Holy Pascha at the Archdiocesan District of Northcote
With gloriousness, but at the same time with devoutness, the Resurrection of Christ was celebrated at the Archdiocesan District of Northcote.
At midnight on Holy Saturday, His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, from the Archdiocesan District of Northcote, performed the Resurrection Service and then preceded the Resurrection Divine Liturgy at the church of “The Transfiguration of Our Lord” in Thomastown. His Grace felt especially emotional as it was his first Resurrection Divine Liturgy after His ordination as Bishop in the parish that he served for 12 years when he was Archimandrite.
The Resurrection Service was attended by the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the President of the Inter-Communities Council of Victoria, Mr. Tony Tsourdalakis, a group of Evzones from the Greek Presidential Guard, as well as thousands of people as the Parish of “The Transfiguration of Our Lord” serves more than ten suburbs with a total population of more than 12,000 Greeks.
His Grace, instead of sending a personal message, read the Paschal Message of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. Taking the opportunity from the words of His Eminence, His Grace added that “this Easter we must make a serious decision, and not only let Christ enter our lives, but to let Him rule our lives, since He is the real life.”
His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta thanked the Evzones who brightened with their presence the celebrations of Easter in Antipodes. He thanked them, in particular, because after a long period of suffering due to the pandemic, “they put a smile on the face of Greek immigrants who worked so hard so that we, their children, could have everything.” He also asked everyone to sing the Greek National Anthem honouring the presence of the Greek Presidential Guard.
Finally, he conveyed to the faithful the festive wishes of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and he blessed the red eggs which he gave out to everyone.
On Easter Sunday morning, His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta attended the Service of the Vespers of Love at the Holy Monastery of Axion Estin with the participation of the Clergy of the Archdiocesan District of Northcote.
During the Service, which was again attended by a group of Evzones, the Resurrection Gospel was read in different languages. This year the Gospel of John passage was read in Greek, English, Arabic, French, Spanish and for the first time in Ukrainian. The reading of the passage in Ukrainian, as pointed out by His Grace Evmenios, shows that “we all stand by the Ukrainian people these days and pray to God for the good of the suffering Ukraine.”
His Grace Bishop Evmenios, on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, gave his wishes for this special day. At the end of the Service, he blessed the red eggs which he gave out to all who were present.
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