What’s Your Ministry? Building Community Through Orthodox Roundtable Series

Creating Space for Young Adults to Learn, Share, and Grow in Christ

OYM recently had the opportunity to speak with Adrianna and Sofia, the young women behind Chicago’s growing Orthodox Roundtable series—an initiative that brings young adults together from different parishes and jurisdictions for talks, open discussion, and genuine fellowship. What began as a small gathering has expanded into a rotating, city-wide ministry focused on offering a safe, Christ-centered environment for learning and connection. In this conversation, Adrianna and Sofia share how the Roundtable has shaped their own faith, why building friendships is central to spiritual life, and how simple consistency—showing up, listening, and being present—can transform a ministry into a true community.

OYM: Could you both share a brief biography and your history in the Church?

Sofia: Both of my parents are from Albania. They moved to the U.S. before I was born, and I grew up at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Elgin, Illinois. My sister and I were in church every Sunday and involved in the Greek Orthodox Youth of America or GOYA, nativity programs, festivals—really anything our parish offered. I’ve been a Sunday school teacher for about five years, and I also write icons. Over the years, I’ve volunteered in many ministries, and being part of the Church has simply always been a central part of my life.

OYM: And what do you do professionally now?

Sofia: I’m a food scientist in the dairy industry. I formulate stabilizer and emulsifier blends for products like ice cream, beverages, yogurt, and their non-dairy alternatives.

OYM: Adrianna, could you introduce yourself as well?

Adrianna: Like Sofia, I grew up very connected to my parish. My dad is from Greece, my mom is Greek-American, and both were active in the Church. My sister and I attended Sunday school, Greek school, and parish events, so the church felt like a second home. I teach 8th-grade science and have been doing that for seven years, and I’m currently in grad school studying library and information science.

OYM: You’re both involved in a ministry called the Orthodox Roundtable Series. Could you explain what it is and your role in it?

Sofia: The ministry began during COVID, when both of our parishes were part of a Telos cohort. Adrianna reached out about forming a young adult Bible study, and a small group of women—including us—started planning it. Over time it became just the two of us leading it.

We wanted something different from a traditional Bible study. Young adults face questions about relationships, workplace challenges, mental health, and navigating life while trying to stay grounded in the Church. So we structured each session around those topics and invited speakers to address them. Attendance was modest at first—around 10 to 15 people.

This past year, Peter Savas from OYM reached out about expanding it into a pan-Orthodox ministry. Since then, attendance has grown significantly, often 40 to 60 people, and it now includes participants from multiple jurisdictions.

Adrianna: The ministry began during a time when most church activities had shut down, and many of us felt disconnected. Even attending services wasn’t guaranteed because of COVID restrictions. Forming this group gave young adults a way to stay connected to the Church and to each other.

With help from our mentor priest, Fr. Tilemahos at St. Haralambos, in Niles, Illinois, and young adults from neighboring Serbian and Romanian parishes, the Roundtable has expanded beyond what we imagined. It’s been encouraging to see it become a truly pan-Orthodox effort.

OYM: What does a typical day of involvement in the Orthodox Roundtable ministry look like for you?

Sophia: It varies. We have a group chat with representatives from the different jurisdictions and with Peter, so sometimes it’s simply coordinating through messages—updates, reminders, logistics. Before each event, we usually meet on Zoom for about an hour to finalize details: who’s bringing snacks, how we’ll set up the space, what time we’re arriving at the hosting parish, and so on.

On the day of an event, I try to arrive early—though being farther from some parishes can make that tricky. Once there, I help wherever needed, greet newcomers, talk to people, and stay afterward for fellowship and cleanup.

Adrianna: Because I teach full-time, I often use my lunch break to handle ministry tasks—sending emails, coordinating follow-up messages, or communicating with the other facilitators. Either another volunteer  or I send out a thank-you email after every event, along with details about the next one. It’s very team-oriented, so our days look similar.

OYM: Do either of you have defined roles or titles within the Roundtable?

Sophia: Not really. We don’t function with formal titles like “president” or “director.” It’s a collaborative effort, and we all step in where needed.

Adrianna: Exactly. We operate on the principle of: if you see something that needs doing, do it. We all fill in the gaps rather than assigning strict roles, and that approach feels very natural and very Orthodox.

OYM: For each of you, was there a moment when you realized this ministry was something you wanted to commit to—something you felt called to be part of? 

Sophia: I don’t know if there was a single moment. At the beginning, it was simply something new and much needed, especially during COVID. Over time, as a consistent group formed, friendships developed. Those relationships grew, and we walked with each other through things like career changes and early adulthood. I think the “calling” was in seeing how valuable that community became and wanting to keep it going.

Adrianna: I feel similarly. I don’t think there was one defining moment, but I realized how much I needed both the spiritual discussions and the friendships. Teaching can lead to burnout quickly, and when our Roundtable rhythm slowed down because it was just the two of us organizing everything, I really felt the absence. When the events were consistent, I always left feeling spiritually grounded and uplifted. In the early days, the group was small, so if someone didn’t come, we noticed. That sense of connection—and the spiritual benefit—made it clear how important the ministry was, both for others and for me.

OYM: Earlier, you touched on the impact of COVID. Do you believe there is a specific need that the Orthodox Roundtable series addresses within the Chicago-area Orthodox community? And if so, how does your ministry meet that need?

Sofia: As I mentioned earlier, there really isn’t a ministry in Chicago that intentionally serves young adults in a faith-centered way. Some Greek parishes have YAL groups, but those tend to be more social—bowling, meeting at a bar, service projects—which are great and absolutely needed. But when it comes to something spiritually grounded, there’s a gap. Youth have programs, older adults have programs, but young adults often have nothing structured around faith formation.

That’s the need the Roundtable addresses. We gather young adults across jurisdictions, bring in strong speakers on topics relevant to our stage of life, and then build community through fellowship afterward. Personally, I stay talking with people until nearly midnight because the conversations are that meaningful. And now that the ministry has grown pan-Orthodox, it’s been wonderful to meet people outside our usual circles—especially since it’s easy for those of us in the Greek Metropolis to stay in our own bubble.

OYM: What were some of the challenges in starting this ministry, and how did you overcome them?

Adrianna: The biggest challenge at the beginning was advertising and helping people understand who the Roundtable belonged to. Because we started meeting at Saint Haralambos and worked closely with Fr. Sotirios, many assumed it was simply a parish event. I remember inviting Antiochian friends who hesitated because they thought it was strictly a Saint Haralambos thing.

Publicity was difficult because there wasn’t a single unified organization we fit under. We gathered emails at events and sent reminders, but there wasn’t a central platform to host information. We sometimes leaned on YAL Chicago to help share our events, and they were very gracious, but it still felt like we were borrowing someone else’s infrastructure.

Another challenge was the workload. Finding speakers, choosing topics, coordinating schedules—it was a lot for just the two of us, especially since this is all volunteer. We’re happy to do the work because it genuinely enriches us spiritually, but it is a significant commitment. Thankfully, friends helped connect us with clergy and presenters we didn’t already know, which made a big difference.

OYM: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own ministry or project rooted in the Orthodox faith?

Sofia: Honestly, I would say: just do it. Of course, speak with your spiritual father and parish priest first, but don’t let doubt hold you back. We often think, Who would come? How would we do this? What obstacles will we face? If God wills it, it will unfold. So take the idea to your priest, talk with your friends, pray about it—and start.

Adrianna: I thought a lot about this question. My advice might sound a bit indirect, but I’d tell young people: don’t be afraid to go to church alone. Simply attending liturgy—whether on Sunday or a weekday—is where you encounter Christ most deeply. That encounter gives you the courage to do what Sofia just described.

It’s also where you naturally meet other young adults who may share the same desire for something that doesn’t exist yet. That was my experience. Go for your own spiritual life first, and then see who else is quietly hoping for the same thing.

OYM: Many young adults—often “new adults,” as you put it—feel lost or unsure of their place in the Church. They want to use their gifts to serve, but they don’t know where to start. What would you say to someone who wants to begin a ministry or offer their talents to the Church?

Sofia: I’d mostly repeat what I said earlier, but with one important addition: not everyone has the same personality. Telling someone “just do it” may work for me, but not for everyone. God created each person with different strengths, and ministries thrive when those strengths come together.

Some people are comfortable approaching strangers and inviting them in. Others excel at organization, planning, communication, or coordinating with clergy. So start by knowing yourself—your temperament, your gifts, your limitations. Then find others whose strengths complement yours. Bringing together different talents is what makes a ministry stable and fruitful.

Adrianna: I completely agree. What Sofia described is essentially how our partnership works. She’s the person who immediately goes up to newcomers and makes them feel welcome. I admire that so much. I contribute more behind the scenes—organizing, coordinating, writing—but together it works.

So my advice is: don’t be afraid of your gifts, and don’t judge them against someone else’s. If you’re not the extroverted greeter, that’s fine—use what you are good at. Focus on the gifts God has actually given you, not the ones you think you should have. And then find someone who complements you.

And on a personal note—even though this is slightly off-topic—I’m incredibly grateful for this ministry because it brought Sofia into my life. She’s now one of my closest friends, and this whole project has been far more fruitful than I ever expected.

OYM: Do either of you have any concluding thoughts you’d like to share from our conversation?

Sofia: As much as Roundtable is about learning, asking questions, and growing in your faith, the biggest takeaway for me is the friendships that come from it. For anyone attending an event like this—or anyone thinking about starting something similar—I hope you grow spiritually, of course, but I also hope you form real relationships along the way.

When we started this years ago, I had never met Adrianna. Even though Chicago Orthodoxy can feel like a small world, there are so many parishes that you really don’t know everyone. I didn’t know anything about her or whether we’d even work well together. But through this ministry, she’s become one of my closest friends. We’ve laughed together, cried together, and she was actually my koumbara at my wedding this past summer.

Every time we meet for Roundtable, I remind everyone that it’s a safe space—we’re friends, we’re in Christ, and we’re here for each other. My prayer for everyone who comes is that they meet a new friend, a future koumbara or koumbaros, or even their future spouse. That’s the beauty of this kind of ministry.