Anna was born in 1938 and was in her early teens when she and her mother professed, in the early 50s. The family was living in Port Said, Egypt, where the Suez Canal meets the Mediterranean. Her father George was a dentist, her mother Evangelia a society lady. Anna (they called her Nitsa then) had a younger brother, Makis, who also practiced dentistry later.
Before the 1956 war, there was a thriving and prosperous Greek community in Egypt. They all were forced to leave the country, some went to Australia, some to Greece, leaving all their possessions behind. King Farouk was exiled and Nasser was the new ruler who soon ousted all foreigners – mainly English, French, Greeks- from the country where they had lived for years/generations, and seized their properties.
Anna’s parents were living a worldly life, partying, theaters, etc. Her mother Evangelia felt a deep disappointment in all this. She could see the vanity and falsehood behind everything and had also been disappointed by her own husband’s disloyalty. But George loved this life.
(Anna once told me about a certain occasion when her parents had to attend a social event and her mother was not able to find nylon stockings to wear. It must have been during – or soon after- WWII? So George applied a thick layer of face powder on her legs and drew the seam line, achieving the visual effect of nylons.)
While Evangelia was feeling this sadness and disappointment, she visited a friend of hers, (Catherine thinks this was a professing lady named Vasso, originally from Crete, who had met the workers through Zampeta Hajidakis. [Zampeta was a widow from Rethymnon, cousin of my grandma. She had professed at the same time with my grandparents in the mid-20s. In her wish to settle a family tangle between two of her relatives, sister & niece, she went to Egypt, reconciled them, both her sister and niece professed, as well as quite a few others. She was a great zealot for the Gospel and the cause of salvation for many). In that visit Evangelia met the sister workers Amalia Bouzakis and Georgina Georgiou, she was attentive and impressed, and so she invited them to her home. Her husband was very much against all this. When Evangelia made her choice and totally changed her ways, he became furious and locked his wife and Anna in a room. Evangelia thought that he would relent and soften out of compassion for his daughter, but he was adamant and kept them there for three days. Mother and daughter were firm in their decision, so he angrily gave up.
On a certain day, Evangelia gathered all her jewelry and makeup stuff in a handkerchief, took Anna along, walked to the edge of the canal, and dropped the bundle in the water.
There was a certain day with heavy air-bombing and a warning for people to stay inside. But Evangelia took Anna and went to the meeting anyway. They returned home safely.
The family moved to Athens, rented an apartment downtown and Anna’s father opened a dental office there. Many workers and friends used his services. The place was very central (Omonoia Square) and a good meeting point. Her father had given up his harsh opposition but kept his distance.
Anna started in the Work in Greece when she was 20 years old (1958?) while her family was still in Egypt (?). A very vivacious girl, totally devoted to her mission. Tireless, never seeking prominence, always offering to do the humblest of services, despite her strong personality and ‘pampered’ upbringing.
Like almost all our workers, she had to face persecution several times. In 1968(?) she was on a mission with Emily Golfinopoulos and Kety (later Catherine Papafotis) in Aigion, near Patras. We had two friends there, Andreas and Alexis. The neighbors of Andreas reported the girls to the priests, who in turn called the police to arrest them for proselytism. Emily had been suffering then from her chronic and serious back pain, and the overseer asked her to come to Athens for recuperation. So she wasn’t there at the time.
A trial followed, and a sentence for 3 months imprisonment.
They were brought to a Patras prison where they seized the opportunity to speak to the women inmates. The Athens workers visited Anna and Kety in prison, then continued on their way to Maneteika.
In the prison, Anna was reading to the women from Acts12, about Peter’s miraculous release and his unexpected night-visit to the praying friends. One inmate commented, “Do you really believe that something like this can happen today?” to which Anna emphatically responded, “Yes, absolutely!”
It so happened that the next day the strongman of the junta that held power over Greece at that time, announced that because of the upcoming Easter celebrations, all prisoners with up to 3-month terms may be set free. Everyone marveled at this development, of course… The girls then went to meet the workers and friends at Maneteika. and it was a great surprise. They all found it hard to believe their own eyes.
In the late 60s, Anna decided to devote her care to her ailing parents. Her mother was suffering from heart problems, her father was unable to help. Her heart was always in the work, but she felt this was her duty for that time. She rented a comfortable home in Galatsi, an airy Athens suburb, and managed to start a successful business from scratch! She made puff pastry at home, packaged it frozen, and distributed it to a few well-known supermarkets. She was a pioneer in a business that has become very profitable since then. Her brand name was “Pat Flat”. She became known in the supermarket circles as “The Nun with the Pastry”. This period lasted four years.
Her mother passed away at the age of 62. Catherine told me she was with Anna by Evangelia’s side at that moment. The sweet lady died so peacefully, like a little bird. Evangelia was always gentle, soft-spoken, patient, faithful. Yet firm in her choice to love God first.
Anna’s father, the man who had treated his wife with such harshness, lived for a while longer. He suffered a severe stroke and was brought to a clinic. But his heart softened and he expressed his desire to go where his wife was. Made his choice before the end, such great comfort for Anna.
As soon as Anna was free, she sold out everything and returned to the Work, proving for a second time where her heart belonged.
For a couple of years, in the mid-80s, she labored in France. Anna was fluent in French, English, and Arabic even though this ability has faded now.
Her brother died in Athens a few years ago. Anna kept in touch with his family all through the years. Maki’s wife Irini is still living. Their daughter, Lilly, had come close to making her choice but Makis was very much against this and stopped her. She always had a close relationship with her aunt Anna, gave her lovely outfits, and loved her. For years she had a successful fashion atelier in Athens, I am not sure if she is still active.
There must be a lot more about Anna’s testimony. Actually, our real testimony will be revealed by God, nobody knows it. Nobody knows the inner struggles, the victories, the defeats, the successes, the failures. Anna is to me an example of devotion and willingness to serve. Always very brave.
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