If it’s May, it’s time for the Greek Festival at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church in Albany.
But be prepared: in addition to souvlaki and baklava, The Greek Warriors will be adding a live taste of ancient Greek warfare to the festival. Expect at least four members of the historical re-enactment group to be showing off their hand-made arms and armor, and a few battle stances, between Friday and Sunday, May 18 to 20.
The Greek Warriors grew out of Staten Island native George Mercinek’s collection of ancient Greek art and architecture. After crafting his own helmets complete with horsehair helmet crest and shields, he looked for a way to put them to use.
`I wanted to do something with this, and I got my brother enlisted,` Mercinek said. `The best medium for this was Greek festivals.`
Peter Giakoumis joined up with the Mercinek brothers to form the band of warriors. They’re now at 22 members, and were one of the favorites at the April Greek Independence Day parade in New York City.
`Some of our church members saw them there and said they were amazing,` said Maria Neal, publicity spokeswoman of the St. Sophia’s festival.
Both Mercinek and Neal agreed that the movie `300,` about the Spartans’ stand against the Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC has made Greek warriors ` and all things Greek ` more popular.
Not that St. Sophia’s festival needed much of a push in the popularity department. Now in its 37th year, more than 25,000 visitors attend the festival each year.
`This is a unique festival,` Neal said. `It’s like a big party. Our chairman, George Sokaris, is always looking for new things.`
If the Greek warriors are new, the sit-down restaurant and the more casual outside tent are part of the draw.
`We’re the only festival with a sit-down restaurant,` Neal said. Neal’s father, Ted Kondoprias, runs the kitchen, and parishioners volunteer as waiters, waitresses, bartenders wherever they’re needed.
`We have more than 400 families,` Neal said. `People work shifts, and lots of them do a hodgepodge of activities. You might have one mother who’s teaching dance, and serving at the salad bar, too.`
In the tent, representative of an agora ` an outdoor Greek market ` you can grab a souvlaki, gyros, salad, a drink, and watch some Greek dancing or hear live Greek music. There are rides for children are on the grounds, and vendors sell interesting wares ranging from jewelry to religious icons.
There will also be sommeliers at the festival, offering samplings from Greek wineries.
`Greg Taylor of Frederick Wildman and Sons will have two sommeliers there all weekend,` Neal said.
Past attendees of the festival know to head first for the pastry table.
`There are more than 20,000 pieces of pastry,` Neal said. `We usually sell out by 2 p.m on Sunday.`
In their colorful costumes and sometimes fierce stance, The Greek Warriors will show the fiercer side of Greek culture. At the dessert table, you can sample the sweeter stuff. And if you take a tour of the church, you can see where Greek Americans worship today.
The Greek Festival is scheduled for Friday, May 18 from 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, May 19 from noon to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, May 20, from noon to 7 p.m.
The festival is at St. Sophia’s at 440 Whitehall Road in Albany. The church will run a free shuttle from free parking at the Center for the Disabled at 314 So. Manning Blvd. in Albany and New Scotland Road at Route 85 in Slingerlands. “