A guide to Greek traditions and customs in America

INTRODUCTION: GREEK AMERICANS PAST AND PRESENT

PART ONE: THE ENDURING TRADIONS OF ORTHODOXY

The Church

The Seven Sacraments

Baptism and Chrismation

Marriage

Confession

Communion

Holy Unction

Holy Orders

Saints

Name Days

Icons

The Church of the Home

Special Blessings, Prayers, and Appeals

Religious Breads

Fasting

Death and Mourning

PART TWO: CUSTOMS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

Greek-American Values

Birth of Children

Selecting a Name

Greek School

As the Greeks Say

Food and Drink

Popular Music

Folk Dancing

Proverbs and Sayings

Superstitions

Community Life

Visiting Greece

PART THREE: FEAST DAYS, FASTS, AND HOLIDAYS

Annual Calendar

AUTUMN

The Nativity of the Mother God

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Oxi Day

Christmas Lent

The Presentation of the Mother of God in the Temple

WINTER

Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany

Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs

The Presentation ofJesus Christ in the Temple

SPRING

The Easter Season: Pre-Lent

Great Lent

The Annunciation of the Mother of God and Greek Independence Day

Holy Week

Holy Pascha

Easter) * The Ascension of Jesus Christ

Pentecost

SUMMER

Holy Apostles Lent * Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul

Feast Day of the Holy Apostles * Dormition of the Mother of God Lent

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ * The Dormition of the Mother of God

PART FOUR: THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY THE HISTORIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

The Autocephalous Churches of Eastern Orthodoxy

The Fledgling Christian Church * Christianity Recognized and Defined

Expansion of Orthodoxy to the Slavic Countries

The Great Schism * The Fall of Constantinople

The Growth of Orthodoxy in Russia * Christianity Under the Ottomans

The Reformation * Russia-The Third Rome * Contemporary Updates

The Orthodox in the United States * Challenges for Orthodox Churches Worldwide

Orthodox Sites to Visit * Theological Schools * Resources * Internet Websites

THE GREEK DIASPORA

Demographics * A Long History of Greeks Abroad

The Four Largest Diaspora: United States of America, Australia

Republics of the Former Soviet Union, and Canada

Expectations and Challenges * Meeting the Challenges * Internet

Websites

EPILOGUE

APPENDIX.