ADELAIDE

Greek community celebrates Easter

16 April 2023 Following the 40-day Lent, hundreds of Community members across Adelaide celebrated Greek Orthodox Easter in what constitutes the most significant religious day in the Greek Orthodox Calendar. ‘Christ is Risen’ is echoed at every Community church during the Easter Saturday Midnight Mass, with the Holy Light spreading among the crowd as a symbol of spiritual purity and heralding the Resurrection of Jesus. The Holy Week commenced on Sunday 9 April with the service of Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of the Passion of Christ. An announcement from Smaragdi Skordas, the General Secretary of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA, said all Community churches reached full capacity in the days leading to Easter Saturday as members made their way to pray for peace, prosperity and good health. "Following the tradition, women of all ages gathered at each of our churches on Thursday to help decorate the Tomb of Christ ‘Epitaphio’ as well as prepare the church for the Good Friday services. Black and purple ribbons ran across the churches’ interior reflecting the mourning spirit of the day, while dozens of parishioners attended the morning services on Thursday and Saturday to receive Holy Communion. On Good Friday, the Tomb of Christ stood out in every church with many attending Good Friday services through-out the day and the procession of the Tomb of Christ around 9 o’clock later in the evening. The Easter celebrations concluded on Saturday with the traditional midnight Mass and the Service of the Resurrection, which was unfortunately forced inside due to bad weather, and was attended by hundreds of parishioners and official guests. Amongst them, Ms Olivia Savvas MP Member for Newland, Ms Jayne Stinson MP Member for Badcoe, Ms Nadia Clancy MP Member for Elder, the Mayor of West Torrens Mr Michael Coxon, Councillor Peter Ppiros, representing the Mayor of Charles Sturt Ms Angela Evans, and Councillors Elisabeth Papanikolaou and George Demetriou from the City of West Torrens. Easter Sunday services concluded with the Great Paschal Vespers of Love at the Cathedral of Archangels Michael & Gabriel on the evening of Easter Sunday".

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia