• By Corinna Robinson
  • February 14, 2026

As faithful from across the Metropolis of San Francisco arrived in Phoenix Thursday, the 49th Annual Greek Orthodox Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF) began not with dancing, but with diakonia.

Sponsored by the Metropolis of San Francisco’s Philoptochos, this year’s Diakonia Project was a meal assembly event. Participants packaged 35,000 meals, which will be distributed to food-insecure families in Phoenix.

His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco participates in this year’s Diakonia Project. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Dancers participate in this year’s Diakonia Project. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman

While the annual service project is a longstanding tradition, this year FDF expanded the Diakonia Project to allow dancers to continue assembling meals on Friday. Dancers had the opportunity to contribute to the Diakonia Project between their performances and practice sessions.

Dancers practice before their performance. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Dancers perform at FDF. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman

In an effort to encourage parishes to integrate dance and diakonia throughout the year, FDF also highlights in its Oli Mazi magazine teams that undertake their own service projects ahead of the annual competition. For example, this year Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral in Honolulu baked cookies for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Hawai’i, while Nativity of Christ Church in Marin County, California made fleece blankets for the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care unity at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.

A woman prays during this year’s Diakonia Project. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Dancers participate in this year’s Diakonia Project. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman

In 2008, the Metropolis of San Francisco moved to formally integrate the values of family, friendship, and philanthropy with the event’s focus on dance. This year’s expansion of the Diakonia Project represents this continued effort to bridge cultural activities and community service.

“FDF is not about trophies and medals,” Metropolitan Gerasimos said at FDF’s Opening Ceremony. “It is about personal excellence, about growth, about offering your gifts with humility and joy.”

Dancers pray together before a performance. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Dancers embrace backstage. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman

Throughout the first day of competition, dancers demonstrated this spirit of FDF, diligently practicing in the halls, cheering on their fellow competitors, and taking time to give back to their host city of Phoenix.

Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman