Orthodox Christian Shop Serves Coffee, Charity
The Rev. Stephen Vernak, left, pastor of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Lower Paxton Township, and Michael Gavrilos, Agia Sophia manager, take a break in the recently opened downtown Harrisburg coffee shop.
By MARY KLAUS, The Patriot-News
27/10/2011
VISIT: http://www.agiasophiaharrisburg.com/
Five Orthodox churches have brewed up a Christian outreach in downtown Harrisburg that caters to peoples’ appetites with coffee and pastries and to community needs with donations to charity.
The Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg Inc. recently opened Agia Sophia, a cozy nonprofit coffee shop at 225 Market St., across from the Whitaker Center.
With its leather sofa and chairs, small tables for studying or sipping hot beverages and laid-back decor, Agia Sophia seems more like a comfortable living room than a coffee shop.
“The purpose of this project is to have a visible and active Orthodox Christian presence in downtown Harrisburg,” said the Rev. Stephen Vernak, pastor of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Lower Paxton Twp. “All proceeds after our expenses will be donated to worthy charities, which are selected by our board on a quarterly basis.”
The five Orthodox churches, which are located around but not in Harrisburg, have planned Agia Sophia for two years, Vernak said. He said church officials wanted to be more involved in the community.
“When I was in the seminary, I met students from Colorado Springs, which has an Agia Sophia,” he said. “We wanted to do that here, too. Agia Sophia means holy wisdom.
“We wanted a quality coffeehouse to generate money for charity. We also wanted an intellectual, spiritual and physical haven from the frantic pace of our customers’ lives.”
Agia Sophia appears to be meeting both goals. The Orthodox touch is subtle — soft Orthodox or folk music in the background, a few icons on the wall and nesting dolls standing like sentries.
Although it’s been open for only several weeks, the coffeehouse has become a place where people can get a breather from a busy day, where business people can sit down for a leisurely but productive talk, and where students can study in peace.
“We wanted to create a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere, a sacred space for Harrisburg,” Vernak said, sitting on a leather sofa in the shop’s parlor/bookstore, where shelves of spiritual and secular books were for sale.
“This is a Greek revival building that once was the Colonial Theater. It lends itself to what we wanted to do. So far, we’ve been well received.”
Michael Gavrilos of York, shop manager and Orthodox seminary student, said the shop is busiest from 8 to 11 a.m. and from 2 to 6 p.m.
“Business people meet here,” he said. “Students study here. People like that we’re not a chain and that we know our customers by name.
“We’re not here to press Orthodoxy, although a lot of people are curious about who we are. We are a work in progress.”
On a recent day, a woman sipped cappuccino and talked on her cellphone. A man studied with a pot of tea on his table. Another customer munched on a muffin and relaxed.
“I come here two to three times a week,” said Matt Hockenberry of Susquehanna Township, a Harrisburg Area Community College student working on an environmental science project. “It’s a good place to study. The staff is friendly, too. I like the atmosphere and the minimal decor.”
The shop attracts state workers, business people and students from Messiah College, Harrisburg University and the International House, a student residence downtown. Customers sit around enjoying coffee, cappuccino, latte, espresso, iced coffee, tea, chai, hot chocolate and hot apple cider and eating a variety of pastries.
Vernak smiled at the varied activities.
“We’ve all agreed that none of the money we raise here will go to our Orthodox churches,” Vernak said. “This quarter’s proceeds will be given to Toys for Tots and Bethesda Mission.
“The Orthodox faith has a long history of reaching out to the community. It’s important that we continue to do that.”
The sponsoring churches are Christ the Savior Orthodox Church of Lower Paxton Township, Holy Annunciation Macedonian Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church of Steelton, Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission of Mechanicsburg, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Wormleysburg and St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church of Swatara Township.
If you go
WHAT: Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg Inc. recently opened Agia Sophia, a nonprofit coffee shop.
WHERE: 225 Market St., Harrisburg.
INFO: Shop hours are 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, go to www.agiasophiaharrisburg.com.
