The St Charalambos Greek Orthodox Church will be holding a Parish Feast and festival this weekend.
Held at the church at 190-200 Porter St, Templestowe, Melbourne, the program officiated by Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis includes:
- Great Vespers with artoklasia on Friday February 9, 5pm
- Matins, Divine Liturgy and procession on Saturday February 10, 9am
- Matins and hierarchical divine liturgy on Sunday February 11, 8.45am
After the liturgy, the festival will follow with music, dance groups, fun for children, and food and sweets.
Saint Charalambos was a Hieromartyr of Christianity. His memory is celebrated on February 10 by those who bear the names Charalambis, Charalambia and Charilaos.
Also, this weekend, the Cultural Association of Agia Paraskevi, Lesvos “Taxiarchis” will hold the Taurus Festival, which will take place, this Sunday, February 11, at the estate of the Palesviaki Enosis on Waldheim Road, Bayswater.
This festival, which is also dedicated to the memory of Saint Charalambos, revives a folk tradition that began in Greece in the mid-18th century during the Turkish occupation.
The festivities begin on Sunday with the Divine Liturgy which will be celebrated by Father Antonios from Dandenong in the church located on the estate.
After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a procession will begin, led by Father Antonios and the icon of Saint Charalambos, which will then be transferred to the church, where the faithful will be able to light a candle.
There will be dancers, horse riders and after the horse parade, food and a traditional orchestra, which will include musicians from Greece.
The end of the festival will be marked by ‘Charlamelia’, the next day, Monday, February 12, where the same orchestra will perform live at Oakleigh.
