Alexander and Eleni Melirrytos are serving as missionaries in Athens, Greece. Alex is one of the ministers at the Omonia Church of Christ. The congregation includes members from several countries including Greece, Russia, Bulgaria and Romania. Our involvement with this work began in 2006 and has included leading a summer Bible Camp for the members of the congregation.

Alexander and Eleni were born and raised in Athens, Greece, and currently live in Glyfada, a seaside suburb in the southern region of Greater Athens.

Alexander is a trained merchant marine sea-captain and hs sailed to eighty-six countries over the world since the age of 22. Eleni, a second generation Christian, met Alexander in 1978 and was instrumental in his conversion to Christ. They have been happily married since August 29, 1980, and have two children, Orestis, 25, and Danae, 21. The call Nashville, Tennessee, their home-away-from-home and have many close relationships with their fellow Christians there. A number of these brethern have visited with Alex and Eleni in their home in Greece.

Because of its unique geographical location, the city of Athens was, is, and will be, a melting pot of cultures and a blend of many nations. This is evident in every aspect at the makeup of the Omonia Church. The most unique feature of this congregation is the co-existence of four assemblies/ethnic groups meeting at the same building on Sunday at different worship and class hours, in Christian fellowship and love with each other. The formation of these four groups has been essential because of the great variety of languages spoken by the Athenian population, a vibrant metropolis of over 5 million souls.

Through the years, God has blessed the Omonia Church both in spirit and in numbers. The congregation has sought and practiced 'new' ways of 'searching the scriptures' together. In addition to the regular Sunday worship hours and the Bible classes, the Wednesday Bible class hour, the house groups, the visitation program and the one-day church excursions every two-or three months, members now enjoy a family retreat during the summer and a women’s conference in the fall.

The annual family retreat - a great encouragement to all who have attended - is now held at a picturesque hotel in Cenchrea, a small, biblical village right on the Aegean Sea, just a short walking distance from the ruins of a 5th century basilica. Each day of this week-long retreat begins with a devotional and is followed by in-depth classes for all ages. The families return to Athens revived by the beauty of the sea and the bounty of the scriptures.

'Philadelphia' has been a source of strength and harmony to all the women of the Omonia Church for several years. In 2006, sisters from the other congregation in Athens were able to join for a day of fellowship, praise and devotion. Several women from the U.S. or from neighboring Balkan countries like Bulgaria and Albania take a trip to Athens only to be a part of this wonderful gathering; encouraged by the words spoken, the hymns being sung and the message received. God has blessed these two events in the life of His church at Omonia in a powerful way.

Much has also changed in the Melirrytos’ family life. Orestis and Danae are now young adults. Orestis is living in Greece. Danae is completing her education at Pepperdine University. Along with caring for the congregation at Omonia, both spiritually and physically, Alexander and Eleni face the challenge of caring for aging family members. Eleni’s mother and aunt are both elderly and in poor health. Please continue to pray for Eleni and her relatives as they move through this transition in their life.

Alexander and Eleni have participated as speakers at annual University Bible lectures in the U.S. and led annual campaigns of Churches in South Africa, England, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania. After the disastrous tsunami of December 26, 2004, in Southeast Asia, Alexander and Eleni were sent as representatives of Healing Hands International and visited Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the local Churches of Christ. Their mission was to identify and record the most urgent needs in preparation for the great and loving support that would come from the Churches in the States. During that time Alexander and Eleni also made multiple visits to a number of communities at the southwest part of the island at arranged camps and offered all kinds of service and encouragement to the afflicted.

If you happen to know Eleni, you know she loves cooking. She has published two cooking calendars with healthy, delicious recipes and words of Christian wisdom on table fellowship and good food. This ministry has been Eleni's passion for many years and she continues to seek ways to proclaim God's message to man through the gift and blessing of table fellowship and the discipline of Christian hospitality - the caring preparation and sharing of a meal. She shares some of her favorite recipes and stories on her website and you can order one of her calendars: www.cookwitheleni.com

In 2008, Eleni participated in a 15-day trip to Northeast Nigeria, to help present a food preservation seminar to 70+ wonderful ladies of a Muslim community. You can see pictures and a report of the trip here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25697315@N04/show

http://cookwitheleni.com/nigeria.html

Alexander has also translated and printed into Greek, Albanian and Bulgarian a number of books, including the 'Fundamentals of the Christian Faith' by Dr. John Parker, professor at Lipscomb University, as well as 'The Holy Spirit' by Sammy Flanary of the Sunset International Bible Institute. The Melirrytos continue to seek the Lord's will for His field in Athens and the nations. Please pray that the Lord may provide directions and guidance to their service - to continue proclaiming His love and word of promise in a powerful way in the years to follow.

You can email Alex at amelirry@aol.com or Eleni at emelirry@aol.com.