Cordially invite you to join us at our Traditional Cutting of the Vasilopita

The Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce

HABA-Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance

The Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce

The Hellenic Lawyers Association

The Hellenic Medical Society
Hellenic Professional Women, Inc.

Cordially invite you to join us at our
Traditional Cutting of the Vasilopita

on
Monday, January 9, 2017
6:00 – 8:00 pm
at
The Holy Trinity Cathedral Hall
337 East 74^th Street (Between 1^st & 2^nd Avenues)
New York, NY 10021

Food and Wine from Astoria

This event is free for members in good standing. The non-member fee is $30.  Become a 2017 member  and join us for free.  Membership renewals may be paid at the event or contact our Executive Director at:  [email protected].   Tickets may be purchased, with a Credit Card or check.    RSVP:  Despina Axiotakis, Executive Director 201-981-5764 or email:  [email protected]    www.cypruschamber.com.   Pre-registration is required.

THE TRADITION – One of the more beautiful and inspirational traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church is the annual family celebration of the Vasilopita. This original event which happened in Cappadocia of Caesarea in the last half of the fourth century, is very much alive in our Orthodox homes each year.

The Greek word Vasilopita is directly translated as “Sweet Bread of Basil”. When the Vasilopita is prepared, a coin is baked into the ingredients. Sweet flavoring is added to the bread which symbolize the sweetness and joy of life everlasting. It also symbolizes the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life, liberty, health, and happiness for all who participate in the Vasilopita Observance.

When the observance begins, usually on New Years Day, the bread is traditionally cut by the senior member of the family, and the individual who receives the portion of the Pita which contains the coin is considered Blessed for the New Year.

Each portion of the Vasilopita are distributed as follows: The first portion is cut in remembrance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The second is for the Holy Mother of our Lord, The Virgin Mary. The third is for St. Basil the Great, the other portions are cut for the members of the family beginning with the eldest. Portions may also be cut for the Church, the house, the traveler, the visitor and the poor.