By Aphrodite Kotrotsios, Hellenic News of America
February 16, 2026
Thank you to Mrs. Kotrosios and the Hellenic News of America for shining a light on our work and helping more families discover the mission behind Orthodoxy for Kids and Sophia!
In their recent feature, Hellenic News introduces Sophia—our new animated series created to help Orthodox families bring the Faith into everyday life in a way little ones can actually understand. These short, story-based videos are designed for children ages 3–8, and they grew out of a real need our President (and Sunday School teacher), Eva Poneros, Esq., kept seeing—especially during the COVID years—when kids had endless content to watch, but very little that was truly Orthodox, wholesome, and made for young attention spans.
What makes the article especially meaningful is how clearly it explains why Sophia matters. This isn’t just “kids content.” It’s support for parents too—especially families trying to rebuild routines of prayer, young adults coming back to church when they start raising children, mixed-faith households, and anyone who’s ever thought, “I want to teach my kids Orthodoxy… but where do I start?” Sophia aims to answer the kinds of questions kids naturally ask: Why does the priest wear that? What does this blessing mean? How do I make the sign of the Cross?
The story also shares some behind-the-scenes moments—like how early overseas animation attempts didn’t meet the quality we hoped for, and how a $75,000 grant from Leadership 100 helped us take a big step forward with production and development. And one of the sweetest details: Sophia’s voice ended up coming from a volunteer narrator’s six-year-old daughter—a little “miracle” that felt like a gift from God.
Sophia is meant to be easy to use—something families can watch after Sunday School, or as a simple midweek habit (“Pray and Go Sophia”). With a heart for inclusion (including children with disabilities) and growing momentum online, we’re now working to expand the library to include major feast days, Lent and Pascha, saints, sacraments, prayers, and more—while continuing to seek donor support to keep it going.
