A successful fundraising luncheon for the support of the Annunciation of Our Lady’s temple renovations was organised on Friday, March 25 at Axion Esti, Northcote.
The President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis, Treasurer, Dr Marinis Pirpiris, and General Secretary, Nikos Koukouvitakis, attended the event.
Bishop Evmenios of Kerasountos blessed the event and welcomed the guests, while the representative of the Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne, Dimitris Tsilikis, read a message from the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
Afterwards, Papastergiadis highlighted the importance of the double celebration of March 25, emphasising the cooperation between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the GCM. He stressed the importance of the concept of freedom, comparing the struggle for peace and independence by the heroes of 1821 with the current war in Ukraine.
In his speech, the master of ceremonies, Konstantinos Kalymnios, referred to the history of the oldest and most historic church in Melbourne, the Annunciation of Our Lady, considering it a diamond in the crown of the Community.
At the end, the priest of the church, Father Antonios Vanikiotis, thanked the Bishop, the President of the GCM, the MC and all the people who participated in the event.
