The Anniversary of ‘OXI Day’ and the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God celebrated at the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, Thomastown
The Anniversary of the 28th October 1940 and the feast day of the Protection of the Mother of God (Agia Skepi) were celebrated with ecclesiastical splendour in the Archdiocesan District of Northcote, with the centre of celebratory events taking place at the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Thomastown, Melbourne, where every year the celebration and parade of the Flags is held every year.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia was represented by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Northcote, who officiated at the Matins Service and presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the celebratory Doxology Service for the Anniversary of “OXI Day” of 1940 took place.
Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta conveyed to the congregation the wishes and blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, while in his sermon he referred to the events of the Epic of 1940 and the fight of the Greeks for the freedom of the homeland. He also asked the faithful to pray for the people in the Middle East and Ukraine and for peace to prevail throughout the world.
In the context of the celebration of the Flags which is organised every year by the Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, school students and other organisations paraded the flags around the outside of the Church. Specifically, the parade was attended by students from the Greek School of the Holy Archdiocese “Saint Kosmas Aitolos”, the Greek Orthodox College of St. John Preston, and the Greek school of the local primary school, Lalor North Primary, as well as members of the “Aristotle” dance group and the Whittlesea Greek community.
Present also, among others, were Mr. Dimitri Linardos, representative of the Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne, Ms. Lily D’Ambrosio, state MP of Victoria, and Mr. Tony Tsourdalakis, President of the Intercommunities Council of Victoria.
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