Holy Diocese of Perth: Opening Ceremony for the 2025 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the official opening Ceremony and Blessing of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event took place on Tuesday 6 May 2025 at the Church of Saint Nektarios in Dianella, WA. In attendance at the opening ceremony was the Consul for Greece in Perth Ms. Eleni Georgopoulou, the Principals, staff and students from the various Greek Orthodox Colleges, as well as the President of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia, Mr Paul Afkos OAM and other representatives from the HCWA.
More than 450 young men and women from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth are currently participating in the National Schools Event of the Greek Orthodox Colleges of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, which is hosted in Perth this year by Saint Andrew’s Grammar Greek Orthodox School.
In particular, the three-day National School Event, which includes a series of sporting and artistic activities, is attended by the following Schools; Saint Spyridon College, All Saints Grammar and Saint Euphemia College from Sydney, Saint John’s College and Oakleigh Grammar from Melbourne, Saint George College from Adelaide and Saint Andrew’s Grammar from Perth.
Since 1998, Greek Orthodox schools across Australia have each taken a turn in hosting the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event (GOAANSE), which features competitions in sport as well as a creative arts festival and Orthodox Christian Studies Forum.
Over three days, students will compete in Boys and Girls Futsal, Boys and Girls Volleyball, Boy Football, Girls Netball, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Boys and Girls Table Tennis.
The blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth were conveyed to all of the staff and students in attendance. His Eminence and His Grace sent their apologies for not being able to attend the Opening ceremony or games due to the ceremony that will take place on Wednesday, 7 May 2025 during which His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, will be proclaimed Honorary Doctor of the Department of Theology and the Department of Social Theology and Religious Studies of the School of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), with the distinguished and honorary presence of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
