The Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas in Canberra came alive on Sunday, December 8, as hundreds of parishioners gathered for the annual St Nicholas Paniyiri. With Greek music, dancing, and food filling the air, the celebration was a vibrant display of faith, culture, and community spirit.
The day began with a Divine Liturgy, presided over by His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia and parish priest Father Petros Kipouros.
Official guests included the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos; the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to Australia, Antonis Sammoutis; Defence A’ttache of Greece, Kyriakos Kyriakakos; David Smith MP representing Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; and Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas MP.
Following the liturgy, the festivities moved outdoors, where a large marquee hosted the lively paniyiri. Guests were treated to plates piled high with fresh fish, calamari, salad, chips, and the much-loved loukoumades, lovingly prepared by the tireless St Nicholas Philoptochos volunteers.
President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC), John Loukadellis described the day as one of the busiest in recent memory, with people from Wagga Wagga and the Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney & NSW turning up. Mr Loukadellis also noted the unexpected arrival of two additional buses, which had not been part of the original catering plans.
“We were grateful for their attendance but it caused a bit of chaos with the food, as you can imagine. It added volumes to the kefi of the event too,” he said.
Mr Loukadellis praised the dedication of the GOCCC committee, volunteers, and Philoptochos members, saying, “Without them, these types of events and fundraising would not occur.”
He also expressed gratitude to the Canberra Hellenic Dancers, who kept the crowd entertained and inspired spirited dancing from the Mytilenian attendees, joking, “They didn’t need encouragement!”
The St Nicholas Paniyiri remains a beloved tradition, offering both Greeks and non-Greeks a chance to connect, celebrate, and experience the rich cultural heritage of the Greek Orthodox faith.
