SOUTHAMPTON – Thousands of people from across the New York Metropolitan Area journey to the Eastern tip of Long Island for the Hamptons Greek Festival Hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons – Kimisis Tis Theotokou from July 16-19 on Church Grounds in Southampton, NY.
Archbishop Demetrios of America attended on July 18. He congratulated Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Fr. Constantine Lazarakis for leading the parish council and all the volunteers producing a fine festival.
His Eminence enjoyed experiencing the event that has become a Hamptons highlight, attracting Greek-American celebrities like Broadway start Constantine Maroulis and local public officials.
He told reporters from newspapers and ANT-1 TV that “as you see, here are many people from our various parishes but also many people who are not related to our Church. These festivals are an essential vocation of the Church.”
He added that “the Church’s neighbors look forward to it every year and it is a blessing of joy and an opportunity to breathe a little Greek orthodox and traditional air. ”
Fr. Karloutsos told TNH the festival constitutes a bridge between Greek and Orthodox culture and the greater New York community. After thanking TNH for its coverage of the achievements and activities of the parish, he said the purpose of the festival is to present the best of Hellenism, “hospitality, charity, pride, and love. People of many traditions come to us and experience the spirit of Greece, which is the sun of Western Civilization.
“When people tell me there is a cloud over Greece I remind them that there are we are Greeks in America and that the sun will always shine over Greece and we as a community will maintain the values of our ancestors, because we believe in the truth of the Greek spirit and are proud our accomplishments,” he said.
The volunteers present Greek culture and traditions with warmth and pride, and, of course, they are delighted to serve the world their nation’s wonderful food.
In addition to the traditional booths displaying jewelry, arts and crafts, and other products there were innovations like the little zoo with bunnies, goats, ducks, horses, and ponies.
A live orchestra performed on a state set up beneath the main tent where the community’s “Hamptons Hellenic Dancers” also performed, evoking much applause.
Two of Fr. Karloutsos’ youngest grandchildren, Xanthi and little Alexander, also danced, along with children not of Greek descent. Karloutsos said the instructor for the youngest dance troupe is Serbian and noted that the parish offers instruction in the Greek, Serbian, and Romanian languages.
The smiles on the faces of the visitors reflected the many things that attracted them to the festival, including the raffle whose first prize was a car worth $20,000, but number one on the Festivals hit parade was the food.
Volunteers coordinated by Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos were running here and there carrying trays of food and sweets produced by another army of helpers in the community centers state-of-the-art kitchen facilities.
The offerings could compete in taste and quality with those of the best local restaurants. Restaurateur George Polychronopoulos was the head chef and he was assisted by Kyriakos Mytides, the chef of the Archdiocese.
The Archbishop’s visit gave the parish clergy the opportunity to give him a tour of the sanctuary and to brief him about the work that needs to be done.
Fr. Karloutsos introduced the Archbishop to Tula Bakas, who along with her husband Pericles was one of the founders of the parish.
Madeline Singas, interim DA for Nassau County who is a candidate for that position in the November election attended the festival with her husband and her two children. She told TNH “I am very happy to be here to see all the people supporting the Church of the Assumption. It is a very beautiful event. ”
“It is an honor for me and my wife to be here to spend this evening with you,” Congressman Lee Zeldin told the crowd “I would like to thank Fr. Alexander for the work he does to make this world a better place for everyone. To thank him not only for what he does for America but also for Greece so passionately. ”
Dean Angelakos came all the way from Brooklyn because “This festival annually brings together hundreds of visitors from the Hamptons and New York and elsewhere. We are fortunate that Archbishop Demetrios joined Father Alexander and other members of the parish who welcomed us…it feels good to be here. “
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