NEW YORK – There was no need to travel all the way to the Aegean this past weekend to experience Greek hospitality, culture, and food. Locals only had to attend the annual Greek Festival, hosted since 1973 by the Greek Orthodox Holy Trinity Church in New Rochelle. Participants had many diverse activities to choose from. Whether enjoying live Greek music and dancing, shopping at the flea markets, taking the kids on rides and carnival games, guided tours of the Church itself, or just relaxing while feasting on Greek souvlaki, gyros, or home-made baklava or other desserts, a good time was had by all.

A special honor for the community this year was the surprise visit by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who came to support the church and its parishioners.

Volunteer parishioners worked weeks in advance to collect donations for the flea market and organize food preparations, and countless individuals worked the kitchen, food stands, ticket booths, flea markets, and security to ensure all went smoothly. Credit goes to all the parish members who pulled together to raise money for their church, while creating a memorable event for the entire community.

The Holy Trinity church was established in 1922 in Mount Vernon and later moved to its current site in New Rochelle. Under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Nicholas Anctil, the church has prospered to a parish of 600 families worshipping the Greek Orthodox faith and traditions. In addition to being a house of worship, which also offers Sunday School classes for the children, the church has an after-school Greek Language program for children and adults and is also the site of Child’s Dream Nursery School. The facility includes a Cultural Center and Gymnasium, which is constantly in use for private functions and sports events.

Source: goarch.orh