Greek Church fete draws a big crowd in Benoni
A festive atmosphere reigned at the St Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church, in the CBD, on Sunday, January 19, when a Greek fete was held at the premises in celebration of the church’s annual name day on January 18.
St Athanasius, which is also spelled “Athanasios”, meaning immortal, was a bishop of Alexandria and major theological writer in the fourth century, who fought against Arianism.
He is also called Athanasius the Great.
Members of the Greek community from all over Gauteng attended the feast in their hundreds, in celebration of this culturally significant event.
A church service featured his Eminence Archbishop Papandriou Damaskinos, of Johannesburg and Pretoria, Bishop David Bannerman, from the St Dunstan’s Anglican Cathedral and guest priests from surrounding perishes, and was followed by a celebration.
Delighting tastebuds with Greek cuisine, the committee members of the Greek community made sure there was plenty to eat, including the sweet, round Greek delicacies, loukoumades, described as a “vetkoek” dipped in honey.
Committee member Margeret Pappas said about 250kg of chicken, 24 lambs and liquor were generously donated by the community for the feast.
Guests were entertained with dances and songs, in celebration of beautiful Greek traditions.
For a photo gallery go to looklocal galleries.
