This Church was completed in 2019, and it was a great pleasure seeing it being built. There are some 40,000 people of Greek ancestry living in Adelaide, and a number of Greek Orthodox Churches, but this is the only church in the Eastern suburbs of Adelaide. INDEX
2. WHITE TOWERS
We walk North up Stradbroke Road to appreciate the West face of the Church with its covered porch and twin square towers.
3. ACROSS THE ROUNDABOUT
Bells are a distinctive part of Orthodox Christian divine services. Bells are used for a number of purposes throughout the liturgical cycle, such as a summons for the faithful to divine services and as an announcement to those not present in church of specific moments in the services. This Church appears to have a single bell at the top of each tower. We also notice that there is access to the roof from the Southern tower.
4. NORTHWEST VIEW
This is a grand Church! It would look even better on a larger block of land, but the present site on this busy corner ensures that it has a prominent public presence.
5. DOME AND FLAGS
Three flags are prominently displayed at the front of the Church. The outer flags are the Greek flag at left, and the Australian flag at right. The central flag carries the emblem of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Mount Athos, and also the Greek Orthodox Churches in the diaspora under the Patriarchate. It depicts a black double-headed eagle on a yellow background. The eagle is clutching a sword and an orb with a crown above and between its two heads.
6. NORTH WALL
Greek Orthodox Churches are characterised by a large central dome which adds real character to the building. There are many and varied theories as to why the dome is used, but later we shall see that the interior of the dome is used as a canvas for the spherical heavenly firmament, and very effectively too.
7. NORTHEAST VIEW
The Church has a rectangular shape with a semicircular apse at the East end. It is said there is an allusion here to the Church being the Ark of Salvation – as in the case of Noah’s ark. There are spaces for car parking along this side, and we notice a sloping ramp at the far end, leading to the West entry. We notice too the common unifying geometrical shape linking the dome, the windows, the side doors and the Eastern apse(s).
8. NORTHERN DOOR AND TOWER
There is an exit door from the front nave on either side of the Church. Each of the Western towers is a simple, functional structure.
9. EASTERN APSE
The apse is a recessed extension which is usually semicircular in plan form, as seen here, but is also found in polygonal and rectangular forms. Apse comes from the Latin ‘absis’ meaning arch or vault. We might say that this Church has three apses!
10. SOUTH WALL
The South wall of the Church is its least pleasing aspect, with a narrow paved area separating the wall from other Church buildings to the South.
11. DOMES AND TOWER
Before entering the Church we walk a little way East up Gorge Road to gain this more distant view. The Church is a very appealing structure. Interestingly, all the many windows are of clear glass.
12. FRONT STEPS
Time now for us to go inside! There are steps, but, as we have seen, also a short ramp at the side.
13. SOUTH NARTHEX
Coming through the West door we enter into a public space which opens out into the nave. A door at the South end opens to an office / sacristy, and at the North end are steps up to the balcony above. It is hard not to be impressed by the beauty and decoration of the furnishings – a delight of colour and detail.
14. SOUTHWEST NARTHEX
At the South end of the narthex there stands a large ornate dresser given to the storage and display of candles. When entering a Greek Orthodox Church, the first thing people do is take a candle and then light it in the designated spot. After the candle is lit, the next step is to make the sign of the cross in front of an icon and then kiss it before entering the church.
15. NARTHEX CORNER
Next to the candle cabinet is a lectern with a rich velvet drape embellished with a fancy gold cross and fruit bearing grape vines. At the top is a depiction of Saint Paisios of Mount Athos (1924–1994), a well-known Greek Eastern Orthodox ascetic, originally from Pharasa, Cappadocia. He was respected for his spiritual guidance and ascetic life and many people worldwide highly venerate Elder Paisios, especially in Greece and in Russia. Next to this is an elaborate icon stand with an icon of the three Patron Saints of this Church: Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene.
16. EAST NARTHEX
Two further icon stands can be found on the other side of the entry to the nave, along with an attractive table display with a welcome to join the Sunday School. The left icon shows St Leukios (mid fourth century) who was raisede in the monastery of St Hermias and eventually became abbot there. He worked miracles, cast out demons and converted many pagans to Christianity. • At right is St Phanourios who is recognized as a saint by the Greek Orthodox Church. Saint Phanourios was awarded the Martyr's Crown in the Orthodox Christian faith. He is also well known for finding people’s lost belongings after fervent supplications.
17. NORTHEAST NARTHEX
Following around the narthex wall we come to a further table display including a couple of relic boxes, and then another icon before arriving at steps up to the balcony. I am amazed at the colour and richness of all that is before me.
18. NARTHEX CORNER
By the steps is an icon of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene who suffered martyrdom by the Turks on the island of Lesbos on April 9, 1463, after the fall of Constantinople. Raphael was the Abbot of Karyes near the village of Thermi on the island. Nicholas was a deacon at the monastery, and Irene was the 12-year-old daughter of the mayor of Thermi. The three saints were at the monastery with the village teacher and St Irene’s father when the Turks raided it. These saints were unknown for about 500 years after their martyrdoms during the Turkish occupation of Lesbos. In 1959 the three saints appeared to the people on Lesvos in dreams and visions. They guided excavations of their own graves, called people to repentance, and cured many kinds of diseases. The saints revealed how they were cruelly tortured at the monastery. St Raphael’s torture ended when his head was sawn off. St Nicholas died of heart failure when he was being tortured and Irene was tortured in front of her father and burnt alive in a clay cask, where her charred bones were later found.
20. BALCONY SEATING
The balcony has seating for fifty worshippers. Traditional Eastern Orthodox churches have no seating at all, but many Western Orthodox churches have pews or seats, following the pattern of Catholic and Protestant churches.