The parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, Thomastown was the venue for a number of important celebrations on Sunday, 24 January.
The Archepiscopal Vicar for the District of Northcote, Fr Emenios Vasilopulos conducted the Orthos and Divine Liturgy with the priests of the parish taking part.
This was followed by a Doxology in view of the 200 years since the start of the Greek Revolution of 1821. This was performed before local Greek associations, the parish’s Greek school students and parish members in general.
A parade from the church to the parish centre was then held that included students from the parish school, local youth and fellowship group members, as well as the members of Hellenic organisations in the area.
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The parade ended with the representation by the presidents of the Hellenic associations of the oath sworn by the Filliki Etairia.
During the lunch that followed in the parish centre, the parish priest, Fr George Frangos spoke on the subject: “The contribution of the Athonite Ecclesiastical Academy, Mount Athos, to the awakening of the Nation”.
He spoke of the contribution of the academy and the role of the church in the education and training of Greek youth particularly during the turbulent 17th and 18th Centuries.