There were dozens of good Samaritans Sunday at the Rev. Peter G. Mihailides Center in Cranston in a show of support – and caring – from approximately 200 parishioners of the Church of the Annunciation at the annual Vasilopita Luncheon.

It was one of the Greek Orthodox Church’s treasured traditions entitled Vasilopita – which means the Sweet Bread of St. Basil and symbolizes the sweetness and joy of life everlasting and hope for the New Year.

Koula Rougas, Roula Proyous and Hoda Daiaa – who for years have been part of many special Annunciation successes through the years – explained: “Each January the Good Samaritan Ladies Society hosts the Vasilopita Luncheon which benefits the Children of St. Basil’s Academy in Garrison, New York.

Moreover, as people like Anna Demetrakas and Georgia Pappas will tell you: “Philoptochos means friends of the Poor” and Sundays sold out luncheon again proved how valuable the local ladies’ chapter has been at Church of the Annunciation.

Thus, as the Society explained “a bread is prepared, and a golf coin is baked into the ingredients. When the observance begins, the priest cuts pieces for each organizational head of the church and every person present at the luncheon and whoever finds the gold coin in their piece is considered blessed for the year.

Sunday’s luncheon, which featured a menu of a garden salad, baked chicken breast, oven roasted potatoes and Greek style green beans along with cake and coffee for dessert.

The dinner was prepared and booked by long-time parish volunteers Guy Proyous, Steve Daiaa, Paul Kallis, Laki Andreotis, Ari Tsonis and Theofanis “Frank” Markos who are also part of parish’s chef staff for the famed Cranston Greek Festival.

Proceeds from Sunday’s dinner, which were boosted from the sale of 17 raffle prizes, will as noted be donated to St. Basil’s Academy.

St. Basil’s Academy is the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese home and school for orphans and other children of the Greek Orthodox Church who need a safe place and a Christina home to be raised.

In addition, the academy has served as a parochial school, teachers’ college and a National Retreat Center and the Vasilopita Luncheon is one of the many obligations of every Philoptochos chapter in the country. As many parishioners said

Sunday: “without continued support St. Basil’s could not continue its wonderful work of helping children and families through difficult times.”