BOSTON – The annual Greek Festival of the community of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Boston, which is held on the Cathedral grounds in Brookline, MA once again attracted thousands of visitors this, both Greek-Americans and non-Greeks.
A Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the chapel of the Cathedral in Brookline, after which the faithful made their way to the festival grounds where they enjoyed Greek frappé, gyros, traditional sweets prepared by the ladies of the Philoptochos, as well as delicious dishes cooked with care and authentic Greek recipes.
The presiding priest of the Cathedral community, Protopresbyter Odysseus Drossos, told The National Herald that “thanks to the invaluable contribution of dozens of volunteers, this year’s festival exceeded all expectations, setting a record in revenue and leaving an excellent impression on the thousands of our visitors.” He added that “the recipe for a successful festival is not only good food, Greek music, and favorable weather, but above all the warmth of Greek hospitality, which permeated the entire three-day Cathedral festival.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE CATHEDRAL
Metropolitan Methodios of Boston visited the festival and expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the painstaking preparations and the great success of the event. He conversed with the visitors and blessed the children who came forward to kiss his hand.
A special highlight, as every year, was the traditional taverna, where under the stars visitors enjoyed appetizers and charcoal-grilled octopus paired with ouzo or tsipouro.
A large tent had been set up on the Cathedral grounds in Brookline, under which visitors delighted in delicious Greek foods and pastries, live Greek music, and traditional Greek dances that created an atmosphere of joy and nostalgia for Greece.
It is noted that the community organizes one festival each year, in September, which constitutes one of the main sources of revenue for the support and functioning of the parish.
The Cathedral community, its presiding priest, the Parish Council president Dimitrios Triggas, and the members wish to thank all those who helped to organize such a successful festival again this year, as well as everyone whose presence contributed once more to its success.
The journey to organize the Annunciation Cathedral community began around 1890 when a group of Greek immigrants organized and formed the Plato Society with the purpose of helping the growing number of immigrants gather for fellowship, education, and worship. The first Liturgy was celebrated for the group in 1890. In 1899 a concerted effort was undertaken to establish a more permanent religious community, and regular services began. In 1903 the leaders of the community formally established a parish, becoming the sixth official Greek Orthodox parish in the United States. Services were held in a rented hall. In 1907 they purchased a building and formally became the Annunciation parish, holding services and running a parochial school until 1924. In 1916 they purchased the land on which a new church building was constructed (1923-24) in a classical revival style.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE CATHEDRAL
In 1923 Fr. Joakim Alexopoulos was elected the first bishop of Boston and the parish was designated a cathedral, one of the first cathedrals in the United States. Bishop Joakim later became Metropolitan of Demeriados. Additionally, three other clergy serving the Cathedral have been elected bishops: Fr. Athenagoras Cavadas became the Bishop of Boston, the first Dean of Holy Cross Theological School and later Archbishop of Thyateira; Fr. James (Iakovos) Coucouzes became Bishop of Melita and from 1959 to 1996 Archbishop of North and South America; and in 2014, Fr. Cleopas Strongylis was elected Metropolitan of Sweden.
From 1923 to today, more than 100 years, the community has gathered for worship in the same facility. In the early 1970s the parish purchased a plot of land in Brookline, which now houses a small chapel, Cathedral offices, the Cathedral Center Hall, and the Metropolis of Boston offices.
