We’re coming to the end of 2024 and there have been some fantastic stories by journalists at The Greek Herald which have captured your attention.
From the rise of TikTok yiayia Effie Tzaferis to His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia condemning the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, here’s our list of the 15 most read The Greek Herald stories for 2024.
15. Hellenism takes over Brighton-Le-Sands as Greek Fest makes triumphant return
Walking down Bay Street in the Sydney suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands on any normal weekday, you would see cars calmly driving past and locals sipping their coffee at nearby cafes. But Sunday, May 26 this year was not any ordinary day.
On Sunday, Bay Street was packed with hundreds of thousands of people rushing to get a taste of Hellenism as the Greek Fest made its triumphant return after 21 long years.
The festival marked the end of the 42nd Greek Festival of Sydney supported by the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales (GOCNSW) and presented by the Bank of Sydney.
14. St Spyridon College and All Saints Grammar secure top 100 ranks in 2024 HSC
Two Greek Orthodox schools in Sydney, New South Wales have claimed a spot in the top 100 rankings for this year’s Higher School Certificate (HSC) results.
According to the ‘2024 HSC school ranking’ list provided by The Sydney Morning Herald, St Spyridon College at Maroubra ranked in 81st place in NSW. All Saints Grammar at Belmore was not far behind, claiming 91st place.
13. When two become one: A deep dive into the Proxenia marriage tradition
The pursuit of love has always been a universal thread connecting people, whether through chance encounters or carefully orchestrated arrangements. In generations past, love often intersected with practicality, leading to arranged marriages, or “proxenia marriages,” that secured not only a partner but also stability for families.
For many, arranged marriages were a blend of necessity and hope – sometimes leading to lifelong partnerships filled with harmony, like the enduring union of Katarina and Yianni, whose journey began with a whirlwind three-day courtship and blossomed into 47 years of companionship in rural Australia.
12. Three generations of Pontians raise funds to preserve their ‘second home’ in Sydney
“The Pontian House is a symbol of our Pontian culture, our roots, our heritage and our identity. We can proudly say that it is our second home,” young Pontian, Eleni Lambousis, said in a speech on Saturday, May 25 this year.
The comment drew loud applause from the crowd – which consisted of three generations of proud Pontian women, men and children – who were all there to support Pontoxeniteas NSW‘s ‘Winter Wonderland Fundraising Gala’ for its 45-year-old Pontian House.
11. ‘She’s not your average yiayia’: Meet the 92-year-old TikTok sensation Effie Tzaferis
Yiayia Effie Tzaferis was born for the camera. Sitting on her couch at home, her daughter Dimitra Mormanis and granddaughter Renee Mormanis conducted a practice run of her interview with The Greek Herald on camera… unbeknownst to us at the time.
Before long, the mock interview found its way to TGH Headquarters and naturally we had to make it a reality.
Having already prepped and primed for our interview, Ms Tzaferis got stuck right into telling The Greek Herald about how she feels so young in her 90s.
10. The Greek story behind Sydney’s famous Queen’s Pastri and its French pastries
That first bite of Patricia K’s famous Gluten Free Lemon Cake will melt in your mouth like no other dessert. The texture of the cake, with the way the lemon melts in with the almond meal and the syrup, will make you want to slow down and savour every bite.
This superior taste is the result of years and years of 3am starts, consistent dedication and a passion for pastry making that began in a home garage more than 20 years ago, with one commercial oven.
9. Finalists announced for ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Award
Over recent years, The Greek Herald has celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) through its pages and this year, we launched ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Award. This prestigious recognition was aimed at shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements and inspiring stories of Greek and Cypriot ‘unsung heroines’ (women) in Australia.
The Greek Herald received more than 300 nominations for the Award this year. The nominations were carefully reviewed by an independent panel consisting of the Federal Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou MP, the SA Minister for Small and Family Business, Consumer and Business Affairs, and the Arts, Andrea Michaels MP, and the CEO of Settlement Services International, Violet Roumeliotis AM. In the end, 15 finalists were selected.
8. Thousands witness as new Constitution and Archons unveiled at Patriarchal Divine Liturgy
More than 9,000 Orthodox faithful filled the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney Theatre on Sunday, October 6 to take part in a historic Patriarchal Divine Liturgy presided over by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The sacred liturgical event was concelebrated with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Assistant Bishops and clergy, and was held to mark the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA).
7. EY appointed as Administrators of the Cyprus Community of NSW
Ernst & Young Australia (“EY Australia”) executives, Morgan Kelly and David Kennedy, were appointed Voluntary Administrators of the Cyprus Community of NSW Ltd (The Cyprus Club) in September 2024.
Founded in 1929, The Cyprus Club is a social community club located in Stanmore, New South Wales. In addition to operating the Cyprus consular service, it operates a social club, Greek and dancing schools, the Saturday Café and other services. The Cyprus Club owns several real estate assets.
Directors of the Club appointed the Administrators due to concerns regarding the future financial position of the club, following an injunction preventing a member vote on plans to redevelop or sell real estate assets.
6. Australia’s oldest Greek Orthodox church reopens after major renovations
The Church of the Holy Trinity (Aghia Triada) in Surry Hills, Sydney – the oldest Greek Orthodox church in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere – reopened after extensive restoration and renovation. On Sunday, June 2, a large congregation gathered to celebrate the significant milestone.
The church is a heritage-listed building located on Bourke Street in Surry Hills. It was designed by C. R. Summerhayes and built from 1898 to 1931 by J. Noble. It has been given State Heritage Status by the New South Wales Government, and is managed by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW).
5. Tributes flow for past Kytherian Association of Australia President Emmanuel Alfieris
Tributes were flowing this year for the former President of the Kytherian Association of Australia (KAA), Emmanuel Alfieris who passed away suddenly at the age of 53.
Mr Alfieris passed away in Sydney on Wednesday, July 17 after a heart attack during a soccer match. He is survived by his dad George, wife Louise and two children.
Mr Alfieris was a much-loved member of Sydney’s Greek community, having been President of the KAA from 2018 to 2022. He also served as a volunteer and Board member at All Saints Greek Orthodox Parish and Community at Belmore for a number of years.
4. Everything Greeks abroad must know about registering land in Greece by November 30
Tension mounted among many members of the Greek diaspora in Australia as the final deadline of 30 November 2024 for registering properties with the Hellenic Cadastre approached.
Numerous Greek expatriates living in Australia expressed concerns over the possibility of losing their properties in Greece if they fail to complete the required procedures in time. The Greek Herald received several calls from its readers, highlighting this critical issue and noting a lack of sufficient information about the upcoming deadline.
Prompted by the concerns of our readers, The Greek Herald secured an exclusive interview with Stelios Sakaretsios, President of the Hellenic Cadastre, who readily agreed to address our questions.
3. Archbishop Makarios of Australia condemns Last Supper mockery at Paris Olympics opening
Archbishop Makarios of Australia condemned a scene that mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
Da Vinci’s painting shows the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene displayed on Friday, July 27 at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch – an LGBTQ+ icon – surrounded by drag artists and performers.
In a statement, Archbishop Makarios said the Paris Olympics opening ceremony “featured scenes of irreverence that were offensive to Christianity and the Church.”
2. Much-loved Sydney priest Father Nicholas Bozikis passes away
Father Nicholas Bozikis, a beloved figure in Sydney’s Greek Orthodox community, passed away this year at 79. Born in Zakynthos, Greece, in 1944, he moved to Australia in 1964 and served the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia for over 50 years. His ministry included roles at Holy Cross Parish in Wollongong, St Spyridon in Kingsford, and St Stephanos in Hurlstone Park.
Despite health challenges, he continued his service until 2018 and was honoured as Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne in 2021. Father Nicholas is remembered for his dedication to faith and family and is survived by his Presbytera, children, and grandchildren.
1. Bishop Emilianos of Meloa resigns from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Vicar General of the Archdiocesan District of Brisbane, Bishop Emilianos of Meloa formally resigned from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) on Monday, June 3 this year.
Bishop Emilianos tendered his resignation during a meeting of Bishops from across Australia, which was held in Sydney under the presidency of Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
