The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church recently invited worshipers for a celebration of food and culture. The event will take place on Nov. 5 - 7 at the church located at 1217 Trinity Woods Lane.
Festival of Greek Food
According to Click Orlando, the church canceled the food festival in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report said that the Orthodox church said that they were excited to announce that the food festival for this year would push through. They also encouraged its members to "help spread the news."
According to the post, the event will feature "a fun weekend full of delicious food and fantastic entertainment for everyone."
The church also urged its congregants to invite their friends and family to the festival.
Event Highlights
In a report with West Orange Times in 2018, some of the food offered during the three-day event include baklava, gyros, lamb, and Greek fries and potatoes. Parishioners also prepared authentic Greek fare.
At one time, the news outlet said that the highlight of the food festival was the saganaki. This dish is a flaming Greek cheese cooked in front of the guests on the spot.
During its previous years, the event reportedly attracted visitors from across Central Florida. There were times when the church had to offer shuttle parking besides parking on-site.
Another attraction during the festival is the Greek dancers. Children, middle-schoolers, and adults join the church's Hellenic dance program to show their dance moves. The dancers also wear their Greek island-specific costumes to pay tribute to their culture.
The event also had face-painting booths and bounce houses for the younger children.
In the article, Simone Behar, publicity chair of the church, said that they tried to "play around and bring new food items" to the festival every year.
Behar mentioned there was a time the food fest offered baklava ice cream and cheesecake.
Church Iconography
Besides the food and the dances, visitors to the event will also witness the Orthodox church's iconography. Tourists are given a tour of the church and are taught its history.
Behar said that one thing that sets them apart from other churches is their iconography.
"We have icons all over the walls. From the ground up to the ceiling. Every piece of the entire church on the inside are icons … every icon represents a different part of the Bible. It's a big storytelling when you walk in," Behar stated.
The publicity chair worked for the church for over ten years. He said that tourists flock to their event every year.
In the previous years, the church used the money raised at the festival to fund its programs. During its event in 2018, the Orthodox church donated some of the proceeds to the Ephraim Project.
The faith-based nonprofit provides food and blankets to Orlando's poor community.
Free of Charge
According to the event's website, admission for this year is free of charge.
The church also encouraged its visitors to follow the specified COVID-19 protocols and safety measures.
They asked guests to practice physical distancing and sanitize their hands with hand sanitizer or alcohol. Those who felt sick were also urged to stay home.
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