The mission of the Annunciation's Youth & Young Adult Ministries is to minister to our children, our young people, and their families, and thereby enabling them to fully experience the Orthodox faith. For more information, please contact our office by phone at 212-724-2070 or email: info@annunciation-nyc.org.



"TA PAITHAKIA"-MOMMY & ME: The class uses songs and games to introduce the Greek language to infant through preschool-aged children. Through a variety of activities, the children become familiar with basic language skills such as learning the numbers, colors, shapes and alphabet in Greek. Props to keep the interest, attention and energy up for the full hour accompany all activities. The most important goal of the class is to help the children become familiar with the Greek language, be able to take and utilize this knowledge, as they grow older, and advance into Greek School. The class is held every Thursday morning from 10:00am – 11:00am. Fall session begins on September 26 and ends on December 19; cost is $325. For further information, please contact tapaithakia@annunciation-nyc.org, or visit the Ta Paithakia page on this website.


JOY & HOPE: Junior Orthodox Youth program is open to all children between the ages of 4-12 and meets on the first Sunday of each month. Our children are offered an opportunity to learn about their faith while having fun with their friends. Some of the activities include: ice skating, roller skating, JOY Night at the Movies, and much more. For more information call the parish office, visit the Hope and Joy page on this web site, or send an email to HopeJoy@annunciation-nyc.org.

YOUTH CHOIR: The Annunciation Junior Choir encourages children to chant hymns and become active participants during the Divine Liturgy and other church services. The Children’s Choir chants responses and hymns of the Divine Liturgy on Youth Sunday and on the Saturday of Lazarus. The choir also leads the faithful in the singing of the carols during the Annual Christmas Pageant, providing inspiration for all who attend.

ALTAR BOYS: All young men are encouraged to serve our Lord as Altar Boys during Liturgical Services. This experience provides unique opportunities to learn more about the faith and traditions in the Orthodox Church. Altar Boys are held to the discipline and standards of the honor of serving in the Altar. We will offer three ‘Altar Boy Training Seminars’ after Church Services for all of the young men who are interested or who currently serve in the Altar. Please see the Youth Ministry Calendar for the specific dates.

GOYA: The Greek Orthodox Youth of America is open to all children between the ages of 12-18 (seniors in high school) and meets each month to plan events for the upcoming month. GOYA members participate in many diverse activities at Annunciation and with other local parishes, some of which include dances, retreats and outreach activities.

Our GOYAns also participate in a District wide Christmas and Lenten Retreat. The church also provides special lectures and gatherings to educate GOYAns on specific topics of interest as growing faithful Orthodox youth.

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: Participating in the National Oratorical Festival, students are provided with an opportunity to communicate to others about their faith, their heritage, and their church, as well as challenging their writing and public speaking skills.

CAMPUS MINISTRY: This group provides a unique way for the parish of the Annunciation, to minister to the needs of fellow Orthodox Christians studying at our local colleges and universities which include: Columbia University, New York University (NYU), Fordham University (Lincoln Center), City College of New York, Hunter College, and...

CAMP SAINT PAUL: Camp Saint Paul, is the summer over-night youth camp of the Direct Archdiocesan District. All JOY children (grades 3-6) and GOYAns (grades 7-12) are welcome to participate. Camp Saint Paul is a Christ centered environment where our youth can grow in their Christian faith, and make life long friendships. Located on Lake Bantam in the Berkshire Hills of Litchfield Connecticut, the children of our district pray together each day, sing around the campfire, and play on the athletic field. They discuss scripture, theology and major social issues in their daily sessions, and express their creativity in arts and crafts. Campers also swim, canoe and waterslide on Lake Bantam, enjoying the blessing and silence of natural surroundings.

IONIAN VILLAGE: Ionian Village is a unique summer camping program located in Greece and operated by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Located in Greece, Ionian Village offers its participants a unique experience that is unavailable elsewhere. At the end of the program, staff and campers return to their homes with strengthened faith and with a greater appreciation for the Church and for Greek culture and heritage. Teens and young adults have the time of their lives while at Ionian Village. Staff and campers from across the United States form bonds and friendships at Ionian Village that last a lifetime. Since 1970, over 15,000 teens and young adults have experienced a 35 year old tradition committed to building, “Faith and friendships that last a lifetime.”

Ionian Village is a newly renovated resort facility located on several hundred acres on the northwest coast of the Peloponnese, approximately 45 miles west of the city of Patras. Overlooking the crystal blue waters of the Ionian Sea, the campground is nestled between a private beach and pine forests, and is designed to look and feel like a traditional Greek village. Ionian Village participants become part of a village community as they dwell in white-washed cabins, worship in a Byzantine chapel, swim in an Olympic size swimming pool, play sports on athletic fields and courts, dine in a renovated cafeteria, and perform in an outdoor amphitheater.

Teens and young adults that participate in Ionian Village travel across Greece, venerate the relics of saints, walk in the footsteps of the Apostles, and visit significant sites of Greek history and culture.

CROSSROAD: CrossRoad is an engaging 10-day summer institute for Orthodox Christian high school juniors and seniors of all jurisdictions that takes place every summer on the campus of Hellenic College/Holy Cross in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Students from the United States and Canada are invited to take part in an exciting summer vocations exploration program designed to help them discern their life callings and match their God-given gifts with the needs of the world. Now in its sixth year, CrossRoad combines the greatest gifts of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology through faculty instruction and participation, an enthusiastic staff of graduate students, the beautiful campus overlooking Boston and of course the exciting city of Boston itself. Students participate in daily classes with Orthodox faculty and attend Vespers each evening at parishes in the Boston area.

REAL BREAK: Real Break is an opportunity for college students throughout the United States to participate in an Outreach/Missions trip during spring break. Several trips are typically planned each year that provide students with the oportunity to truly 'make a difference' in just a short period of time. More information conserning futher trips can be found at http://www.ocf.net