File picture: Agape dancers from St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church will carry out every evening throughout the Wheeling Greek Pageant, which is able to happen July 27-30 at Heart Wheeling Church.
WHEELING – The time for gyros and vine leaves in Heart Wheeling is quick approaching.
The Wheeling Greek Pageant is scheduled for July 27-30 at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church at 2215 Chapline St. in Wheeling.
Patrons can partake in Greek meals and tradition whereas taking excursions of the church and studying concerning the Greek Orthodox religion, mentioned competition organizer Annette Vidis.
“It’s a method of sharing our tradition, not solely our tradition, but additionally our religion,” he mentioned.
And there’s nothing concerning the competition that’s not based mostly on Greek heritage or the Greek Orthodox faith, Vidis continued.
“Our competition is strictly Greek meals. There’s nothing that’s not inside our ethnic border,” she mentioned. “It is a solution to share tradition. It is good and brings the neighborhood collectively for a standard aim. It helps us share our religion and tradition.”
Visits to the church are scheduled on daily basis throughout the competition. Orthodox iconography takes heart stage at 12:30 pm; Structure of the Orthodox Church at three:30 p.m.; and Orthodox Christianity at 5 pm
The San Juan el Divino Youth Choir performs Liturgical Hymns of Byzantine Chant on daily basis at four:45 pm
File picture: No Greek competition can be full with out gyros, which will probably be out there within the occasion’s “beer backyard”. Pageant organizers mentioned all meals is ready by the church, with no exterior distributors.
The “tavern and beer backyard” on the competition is the place you will discover the gyro sandwiches the competition is thought for. Different meals out there embrace Ikaros hen wings, tavern fries, calamari, hen souvlaki, and saganaki.
The close by youth tent presents baklava sundaes, loukoumades, fried puff pastries sprinkled with honey, walnuts and cinnamon, and lemonade.
Greek pastries are additionally out there, in addition to beer and wine.
Guests usually do not understand that there are much more choices of meals upstairs within the church, organizers defined. There are meals and lots of a la carte gadgets able to go. Amongst these are tiropita (cheesecake), spanakopita (spinach pie), Kefthethes (meatballs), and dolmathes (grape leaves).
All meals is ready by the church and there are not any exterior distributors.
There isn’t any seating upstairs within the church, however an extra tent will probably be arrange exterior to supply out of doors seating for everybody consuming on the competition.
“Final yr, visitors had been very pleased to eat exterior,” mentioned Gus Kayafas, who has served because the competition’s director for every of its 22 years. “There’s music and dancers in there, and it is way more festive exterior.”
The Greek Firm Orchestra and the Meraklides Band will carry out conventional Greek music. As well as, the church’s junior and senior agape dancers will carry out in conventional gown every evening starting at 6:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and eight:15 p.m.
The dance troupe is beneath the path of Kayafas’ spouse, Maria Kayafas, who can even host a cooking present at 2 pm each day.
The competition represents “an exquisite spectacle of a vibrant and thriving Greek Orthodox neighborhood,” mentioned Gus Kayafas.
“It is a phenomenon of the nation,” he mentioned. “Most Greek parishes have festivals and share their religion and tradition with the neighborhood. It connects us with our neighbors and exhibits that we’re dedicated to being exemplars of the Christian religion and stewards of our tradition.”
