Lines stretch long as community members wait to get a taste of Greek food

POCATELLO — Despite agelong lines and a afloat religion courtyard twelvemonth aft year, Father Constantine Zozos ever “prays” that group will be nan yearly greek festival.

The Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church successful Pocatello hosted its yearly Greek Fest connected Saturday, which saw thousands of group waiting successful line. Once successful nan courtyard, nan quiet crowds had entree to an expansive paper of Greek nutrient to purchase.

“I ever believe someone’s going to retrieve to come, and they ne'er fail,” Zozos said. “And arsenic galore group come, there’s that galore group that wish that they were here.”

While nan statement for entranceway doesn’t agelong retired arsenic acold from nan courtyard arsenic it utilized to, owed to their implementation of a maze-style statement connected closed streets, it still goes retired blocks distant from nan religion courtyard astatine 518 North 5th Avenue. The religion uses a artifact of East Wyeth Street arsenic a statement for entrance, and group are still lined until North 6th Avenue, Zozos said.

“And if you notice, group are bringing their bags, they’re piling it successful there,” Zozos said. “People bargain much than they tin eat.”

The serving area for nan Greek Fest. | Logan Ramsey, EastIdahoNews.com

Zozos believes that contempt nan lines, group show up because of nan delicious value of their food. The volunteers prepared betwixt 6,000 to 7,000 pastries for nan festival, and they expected to waste each of them earlier nan time was over.

“This nutrient is nan champion Greek nutrient this broadside of nan Mississippi,” Zozos said.

Pat and Susan McCullough person been attending nan show for “years and years,” and they said what keeps them coming backmost is nan nutrient and nan organization of nan event.

“It’s astir nan only opportunity successful Pocatello to get immoderate culture, and nan Greek dancing is nosy and everyone’s successful a bully mood. We emotion coming here,” Pat said.

Susan and Pat McCullough bask Greek food. | Logan Ramsey, EastIdahoNews.com

Another joined couple, Nate and Fayth Mort, were successful attendance astatine Saturday’s festival. While Nate had attended doubly before, this was Fayth’s first time.

“It’s been a batch of nosy truthful far. The nutrient is really good, obviously,” Fayth said. “It’s been a really bully situation to beryllium in. Everybody’s really welcoming.”

Zozos continues to consciousness thankful that nan organization shows up to partake successful greek nutrient and support nan religion successful nan process. The costs that nan greek show raises goes towards nan upkeep and refurbishment of religion facilities. Some of nan costs besides spell towards non-profits successful Southeastern Idaho.

Very Reverend Archimandrite Seraphim, who grew up successful Pocatello and has been attending nan show since he was a child, believes that nan organization support has greatly benefited nan church.

“The parish is blossoming. It’s truthful bully to spot each nan people, each nan organization support,” Seraphim said.

Very Reverend Archimandrite Seraphim points successful nan guidance of nan courtyard’s societal hall. | Logan Ramsey, EastIdahoNews.com

The religion is capable to usage nan costs to proceed to upgrade their facilities. Most recently, it completed a commercialized kitchen, which made it easier and much businesslike for volunteers to hole for nan festival.

“We are very cognizant of nan truth of nan group that travel to support us, and they’ve been coming twelvemonth aft year. There are group lined up astatine 10 o’clock,” Zozos said.

Zozos offered his acknowledgment to organization members who came to unpaid for nan festival, and nan group who came to eat delicious greek food.

“I want to opportunity convey you. It intends a batch to our Orthodox community, and we look guardant to different year,” Zozos said.