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Hellenic Culture & Ministries of Assumption

Festivals and the Power of Dance

Several years ago, standing next to a dear parishioner we watched our two sons dance alone on the stage at our Festival. Without any parental prompting, these two boys had embraced the universal appeal of Hellenic culture. They were celebrating life, enjoying friendship and sharing that experience with those around them. We said to one another, "This is what it is all about." Assumptions' Greek folk dance program has had an appeal to our youth regardless of their ethnic background. Perhaps at the core of the appeal is "making connections" that happens naturally between the dancers. Without the stress of a competition, our youth are free to enjoy a unique activity. Making connections between youth today is happening in the form of online communicating, texting or amidst high level competition in sports. Very busy parents and activity driven schedules do not allow time for children to play. Creating these types of experiences for our youth and community are part of the "bigger" picture of a Greek Festival and the cultural program for our church. The bottom line of a Festival is not revenue generated but the enriching of lives through experiencing a culture that has been shaped by the Orthodox faith and Way of life.

Assumptions' Greek Language Program

A recently published book available in our bookstore entitled, "Greek Proverbs and Quotations" by Eleftheria Georgiou Cacos is a potent reminder of the value of learning the Greek language and culture. Here is a sampling of some of the proverb:

"A Slave is he who cannot speak his thoughts. (Euripides)."

"Freedom is not entitlement but duty"

"Don't take to heart what someone said when they were mad."

"A plan for your soul, make it very early; no matter how young you are, it is important because you are not young forever."

It has been said, "the Greek language boosts up logic and fortifies the ability of leadership." At the University of California, Irvine professors are cataloging classical Greek. So far they have six million words and 78 million technical terms compared with the English language of 490,000 words and 300,000 technical terms. A professor working on the project said, "to whoever questions why we spend millions of dollars to catalog the Greek language, we reply: this has to do with the language of our ancestors and the contact with those will improve our civilization."

Interest in learning the Greek language remains a challenge to engage our youth today. In past years, concerned parents who valued a Greek language program have organized and administrated a Greek school. If you would like to help re-open (or teach) the Greek language program at Assumption please contact Fr. Andrew.

Festivals as truly cultural events - going beyond gyros.

I have had a few conversations over the years with Festival chairpersons and parishioners about how and in what ways can we can create a Hellenic experience beyond food and entertainment offered at our Festivals. This past year, the Festival committee replaced the "bouncies" in the Olympic children's area with arts, crafts and games that were expressive of Greek culture. We set up backgammon tables and festival visitors sat down together under the shade of a tree and spent hours playing together. Children sat down with parents and created Olympic crowns for their heads. In years past, we had readers presenting philosophy and a tent of Hellenism that shared our culture.

A Hellenic Focus Group: Meeting January 21 - Community Center

Would you like to help develop and expand the experience for learning about Hellenic culture through language, art, dance or drama for our community and especially our children? For this to happen, parishioners who care about such things need to become involved! I am inviting any parishioner who shares such feelings about Hellenic culture to come to a focus group meeting on January 21, 2010 at 7:00 PM in our Community Center. Thank you!

+Fr. Andrew