FORT MEADE, Md. – The aroma of roasted lamb and the pounding beat of traditional music greet visitors to Maryland’s oldest Greek Orthodox church and its 44th Annual Greek Food and Cultural Festival in Baltimore Nov. 6 through 8.

The festival was held to share Greek culture with the local community and to raise funds for the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation.

         “This is a community event where people can come and partake in the Greek culture and Greek food and Greek dancing and Greek music. At the same time it raises money for our beloved Greek Orthodox church,” said parishioner and event volunteer Stefan Daskill.

         Greek history and culture played a large part in the weekend’s festivities with events such as cathedral tours, lectures on Greek history and displays by the Hellenic Heritage Museum.

          “We are trying to establish a permanent home for items that are important to our local history so we are selling items donated by parishioners to raise funds for that,” said Anna Pappas, volunteer with the Hellenic Heritage Museum.

         Traditional Greek food and desserts, from gyros to baklava, were freshly prepared by local restaurants and served by volunteers.

         “Most of the older people in my family are no longer here so I can get the soup like my grandmother used to make,” Daskill said.

         The funds raised are combined with regular donations from parishioners to pay for church maintenance, mission work, and for heritage and education programs.

         By Sunday evening the music has fallen silent and the last gyro has been served. The volunteers are tired from the busy weekend but are smiling as they pack up and begin looking towards next year.