The annual end of year concert of the Byzantine Music School at the Holy Monastery of “Axion Esti” in Northcote
On Saturday, 7 December, the established annual end of year concert of the Byzantine Music School of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia took place, marking the end of this year’s academic year.
The event was hosted at the Church of Our Lady “Axion Esti”, in Northcote, Melbourne, in the Holy Diocese of Chora. The event began with Vespers, officiated by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, while the sacred hymns of the service were performed by students of the Byzantine Music School.
A concert followed, where students of the School, of all levels, presented hymns representative of their hard and dedicated work throughout the year.
One of the highlights of the evening was the awarding of graduation certificates to the 4th year students, who completed their studies and are now ready to take on leadership roles in their respective parishes.
The event was honoured with the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora, delivered a greeting on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, emphasising first of all the sacred responsibility of the chanters to lead prayer and calling on them to approach their role with humility, devotion and respect. He pointed out the need to honour even the simplest hymns, such as “Lord have mercy” and “Amen”, with the same reverence as the more elaborate ones, highlighting the importance of each word in prayer.
At the same time, His Grace called on the students and teachers to be inspired by the exemplary performance of hymns at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, encouraging them to attend and imitate the Holy Services broadcast from Constantinople. He also expressed heartfelt thanks to the teachers for their valuable contribution, not only through their ministry at the School, but also by adorning the sacred chanting stands in the parishes.
Finally, he conveyed to everyone the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who founded the School five years ago, and concluded by emphasising that the Byzantine Music School continues to play a vital role in the life of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, ensuring that the sacred tradition of Byzantine Music will remain alive for future generations.
