CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — A Charleston church served up a feast and fellowship on Sunday with a decades-old tradition.
St. George Orthodox Cathedral hosted its annual October Mediterranean dinner. The church has hosted a dinner every year for over seven decades all while maintaining the same menu, though slightly evolving over time.
Diners enjoyed a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean meal of cabbage rolls, kibbeh, buttered rice, green beans and tomato sauce, and washed it all down with some sweet baklava for dessert.
Diners enjoy their cabbage rolls and baklava
“As years progressed, people got used to eating kibbeh. So, now they love kibbeh and people are clamoring for kibbeh,” said dinner organizer and volunteer, Loretta Haddy.
Children and parents of the church volunteered side by side in the kitchen, offering diners the option to sit down for their meal or get takeout.
When asked if the dinner helps the neighborhood bond, Haddy had a touching answer.
“Absolutely, it helps us bring in people from the community,” she said. “People that can mingle with friends and neighbors, learn about the faith, eat their cuisine. I mean, it’s the perfect match for all of that.”
If you missed the dinner, you’re encouraged to attend St. George’s divine liturgy every Sunday while you wait for next year.
Dining and Cooking