The mission of the Building Fund is to assist the
nuns at the Paracletos Monastery create a place for women called to live a monastic lifestyle. The primary profession
of those who live at a monastery is prayer for the world and the study of
God's Word and then to teach and provide spiritual guidance to others through
an exemplary Christian life and devotion to God.
Article from our local newspaper, The Independent-Mail:
Anderson Greek Festival celebration fit for the gods
By Rick Spruill Saturday, October 3, 2009
4th Annual The Greek Festival showcased many flavors of Greece, fashions,
music, dance, and celebration at The Anderson County Farmer's Market in Anderson.
ANDERSON — They threw
another great party Saturday at the fourth annual Anderson Greek Festival at the Anderson Farmer’s Market Pavilion in
Anderson.
More than 1,000 (approx 4000) people attended the event, which ran from 10 a.m.
until 10 p.m., and enjoyed Greek-style roast lamb; dolmades, or rice-stuffed grape leaves; spanakopita, or phyllo dough filled
with spinach and feta cheese; and a variety of other dishes before throwing back fresh pastries such as baklava and finikia,
a spice cookie dipped in nuts and honey.
Tenth Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams stood behind a table working a cash register for one
of two food lines and said her maiden name is Theos.
“Yes, the word means ‘god’ in Greek,” Adams said with a self-conscious
grin.
She was one of more than 150 volunteers working the event.
Scheduled to run until 5 p.m. today, the festival is a charity benefiting the building fund
of the Paracletos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Antreville, a self-sustaining monastery that is home to three Greek Orthodox
nuns.
Live entertainment, including the Troupe Adelphia dance group of St. George Greek Orthodox
Cathedral in Greenville, performed music and dance routines native to Greece. Children learned about Greek architecture while
enjoying several activities, most of which were free, at the Parthenon Playground on the lawn behind the pavilion.
Inside the Anderson Art Center, people submitted bids for more than 200 items, including handmade
Greek linens and tablecloths, wines from around the world, compact discs of Greek music and Greek dancing lessons, said Kristin
Speight, chairwoman for the silent auction committee.
“Based on the bids we’ve received through this afternoon, we expect to raise several
thousand dollars for the monastery,” Speight said.
Speight said she has visited the monastery, and that it is “breathtaking. It is tiny,
but it packs all the punch of a cathedral.”
Outside on the arts center landing Saturday, people browsed for Greek treasures at Yia Yia’s
Attic, an outdoor yard sale.
Carrie Rozakos, Christy Bikas and Martha Burriss sat at a table collecting tickets for the
Parthenon Playground and said the weather played a large role in the large crowds.
“It’s been steadily busy since we got started at 11,” Carrie Rozakos said
Saturday afternoon. “Every picnic table has been full most of the day, and it’ll pick back up again for the dinner
rush.”
JahtmFlores and Ashley Wichman, graduate students at Clemson University, said Saturday was
their first experience at the festival.
Flores said she was “very impressed” with the Greek dishes.
“I’m not what you would call an aficionado,” Flores said. “But, I guess
I like Greek food enough that I’ve learned how to pronounce the names of the dishes.”
Wichman looked down at her plate full of Greek-style roast lamb, dolmades and spanakopita and
did not pause when asked which was her favorite.
“Spanakopita,” she said. “It is incredible.”
Photos from the 2009 Festival:
The St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral Troupe Adelphia performs a traditional dance in the 4th annual The
Greek Festival Saturday at The Anderson County Farmer's Market in Anderson (photo: Anderson Independent-Mail)
The St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral Troupe Adelphia performs a traditional dance in the 4th annual The
Greek Festival Saturday at The Anderson County Farmer's Market in Anderson (photo: Anderson Independent-Mail)
Greek food is served by 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams in the 4th annual The Greek Festival Saturday
at The Anderson County Farmer's Market in Anderson (photo: Anderson Independent-Mail)
2009 Festival - Troupe Adelphia (photo: Anderson Independent-Mail)
2009
Volunteers dancing at the 2009 Festival (closing)
Zonaradikos/Koulouriastos(Meta xades) from Thrace
performed by Chris Pourlos (Greenville, SC), Charlie Kleto (Charlotte, NC), Stavros Karageorgis (Winston-Salem, NC), Niki
Serpanos, Roula Pisteolis...
Baidoushka (Metaxades )from Thrace performed by dancers
from Greenville, SC, Charlotte, NC, and Winston-Salem, NC
2008
Photos from the 2008 Festival by Nathan Gray:
Kostas
Kathy & Persa @ the Loukoumades station
Dan,Sammy & George @ the Gyros station
2008 Festival photos by Bill Stathakis
The Athas (& Pappas) Family
Parthenon Playground
Troupe Adelphia
Paint Wall at the Parthenon Playground
2008 Festival photos by Anderson Daily Photo
"Neo Kyma", Dance Troupe of Spartanburg (photo: Anderson Daily Photo)
2008 Festival (photo: Anderson Daily Photo) http://andersondailyphoto.wordpress.com/
(photo: Anderson Daily Photo)
From the Anderson Daily Photo blog: Anderson’s Greek Festival, held
last Saturday at the Farmer’s Market, was enveloped in wonderful smells. Surprisingly to me, I loved the Greek potatoes
almost more than anything. I kept turning to Cathey (the owner of the elegeant hands above) saying, “How do I MAKE this?”
She’d nod, finish chewing, and say, “I have a recipe that is even better.” I LOVE Greek food. (http://andersondailyphoto.wordpress.com/)
Photos from the First, Second & Third Annual Festivals (by Deacon Charles Joiner)
