The 49th St. Elias Mediterranean Festival was held on July 23rd on Church grounds. The program included live music by Maritza, Winona Folk Dancers, Ember Polyphonic Choir, church singers, Syrian drumming; silent auction, tours of the church, iconography demonstration and sale by Drazen Dupor, face painting, children's activities, and more…
The menu options were chicken kebabs, sliced lamb and falafel dinner. The lamb meal featured grass-fed, organic lamb from Jacobson Farms. All dinners were served with Syrian Rice, Greek Salad, Tzatziki sauce, Kalamata olives, Pita & Hummus. Zalabee (Syrian/Lebanese fried and sugared bread) was prepared hot and fresh on the grounds. And of course, our famous bake sale featured a huge selection of home-made delicacies from Syria, Egypt, Bulgaria, Ukraine, including several varieties of baklava: Almond-Chocolate, Almond-Coconut, Hazelnut-Chocolate, Walnut-Orange, Pistachio, as well as the traditional Walnut, Walnut-Chocolate, Walnut with Turkish Delight. For those allergic to nuts, there was baklava with sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds.
The festival was a huge success! THANK YOU to our wonderful hardworking volunteers and all our patrons for your support !!! May God bless and keep you!