The Feast Day of the Holy Spirit was celebrated at the Holy Trinity church in Footscray, Melbourne, with services led by Bishop Evmenios.
He was joined by Father Nikolaos Xylouris from the Holy Trinity Church, Gary Peripetsakis from the St Eleftherios Church in Brunswick, and Dimitris Katopodis of St Antonios Church in Sunshine.
The Matins and Divine Liturgy were officiated by Bishop Evmenios, who conveyed the greetings and blessings of Archbishop Makarios of Australia to the congregation.
The event was attended by the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria Bill Papastergiadis, the Mayor of Maribyrnong Pradeep Tiwari, and members of the St Eleftherios Church in Brunswick.
In his address, Bishop Evmenios thanked Papastergiadis for his support and noted the importance of unity and cooperation between the church and the community.
“The Holy Spirit is the connecting link of the Church – the Spirit of truth, love and peace,” he said.
Only when we walk united, with trust and mutual respect, can we bear fruit and build a hopeful future for Hellenism and Orthodoxy in this place.
“We have an obligation to preserve the legacy that our ancestors handed down to us on the fifth continent, but without unity and love this will not succeed.”
Papastergiadis, in his speech, thanked the clergy and church members for their participation.
He recalled that the Holy Trinity Church was the second church established by the Greek Community of Melbourne, built between 1959 and 1962 in response to the growth of the Greek population in Footscray.
He said that Australia has become a key centre of Hellenism outside Greece due to joint efforts by the community and the church.
Father Xylouris closed the speeches by thanking attendees and expressing hope for more shared events in the future.
After the service, the church committee hosted a festival in the courtyard with strong attendance from the community.
More photos below:
