By Catherine Tsounis
At a time when many New York City families are searching for schools that combine academic excellence with strong values and community, The Cathedral School of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese continues to stand out as a unique educational environment rooted in classical Greek ideals and Orthodox Christian tradition.
On Friday, May 9, 2026, the Cathedral School Parents Association hosted its annual Mother’s Day Tea at the school, located beside the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on East 74th Street in Manhattan. The event brought together students, mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, faculty, and friends of the school for a morning centered on gratitude, hospitality, and community.
The Cathedral School emphasizes not only academic achievement, but also the cultivation of character, service, and cultural identity. Drawing from the enduring principles of classical Greek education, the school integrates language, history, Hellenic culture, and Orthodox Christian teachings into daily student life.
Sophocles once wrote, “Children are the anchors of a mother’s life,” a sentiment reflected throughout the gathering as students warmly welcomed guests and participated in the celebration.
Families described the school as both academically strong and deeply nurturing. “I have been coming to the Cathedral School for five years,” said Dr. Panagiota Andreopoulou. “The school is fantastic. We are having a wonderful experience. I truly adore this school.”
Parents Ksenia Lebedinets and family friend Katherine Mikaelian emphasized the school’s unusually close-knit atmosphere. “It’s wonderful to see a small school with such a tight community,” they said. “The children, parents, and teachers genuinely care about one another.”
The sense of warmth extended throughout the morning. Students helped serve bagels, croissants, coffee, and tea to guests while practicing the values of hospitality and respect emphasized by the school. “Our breakfast is amazing,” 7th grade student Colette Casey enthusiastically shared while helping serve refreshments.
The Cathedral School serves families from a wide range of backgrounds, including lifelong Orthodox Christians, interfaith families, and converts to Orthodoxy, all drawn by the school’s combination of academic discipline, moral formation, and strong sense of belonging. The V. Rev. Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Chrysostomos Gilbert presides over the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.
The event was organized by Nicole Scott Casey, Dr. Despina Siolas and Peter Timmins of the Parent Association and was attended by Principal Meropi Kyriacou, faculty members, and school supporters including Dr. John G. Siolas, a member of the High Council for Greek Education in the United States.
As students celebrated with their families, the Mother’s Day Tea reflected what many parents say makes the Cathedral School distinctive: a learning environment where classical Greek educational values, faith, service, and community remain at the center of school life.
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