Sydney weather holds out to deliver successful Blessings of the Waters event

6 days ago 9

Sydney’s Hellenic assemblage turned retired successful the thousands to observe the Epiphany Greek Festival with Archbishop Makarios arriving connected a vessel for the yearly work of the Blessings of the Waters.

The all-day lawsuit took spot today (12 January) astatine Carss Bush Park with Sydney’s rainfall staying distant agelong capable for the Festival’s proceedings to tally smoothly.

The work commenced astatine astir 1pm with Archbishop Makarios arriving connected a vessel from where helium threw the Cross into the water for the keen swimmers to try to prime up.

The idiosyncratic who recovered the Cross was 15-year-old Dennis (Διονύσης) Petri from Liverpool.

Following this, the authoritative programme began with galore officials successful attendance that besides delivered speeches.

Archbishop Makarios expressed his gratitude for everyone’s attendance for the event, noting that “the Feast of Theophany is simply a telephone to idiosyncratic renewal”.

Ioannis Mallikourtis, the Consul General of Greece successful Sydney, stressed the value of the lawsuit arsenic a objection of some however tolerant Australian society is and however Greek Australians person managed to clasp onto their culture.

“(The event) shows that Greek Australians are a success story due to the fact that they managed to integrate but astatine the aforesaid clip support their values, culture, religion and traditions,” Mallikourtis said.

“This is so awesome for someone who comes from mainland Greece.”

He thanked the Australian State and Federal authorities for their support of the Festival.

Both Steve Kamper, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Small Business, Lands and Property, and for Sport representing the Premier Chris Minns, and Sam Stratikopoulos, Councillor for Georges River Council representing the Mayor, expressed their pleasance successful assisting the event.

Kamper explained successful his speech that helium and the Premier made the determination this year to lend $50,000 to the Festival, with Stratikopoulos adding that Georges River Council (of which Carss Bush Park is portion of) provided astir $20,000 arsenic an authoritative sponsor for the event.

Nikolaos Varelas, the Deputy High Commissioner of Cyprus successful Australia, besides conveyed his pleasance to witness the lawsuit and reiterated 1 of Mallikourtis’ different points successful his speech successful urging the younger generations to proceed speaking Greek.

“You person to beryllium arrogant and amusement it by our language, our culture, our civilisation and our religion,” Varelas said.

Among the officials was besides Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations and for Work Health and Safety, with the lawsuit not featuring immoderate Federal practice arsenic well arsenic nary Liberal representation.

The Festival besides featured respective dancing groups passim the day, galore stalls selling nutrient and various items, and plentifulness of music, with the amusement including a show by Vasilis Metaxas scheduled successful the evening.

The lawsuit was emceed by Stan Kondilios.