Tina Philothei

I wanted to share with you a story that really touches on the life-changing power of Orthodox Christian missions.

Almost a year ago exactly I participated on a short-term mission team through OCMC (The Orthodox Christian Mission Center) to work at an orphanage in Kolkata, India. Sister Nectaria was our hostess. She has been running the orphanage and all other projects under the Philanthropic Society of the Orthodox Church.

While there I learned so much about the difficulties the people as well as the Church face in India. Not only is there so much material poverty, but there is much spiritual poverty as well. I heard the story of Father Mokios. Father Mokios used to be a Hindu priest in a village. When he converted, however, his village destroyed the idols in his former temple, saying he had defiled them, and made his family, still Hindus, pay to replace them. He was then forced to leave his home village and now serves several churches around the Kolkata area, and is the priest at the Church of the Mother of God on the premises of the Girls’ Orphanage.

As some of you from St. Barnabas may recall, in mid December we prayed a Trisagion for the soul of the departed Tina (Philothei). I thought I would share with you about this young woman and the importance of her story. Less than a week ago marked the 40th day after Tina’s passing.

Tina was around 17 when we met her at the orphanage. She was still in school, but helped out a lot at the orphanage. While we were visiting, she helped with preparing and serving our meals. She was often found shepherding one or two of the younger girls from the orphanage. She was a baptized Orthodox Christian, and led services with one or two other girls from the chanters stand.

While we were staying at the Orphanage, Tina had a few doctor’s appointments because her back was bothering her. Shortly after we left, she was diagnosed with cancer, and given about 6 months to live. She went through some very strong chemotherapy. She even took her final exams in the hospital while doing chemo. This girl was such a fighter. She was doing better but then her conditioned worsened. On December 8th, 2009, she passed away. This is the same day as Saint Patapios, the patron of Sister Nectaria’s convent in Corinth.

Tina’s patron saint Philothei shares a lot in common with her.

February 19 - Reading:
Saint Philothei was born in Athens in 1522 to an illustrious family. Against her will, she was married to a man who proved to be most cruel. When he died three years later, the Saint took up the monastic life and established a convent, in which she became a true mother to her disciples. Many women enslaved and abused by the Moslem Turks also ran to her for refuge. Because of this, the Turkish rulers became enraged and came to her convent, dragged her by force out of the church, and beat her cruelly. After a few days, she reposed, giving thanks to God for all things. This came to pass in the year 1589. She was renowned for her almsgiving, and with Saints Hierotheus and Dionysius the Areopagite is considered a patron of the city of Athens.

It is amazing how likewise, Tina came from a very difficult background, having suffered through many difficult trials, but then found comfort in the arms of the Church through her life at the orphanage. I look back to our time there and remember Tina being always helpful, and especially in leading the younger girls in the prayer services as a reader, and wrangling them in between. Like her patron, she took care of those who also suffered and needed her caring. And finally, she courageously gave up her life after more physical suffering. Of course I wasn't there, but I can imagine her humble smile in the latter days. The fact alone that she took her exams while in the hospital reveals that she was a fighter and keeping positive. She was a humble, caring, beautiful young woman.

I thank God that Tina had the love of Christ and the Church. I also thank God that she had a loving family with Sister Nectaria and all her sisters at the orphanage. I am blessed to know that she will be at peace in paradise, but losing her only reminds me of how very important missions in the Orthodox Church is. How many young girls in India pass away without ever having the strength and love of the Church? I am reminded that I need to keep the girls and the mission there in my prayers, even more than ever. Because of legal red tape, Sister Nectaria was not able to get her visa renewed when it expired in October. Unfortunately, this meant she was not there at the time of Tina’s passing, which makes things more difficult for all parties.
The girls and those helping to run the orphanage in Sister’s absence really need our prayers during these times.

May God receive the soul of His handmaiden, and hear her prayers for us and for those left behind in India.

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What to do.
I have things to write about.
I have things I should probably look up.
I have stuff I can read.
I feel glowy and lovey,
but I also feel full, tired, and lazy.
Yeah, I said it.
I think I may listen to a lecture from a priest,
and play a clicky game to keep my eyes busy.
I have brainstorms for blogs to be written,
but this is just to say that I don't think I'm going to write
right now.