This year’s Christmas Carols by Candlelight held on Sunday at St. John’s Greek Orthodox College in Preston drew attendees into a spiritual journey celebrating both the birth of Christ in Bethlehem and cherished Greek traditions.
A key highlight of the event, organised by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, was Archbishop Makarios’ remarks on the importance of preserving these traditions. He emphasised the dual purpose of the carols: singing for Christ while honouring the legacy of past generations.
“We sing carols as a way to sanctify our lives and preserve the precious traditions handed down to us,” he said, encouraging the continuation of the custom.
Archbishop Makarios also extended heartfelt Christmas and New Year’s wishes to the audience and commended the efforts of Bishop Evmenios of Chora, as well as the choirs, community organisations, and schools that participated in the rich holiday program.
Special thanks were given to the Romanian Orthodox community’s choir in Melbourne, with gratitude expressed to the attending Romanian Orthodox Bishop Michael.
In a moving address, Metropolitan Prodomos of Rethymno from Crete praised the Greek community’s unwavering dedication to their faith and traditions, even in a foreign land.
He remarked on the contrast of celebrating Christmas in summer, but affirmed that Christmas is not about weather but about heartfelt connection.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, Bishops Kyriakos and Evmenios of Melbourne and Chora, General Consul of Greece in Melbourne Emmanuel Kakavelakis, as well as prominent community figures such as Antonios Tsourdalakis, President of the Victorian Intercommunal Committee, and Bill Papastergiadis, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne.
