Hellenic Culture 

Oakleigh Grammar students are always happy and honoured to attend different events and proudly represent our school community. During Term 2 School Holidays, selected students remained active and engaged in the community through participation in three significant events.

On Saturday 29 June, the Orthodox Church celebrated the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul. Oakleigh Grammar was invited to attend the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St Paul's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Dandenong. Selected students had the privilege to be present at this special service, which was officiated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Basilios Kodseie. At the end of the service, Reverend Father John Mawal welcomed Oakleigh Grammar students to his parish and kindly thanked them. Students received the blessing of the Metropolitan and had a lovely morning tea with him.

At Oakleigh Grammar, we are blessed to be able to celebrate the patron Saints of our School, Sts. Anargiri, Kosmas and Damian, on 1 July, 17 October and 1 November. 

On 1 July, we celebrate Sts. Anargiri of Rome. They lived during the reign of Emperor Carinus (283-284) and were famous doctors who only wanted to be paid by faith in the true God. Students had the opportunity to attend the Great Vespers on 30 June and the Divine Liturgy on 1 July. His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis officiated both services and was joined by the Parish Priest Father Stavros Kakavas and other clergymen. The Byzantine Choir of Oakleigh Grammar was present and chanted beautifully.

On Sunday 7 July, Reverend Nicholas Georgiou, the Church Committee and Mr Theo Theophanous, President of the Cyprus Community and the Executive Committee, organised a Memorial Service and a Commemorative Event to honour the memory of Archbishop Kyprianos of Cyprus, Bishops Chrysanthos of Paphos, Meletios of Kiti, Lavrentios of Kerinia and the civilians who were hanged by the Ottomans on 9 July 1821 in Cyprus. Senior School students had the honour to be part of this special memorial service that took place at the Greek Orthodox Parish “Presentation of Our Lady to the Temple”.

We would like to thank the students who gave up their own time during the school holidays and attended all these special events related to Orthodox faith and Hellenic culture. Congratulations to all students for proudly being the ambassadors of Oakleigh Grammar School.

Natasha Spanos

Hellenic Culture Coordinator