Saint John’s church in Carlton hosted a special divine liturgy on Sunday to celebrate the feast of Saints Gerasimos and Artemios. Following the service, a doxology was held in honour of Saint Artemios, the protector of police, with the Victorian Hellenic Police Association (VHPA) in attendance.
The event was attended by several community leaders, including the VHPA Board, which serves as a formal link between Greek-Australian police officers and the Victorian Greek community. Among the guests was Giannis Kostoulias, President of the Federation of Senior Citizens Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria.
The Saint Panteleimon community of Dandenong was also represented, with Public Relations Officer Kostas Alaveras present on behalf of the president, Stefanos Karamoschos.
After the Liturgy and the Doxology, the parish of Saint John hosted a small meal for all attendees, providing an opportunity for fellowship and congratulations.
Special thanks were extended to Father Emmanuel Lykopantis for organising this meaningful celebration.
The VHPA, led by President Inspector Andrew Markakis and Vice President Inspector Efti Anastasiadis, was founded in 2003 to foster positive relationships between Greek-Australian police officers and the broader Greek community.
The association values diversity and supports the promotion of equal opportunities within the Victoria Police force, which has approximately 22,000 employees, including 450 of Greek heritage.
