GCM: Celebrating the feast of Holy Spirit at the Holy Trinity church in Footscray

The Feast Day of the Holy Spirit was joyously celebrated by the congregation at the Holy Trinity Church in Footscray, Melbourne. The event was graced by His Grace Bishop Evmenios along with Fathers Nikolaos Xylouris of Holy Trinity, Gary Peripetsakis from St Eleftherios Church in Brunswick, and Dimitris Katopodis from St Antonios Church in Sunshine. The services of Matins and the Divine Liturgy were conducted under the leadership of Bishop Evmenios, who conveyed heartfelt wishes and blessings from His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia to the attendees.

The gathering was further distinguished by the presence of Mr. Bill Papastergiadis OAM, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria, and Mr. Pradeep Tiwari, Mayor of Maribyrnong, as well as members of St Eleftherios Church in Brunswick.

Addressing the faithful, Bishop Evmenios expressed his gratitude to Mr. Papastergiadis for his attendance and support, emphasizing the importance of unity and collaboration between the Church and the Community. “The Holy Spirit is the unifying force of the Church – embodying truth, love, and peace,” he stated. “It is only through unity, trust, and mutual respect that we can create a fruitful and hopeful future for Hellenism and Orthodoxy in this region. We must honor the legacy left by our ancestors on this fifth continent, but this can only be achieved through love and unity.”

Mr. Bill Papastergiadis OAM, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria, opened his address by expressing gratitude to Bishop Evmenios of Chora, Father Nikolaos Xylouris, and all the clergy involved in the Divine Liturgy, as well as the members from St Eleftherios Church who traveled to Footscray to join the celebration. He reminisced that the Holy Trinity Church was the second established by the GCM, built between 1959 and 1962, in response to the thriving Greek community in the area. He concluded by asserting that Australia is widely regarded as the heart of Hellenism outside of Greece, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Community and the Church.

Father Nikolaos Xylouris concluded the speeches by thanking everyone for their attendance, remarking, “Today is a significant honor for us, and we look forward to many more joyous occasions like this in the future.” Following the Divine Liturgy, the church committee organized a lively festival in the church courtyard, drawing a large crowd.