c e l e b r at i n g

May 15-17, 2009

FREE Admission, Parking and Trolley Service!
Annunciation
Greek Orthodox Church

1100 Napa Valley Drive

(at St. Charles Blvd.)
Little Rock
501-221-5300

Order online and pick it up or drive thru!

Now Accepting
Visa u MasterCard u American Express

GreekFoodFest.com
 Annunciation
Greek Orthodox Church
1100 Napa Valley Drive • Little Rock • 501-221-5300
www.OrthodoxChurch.com
Rev. Dr. Nicholas J. Verdaris
Divine Liturgy Church Services 10:00 a.m.

All Are Welcome!

We are delighted to have you join us at the International Greek Food Festival of the
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. We hope that you will not only experience the exciting
food, festivities and culture, but will take a moment to learn about our faith. If you’ve never been to
an Orthodox Christian Church before, we encourage you to participate in one of our guided tours
to be conducted by our very own Rev. Dr. Nicholas Verdaris. But first, here are some things that will
help you understand our church and/or our Christian faith.

America’s Best-Kept Secret

Do you know that there are some 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide with more than
five million right here in the United States? It’s the second largest denomination in all Christendom.
Despite its size, relatively few Americans are aware of the Orthodox Church. It’s America’s best-
kept secret.

Our church aptly reflects America and is made up of men and women from around the globe
all witnessing to the Good News of Christ. The Annunciation is a vibrant parish that adheres
to Orthodox Christian principles which are concurrently Scriptural, Traditional, Apostolic and
Eucharistic.
 Though you can learn a lot about Orthodox Christianity
by hearing it described, it really must be seen and experienced
firsthand to be fully understood. And perhaps there is no better
place to see and experience the heart of Orthodoxy than in its
worship.

Let’s look at a few characteristics of Orthodox worship which

may be different from any of your past experiences.

The Work of the People

The main Sunday morning worship service of the Orthodox
Church is called the Divine Liturgy. The term Liturgy means,
“work of the people.” Participation is the key word here. The
whole congregation is active in worship, even the children. The
Divine Liturgy is the common act of prayer, worship, teaching
and communication of all those who constitute the Church. In
the Liturgy all are invited to participate, by grace, in the life of
Christ. It is through worship and service that we thereby come
to know Christ, the source of our hope. What happened almost
2000 years ago becomes vital, alive and contemporary to us in
the Divine Liturgy.

The Physical Side of Being Spiritual

Since the times of the New Testament, Christians have believed that when worshipping God,
we who are earthbound enter by the spirit into “heavenly places.” In Orthodox worship, we can step
out of the pandemonium of time into the peace of eternity. Therefore, everything in our worship
has heaven as its point of reference.

But this heavenly focus by no means turns worship into a mental religion. In the Orthodox Church,
a human being coming before God involves the unity of soul and body. Accordingly, worship calls
for the action not only of the mind, the emotions and the will, but also of the body with all its
senses. So, as the Scriptures describe, in worship there are things to see, hear, touch, taste and
smell. Our whole being is to participate actively in the worship of God.

Windows to Heaven
One of the first things you’ll probably notice as you enter the Annunciation is the icons or pictures
— images of Christ, the Virgin Mary with her Child, angels, Saint John the Baptist, along with three
brand new icons that have just recently been installed.

An icon (icon is a Bible word meaning, “image”) is a dramatic and constant reminder that there
is infinitely more to reality than what we see day by day on this earth. Icons serve to illustrate
the Bible as well as highlight the presence of heaven to us in our worship. We don’t worship the
icons, of course: worship is for God alone. But we do use them as vital tools to draw near to God,
His servants and the Truths of Christian faith, and as such they have long been called “windows
to heaven.” We hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into the Orthodox Church. For more detailed
information, please visit our web site at www.OrthodoxChurch.com or simply visit us on any given
Sunday at 10:00am to behold a dynamic 2000-year-old tradition come alive at the Annunciation
in Little Rock.
 Look at Those You’ve
Helped in the Past!
ACCESS Schools
Alzheimer’s Arkansas
American Diabetes Association
American Red Cross of Greater Arkansas
Arkansas Health Care Access Foundation, Inc.
Arthritis Foundation
Bethany Christian Services
Big Brothers Big Sisters
CareLink
CARTI Foundation
Centers for Youth and Families
Children’s Museum of Arkansas
Community Connections
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Easter Seal Arkansas
Girl Scouts of Ouachita Council
Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center
Heifer International
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Love, Truth, Care Ministries
March of Dimes
Ronald McDonald House
The Arkansas Hospice
The Miracle League of Arkansas
UAMS Family Home
United Way
Young Life
Youth Home, Inc.

Thank You for the Many Years of Support

 Your Support
Helps Others
In its 25 years, the festival has donated half a million dollars to more than 20
charities that serve children, families and communities throughout central
Arkansas Proceeds from this year’s festival will benefit the Annunciation
Scholarship Foundation and the Annunciation Building Fund, as well as these
nonprofit organizations:

Easter Seals Arkansas is a non-profit health and

Centers for Youth and Families is a private, not-
for-profit agency providing the most comprehen-
sive array of behavioral health care in Arkansas
through specialized prevention, intervention and
treatment services for children, adolescents and
their families. Centers for Youth and Families an-
nually serves more than 8,000 children and fam-
ily members through its commitment to healthy
children, families and communities. Its programs
include residential treatment services for children
and youth with serious emotional or behavioral
problems, day treatment services in specialized
classroom programs, outpatient counseling and
school-based services, the Parent Center / Com-
munity Education, therapeutic foster care, the
Dyslexia Center, juvenile services for adjudicate
delinquent youth and their families, youth emer-
gency shelter, the Shepherd’s Ranch, emergency
services and case management. For more informa-
tion, please call 501-666-8686 or visit its web site
at www.youthandfamilies.org.
human services agency dedicated to helping chil-
dren and adults with disabilities and special needs
gain greater independence. Easter Seals provides
more than 17 different programs across the state of
Arkansas to meet the varying needs of people with
disabilities and their families. These comprehen-
sive services provide a continuum of care — from
birth to aging adult — and focus on the family as
a whole. Today, thousands of Arkansans with dis-
abilities lead improved lives because of the high
quality programs for children, vocational training
and employment services for adults, and medical
rehabilitation services offered by Easter Seals. For
more information, please call 501-227-3600 or visit
the web site at www.ar.easter-seals.org.
LTCare Ministries, founded in 1986, is located in
the historic Central High neighborhood of Little
Rock, Arkansas, and is involved in Christian com-
munity development. Our goal is to empower and
equip indigenous inner city leaders and workers to
improve the community spiritually, physically, so-
cially and economically. For more information or
volunteer opportunities call 501-374-8477 or visit
our web site at www.lovetruthcare.org.
The Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute
(CARTI) is a nonprofit radiation therapy center
with facilities in Little Rock on the St. Vincent, Bap-
tist Medical Center and UAMS campuses, and in
Conway , Mountain Home, North Little Rock , and
Searcy. The CARTI Foundation was incorporated in
1983 as a non-profit organization to assist CARTI in
meeting the current and future needs of Arkansas
cancer patients and their families. Visit our web
site at www.carti.com.
Miracle League is a non-profit organization whose
mission is dedicated to promoting the health and
well-being of individuals with disabilities, educat-
ing the public and promoting a greater under-
standing on matters concerning disabilities and
disabled individuals. Our purpose is to provide
opportunities for children with disabilities to play
baseball, the American past time, in a safe environ-
ment regardless of their abilities. You may be ask-
ing who can play? Anyone that is four years and
older with any diagnosis, any diagnosis. Our spec-
trum ranges from the very high functioning autis-
tic child to the kids who are blind and deaf, need-
ing 24/7 care and in a wheelchair. Our rules are
simple; everyone has FUN and no one gets hurt!
Parents sit in the stands while a buddy assists and
protects the player so that they can make memo-
ries that they never thought they would have. Our
field is made of recycled tires which is barrier free
where the players walkers, wheelchairs, etc. move
about freely. The Miracle League rules are a little
different than typical ball rules; everyone hits, get
on base, scores a run and have a blast. Miracle
League…it’s more than baseball! Visit our web site
at www.miracleleaguear.com.
March of Dimes mission is to improve the health
of babies by preventing birth defects, premature
birth, and infant mortality. The Mission is carried
out through research, community services, edu-
cation and advocacy to save babies’ lives. March
of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, out-
reach workers and advocates work together to
give all babies a fighting chance against the threats
to their health: prematurity, birth defects, and low
birth weight.
The March of Dimes also helps hundreds of Arkan-
sas families each year through the NICU Family
Support® program. This program provides expert
knowledge and comfort to families during that
frightening time while their baby is in the NICU.
For the latest resources and information, visit
marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
Since 1966, Youth Home’s mission has remained
constant – to help adolescents and families tri-
umph over their challenges and grow into healthier,
contributing members of their community. Many
children arrive at Youth Home with little chance
at success. Many have a history of failure or abuse.
Many have never had a healthy adult role model. A
dedicated and respected team of professionals at
Youth Home administer a variety of comprehen-
sive programs specializing in individual, group and
family therapy. Our goal is to turn troubled teen-
agers into strong, healthy adults. With help, these
children will leave Youth Home with a new desire
to succeed. Youth Home, Inc. is a private, non-prof-
it agency accredited by The Joint Commission. We
are located on a wooded, 50-acre campus 20 min-
utes west of downtown Little Rock. We are funded
through fees for services, grants, contracts and
private donations. Gifts and contributions greatly
enhance our programs, services and facilities. Visit
our web site at www.youthhome.org.
 e pr o ud to be your sidekicks.
We’r
and thank you
Congratulations a nd great food.
o od de e d s
for 25 years of g

B .C O M
M A N G A N H O LC O M
On the Menu
T he International Greek Food Festival, This vast array of wonderful, savory
the largest ethnic festival in Arkansas, dishes embodies not only the scents
has been serving food, friends and the and flavors of our heritage, but a time-
community for the past 25 years. honored tradition of faith and family
that each of us cherishes.
All the food served at this festival
has come about because of our great Captured from memory or perhaps
love of cooking and good food. The from scraps of paper, these recipes
wonderful cuisine associated with represent a priceless gift to the
the many cultures that make up the members of the Greek Orthodox
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Church, for here are contained the
is the product of our immigrant foods and traditions of our forefathers
forefathers. passed down for future generations to
remember and enjoy.
We boast a long line of cooks from
various culinary traditions, making
up the best of our Church’s culture – Drive-Thru or Order Online
Greek, Armenian, Georgian, Romanian,
Drive-thru and pick-up, or order online
Russian, Indian, Middle Eastern, English
at www.greekfoodfest.com.
and a dash of American. From these
cultures has evolved this distinctive
collection of foods identified with the
Greek Orthodox Church – a style of
cooking that not only captures the
traditions of our heritage but makes
eager eaters call for more.
Pastries
(Pastries are availavble indoors at the Old World Market)

Baklava (“bahk-lah-VAH”)

More than 40 layers of filo dough brushed with butter

and layered with nuts and spices, then drizzled with
honey syrup

Chocolate Baklava (“bahk-lah-VAH”)

More than 40 layers of filo dough brushed with butter

and layered with chocolate chunks, nuts and spices,
then drizzled with honey syrup

Sourota (“soo-roh-TAH”)

A spice, nut and filo-rolled pastry resembling a

hollow log, which is lightly dipped in honey syrup

Kourambiethes (“koo-rahm-bee-EH-thes”)

Delicate, buttery almond powdered sugar cookies

Melomacharona (“mel-oh-mah-KAH-roh-nah”)

Spice cookies dipped in honey syrup

Pasta Flora (“PAH-sta FLOOR-ah”)

Buttery shortbread cookie with strawberry filling and a lattice top

Greek Chicken

Grecian-Style Baked
Chicken Dinner
Chicken quarters smothered in spices and lemon juice, baked ‘til it’s
tender and juicy, and served with sides of rice pilaf, Greek salad and
pita bread.

Greek Style
Potatoes
Roasted potatoes coated with olive oil and seasoned
with special Greek spices.

Greek Salad
Lettuce, onions, feta cheese and Greek olives tossed with Pete’s Famous Salad Dressing,
a vinegar-and-oil based dressing, and served with pita bread
Greek Patitsio

Pastitsio (“pas-TEET-see-oh”)

Long macaroni layered with seasoned ground

beef, topped with a thick cheese “Beschamel”
sauce.

Spanakopita (“spa-nah-KOH-pee-tah”)

Delicate filo dough brushed with butter and

layered with a filling of feta cheese, spinach and
herbs

Vegetarian Plate
Two large pieces of spanakopita and a greek salad.

Greek Salad
Lettuce, onions, feta cheese and Greek olives tossed with
Pete’s Famous Salad Dressing, a vinegar-and-oil based
dressing, and served with pita bread
Greek Souvlaki (K-Bobs)

Souvlaki k-bob ( “soo-VLAH-kee”)

Choice of tender chicken or pork tenderloin mari-

nated in olive oil and a blend of Greek seasonings,
grilled to mouthwatering perfection, and served on
a skewer with a slice of pita bread

Gyros

Gyro Sandwich (“YEAR-os”)

Blend of lamb, beef and seasonings seared and

stuffed in a pita, topped with diced tomatoes,
onions and tsatziki sauce (a savory yogurt sauce
with garlic and cucumbers).
Greek Lamb

Roast Lamb Dinner

Sliced roasted lamb served with Greek-style vegetables and
oven-roasted potatoes.

Calamari (“cah-lah-MAH-ree”)

Battered and deep-fried squid rings served

with a tangy dipping sauce.

Loukanika (“loo-KAH-nee-kah”)

Greek grilled sausages.

Lamb Sandwich

The sandwich will include slow roasted lamb marinated overnight in a secret blend of
Greek spices, wrapped in a soft pita fold with lots of crumbled feta cheese and a home-
made Greek marinara sauce. Made with Love!
Jerusalem Cafe

Hummus Dip with Pita (“HOO-mus”)

Thick and tangy chick pea dip, served

with pita bread

Steak in a Pita
Sauteed sliced beef and onions stuffed in
a warm pita.

Tabbouleh Salad (tah-BOO-ley”)

Tossed cracked wheat and parsley salad.

Falafel (“fah-LAH-full”)

Spicy fried patties of ground chickpeas served in a flat “wrap” with diced tomato,
onions and lemony tahinneh (pronounced “tah-HEE-ney”) sauce, a tasty sesame-
based dressing.
Kids’ Area
More Fun for Kids
The Centers for Youth and Families will set up a mountain of fun, like frame making, face painting, and
a candy walk. And we know how finicky kids can be about what they’ll eat, so we’ll be serving grilled hot
dogs and nachos, too. Plus this year we’ve added even more fun attractions, including some super-fun
rides and games.

Sundae in Athens

Sundae in Hot Dogs

Athens
Vanilla ice cream topped
with baklava sprinkles.
Snow Cones

Flavored Ice Cream Bars

Indoor Old World Market
Grocery Greek Market
Take home a taste of all the great foods you’ve Beautiful jewelry from Greece, fisherman hats and
found at the Greek Food Festival by stopping by much, much more.
the Grocery. You’ll find practically everything
you’ll need to create your own authentic Greek
meals. Greek Coffee Shop
Indulge yourself in a steaming cup of fresh-roast-
Frozen Dinners to Go ed coffee or espresso.

Including generous pans of pastitsio (long

macaroni layered with seasoned ground beef, Sissy’s Log Cabin Jewelers
topped with a thick cheese sauce) and appetizers,
like tiropeta (cheese puffs), spanakopita (spinach
Sissy’s Log Cabin Jewelers will be holding their
cheese puffs), black bean hummus and red pepper
MAY SALE at the festival this year.
hummus.

Russian Collectibles and Much More!

Russian gifts fit for a czar! Discover the exotic
handiwork of Russian artisans in myriad forms.
Hand-painted eggs and ornaments, wood carvings
and papier-mache boxes with exquisite scenes are
among the treasures offered.
The Market will be offering even more exceptional
items this year carefully selected and imported
from Russia, Syria and Greece.

Stavriana Jewelry
Distinctive jewelry crafted in Greece and around
the world. Delight in original designs with a wide
selection of bracelets, crosses, pendants and
necklaces in sterling silver.
Entertainers
Great entertainment all weekend long!
While you’re munching away on all your goodies, enjoy hours of toe-tapping music and fun. There’s
something for everyone happening on stage at the Greek Food Festival. So gather up a sampling of
mouthwatering foods and grab a seat for a great time!

Radio Disney’s Rockin’ Road Show

Central Arkansas’ best young performance group of dancers and
actors. Truly a unique and interactive show full of dancing, game
playing and of course, having tons of Disney fun!

McCafferty School of Irish Dance

The McCafferty School of Irish Dance has been entertaining audiences
for more than 25 years. It is directed by Judy McCafferty who has
been trained and certified under the guidelines and regulations of
the Irish Dance Commision in Dublin, Ireland. The school has been
headquartered in Arkansas for the past seven years. The troupe is
made up of children and adults who share a love for Irish music and
dance. We take great pride in the competitive accomplishments
of these dedicated individuals. Classes are held in Fayetteville, Fort
Smith and Little Rock.

Maywood Park

Maywood Park is a local band made up of Philip

Deer, Blake Lewandoski, Christian Harrison, Brady
Woodson, & Cameron Gilliam. They have been
playing together for a couple of years in Central
Arkansas, namely at Juanitas, Soundstage, Vino’s
and various churches in the area. They recently
came out with the first cd and will be touring this
summer.

UALR Guitar Ensemble

Dancers of India ENLACE Folkloric & Flamenco Dance

Entertainment Schedule
Friday, May 15, 2009

5:00 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society

5:30 PM Micro Greek Dancers
6:00 PM Dabkeh -Middle Eastern dancers
6:30 PM McCafferty Irish Dance
7:00 PM Dancers of India
7:30 PM O’ Donovan School of Irish Dance
8:00 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society
8:30 PM “Maywood Park” – Band
9:30 PM Dabkeh - Middle Eastern Dancers
Greek American
Saturday, May 16, 2009 Folk Dance Soci
ety

12:00 PM I Can! Dance Class

12:30 PM Dabkeh -Middle Eastern dancers
1:00 PM Micro Greek Dancers
1:30 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society
2:00 PM Radio Disney
3:00 PM Unannounced
3:30 PM Dancers of India
4:00 PM UALR Guitar Ensemble
4:30 PM Dabkeh -Middle Eastern dancers
5:00 PM ENLACE Folkloric & Flamenco Dance
5:30 PM Micro Greek Dancers
6:00 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society Micro Greek Dancers
6:30 PM O’ Donovan School of Irish Dance
7:00 PM Dancers of India
7:30 PM Dabkeh -Middle Eastern dancers
8:00 PM “Maywood Park” – Band
9:00 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society
9:30 PM Free style Greek and Dabkeh dance

Sunday, May 17, 2009

1:00 PM Dabkeh -Middle Eastern dancers

1:30 PM Micro Greek Dancers
2:00 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society Dabkeh - Middl
e Eastern Dancers
2:30 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society
3:00 PM UALR Classical Guitar Ensemble
3:30 PM Micro Greek Dancers
4:00 PM ENLACE Folkloric & Flamenco Dance
4:30 PM Greek American Folk Dance Society
5:00 PM Dabkeh -Middle Eastern dancers
Arkansas Gastroenterology, P.A.
3401 Springhill Drive, Suite 400
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Phone: 501.945.3343 Fax: 501.945.0770
www.arkgi.com

Steven A. Clift, M.D. Agustin Fernandez, M.D. Robert A. Murphy, M.D.

Gary M. Barton, M.D. Whit L. Knapple, M.D. Scott A Woofford, M.D.

Diplomates, American Board of Gastroenterology

Church Tours

Daily Tours

You might want to take a break from all the festivities by visiting the church
which will be open to the public throughout the weekend, with guided tours
to be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Verdaris. You’ll have an exceptional
opportunity to learn about the history and traditions of the Orthodox
Christian faith.

Guided tours are set for:

Friday
3p.m., 5p.m. and 7p.m.

Saturday
2p.m., 5p.m. and 7p.m.

Sunday
1p.m. and 3p.m.
Featured Artist (Iconographer)
www.heavenlyart.net
Vivian Karayiannis www.artstudio05.com
Vivian will be lecturing and demonstrating iconography
techniques everyday prior to each church tour.

Vivian has a true love for her vocation, and she’s trying to
bring spiritually stimulating artwork into churches. Her
diversity as a painter makes it easy for her to create a
specially designed work for any church. She creates small
to wall-scale paintings on wood panels or canvas. Vivian’s
icons are evocative works of fine art, as well as visual aids
that lead those who view and venerate the icons deeper
into the spiritual life of the church.

Born in Greece, she moved to N. America in 1990. Since

1991 she’s been living in Houston, TX with her husband
and two daughters. She studied Byzantine iconography in
Greece. She continued her studies in art at the University
of Houston. During the past 20 years, she has painted in
many media, including oils, acrylics, and watercolors, but
her primary medium is egg tempera, one of the oldest
and most versatile media of all.

Commissions:
- Annunciation Cathedral, Houston, TX
- St. Basil Church, Houston, TX
- St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Houston, TX
- St. Teresa Catholic Church, Sugar Land, TX

Private Collections:
- His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America
- His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
- His Eminence Bishop Basil of Wichita and Mid-America
- His Eminence Bishop Joseph of Los Angeles and all the
West.
- The Right Reverend C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas.
- Numerous private collectors.

Publications:
“Windows to the Divine, icons provide visual stories”
“Texas Episcopalian” Magazine
Getting There

From I-430 South

Exit off Rodney Parham Road and Turn Right (Chili’s

Restaurant will be on the right). Stay on Rodney
Parham for 1/2 mile. Continue going straight on
Rodney Parham, which will turn into Hinson Road.
Stay on Hinson for 1/2 of a mile. Turn Left on Napa
Valley Drive at the stop light. Go about 1 mile on
Napa Valley Drive until you come to the first stop AGAPE CHURCH,
light at St. Charles Boulevard. The Church will be 701 Napa Valley Drive
on your right hand side.
ASBURY UNITED
METHODIST
CHURCH,
From I-30 East (Airport / Sheridan) 1700 Napa Valley Drive

Exit onto I-630 West (follow directions below) PULASKI

ACADEMY,
12601 Hinson Road

From Downtown

Get on I-630 West. Continue on I –630 West until it

ends at the stop light. Continue straight through
the stop light crossing Shackleford Road onto
Chenal Parkway. Go for about 1/2 mile and then
turn right on Bowman Road (Best Buy Store on
Right hand side). Stay on Bowman Curve for about
Printable maps can be
1/2 a mile, you will cross West Markham Street.
found online at
Bowman Road will turn into Napa Valley Drive.
GREEKFOODFEST.COM
Stay on Napa Valley Drive for another 1/2 mile, you
will pass a couple of apartment complexes on the
right and left sides of Napa Valley Drive. You will
come to a stop light at St. Charles Blvd. The Church
will be on the left corner of Napa Valley Drive and
St. Charles Boulevard.
 ™

Enjoy the Greek Food Festival then stop by Taziki’s for more
of your Mediterranean favorites.
Fresh! Casual! Delicious!
8200 Cantrell (across from Pavilion in the Park)
227-8291
Monday—Thursday 11:00 –8:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00–9:00
Open Sunday 11:00–3:00  Happy Hour 11:00–6:00
Covered Deck available for Private Parties  Catering
 MEMBER FDIC

Designed With You In Mind