Thousands of Greeks across Australia take part in Good Friday processions

·

Good Friday processions in Australia’s Greek Orthodox Churches saw thousands of Greeks gather for the first time in two years to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.

One of the most widely attended rites on Good Friday is the Epitaphios threnos (funerary lamentation). The word epitaphios is an adjective meaning “funerary, happening on a grave”, originating from Thucydides’ famous “Pericles’ Funeral Oration”.

Within a liturgical context, this is also the name of an icon, usually made of cloth and richly embroidered, depicting the body of Christ being laid in the grave, often by the Virgin Mary and some disciples.

On Good Friday morning, the icon is placed on a platform, resembling a bier, typically topped with a kouvouklion, an elaborately carved wood canopy. In the evening the service begins; near the end of the ceremony, the canopied platform bearing the icon is lifted on the shoulders of priests or churchgoers (usually four to six people) and carried through the streets. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic saw people celebrate Easter from home last year, thousands turned up to churches across Australia to bless the Epitaphios.

The Greek Herald has compiled a gallery of Epitaphios from Greek churches in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin.

Sydney

St Nektarios Church, Burwood:

The St Nektarios Church in Burwood held their Good Friday Lamentations and traditional Procession with Mayor of Burwood, Cr John Faker, and Member for Strathfield and Leader of the Opposition, Ms Jodi McKay MP, in attendance, as well as His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevasteia.

Melbourne

Adelaide

Canberra

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Canberra.

Darwin

Photo by Georgia Politis Photography.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Father Athanasios Giatsios appointed Orthodox Chaplain at Macquarie University

Father Athanasios Giatsios has been appointed as the new Orthodox Chaplain at Macquarie University. Read more here.

Spiro Pappas honoured at Emirates Business Awards 2025 for Sustainable Innovation

Entrepreneur Spiro Pappas, Founder and CEO of Eureka-Tec, was honoured at the Emirates Business Awards 2025.

Oakleigh grandfather’s 40-year lottery dream comes true with $1 million win

An Oakleigh man spotted his lottery numbers printed in the newspaper, revealing a $1 million Weekday Windfall win.

Strong Australian presence at opening of 1st Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers in Athens

The Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, was transformed into a vibrant microcosm of the Greek Australian community on Monday evening, July 7.

St George Saints show fight against league-leading Tamworth

St George Men’s White team faced one of their toughest tests of the season, hosting reigning champions Tamworth Thunderbolts.

You May Also Like

Paul Afkos OAM: ‘Greek Australians are more Greek than Greeks living in Greece’

There is much information on Mr Afkos online. He is the longest serving post-war President of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia.

Six Greek Australian ‘old blokes’ road tripping for a cancer cure

Six Greek Australian 'old blokes' are road tripping around the Central West of New South Wales for a cancer cure.

Sydney pianist Alex Nero takes on Greek hits and wants you to listen

Alex Nero has a goal to gather as many Greeks and Cypriots as possible worldwide onto his social media page in 365 days.