They love Greece-y food!
The parishioners of a Downtown Greek Orthodox church spent the first week of June celebrating their heritage and enjoying traditional Hellenic fare — and lots of it. Volunteers from Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral on Schermerhorn Street spent weeks whipping up mountains of pastries and sweets for the house of worship’s yearly Greek Festival, which an organizer said is the secret ingredient for a great celebration.
“The biggest part is community building, and there is nothing like food for that,” said Dean Paravalos, the chairman of the week-long celebration. “In my mind that’s what it’s all about.”
Congregants, neighbors, and Downtown workers devoured baklava, spanikopita, and souvlaki at the church’s 38th annual bash, which ran from June 1 to 6, as well as enjoying dance performances, traditional music, market stalls, and raffles.
