Parish Council President of Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church Diane Karavitis and Father Anthony.

By Courtney Young

You don’t have to be able to pronounce all the names of food on a menu in order to be appetized by them. In the case of annual Gyro Day at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Somerville, the advertising for this special day could be done solely through the wafts of delicious gyros and kabobs cooking from the tents outside the church.

Aside from the two main attractions at last Saturday’s event, the staff and volunteers at the church prepare tyropita, spanakopita, loukaniko, baklava, loukaniko, and chicken souvlaki, as well as many vegetarian options: Greek delicacies raved about from visitors who venture from other towns and cities just to taste perfection.

Diane Karavatis, volunteer and Parish Council President of Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, is optimistic about the renovations and care that the parish will receive after events like Gyro Day. They hope for general maintenance and repairs as well as projected major renovations like redoing the entire outside, as the building itself is almost 100 years old. “It is this event, as well as our major festival over Labor Day Weekend that has been ongoing for over 50 years now, that brings people far and wide. We have people who come from all over New England, and even as far as the Midwest, because our Greek food is that good,” she states.

A projected one thousand people come to support the church as well as their mission of union for this weekend alone. Father Anthony, who has only been with the parish for 35 days, states his praises about the event. “There is a unique intimacy when you share food with others in close proximity, when you are facing one another and not facing the street,” he says. “We hope that non-orthodox, orthodox, and all others will come together and find fellowship.”

Both Anthony and Karavatis share the same goal, as well as other fellows in the church: To bring people together, and not necessarily only the religious or spiritual: anyone is welcome. “Greek culture is huge on hospitality, and so we welcome all others from any and all walks of life to come and eat with us,” Karavatis states.

The church shares a love for Somerville, as the city is one of the most diverse and flourishing in the state of Massachusetts, and it appears that many more areas than just Somerville shares a deep love for the church. Although people have branched out and settled into other cities, members of Dormition of the Virgin Mary will still travel to get back to their home church, as the parish gives its guests an identity that cannot be replaced elsewhere, especially because it is the oldest Greek church in Somerville.

The Greek Orthodox Church has many hopes for those who they serve on Gyro Day: that people may come to the church and find healing, or that they feel the parish is a safe haven to congregate and be themselves, but the main goal is just for those to feel comfortable, be fed, and share a great gyro.