Four-day St. Demetrius Astoria Festival a resounding success

The area around the Cathedral of St. Demetrius was flooded for four days by people of all ages, expatriates and non-expatriates, who came to enjoy Greek food and sweets, especially the famous loukoumades, to show off the school's dances, but also to have fun with the games and the amusement park.

The established consecration was performed on the afternoon of Thursday, May 14, by the priestly superior, Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos, together with the parish priest, Fr. Petros Gomez, having at their side the active president of the community, Nikos Papaioannou, and in the presence of the first visitors to the festival.

More than 100 volunteers, from all the community organizations, from the council, Philoptochos, and even from the Day School of Agios Demetrios, with the blessings of Bishop Nazianzos Athenagoras, Archbishop of Astoria, and the guidance of the heads of the organizing committee, dedicated time and effort to the preparation of the festival and its successful holding.

Among them were the chairman of the school committee, Konstantinos Soukeras, the principal, Vasilis Skordas, the deputy principal, Betsy Sideri, teachers, parents, and students who gave their own message that the great work of the community, and especially of the Day School, will continue at all costs.

The presence of the dance groups of the St. Demetrios schools during all four days, as well as the Folklore Association of Greeks in America, on the last day, thrilled the visitors, while adding a strong touch of tradition to the event.

There was also great enthusiasm for the lottery, the drawing of which took place on the evening of the last day.

The Consul of Greece, Petros Dorizas, was also close to the parishioners of Astoria.

The St. Demetrios festival has been organized continuously since 1975 with the same enthusiasm and passion, in support of the community and, traditionally, its Day School. In fact, the first inscription, of the first festival, reads the phrase “Proceeds for our schools”.

It is worth noting that the Greek Community of Astoria, which in 1927 will celebrate a century of life and Greek Orthodox witness in America, is the only community of the Holy Archdiocese of America that operates two churches, the Cathedral of St. Demetrius and the Church of Saints Catherine and George, as well as the only Greek-American Day School that also has high school classes (Pre-K to 12th), recognized by the Ministry of National Education of Greece.