St Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Palm Sunday with community luncheon

Parishioners enjoyed a traditional seafood meal in the church’s hall served by the community’s youths

Attendees at yesterday's Palm Sunday Luncheon at the church hall of St Catherine's in East Malvern were served a traditional seafood meal by the community's youths. Photo: Supplied

10 April 2023 1:07pm

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Orthodox faithful across the country and around the world came together for the observance of Palm Sunday yesterday, on 9 April.

Occurring on the Sunday at the beginning of Holy Week, Palm Sunday serves as one of the Greek Orthodox Church’s most joyous feast days.

Also known as the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the day marks the commemoration of the Entrance of Jesus Christ into the Holy City following the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.

To mark the beginning of Holy Week, parishioners at St Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Malvern East attended their parish for the Palm Sunday service.

Frs George Adamakis and Kyriakos Tsapas with youths of the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Catherine during Palm Sunday services. Photo: Supplied

Following the service presided over by Frs George Adamakis and Kyriakos Tsapas, the parish held a luncheon in their church hall, with attendees enjoying a traditional seafood meal served by the community’s youths.

The day sees adherents to the Lenten fast break their abstinence from fish, olive oil and wine to celebrate the occasion; with the traditional meal of this feast day being Bakaliaros or fried salt cod.

Both Palm Sunday and the preceding Lazarus Saturday, when faithful traditionally weave crosses from palm fronds in preparation for Sunday mass, serve as an occasion of triumphant joy in contrast to the typically austere atmosphere of Great Lent and mourning of Holy Week.