Celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord in the Holy Diocese of Perth
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, and with grand paschal and ecclesiastical splendour, His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth Officiated the Resurrection Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helene in Northbridge.
On the evening of Holy Saturday the 19th of April, His Grace ascended the throne to Preside over the pre-Resurrection, Pannychis service, during which the Paschal Encyclical of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia was read. At 12.00 pm midnight, His Grace brought forth from the sanctuary the Holy Light which spread through the Church and out onto the street. Out the front of the Church, following the reading of the Gospel account of the Resurrection according to St Mark, the church bells tolled as His Grace then lead the hundreds of faithful gathered, in one voice and with great Paschal joy, in the chanting of “Christ is Risen”.
His Grace conveyed to the faithful the Paschal blessings and paternal love of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. His Grace also invited the Consul for Greece in Perth, Ms Eleni Georgopoulou to speak and convey her Paschal greetings and best wishes to the faithful.
His Grace expressed his deep gratitude to all the volunteers of the Church and especially to the chanters and choir of the Church who added much beauty to the Holy Week and Paschal services under the guidance of head chanter and choir director, Dr John Stamatis.
Following this, His Grace lead the clergy and faithful back into the Church for the Resurrection Matins and Divine Liturgy.
Present at the Paschal celebrations of the Holy Diocese of Perth were various dignitaries including the Consul for Greece in Perth, Ms Eleni Georgopoulou and her family, Mr Frank Paolino MLA – member for Mount Lawley, Mr Basil Zempilas MLA – member for Curtin, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party in Western Australia Legislative Assembly, Ms Arlene Mavratsou APM Assistant Commissioner WA Police, and Mrs Effie Mazgaltzidis – Vice President of the Hellenic Community of WA.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace wished everyone a blessed feast of the Resurrection and distributed to the faithful the traditional Paschal red eggs.
