in Port Washington, N.Y., a place where, despite having Prader-Willi Syndrome, she could comfortably participate in the Divine Liturgy and form friendships with other people her age who also had a wide variety of disabilities.

Then, in September 2023, she died suddenly.

Her mother, Fotini (Fiffy) Eliades, was so devastated by her daughter’s passing that she was on the verge of totally disconnecting from the Challenge Liturgy program of which she had been an integral part all those years, until, that is, more than $30,000 in memorial contributions were received by the parish. They had been earmarked for Night to Shine, a special needs prom-like event presented annually all over the world by the Tim Tebow Foundation.

“We had been planning this event while Samantha was alive but had no idea where the funds to pay for it would come”, Mrs. Eliades said. “When they came this way, I knew we had to move forward and stay with our plan”.

The Night to Shine event brought together more than 100people with special needs from 14-80 years of age, most of whom were not churchgoers and many who were not Greek Orthodox. Night to Shine reinvigorated the AMC community to grow its ministries to include these peopleand inspired the Eliades family to institute Project Sam, a search effort to find what Fiffy believes must be many more people who would benefit from the expanded programs that are offshoots of the Challenge Liturgy. These currently consist of a monthly Special Needs Sunday School program that includes not only a specially designed prayer service held in the AMC St. Catherine’s chapel, but also the opportunity to receive Holy Communion from the sanctified chalice of the Divine Liturgy held in the main church; a post-Sunday School recreational program consisting of physical education and seasonal arts and crafts activities; and a parent support group.  Other than the prayer service, the activities are currently led by volunteers with experience working with people with such disabilities as cerebral palsy, autism, Down’s syndrome, blindness, and deafness. Mrs. Eliades hopes that an increase in the number of people attending will make it possible to transition the staff to paid positions.

“It’s very humbling and inspirational to be part of such a worship and Sunday School setting”, said Fr. John Lardas, the protopresbyter of Archangel Michael; “and it fulfills the teachings of our Lord that, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but Him who sent me’”.

The Sunday School program was designed by a committee of people committed to the Challenge Liturgy program, including Angelica Kapsis, a special needs professional whose grandmother had assisted in the development of multiple churches in New York as well as Archangel Michael’s Philoptochos Chapter.

Angelica has been serving the “uniquely-abled” for nearly a decade. She provides behavioral training and more to children and adults on the spectrum. The owner of a business that specializes in this population, she works on life skills through fitness.

“My motto is, ‘Let’s have fun and become good at what we choose. This mindset will be applied as the foundation to teach relevant skills and accomplish just that, the right to worship with the ability to choose to”.

One might wonder why there is a concern about the special needs population having the right to choose to worship. The answer comes from Mrs. Eliades’ discovery that those responsible for the care of people with special needs who live in group homes have been found to not carry out the wishes of their parents that they worship at a church of their own choosing. She and her daughter Marissa have established the Like A Daisy Foundation (https://likeadaisy.org) whose mission includes ensuring that all people with unique needs are provided this constitutionally guaranteed freedom to worship.

Elizabeth Georgioudakis, an intermediate Individual Career and Academic Plan Special Education Teacher currently employed by Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School in Scarsdale, N.Y., also volunteers in the AMC Special Needs Sunday School Program.

“Faith provides us with strength, hope, and a sense of belonging,” she said, “and it is essential that we extend this welcoming environment to everyone. As a special education teacher specializing in students with autism and communication disorders, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges many face in accessing educational and community resources. This experience has inspired me to contribute to the church initiative of Special Needs Sunday School, which aims to create a nurturing space for children with special needs.

“I envision a future where this initiative expands to all Greek Orthodox churches across

the United States. By fostering an inclusive environment, we can ensure that every child and family feels valued and supported in their spiritual journey. Together, we can create a community that reflects the love and compassion at the heart of our faith.”

As a matter of fact, a member of St. Paul’s Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Temple Hills, MD, heard about the work being done for those struggling with disabilities at Archangel Michael and reached out to Fiffy for assistance in her parish’s efforts to establish a similar program.

Stacia Maillis, a pediatric speech-language pathologist is “passionate about participating in the Special Needs Sunday School,” and acknowledges “its ability to create an inclusive and accessible space for all to help children and adults feel valued, empowered, and inspired to grow in their faith.”

The special needs parent support group meets monthly in the Archangel Michael library on the last Tuesday of every month. Led by Meropi Ziakos, a parent who has walked a similar path, this group offers a safe and supportive community where families can connect, share resources, and find encouragement. Guest speakers and workshops are provided as well, helping parents navigate together the journey of raising children with special needs while prioritizing self-care, faith, relationships, and mental well -being.

Unstoppable in her mission to provide for other children what her own daughter benefited from for decades, Mrs. Eliades has taken to the airwaves as a featured guest, along with Fr. John Lardas, on Fr. Eugene Pappas’ Matters of Conscience radio program on COSMOS-FM Radio; will be featured on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s “Fully Human” podcast series on Ancient Faith Radio, hosted by Presbytera Melanie DiStefano and dedicated to special needs families in the near future;and is inviting anyone who has or knows of any special needs individuals who would benefit from this program to email [email protected] or call or text her at (516) 659-6964.

“As this beautiful ministry, hosted at Archangel Michael and blessed by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, is open to all in the Archdiocesan District, all families in the surrounding area that have members with special needs are more than welcome to participate in it”, Fr. John emphasized.