The Resurrection Service in Perth celebrated with great splendour
On Holy Saturday evening the Resurrection Service in Perth was celebrated with great splendour at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helene in Northbridge.
The service was presided by His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea in the presence of the Greek Consul in Perth Mrs Georgia Karasiotou, and the President of the Hellenic Community of WA Mr Paul Afkos.
His Grace conveyed the paschal blessings and love of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia to the parishioners that attended the midnight Easter service, despite the rain.
Following the Resurrection Service, his Grace then presided at the Paschal Matins Service and officiated at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, in which the homily of St John Chrysostom was recited. This is a fourth century sermon still preached every year on Easter night in orthodox churches. It was wonderful to see the congregation join His Grace with great enthusiasm in repeating, “It (Hades) was angered” and “Christ is risen!”
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace welcomed the athletes from Greece competing in the World Transplant Games April 15 – 21. The service would not have been complete, however, without the distribution of red eggs to all those in attendance.
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