The 35th Annual Indianapolis Greek Festival takes place on Friday, September 5, 2008, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, September 6 from Noon to 11 p.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, located at 4011 North Pennsylvania Street. General admission is $5, but military personnel can attend free of charge. On Saturday from Noon to 4 p.m., admission is free with a minimum donation of three cans per person for Gleaners Food Bank. Patrons can enjoy authentic Greek cuisine, live music, dancing, shopping in a Greek marketplace (agora) and more.

Parking and free shuttle rides from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. are also available both evenings. This will be the last Greek Festival to be held at this location, as Holy Trinity will relocate to 106th and Shelborne Road, which is northwest of Indianapolis.

Culinary delicacies at the festival include Souvlaki (pork or chicken kebabs), Gyros (slices of grilled seasoned beef, served on warm pita bread with Greek sauce, onions and tomatoes), Greek Fries (potatoes lightly fried with a special blend of seasonings and lemon), Saganaki (flaming Kasseri cheese), Spanakopita (spinach and feta cheese stuffed inside a filo triangle), Calamari (tender fried squid garnished with feta and oregano with a wedge of lemon), Dolmades (Grape leaves stuffed with seasoned ground beef and rice), and Greek Salad (lettuce, tomatoes, onions, feta, Calamata olives, oregano, red wine vinegar and olive oil).

Desserts include Loukoumades (honey puffs, deep-fried pastries dipped in honey), Baklava (the traditional Greek pastry), Koulourakia (butter cookies sprinkled with sesame seed), Melomakarana (tasty, nut-filled dough dipped in syrup), and Galaktoboureko (filo dough filled with custard and topped with syrup)

Beverages served include White wines (Hatzimichalis, Gavala Santorini, Gai'a Notios), Red wines (Spiropoulos and Gai'a Notios), Dessert wine (St. John Commandaria), Keo beer from Cyprus, Greek coffee, soft drinks and bottled water.

Entertainment will be provided by The Greek Company Orchestra and The Holy Trinity Hellenic Dance Troupe.

According to their website, www.holytrinityindy.com, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox parish is nearly 100 years old. Founded by immigrants who journeyed to America, the parish's first temple was on West Street. By 1961, Holy Trinity parish had outgrown those facilities and moved to their present location at 40th and Pennsylvania Streets. They purchased twenty acres in 1998 at 106th and Shelborne Road. The site is currently under construction where a beautiful Byzantine temple and associated facilities are scheduled to be completed at year's end. Pictures of the project can also be viewed at their website that includes architectural details, groundbreaking, web cam, photos and more.

Reverend Anastasios Gounaris of Holy Trinity (also known as Father Taso), explained the parish's move. "Holy Trinity has grown from the time it was built in the late 1950s and early 1960s and the physical location of many parishioners has changed as they moved northward. Many parishioners are now located from Zionsville on the Westside through the west and east parts of Carmel to Noblesville and Fishers. The relocation will bring us closer to a much higher percentage of our 540 households," he added.

Describing his own spiritual journey, Father Taso said, "I've been in Indianapolis for most of my career. I was ordained in New York City and served as an Associate Pastor and Youth Minister at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in the Washington Heights area of upper Manhattan for two years and then at St. Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church in Saginaw, Michigan for six years before being assigned to Indianapolis in 1991. It was a calling for me in the sense that many people along my journey either contributed to or inspired me to do what I'm doing today, including my parents," he noted.

The Indianapolis Greek Festival is a community event for all to attend, enjoy and learn about Greek culture and cuisine.