A Thanksgiving Service was conducted on Sunday the 7th of May at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helene as part of the overall Centenary Celebrations of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia (HCWA).
The Thanksgiving Service which took place after the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and which was officiated by Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea included an Artoklasia Service for the health and wellbeing of all current volunteers of the HCWA. This was then followed by a Memorial Service for all volunteers that served the HCWA in the last 100 years and who now have been laid to rest.
Present at the Thanksgiving Service were the Consul of Greece in Perth, Georgia Karasiotou, President of the HCWA, Paul Afkos, President of the Castellorizian Association of W.A, Jim Manifis, Principal of St Andrew’s Grammar, Craig Monaghan, and the Chairperson of the HCWA Centenary Celebrations Sub Committee, Peter Katsabanis.
Various functions and events have been organized by the HCWA for the centenary celebrations which will run right throughout the year and will conclude in May 2024. Today’s Thanksgiving Service was the first of many more events to follow.
Bishop Elpidios conveyed all the paternal blessings and love of Archbishop Makarios of Australia and wished the HCWA, on behalf of His Eminence, every success for the centenary celebrations.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the HCWA together with the Central Philoptochos of St Tabitha and the Church Committee of Sts Constantine and Helene hosted a delicious morning tea in the lower hall of the HCWA. A celebratory cake was cut by His Grace and the President of the HCWA to mark the commencement of the centenary celebrations: The HCWA was founded in September 1923 and was incorporated one year later 9 September 1924.
