The purpose of the Fraternity has always been two-fold: social and philanthropic. After the meetings, the members socialize while they have dinner, and during the annual picnics and banquets, the members, along with their families and friends, do the same.

Since its founding, the Fraternity has been very generous in its many philanthropic works. It has helped Nedousa by building roads costing thousands of dollars, by renovating the church of Aghia Ekaterini, which is more than 100 years old, by providing food, clothing and money for widows, orphans and other needy villagers, and by supplying books and other material to the village school.

In addition to providing help to its own village of Nedousa and Kalamata, the Fraternity has helped the needy in other parts of Greece. During World War II, the Fraternity was instrumental in raising many thousands of dollars which were used to purchase war bonds, and after the war it sent more than 500 packages of clothing, medical supplies and food to Greece.

Several of our deceased members were instrumental in making a number of major improvements to our village. Mr. Nickitas Vergenades provided the necessary funds for the construction of a new school, which includes living quarters for the teachers. Mr. Demosthenes Eliakopoulos provided the funds for the village to have running water. Mr. George N. Poulos sent money to pave the village square and Mr. Victor J. Economy purchased the old school and donated it to the village. Half of it is used as the village office and the other half as the infirmary.

After the devastating earthquake in September, 1986, the Fraternity raised more than $18,000, which was sent to Kalamata for the benefit of the victims.

In providing all of the above to help Nedousa, Kalamata, and other parts of Greece, the Fraternity has not neglected the community of Atlanta. It was designated "Great Benefactor" by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in the past when the church was located on Pryor Street. When the new Catherdral was built on Clairmont Road, the Fraternity pledged funds for the construction of one of the larger classrooms in the Educational Building, and many of the members contributed generously to the construction of the church. The Fraternity also contributed to the building of the Hellenic Community Center.

In addition to helping the Cathedral, we have also helped a number of our parishoners, the Diocese, the Archdiocese, St. Basil Acadamy, Hellenic College and a number of charitable organizations in the Atlanta area.

On the Sunday following the 25^th of November, the nameday of our Patron Saint Aghia Ekaterini, the members take the decorated Icon of Saint Catherine around the inside of the Cathedral in a solemn procession and the priest conducts the Litany and Artoclasia (the service of the five loaves). On the same evening, we have our annual banquet and dance for our members, their families and their guests.

Incidentally, one of the seventy icons of the Virgin Mary that were painted by St. Luke was found in the 19^th century by a monk who was living in a monestary near the village of Nedousa. It is kept in a vault in the church of Aghia Ekaterini and taken out once a year on the 15^th of August, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.