Last Saturday I spent some of my day at the
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox of Greater Orlando
1217 Trinity Woods Ln,
Maitland, FL 32751
No it wasn’t to attend services though I did
stop in to see the sanctuary which was so beautiful
and which is what they invite you to do as part of the festival”
according to their web site:
In our Western Hemisphere, the Orthodox Church has been developing into a valuable presence and distinctive witness for more than two hundred years. The first Greek Orthodox Christians arrived in the New World in 1768, establishing a colony near the present city of St. Augustine, Florida. One of the original buildings in which these immigrants gathered for religious services is still standing. It has recently been transformed into St. Photius’ Shrine by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. The Shrine, named in memory of a great missionary of the Orthodox Church, honors those first Orthodox immigrants. The chapel serves as a national religious landmark, bearing witness to the presence of Orthodoxy in America from the earliest days of its history. The next group of Orthodox Christia St. Photius’ Shrine by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.ns to emerge on the American Continent were the Russian fur traders in the Aleutian Islands. They, too, made a great contribution.
http://www.htgocorlando.org/orthodoxy
So you see the Greek community in Florida has a long history and presence in the state of Florida
And a bit on their beliefs:
The Orthodox Faith does not begin with mankind’s religious speculations, nor with the so-called “proofs” for the existence of God, nor with a human quest for the Divine. The origin of the Orthodox Christian Faith is the Self-disclosure of God. Each day, the Church’s Morning Prayer affirms and reminds us of this by declaring, “God is the Lord and He has revealed Himself to us.” While the inner Being of God always remains unknown and unapproachable, God has manifested Himself to us; and the Church has experienced Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which is central to the Orthodox Faith, is not a result of pious speculation, but of the overwhelming experience of God. The doctrine affirms that there is only One God, in whom there are three distinct Persons. In other words, when we encounter the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, we are truly experiencing contact with God. While the Holy Trinity is a mystery which can never be fully comprehended, Orthodoxy believes that we can truly participate in the Trinity through the life of the Church, especially through our celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacraments, as well as the non-sacramental services.
http://www.htgocorlando.org/teachings
“Gradually the magic of the island (Corfu) settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen.”
Gerald Durrell, Writer
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Women of the Century by Ganneau La Femme indpendante 1960
$8.88
The festival was punctuated with Greek music, dancing, (with many young people of various age groups, dressed in traditional dress, who preform traditional Greek dances from the main land as well as various off shore islands. As well as live music preformed in one of the food areas where you could get all manner of Greek foods and there was inside and outside seating.
In addition to all this there was an area where you could purchase everything from jewelry to bakery goods inside of the church’s meeting rooms. This included a sale of many items like a classy yard sale. You could also wander through the church’s gift shops for all manner of Greek items.
and there was of course bounce houses and other places of fun and games for the kids who were a bit too young for the buying and music enjoyment.
Now aren’t you sorry you missed it?
there will be another next year I’m Sure.
However you might like to try TABLES EXTRAORDINAIRE which features
a display of all manner of table decorated to please and amaze.
It’s to be held 1/29 – 2/1/20 at this church in Maitland
Costs $10 for admission to view the tables
but in addition there will be Greek food to purchase both for lunch and dinner and take home: Plus lots more Just:
check it out below
“Maid of Athens, ere we part. Give, oh give me back my heart!”
Lord Byron, English Poet
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Elroy Vintage Pocket Watch with Hunting Scene on Back Swiss Movement
$55.40
Another thing I saw at the Greek Festival was this which was at the side of the church’s entrance along with some beautifully painted rocks.
The pamphlet goes on to describe how Icons exist not only here on earth but in heaven as well and are in fact a gateway. Now this is not something that I have dealt with before, which given the time I have spent studying all manner of religions and beliefs in my own studies—which is good and keeps me from over-rating myself. It also states that they are a window to heaven, transformed through the faith of the artist and viewer: You can read the full account below:
and the lady who does a lot of this work locally
Athens – The eye of Greece, the mother of arts and eloquence”
John Milton, English Poet
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Fragile by Yes Vinyl 33 1/3 LP
$7.99https://www.etsy.com/listing/537987481/fragile-by-yes-vinyl-33-13-lp?ref=shop_home_active_14
Events at the church for the rest of 2019
Friday, November 8
10:30am
Crafting Fellowship with Flo McMahan 407-239-0408
9:30pm
Orthros & Divine Liturgy Archangels Michael and Gabriel
Saturday, November 9
9:30am
Divine Liturgy – St. Nektarios the Wonderworker
Sunday, November 10
Memorial-Theodoros Grammenos-1 Year
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
Adult Catechism
10:30am
Catechism class
Monday, November 11
Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 12
7:00pm
AHEPA & Daughters of Penelope Meeting
Wednesday, November 13
4:30pm
Hellenic Academy
7:30pm
Caregiver support group with Chris Rothenberger
Thursday, November 14
10:30am
Bible Study with Fr.Demetri
Saturday, November 16
9:30am
Pre Marital Seminar
Sunday, November 17
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
Adult Catechism
10:30am
Catechism class
11:30am
AHEPA Coffee Hour
Monday, November 18
6:30pm
Parish Council Meeting
Wednesday, November 20
4:30pm
Hellenic Academy
Thursday, November 21
CNC- 11:30-1PM Society of Wisdom
9:30am
Entrance of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy
10:30am
Bible Study with Fr.Demetri
11:30am
Society of Wisdom
Sunday, November 24
Memorial – Craig “Gregory” Haun (5Years) Antonia Hatzivasiliou (20 Years) Dimitrios Hatzivasiliou (16Years) Maria Hadjiyannakis (2 Years)
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
CANCELLED: Adult Catechism
10:30am
Catechism class
Monday, November 25
St. Katherine the Great
Wednesday, November 27
4:30pm
Hellenic Academy
Thursday, November 28
Thanksgiving Day
10:30am
Cancelled: Bible Study with Fr.Demetri
Friday, November 29
Black Friday
6:00pm
Vespers
Saturday, November 30
9:30am
Divine Liturgy for St Andrew
Sunday, December 1
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
Cancelled: Catechism class
Wednesday, December 4
4:30pm
Hellenic Academy
Thursday, December 5
10:30am
Bible Study with Fr.Demetri
6:00pm
Great Vespers St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Friday, December 6
9:30am
Orthros & Divine Liturgy / St. Nicholas The Wonderworker
Sunday, December 8
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
Catechism class & Costume fitting
Tuesday, December 10
7:00pm
AHEPA & Daughters of Penelope Meeting
Wednesday, December 11
4:30pm
Hellenic Academy
7:30pm
Caregiver support group with Chris Rothenberger
Thursday, December 12
9:30am
Divine Liturgy – Spyri don the Wonderworker
10:30am
Bible Study with Fr.Demetri
Friday, December 13
10:30am
Crafting Fellowship with Flo McMahan 407-239-0408
Saturday, December 14
10:00am
catechism: mandatory pageant practice
Sunday, December 15
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
Catechism class
Monday, December 16
6:30pm
Parish Council Meeting
Wednesday, December 18
4:30pm
Hellenic Academy
Thursday, December 19
CNC- 11:30-1PM Society of Wisdom
10:30am
Bible Study with Fr.Demetri
11:30am
Society of Wisdom
Sunday, December 22
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
cancelled: Catechism class
Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Eve
9:30pm
Christmas Orthros
10:30pm
Christmas Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, December 25
Christmas Day
4:30pm
CANCELLED: Hellenic Academy
Thursday, December 26
10:30am
Bible Study with Fr.Demetri
Sunday, December 29
8:15am
Orthros
9:30am
Divine Liturgy
10:30am
cancelled: Catechism class
Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Eve
6:00pm
Divine Liturgy
“Let there be light! Said Liberty, And like sunrise from the sea, Athens arose!” Percy Bysshe Shelley, English Poet
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Wamsutta Standard Cotton Sheet with Disney Character Parade
$10.00
For more information on potential sites to visit in regard to this blog
St Photios Shrine Greek Orthodox National Shrine
41 St George St,
St. Augustine, FL 32084
For more Greek Orthodox Sites in USA
AMERICA’S GREEK ORTHODOX TRAIL
Want to attend a similar festival:
43rd Annual Greek Festival
Thu, Nov 7 – Sun, Nov 10
St Demetrios Church, 1
29 N Halifax Ave
Daytona Beach, FL
Tampa Greek Festival 2019
Sat, Nov 9 – Sun, Nov 10
Tampa Greek Festival, 2418 W Swann Ave
Tampa, FL
http://www.tampagreekfestival.com/
and for a Greek Town right here in Florida
Tarpon Springs
Come back Wed for my memories of 30’s gangsters
and bits and pieces—heaven knows what you’ll find on Friday.
