The Greek Orthodox youth of Sydney came together on Monday, 6 October 2025, as His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and Greece’s Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, attended the annual Sunday Schools Picnic in Gough Whitlam Park, Earlwood.
The event, organised by the Orthodox Christian Fellowship of NSW, brought together over 400 children from parishes across the state, along with their parents and families. The students welcomed the Archbishop and the Minister with great enthusiasm, waving flags and singing with pride.
Also in attendance were Their Graces Bishops Elpidios of Perth, Athinagoras of Canberra, Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Christodoulos of Magnesia, and Christophoros of Kerasounta, as well as Ambassador of Greece to Australia Stavros Venizelos, Consul General in Sydney George Skemperis, and the Minister’s advisor, journalist Dr Anna Panagiotarea.
The President of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Dr Ioannis Psarommatis, welcomed the distinguished guests, thanking them for their continued support of faith education within the diaspora.
Addressing the children, Archbishop Makarios spoke with affection, urging them “never to forget that the source of life is Christ and the source of spiritual strength is His Church.”
Minister Mendoni and Ambassador Venizelos also extended their warm greetings, commending the young people and their teachers for keeping Greek language, culture, and faith alive in Australia.
Children proudly sang the Greek National Anthem, followed by the Apolytikion of Saint Paisios the Athonite, patron saint of Australia and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
The day continued with a picnic lunch and Olympic-inspired games, with the team representing the parishes of St Nicholas Marrickville, Transfiguration of the Saviour Earlwood, St Stylianos Gymea, St Gerasimos Leichhardt, and Holy Cross Wollongong taking home the top prize.
