Greek Festival and More! - Shreveport - Church Tours and Greek Orthodox Community Experience -2010 St. George Cultural Festival

Church Tours

Church Tours are a wonderful way to learn about the Orthodox Christian faith as well as the symbolism of the iconography within the sanctuary. St. George has an especially rich history, beginning with Greek immigrants who came from the biblical Church of Ephesus after its destruction at the end of the First World War. Church tours are given regularly throughout the weekend of the Festival.

Tours of the newly remodeled St. George Greek Orthodox Church sanctuary, followed by question and answer period with Father Brendan Pelphrey. (Sanctuary is upstairs and elevator accessible. Please, no food or drink in sanctuary!)

Orthodoxy

Presentations on Orthodox Christian Faith by our priest, Fr. Brendan Pelphrey (PhD), will provide an overview of Church history and Orthodox Christianity. Fr. Brendan will remain after each presentation to answer questions about Orthodoxy and to recommend books and classes for those who are interested in learning more.

Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15

1:00 pm - Sanctuary tour
3:00 pm - Icon Workshop
5:00 pm - Orthodoxy presentation
6:30 pm - Sanctuary tour

Sunday, May 16

1:00 pm - Sanctuary tour
3:00 pm - Icon Workshop
5:00 pm - Orthodoxy presentation

For more information about our church, see our website at www.gosaintgeorge.org.

Icon Workshops Iconography workshops will introduce the meaning of Orthodox icons and their role in ancient Christian worship. See how icons are produced, using the ancient technique of egg tempera on wood. Sign up for iconography classes this summer!

More about Festival Hours

Expansion and Restoration The entire Church must shine brilliantly, not only by its Icons, but by its faithful family members. Christ Himself said you don’t light a lamp and then hide it under a bush, but you raise it high for all to see and be guided by. This is what is being done with the restoration of our church. Creating a unique liturgical experience is part of a larger plan to attract the faithful to St. George. That, along with a growing school and dramatically improving neighborhood lay the foundation for a bright future for our community, a future we can all be proud of.
More about the Venue

History of St. George
In the early 1900’s a group of Greeks came to the United States fleeing the Turks who had razed their ancient church on Ephesus. They brought with them not only their ancient Christian faith, but also links to the Biblical church to which St. Paul wrote epistles (Ephesians), they settled in Shreveport. As the Church was most important to them, they wasted no time in establishing a church in Shreveport. This Greek Orthodox Church would become the parish of St. George which has been the center of Shreveport’s Greek community and an anchor in the Highland area for over 90 years.

The church that started in a house on Hope Street moved to its current location in the early 1930’s. An Activities Center was built in the 1950’s, which continues to serve as a center for ministries and fellowship for the church members and the surrounding community. As the cultural divide has withered away and as more and more people seek the original Christian faith, Saint George membership has both grown and has become more culturally diverse. Many of the future ministries of St. George involve reaching out to the people in the Highland area.

Festival site is a smoke-free site.

No pets permitted except service animals.