BROOKLYN – The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in honor of St. Basil the Great on January 1 at the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn.

Following the end of the Doxology, the presiding priest of the community, Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, blessed and cut the vasilopita, wishing all the best for the New Year with peace and salvation for the whole world.

Parish Council President Haralambos Paloumbis spoke to The National Herald and invited all the Greek community to celebrate the Blessing of the Waters on Sunday, January 5, with His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia presiding, at the Jack Valentino Park and Pier in Red Hook.

For 2020, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Peter Vlitas, wished growth and progress for Greece, unity, love, and prosperity for the Greek diaspora community, and to the new Archbishop His Eminence Elpidophoros, courage and success in his great work.

Vasilis Alexiou, a member of the Parish Council, celebrating his name day as well, wished the new year to bring health, joy, and hope to all the world.

Left to right, Parish Council President Haralambos Paloumbis with members Konstantinos Vasilakos and Vasilis Alexiou. Photo: TNH/ Michalis Kakias