(WBIR- West Knoxville) A fire early Sunday morning at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church could impact its annual Greek Fest.
Father Anthony Stratis said they are still planning on hosting the 36th annual Greek Fest this year, but it may be limited to some degree.
"I'm sure we'll still have a festival," Stratis said. "We Greeks, we have to have a festival, just, it's part of our nature so I'm sure we'll still have a festival."
The festival celebrates Greek culture, food, and religion and brings in hundreds of people from the Knoxville community and surrounding areas.
"The Knoxville community has always been good to us so they'll help us, and we'll be here for them when we do Greek Fest," Panos Ioannides, a church member said.
Church leaders said other churches in the area have offered help and the use of their facilities in the meantime, but services for Saint George will be held on an adjacent building on their own property until the sanctuary can be rebuilt.
"We'll get what we need to put on a successful Greek Festival here on our ground this year, and I promise you, it's going to happen, and it will be successful," John Peroulas, president of the parish council at Saint George, said.
Greek Fest is set for Sept. 25-27.
