With the blessing of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide held its fourth annual Christmas Concert. The event was again hosted at the Sports and Arts Centre of the Greek Orthodox College “St George”, whose people kindly provided the facilities despite ongoing renovation work.
The event included presentations by the Adelaide Archdiocesan District Women’s Choir, the Byzantine Ecclesiastical Choir “St. John of Damascus”, the students of the Adelaide Branch of the Byzantine Music School of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia (including the students of the junior class, called “psaltakia”), the youth of the Holy Monastery of St. Nektarios, the Sunday School of the parish of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene, and the choirs of the two Greek Orthodox colleges “St. George” and “St. Spyridon”. They sang a variety of Christmas songs and hymns, traditional carols from various places in Greece and the unforgotten homelands of Asia Minor, as well as English-language Christmas songs. The carol concert was attended by about 300 spectators, who warmly applauded the efforts of the performers.
During the break, the attendees had the opportunity to enjoy frappe, doughnuts, chips, and calamari, prepared by the tireless ladies of the Central Philoptochos Brotherhood, as well as to buy from a rich exhibition of books and devotional objects, prepared by these noble ladies.
At the end of the evening, Bishop Silouan of Sinope addressed the attendees, conveying the Christmas wishes and blessings of Archbishop Makarios, thanked the participants of the event, the audience, the College, and the Central Philoptochos Brotherhood for the beautiful Christmas concert, and encouraged everyone to allow their hearts so that the incarnation of our Lord takes root and becomes a daily reality in our lives.
Translation: Ioanna Georgakopoulou
