On Sunday the Parish-Community of Agios Ioannis in Parramatta held their Let’s Go Greek Festival. The event was held in the Parramatta building complex, inside of which the current temple is being housed. A new temple has been designed, with the plans being submitted to the municipality for approval, according to the president of the Community, Kosmas Dimitirou, and there are hopes for the structure to be completed within 2019.
The event was deemed a success; warm spring weather was an ally to those who wanted to enjoy a day outside and hundreds of people attended the celebrations, which included many activities for everyone – and children in particular; however, the dancing groups of the Community took the spotlight with their skills thanks to the guidance of teachers Dimitris and Stavroula Papapetrou.
The festival also featured a display of older and more modern Greek coins by Panagiotis Souleles, an exhibit showcasing the strong Greek-Indian relations through time, guided by Dr Panagiotis Diamantis, as well as other showings by the Macedonian and Pontian bodies of the community and the Greek High School. Many volunteers contributed to the success of the event, which was emceed by popular comedian George Kapiniaris.
Also present at the Let’s Go Greek Festival were his eminence the Bishop of Militoupolis Jacob, the General Ambassador of Greece in Sydney Christos Karras along with his wife Katia Gkigkiza, the State Minister of Multicultural Affairs Ray Williams MP, member of the house of representatives Julie Owens, along with a number of church and community leaders and the local government.
