New Sophia Animated Series Brings Orthodox Faith to Young Families

Jersey-based nonprofit Orthodoxy for Kids launches animated series to engage children ages 3-8 and support young parents in teaching Orthodoxy at home.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Orthodoxy for Kids, a New Jersey-based nonprofit, has launched a new animated series called Sophia to help introduce Orthodox Christian faith and traditions to young children ages 3-8 in an engaging, age-appropriate way. The short, 3-4 minute episodes are designed to supplement parish-based religious education and provide a tool for young parents, some of whom may have returned to the church after years away, to teach the basics of Orthodoxy at home. The series features high-quality animation and an unexpected young voice actress as the title character.

Why it matters

Many young Orthodox families, including those in mixed-faith households, struggle to find resources that can effectively teach the faith to their young children in a way that feels familiar and entertaining. Sophia aims to fill that void and support parents in passing on Orthodox traditions and values to the next generation.

The details

The Sophia project was sparked by Sunday School teacher Eva Poneros, who saw a need for more engaging Orthodox content for young children. She shared the idea with her mentor, Judge Marina Corodemus, who then brought on the Very Reverend Nektarios Cottros as an advisor. The nonprofit Orthodoxy for Kids was formed to develop the animated series, which required significant funding and creative effort to achieve the high-quality animation and production values they envisioned. One unexpected blessing was finding a 6-year-old girl to voice the title character.

  • Orthodoxy for Kids was founded in 2025 to develop the Sophia animated series.
  • The Sophia series launched with a soft release around Christmas 2025.
  • The series has seen growing engagement on social media since recent media coverage.

The players

Eva Poneros

A Sunday School teacher who recognized the need for more engaging Orthodox content for young children and helped spark the creation of the Sophia animated series.

Judge Marina Corodemus

Poneros' mentor who helped create the Sophia character and bring the project to life.

Very Reverend Nektarios Cottros

An advisor who joined the Sophia project to provide guidance on Orthodox faith and traditions.

Orthodoxy for Kids

A New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that developed and launched the Sophia animated series.

Manny Xidias

The Communications Director of BiggerFish Marketing, which is involved in the Sophia project.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of young people marry outside the faith. They come back to church only when they have children. Sophia is not just to keep the youngest children engaged, it's also to reintroduce young parents to the basics in a gentle way.”

— Eva Poneros, Founder, Orthodoxy for Kids (Hellenic News of America)

“Kids wonder about everything. If it's not engaging, you lose them to Minecraft.”

— Manny Xidias, Communications Director, BiggerFish Marketing (Hellenic News of America)

“If your heart's not in it, you're not promoting it in a sincere, engaging way.”

— Eva Poneros, Founder, Orthodoxy for Kids (Hellenic News of America)

What’s next

Orthodoxy for Kids is seeking donor support to fund the creation of more Sophia episodes and expand their library of Orthodox-themed animated content for young children and families.

The takeaway

The Sophia animated series represents an innovative approach to engaging young Orthodox families and passing on faith traditions to the next generation. By providing accessible, age-appropriate content that can be used both in Sunday School and at home, Orthodoxy for Kids hopes to strengthen the connection between parish life and daily life for Orthodox Christian families.