Elkins Park, PA — Teachers traded places with their students at Annunciation/Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church on October 27, 2026, taking the stage for an OXI Day theatrical performance while the children watched from the audience.
Parents also participated in the presentation, turning the traditional student-led program into an opportunity for children to watch their educators bring Greek history to life.
The celebration began with a small parade before families gathered for the performance, commemorating Greece’s rejection of Italy’s ultimatum on October 28, 1940, and the country’s resistance during World War II.
Greek School Director Debbie Sourias explained that the change was deliberate. Rather than having students perform for their families, she wanted them to experience the commemoration from a different perspective, watching their teachers present the history usually taught in the classroom.
Greek School Board Member Dimitra Gliptis described the performance as a creative approach to learning, intended to help children better understand their heritage and the achievements and sacrifices of earlier generations.
Parish Council President Anthony Limberakis congratulated Sourias, the teachers, and staff, while also recognizing the students for their attentiveness throughout the presentation. He emphasized the responsibility of passing the history of OXI Day to children and grandchildren so that future generations understand the sacrifices made during the war.
The Rev. Father John L. Johns praised the school’s efforts and Sourias’s creativity, pointing to the example set when adults actively participate in the traditions they teach. For him, the evening also carried a message beyond the annual commemoration: Greek language, culture, heritage, and Orthodox faith should remain part of children’s lives long after they complete Greek school.