A small memorial service for the late Father Nicholas Vrettakos was held at St Demetrios Parish in Queanbeyan, NSW, on Wednesday by the Very Reverend Prochoros Anastasiadis, Archepiscopal Vicar of Canberra.
Father Prochoros was holding a Divine Liturgy at the parish to celebrate the feast day of St Haralambos, when he decided to conduct a trisagio for the late Father Nicholas, who is known as the first-ever priest of Queanbeyan.
Later, a procession of the holy relics of St Haralambos, which were given to the parish by Father Nicholas, took place around the church with the help of current parish priest of St Demetrios, Father Iakovos.
After the service, parishioners were treated to coffee from the ladies of the St Demetrios Philoptochos, and they were also given an icon of St Prochoros as a memento of Father Prochoros’ first church service at the parish.
The night before, another church service to celebrate St Haralambos was held and attended by the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Georges Papakostas, the High Commisioner of Cyprus, Mrs Martha Mavrommatis, as well as other community leaders from the local Greek and Cypriot community.