With the blessing of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Central Youth Association “Saint Stephen” of the Holy Diocese of Adelaide celebrated its patron saint on Friday, December 27, 2024, at the Archdiocesan Church of Hagia Sophia.
As in previous years, the Vespers of Saint Stephen were celebrated in both English and Greek, officiated by several priests of the Diocese.
The Vespers service was conducted on the feast day, accommodating the family obligations of the faithful during the festive season.
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Silouan of Adelaide addressed the large congregation, highlighting the compassionate leniency with which God approaches “the sins of our youth.” He also emphasized the significance of repentance, confession, and the firm resolve to abandon these sins in order to embrace the spiritual path that leads to God.
Following the service, attendees gathered in the parish hall and courtyard, where the favorable weather permitted the addition of extra tables and chairs to accommodate everyone. Despite the larger-than-anticipated turnout, there was enough food to accommodate all attendees.
After lunch, many young attendees headed to a nearby park to enjoy basketball and football, making the most of the favorable weather and remaining daylight.
The evening was exceptionally enjoyable, marking one of the most successful events in the history of the Central Youth of South Australia, with one of the largest turnouts to date. Most encouraging of all was the fact that the young people participated not only for the food and games but, above all, to take part in worship and experience their Orthodox faith through communal prayer. May the prayers of St. Stephen, the Protomartyr and Archdeacon, always guide and strengthen them in their faith.
