Tens of thousands of Greek Australians gathered at churches across the country on Saturday night, marking Orthodox Easter with the deeply symbolic celebration of the Resurrection and the sharing of the Holy Light.
With solemn reverence and visible emotion, the faithful assembled in church forecourts and surrounding streets from Sydney and Melbourne to Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane and Perth, united in a moment where faith, tradition and community converge.
At the stroke of midnight, anticipation gave way to jubilation as clergy emerged to proclaim “Christ is Risen” — a declaration met with the unified response, “Truly He is Risen,” as candles flickered to life across the crowds. The Holy Light was passed from person to person, illuminating the night in a powerful expression of hope, renewal and continuity.
Families of all ages took part in the sacred ritual. Young children stood alongside parents and grandparents, many of whom carried memories of Easter in Greece, while younger generations embraced the traditions that continue to shape their cultural identity in Australia.
Among those attending were community leaders and dignitaries, reflecting the enduring presence and contribution of the Greek Orthodox community within Australia’s multicultural landscape.
In Melbourne, Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll joined celebrations alongside Greek Community of Melbourne President Bill Papastergiadis, while in Sydney, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia led the Resurrection service at Kogarah Greek Orthodox Church, declaring the risen Christ to thousands gathered.
His Eminence’s Paschal message was read aloud in churches across Australia, offering a moment of reflection amid the celebrations. Addressing ongoing conflict in the Middle East and discussion surrounding the transfer of the Holy Light, Archbishop Makarios reminded the faithful that the essence of the Resurrection transcends geography.
“For us, certainly, here in distant Australia, Pascha is celebrated with splendour, even though we do not have the possibility of receiving the Holy Light from Jerusalem,” he said.
He emphasised that while the miracle of the Holy Light takes place at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, “the light of Christ is poured out upon every human person and transcends both time and space — and this is the great miracle.”
In a message centred on inner faith, the Archbishop urged believers to embody the light of Christ in their daily lives, describing it as a presence that radiates from within and brings peace, humility and quiet strength.
“I call upon all of you to live the greatest and most beautiful experience that a human being can encounter upon this earth: the experience of the Light… the experience of the Resurrection,” he said.
The passing of the Holy Light from hand to hand became a symbolic chain of faith and unity — from heart to heart — as smiles, embraces and even tears captured the emotional weight of the moment. For many, it is not only a religious observance but a reaffirmation of identity, linking the diaspora to centuries-old traditions and to the homeland of their forebears.
Carefully shielding their candles from the night air, families carried the flame home, where it would be used to light vigil lamps and bless their households — a ritual observed for generations. In that act, the Resurrection extends beyond the church, entering the domestic sphere as a living tradition that bridges past and present.
On Easter Sunday, celebrations continue in homes and community spaces across Australia. Backyards fill with the aroma of lamb roasting on the spit, while tables are laid with traditional dishes and red-dyed eggs. Families and friends gather to share meals, music and dancing, bringing to life the joyous culmination of Holy Week.
For Australia’s Greek diaspora, Orthodox Easter remains one of the most profound expressions of faith and cultural continuity. The light of the Resurrection is more than a ritual – it is a living symbol that faith, memory and heritage endure, passed from one generation to the next, illuminating the future of Hellenism in Australia.
