The Weekend’s Pics (Pt 1)
7 June 2008 - 5 סיון 5768 by Huw
Photos-23.jpg
Originally uploaded by w.wabbit.
I went to the Hellenic Festival today - as well as the beginnings of the Buffalo Pride festival. I’ve uploaded today’s pictures in a flickr set called, “Gyros and Homos“.
This picture is of the Annunciation Orthodox Church. I’m certain it used to be some other denomination. I love the way they have merged Western Architecture with just enough Eastern Elements - kind of an essay on the GOA liturgical tradition, actually. It’s disconcerting to see (from another angle) huge organ pipes behind the iconostasis, but I want to attend a liturgy there before I say anything critical about it. The space was beautiful - and fully restored - the ceiling painted, etc. I’m no fan of pews, of course, and, oddly, the floor slopes down to the altar, like stadium seating.
The festival, itself, was very fun: there were many vendors and LOTS of food. But I took advice from our locksmith at work and didn’t pay the extra money for food I can get at several eateries around town.
The Parish Bookstore was amazing - filled with books from Byzantine, Russian and other Orthodox traditions. The staff was positively welcoming. There were very few books at all not in English and while, yes, there were a few Greek cultural things for sale, there wasn’t a predominantly “ethnic” feel to it at all. This is unusual considering the parish styles itself an “Hellenic Orthodox Church” - which I expected to mean “ubergreek”. It actually made me want to visit.
The photoset also has quite a few images of local buildings.
