St Spyridon College in Maroubra hosted the 70th anniversary of Sunday Schools in New South Wales on Sunday, December 14, with around 500 children performing hymns, songs, and theatrical depictions of Christ and their parish Saints.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia addressed the children, urging, “Keep Jesus Christ at the centre of your lives. In everything you do, remember Christ.”
He described Sunday School as teaching children “how to live as children of God: how to pray, how to forgive, and how to love Christ with all your heart.”
He also paid tribute to the pioneers behind the establishment and development of Sunday Schools in NSW, expressing the Church’s gratitude to the late Hierarchs of Australia Theophylaktos, Ezekiel and Stylianos, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Fr Stephanos Pantanassiotis, former Greek Orthodox Christian Society President Professor Michael Antoniadis, current President Dr John Psarommatis, Archdiocesan staff member Steve Magdas, and all Sunday School teachers for their ministry.
Concluding his address, he encouraged children to embrace Christmas spiritually: “Christmas is joyful not because of gifts or feasting, but because Christ was born… His coming to earth is the beginning of our return to Paradise, a joy He wishes all of us to share.”
The celebration was attended by senior clergy, including Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevasteia, Regional and Assistant Bishops, and the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, George Skemperis.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
