Revere senior Sia Konstantinopoulos stood at her last Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA) dance, mesmerized by the younger, awkward Greek boys passionately dancing to songs that reflect their heritage. She compared the dancing to a painting. When one of Greek heritage shows such a passion, and feels a swelling heart or moved to tears, they possess kefi, a spirit or passion within oneself. Konstantinopoulos did not notice the presence of so much kefi until her final tournament’s dance, as she looked on with a greater appreciation for her heritage.

The Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA) was started to unify Greek Orthodox children through their heritage. The number of GOYA chapters around the nation varies based on the concentration of Greek Orthodox people in a selected area. GOYA hosts a number of events, ranging from summer camps to basketball tournaments. GOYA members of Annunciation Akron, Konstantinopoulos’ church, participate in three GOYA basketball tournaments a year; one in late January, one in early February and one in late February. Tournaments have each participating church organize its young adults into four types of teams; a junior boys team, a junior girls team, a senior boys team and a senior girls team. Members of the junior teams range from grades seven to nine, and members of the senior teams range from grades ten to twelve. RHS sophomore Andrew Boyazis, who also has attended Annunciation Akron for ten years and participated in GOYA since seventh grade, explained the workings of a tournament weekend trip.

“[We] leave Friday night for some form of event at the church and register, then go back to [our] hotel. The next morning [we] have basketball games, usually double elimination with a losers bracket. Based on how the tournament is set up, the championship and consolation games will be on a Sunday. . . . That night, there is a dance where everyone dresses up nice. There is usually a mix of Greek music and American music, they mix it up with Greek dancing. . . . The next morning, we have church for two and a half hours. If you are late then you get kicked out of the tournament. There is always a full breakfast afterward provided by the church. If you play that day, you will go to the playing location and usually there are a lot of people and fans for that game,” Boyazis said.

In a sense, GOYA resembles a church youth group for Greek Orthodox young adults. Boyazis added how GOYA has increased his pride in his religion.

“[With GOYA] you have to want to continue your faith on your own. You have to go to church, and if you want to be on our [Annunciation Akron] GOYA team you have to go to fifty percent of Sunday schools. The more I do it, the more I want to pursue [my faith] myself,” Boyazis said.

RHS sophomore Eliana Burlotos, another member of Annunciation Akron, has participated in GOYA since seventh grade. She discussed the benefits of participating in GOYA.

“GOYA is a lot of fun. You get to connect with your friends and your religion. I have a lot more friends from other schools through GOYA, which is nice. It definitely increases pride in your heritage. Everyone is a Greek enthusiast. It is an extreme enthusiasm,” Burlotos said.

Konstantinopoulos has participated in GOYA since seventh grade. She currently serves as the co-president of Annunciation Akron’s GOYA student board. As her most recent basketball tournament was also her last tournament, she reflected upon GOYA with a newfound appreciation. She voiced the importance of GOYA in her life.

“GOYA means a lot because I have made some of my best friends through it. It starts when you are twelve and ends when you are eighteen as a senior, and it is something that we cling to because it is a childhood thing. Starting something at twelve years old, and it being that important in your life, speaks as to how it can be important in everyone’s life,” Konstantinopoulos said.

Konstantinopoulos looked on as the music faded and the Greek dancing ceased. While her final dance at her final GOYA tournament had concluded, she noted the presence of kefi that lingered for many subsequent hours. The twelve-year-old Greek Orthodox kids at the dance will continue their participation in GOYA, connecting with others of their heritage for the rest of their lives.