The feast day of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel was celebrated in Australia and Greece on Wednesday with a number of Divine Liturgies and special luncheons.
Australia:
In South Australia, the local Greek community gathered at the Cathedral of Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Adelaide to celebrate the feast day.
A church service was officiated by clergy from the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) and was followed by a traditional procession of the Holy Icon of the Archangels around the Cathedral.
In Western Australia, the Greek community celebrated the feast day at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangels in Geraldton on November 4 – 5. A number of people attended including the Consul of Greece in Perth, Georgia Karasiotou.
Celebrations commenced on Saturday with the Hierarchical Vespers Service presided by Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea.
On Sunday, the Bishop officiated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the church which concluded with the procession of the holy icon outside the church. This was followed by a festive luncheon for parishioners where $11,000 was pledged towards purchasing five new air conditioners for the Geraldton church.
Greece:
In Greece, the feast of the Archangel Michael, patron saint of the Greek Air Force, was marked in a ceremony presided by National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday.
The ceremony was held at the Hellenic Air Force Academy (Scholi Ikaron) at the Dekelia Air Base in Tatoi, north of Athens.
In his address on the day, Mr Dendias said the role of Greece’s air force is one of dual significance, being “a key pillar of our country’s force of deterrence but also a factor of contribution to society as a whole.”
Speaking at the event, Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias, also noted that in 2024 Greece will be “NATO’s main focus of attention,” as it will host the Allied Air Drill ‘RAMSTEIN FLAG’ for the first time in Europe.
