This year’s “Carols by Candlelight” event took place at the outdoor venue St John’s Greek Orthodox College in Preston, Melbourne last Sunday, attended by thousands of Greek faithful from Melbourne and the wider State of Victoria.
The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of the late Stelios Tsiolas, the “soul” of the institution, who passed away a few weeks ago.
Stelios’ wife, Roula Tsiolas, and his three sons along with their spouses attended the event and received an honourary plaque in his memory.
“Your Grace, Reverend fathers, official guests, fellow artists of our beloved Stelios, academics, past and present students of Saint John’s College, families of the wider Greek Orthodox community, my family and I feel very honoured and grateful that we are all here together tonight: to pray together, even in song, in this very difficult time for us,” Mrs Tsiolas said post receiving the plaque.
“We are grateful and deeply moved by the contribution of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia for this event, in honour of our Stelios, a celebration that for over 39 whole years was an annually a large part in the life of our Stelios, which meant so much to him,” she added.
The event, organised by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia not only witness a huge participation from the Greek Australian and Orthodox Christian community but also featured notable contributions from artists, choirs, priests, and chanters who performed a captivating array of Christmas hymns and carols from different regions of Greece.
The event was graced by Bishop of Kerasountos, Evmenios who conveyed Archbishop Makarios’s greetings and expressed gratitude to all attendees, sponsors, and contributors. He highlighted the significance of the event for the Greek community in Melbourne.
All photos: Con Deves
All photos: Con Deves
All photos: Con Deves
All photos: Con Deves
A portion of his speech was devoted to remembering Stelios Tsiolas, commending his passion for music and his significant contributions to various cultural organisations.
Following the speeches, the choirs took the stage, showcasing their talents and leaving a lasting impression on the audience focusing on the optimistic message of the birth of Christ, exhibiting love, passion, and discipline while praying for hope and peace in the world.
The participating groups included the Byzantine Choir of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Kosmas o Aitolos College, Oakleigh Grammar College, Epirotes’ Choir led by Father Stavros Kakavas, Periklis Dance Group, and the Central Pontian Association of Melbourne and Victoria.
The event concluded on a high note with the arrival of Santa Claus, who distributed candies and chocolates to the children culminating with the display of hundreds of fireworks.
More photos by Con Deves, below:
