TNH Brings Hellenic Happenings From Coast-to-Coast

The National Herald provides coverage across the country and this report stretches from Detroit and Washington, D.C to Little Rock, Arkansas.

DETROIT, MI – A memoir about the life of GEORGE M. GORITZ, titled SHAKESPEARE, WALL STREET, AND MY ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES, has just been published by AUTHOR HOUSE. Born in Detroit just after WWI to

Greek parents, he grew up in Chicago and became friends with noted novelist and fellow Greek-American HARRY MARK PETRAKIS. Goritz won a scholarship to the ROYAL ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS, and famously replied, when asked if at 5’8 he was too short to be an actor: “no, there are plenty of short parts.” After serving in WWII as a gunner, Goritz became a Shakespearian actor and performed along with noted actors PETER O’TOOLE and CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER. But acting did not pay very well, and Goritz returned to the restaurant business,

and later found a lucrative niche as a Wall Street stockbroker. His financial success, coupled with his sense of philotimo, caused him to participate in numerous philanthropic gestures, particularly helping the AMERICAN FARM SCHOOL in Thessaloniki

.

WASHINGTON, DC – The WASHINGTON OXI DAY FOUNDATION is offering scholarships to five Greek-American students (Grades 6-12) who can describe the word “philotimo” in 500 words or less.

A $2000 scholarship will be awarded to the first place winner, including an invitation to the Foundation’s October 28 black tie gala in DC, where the winner will be recognized. There will be two scholarships each for second place ($1,000) and third place ($500).

Interested applicants may log on to a link on the Foundation’s website, watch the video THE GREEK SECRET, and answer in 500 words one of the following questions:

1. What does philotimo mean to you?

2. What are some extraordinary examples of philotimo

that you have seen?

3. What are the things you can do in your daily life to

exhibit philotimo?

4. How can philotimo improve your life?

Answers must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 9 via email to

info@oxidayfoundation.org.

The link to the website and video is: www.oxidayfoundat

ion.org/video-the-greek-

secret.

LITTLE ROCK, AR – JARROD RUSSELL, raised as a Southern Baptist Christian, went to hear a guest speaker one day, a few years ago: a Protestant who had converted to Greek Orthodoxy, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

reported. Years earlier, he had visited a Greek Orthodox Church, and more  recently, attended the ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH in Little Rock, the Gazette wrote. “I was really blown away,” Russell said. “I didn’t

understand a lot of things going on, but what really struck me was the sense of reverence.” That day was the first step to becoming an Orthodox priest.

“Over time my involvement with the church increased,” he said, the Gazette reported. “I moved to Little Rock and right after that I started teaching senior high Sunday School class and it was an incredible experience.”

Russell eagerly accepted REV. NICHOLAS VERDARIS’ offer to assist him at Annunciation. He helped prepare the altar and helped Verdaris otherwise, all the while contemplating becoming a priest himself.

Verdaris said he saw something “special” in Russell even when they first met, the Gazette wrote. “He was very unique in a sense that he came across as dedicated and sincere and as a very faithful young man,” Verdaris

said. “He immersed himself in the parish and it was clear he had a profound love for the Lord.”

But then came a visit to the parish from FR. NICHOLAS C. TRIANTAFILOU, President of the HOLY CROSS SEMINARY. He invited Russell to visit the seminary, and after a long process, Russell decided to leave Arkansas and follow that path.

Last year, he completed coursework for two master’s degree s: one in divinity and another in theology.

On August 23, he was formally ordained a deacon, and will become a priest next month. The service was officiated by METROPOLITAN NICHOLAS OF DETROIT.

Single at the time of ordination, the Gazette wrote, Russell will remain celibate for life – according to the doctrines of the Orthodox Church.