I find it both rewarding and comforting to speak with our senior citizens, because their oral histories of their life experiences in Greece and in the New World are valuable and have not been documented extensively.  By recording unique individual personal accounts, we are able to transmit our rich heritage to future generations and preserve important parts of our culture.

Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Presvytera Irene Sitaras, the widow of the Very Reverend Nicholas Sitaras, along with her daughter Sophia at their beautiful home in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the U.S.  During our pleasant conversation, we traveled back in time to the beautiful Greek island of Chios, where Fr. Nicholas Sitaras and Presvytera Irene both were born.

Presvytera Irene grew up in difficult times in Greece, and she has clear memories of massive immigration waves from Asia Minor to the island of Chios and the Greek mainland. Even so, Presvytera Irene says, “I cherish my childhood, despite all the hardships. The old days we used to play outdoors with my girlfriends for the most part of the day…those were innocent years. We had a simple but beautiful life and loyal friendships that have lasted a lifetime. I enjoyed painting and writing poems. Occasionally, we had some summer tourists from France in the island, and I was always looking at the opportunity to practice my French with them. We were happy children.”

Indeed, as we were talking, I saw the joy and nostalgia Presvytera Irene felt when she was describing her childhood memories.

Though they were both born on Chios, Fr. Sitaras and Presvytera Irene met in Piraeus, Athens.  The couple had two daughters (Sophia and Katerina) and two sons (Michael and Stelios).  In 1960, they moved together to the United States, where Father Sitaras ministered to many communities around the country. 

In the U.S., Presvytera Irene raised all her children with deep Greek Orthodox values and taught them Greek Orthodox traditions.  She recalls: “We only spoke Greek at home. We followed all religious and cultural celebrations. The children learned in depth our culture, and now they follow the same traditions in their homes. Both my sons were eager to help their Father at the church. They had a special connection with the Greek Orthodox Church at a very young age. They learned the Greek language, and through our frequent visits to Greece they have developed a strong bond and love for their Greek Orthodox Heritage. At the same time, I am pleased we came to the USA…”

Daughter Sophia S. Agapion remembers her first year in the American school system and the advantages of being bilingual: “It did not take a long time to master my English, and in parallel I was developing my Greek.”

Today, Sophia’s four children are bilingual as well. “I am thankful my parents spoke Greek at home. This is how I learned, and my children learned the same way. I have faithfully observed most of our Greek Orthodox celebrations while I was raising my four children, and I am happy to see my children following the same path in their homes. For me since I was a young woman, it was important to have a husband of the same heritage. The strong love and appreciation my parents have instilled in me for the Greek Orthodox Heritage helped me raise my children in a similar fashion.”

There is a strong tradition of priesthood in the Sitaras family, as Presvytera Irene’s father-in-law, Father Michael Sitaras, also was a priest.  With a father and grandfather who were priests, and a home life steeped in Greek Orthodox teachings, it’s not surprising that Presvytera Irene’s sons both became Greek Orthodox priests.  Interestingly, one of her son-in-laws (Christopher) also is a Greek Orthodox priest!  Presvytera Irene’s large family now also includes twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

According to Presvytera Irene, the United States has been good to the Sitaras family, but Greece is still dear to her:  “We had a very good life here with Father and our children, but Chios is still in my heart, and for me the island retains its traditional and hospitable character just the way I remember it since I was a child.”

And although she has a strong American identity, Sophia feels at home on Chios with her extended family:  “We look forward to visiting the island every summer. My children and I and all my extensive family have beautiful memories from our trips to Chios, and it feels like home. This was one more way of keeping a strong connection with our Hellenic roots and building family memories. I would like to see them continue with our grandchildren. I think having a family home as a base facilitates and encourages members to visit more often. Certainly, for us it was a major factor.”

My conversation with Presvytera Irene and her daughter Sophia Agapion was delightful, and I found that we had shared experiences despite the generational gap and varied childhood memories.  Our Hellenic heritage has a powerful ability to link us across generations – no matter where each one of us has lived in Greece, we can relate to the experiences of those who have traveled similar paths to our own.  While spending time with the Sitaras family I truly felt how priceless our shared heritage is and understood its unique ability to connect us to other people!

I truly enjoyed the warm hospitality and company of Presvytera Irene and Sophia. But above all, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Presvytera Irene’s recitation of rich poems she has written over the years describing the hardships and joys of everyday life in the old days on the island of Chios. I am including a small extract of one of her lengthy original poems here for your enjoyment.   

«Ένας γέροντας γερμένος απ’ τα χρόνια σαν πλάτανος θεόρατος γερμένος απ’ τα χιόνια περνούσε δύσκολα γηρατιά. Είναι απ’κείνους που ’δωσαν το αθάνατο τους αίμα. Είναι από ’κείνους που ’βαλαν στην Ελλάδα στέμμα και όλοι βρεθήκαμε σε μακρινό νησί, για αυτούς τους ήρωες λέξη κανείς να πει. Ο γέροντας παράπονο δεν λέει σε κανέναν, μα ξαπλωμένος έλεγε μια μέρα εις την άμμο πόσα καράβια τουρκικά να ‘καψαν εις την Σάμο. Παιδιά λέγει εγέρασα γρήγορα θα πεθάνω μα να βαστάξω δεν μπορώ της πείνας τον καημό. Λένε πως ο καπετάν ο Κωσταντής ο ψαριανός υπουργός εγείνηκε μεγάλος και τρανός και εάν θυμηθεί πως την ζωή του έσωσα μια μέρα έξω απο τη Χιό ίσως να δώσουν κάτι και για με που είχα την στέρνα μου τάληρα γεμάτη. Πέντε έξι μέρες ύστερα εμπήκε στο καράβι και όταν στην Ύδρα έφτασε ετράβηξε στην πλώρη και σκύβωντας στα κύματα δακρύβρεχτρα εφίλα...»   

Goneis Magazine would like to thank Presvytera Irene and Sophia Agapion for their warm hospitality and for sharing some of their many family memories with our reading family.  The Very Reverend Nicholas Sitaras has passed on from this world, but his presence was evident in every corner of the house – from family pictures and books to his favorite sitting corner, which remains unchanged, just the way he liked it.