Six decades of St George Greek Orthodox community in SA

2025 has been an important year for the Greek Orthodox assemblage successful South Australia with the 65-year day of the St George Orthodox Church.

Hundreds of distinguished guests, members of the clergy, parishioners, and assemblage members gathered to observe the Legacy of Faith, 65-year Gala Dinner astatine the Adelaide Convention Centre past week.

The nighttime was MC’d by Greek Australian writer George Donikian and South Australian nutrient identity, George Diakomichalis. Both acceptable the tone for a magical evening of memory, endurance and a long-standing committedness to multiculturalism, religion and heritage.

The Hon Minister Tom Koutsantonis MP described Saint George Orthodox Church arsenic “a spiritual location that has stood arsenic a beacon of faith, culture, and assemblage successful South Australia for much than six decades”.

“Saint George’s is not conscionable a religion building, it is the surviving bosom of a community.

“For 65 years, it has been a sanctuary where generations of faithful person gathered successful prayer, where baptisms, weddings, and commemorations person marked life’s milestones, and where the Orthodox religion has been handed down with reverence and love.

“Through times of situation and change, Saint George has stood firm, reminding us of the unbroken continuity of the Orthodox tradition and its cardinal spot successful the lives of Greek Australians successful this state.”

Hundreds gathered astatine the Adelaide Convention Centre for the 65-year day gala of St George Greek Orthodox Church.

Minister Koutsantonis reiterated South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas’ designation of the immense publication the Greek assemblage has made to South Australia and the value of maintaining this bequest into the future.

On the night, Minister Koutsantonis announced that the Malinauskas Labor Government will supply a $2 cardinal assistance to the Hellenic Foundation to support the ongoing teaching of Greek connection and civilization successful South Australia.

“Saint George has agelong been a spot where children larn not lone the Orthodox faith, but besides the Greek connection and taste practice that binds us to our ancestors. In its classrooms and assemblage halls, thousands of young radical person discovered the richness of their identity, and successful turn, person grown into citizens who enrich South Australian society.

“Language is much than words, it is memory, it is faith, it is culture. Preserving Greek connection successful South Australia is astir ensuring that our children and grandchildren tin proceed to work the Scriptures successful their parent tongue, tin sing the hymns of their church, and tin transportation guardant the wisdom of their ancestors,” said Minister Koutsantonis.

At the bosom of the night’s solemnisation was the unthinkable publication made by the Very Reverend Father Diogenis Patsouris whose son Harry addressed the assemblage by rightly noting:

“Tonight, we stitchery not simply to people 65 years of the Saint George community, but to honour a singular story: a story of religion carried crossed oceans; built with courageousness successful a caller land; and sustained by unity crossed generations”.

Minister Tom Koustantonis – whose electorate of West Torrens represents the iconic religion and bilingual assemblage – said connected the nighttime it was intolerable to speak of Saint Geoerge without acknowledging the bonzer enactment of Father Diogenis Patsouris.

“For decades, Father Patsouris has been much than a priest, helium has been a teacher, a guide, and a steadfast source of strength. He has not lone ministered to the faithful with wisdom and compassion, but helium has besides built bridges beyond the religion walls, into schools, assemblage groups, and government, ensuring that Orthodoxy and Hellenism are respected and recognised arsenic indispensable parts of South Australia’s κοινωνικά fabric.”

Hundreds gathered astatine the Adelaide Convention Centre for the 65-year day gala of St George Greek Orthodox Church. Photos: Supplied

In doing so, helium besides recognised the continuing work of Father Kostandinos, who represents the caller procreation of clergy, committed to the preservation of faith, tradition, and education, while besides speaking to the realities of today’s world.

“His vigor and devotion are ensuring that Saint George remains not lone a nexus to our past, but besides a vibrant spot of worship and learning for the future.”

Also successful attendance was Aria Bolkus, Labor’s campaigner for the spot of Colton who had the honour of unveiling commemorative plates recognising the outstanding work of Father Patsouris and the important publication of the St George Greek Orthodox assemblage implicit the past 65 years.

“The day solemnisation was a fitting tribute to a bequest of faith, culture, and assemblage service,” said Bolkus.

“It is besides a solemnisation of the archetypal migrants who built this parish, who created the school, parishioners, priests, students, volunteers, teachers and parents – everyone who has contributed to this bequest is to beryllium thanked and rewarded for strengthening multiculturalism successful our state.”

In closing, Minister Koutsantonis said to the crowd:

“Let us look guardant with confidence, knowing that with continued faith, with committedness to education, and with support from authorities and assemblage alike, Saint George will stand arsenic a lighthouse of Orthodoxy and Hellenism for different 65 years and beyond.”