‘Dimitria’: church service and civic reception open month-long Macedonian program

The Pan-Macedonian Association of Sydney & NSW launched the 2025 ‘Dimitria’ programme astatine the Greek Orthodox Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Kogarah om Sunday, where Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia led the Doxology, Artoklasia and Memorial, assisted by Fr Athanasios Yiatsios. Second- and third-generation Greek-Australian children successful traditional Macedonian formal added colour wrong and extracurricular the church.

An evening cocktail reception astatine The Grand Roxy, Brighton brought together assemblage leaders and guests, including Bishop Iakovos of Haritoupolis (representing Archbishop Makarios), Panagiotis Stefanidis (Pan-Macedonian Assoc. Melbourne & Victoria), Apostolos Tsanis (Inter-Community Council, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia), Aikaterini Vali (Athenians’ Association of NSW), Eleftherios Saviolakis (Cretan Brotherhood), Panagiotis Tsiggounis (Greek Chapter of RSL Veterans), Efthymios Kallos (SBS Greek), Vasilis Vasilas (Syndesmos/educator), erstwhile Pan-Macedonian president Ioannis Theodoridis, representatives of the Pontian assemblage including Maria Anthony, Panagiotis Papoulidis and Eleni Makri, and choreographers Dimitrios and Stavroula Papapetrou of the Aristotelian Academy.

After a bilingual welcome by coordinators Nena Lembousi and Panagiota (Patricia) Georgiou, historiographer Dr Panayiotis Diamantis delivered a 20-minute illustrated code spanning Alexander the Great, Aristotle of Stagira, the Manaki brothers, the Battle of Vevi (1941), humanitarian George Devine Treloar, and the historic-to-modern Via Egnatia. Speaking connected behalf of the Archbishop, Bishop Iakovos congratulated organisers and stressed the value of safeguarding Macedonian traditions and Greek connection among youth.

The “Dimitria” tradition, dating to the Byzantine epoch astir the feast of St Demetrios (26 Oct.), blossomed successful Thessaloniki’s 14th-century “golden century” arsenic a religious-commercial just with performances and nationalist lectures. In caller decades, Pan-Macedonian Associations worldwide person revived the festival each October–November, giving it a distinctly taste absorption that highlights Macedonia’s Greek individuality successful Australia and abroad.

Upcoming ‘Dimitria’ programme (2025)

• Sunday 26 October, 9-11.30am: Doxology for St Demetrios, Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Kogarah.
• Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November, 7-9pm; Saturday 15 November, 3-5pm: Dance workshops with impermanent teacher from Greece. $20 per session; venue advised by the Committee.
• Sunday 23 November, 2-4pm: Open lecture (Greek) connected the past and influences of Greek dances. Venue TBC (likely Pontoxeniteas Hall, Undercliffe/Earlwood). Free entry.

Bookings and info: Pan-Macedonian Association of Sydney & NSW [email protected] – besides via their Facebook page.