An Agiasmos Service for the beginning of the new academic year was conducted by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta at the Byzantine Music School – Northcote Branch, of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. The School is hosted on the premises of St John’s College, in the Melbourne suburb of Preston.

His Grace Bishop Evmenios, after conveying to the teachers and students of the School the wishes and blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, referred to the great gift which is received by those who are initiated into study of Byzantine Music, urging the students to make use of this particular gift, not as a stepping-stone for a career, but as a ministry offered to the Church, to help each suffering fellow human being during prayer at the time of sacred worship.

Also, Bishop Evmenios referred to the upcoming Apostolic Visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Australia and asked everyone to participate with willingness and zeal in the events organised in His honour, especially the members of the choir who will chant at the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy.