Greek Good Friday Procession boasts large turnout

A massive turnout welcomed the celebration of Greek Good Friday on April 29 as Ridgeites made their way to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church (8401 Ridge Boulevard) in good spirits to mark the holiday with a procession.

“Obviously the Friday is a very important religious holiday in the Greek Orthodox calendar,” said parishioner Sandy Vallas of the holiday that centers around remembering the death of Jesus Christ. “The procession that we do at Holy Cross is done every year and it’s done with the help of many church organizations and with the help of our 68^th Precinct.

“It’s a very important event for our church and our religion,” he continued.  “It’s something that we hold very sacred.”

Vallas also mentioned that the turnout for Holy Week is generally “very, very good – especially on Good Friday and Resurrection Saturday.” The holiday culminates on Easter Sunday.

While the largest concentration of Greeks and Greek-Americans in New York City can be found in Astoria, Queens, the Fort Hamilton/Bay Ridge area is home to a sizable amount as well, according to demographic data. In total, residents of Greek descent make up about one percent of New York City’s population.