Scenery near Bay View

On Saturday 6 December 2008 I took the bus to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church for the Divine Liturgy on their patronal feast day. On the way I took a few photographs.

This year I had intended to go their for Vespers the previous night and possibly to go to St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington DC for Liturgy, but our Patriarch Alexis fell asleep that morning and we had a memorial service for him in the evening and that has priority.

I was truly impressed by the beauty that was in front of me and I took a few photographs. However, I also did not want to be late for Liturgy.

Usually I would go to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church for Vespers on 5 December. I missed last year because I had a conflict. I told some people that I cannot afford to miss again because if I did, somebody will notice and remember. Well, two people noticed that I was not there last year and said something.

I try to get to the patronal feast celebration of the local Orthodox churches as much as I can. I don't think that I had missed the one at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation nor at Holy Cross Orthodox Church since I have been living in Baltimore. I have missed all the other parishes at least once. If I do, I know that I will hear about it.

I also try to make it to the various festivals that these parishes have. I missed the Greek Festival at St. Demetrios many times because of a lack of transportation. If one does not have a car, one cannot get to their festival.

One year I was in the process of moving during the weekend that they had their festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. That same weekend was AFRAM, an "African American" festival. I also did not have a car that year. After Liturgy I took the bus to the Greek Festival at St. Nicholas and then returned home and continued moving. I did not even consider going to AFRAM.

Later at work a co-worker heard me saying something about the Greek Festival and it was obvious that I went. He asked me if I went to AFRAM and I said no. He was very upset with me because I went to the Greek Festival but not to AFRAM. In 15 years in Baltimore, I went to AFRAM or its replacement once and that was one time too often as far as I am concerned. There is no comparison between the two.

AFRAM does not reflect my heritage. In fact, what I saw was modern "black culture" which in no way speaks to me. What I see and experience at the Greek Festival in the various churches speak to me. They are really a part of my heritage.

I'm sorry, but Gospel music does nothing for me. Don't try to talk to me about slavery. My Greek brothers and sisters have the same or similar heritage. So do my Russian brothers and sisters.