Holy Diocese of Chora: ‘An Easter Experience’ – School Holiday program for children at the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Thomastown
With great joy and enthusiasm, the Holy Diocese of Chora organised a special Easter Educational Program for children, ‘An Easter Experience’, which took place at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Thomastown.
This special day was honoured with the presence of His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, who with great love addressed the children: “The Church is your home. Every icon, every candle, every symbol has something to tell you. By learning our faith, we learn who we are and what our mission in the world is: to love, to forgive and to live with light and hope.”
During his speech, His Grace also conveyed the warm wishes and fatherly love of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, telling the children: “His Eminence sends you his love and asked me to tell you: ‘My children, love our Church and remain close to Christ. Within the heart of Orthodoxy you will find joy, light and true meaning in your lives.’”
Together with the Parish Priest, Father George Frangos, His Grace guided the children through the Church, explaining in an understandable and illustrative manner its parts and sacred symbols, offering them valuable knowledge about our faith and spiritual tradition.
During the day, the children enthusiastically participated in creative workshops, such as: Dyeing and decorating red eggs, decorating Easter candles, making palm crosses, making Easter biscuits, creating small icons and decorating the Epitaphios.
This day was an opportunity for catechesis, experiential learning and strengthening the children’s Greek Orthodox identity, in a climate of joy, unity and creativity.
His Grace thanked all the volunteers, parents and collaborators of the Parish who worked with love for the success of this initiative, emphasising the importance of cultivating faith from childhood and the value of shared experience within the Church.
At the end of the day, His Grace, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, distributed a small gift to all the children, a prayer rope to wear on their wrist to remember the Presence of Christ in their lives and the power of prayer.
