More than 1,000 people attended the Salisbury Panigiri at St Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Parish in Salisbury on Sunday 25 October, the parish said.
The festival, billed as Salisbury’s Premier Greek Festival, marked the feast of St Dimitrios on 26 October. It was also the third year in a row since the parish revived the Salisbury Panigiri in 2024.
Before the festivities, more than 500 people attended Matins and the Divine Liturgy, according to the parish. Afterwards, Band Kosmos played through the afternoon while six dance groups performed under the Salisbury Panigiri marquee.
Parish priest Fr Michael Psaromatis said the day showed a community choosing unity. “This generation of Australian Hellenes is choosing to concentrate on what unites us, rather than what has divided us,” he said.
He also spoke about the parish’s place in the wider area. “We are proud to share our Orthodox Christian Faith and Greek traditions with Salisbury. We also want to be known as neighbours who can be relied upon,” Fr Michael said.
Leaders at the Salisbury Panigiri
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis attended on behalf of Premier Peter Malinauskas. In addition, Minister Michael Brown, Zoe Bettison MP, John Fulbrook MP and Tony Zappia MP attended. So did Aria Bolkus, State Member for Colton.
Deputy Mayor Chad Buchanan represented the City of Salisbury on behalf of Mayor Gillian Aldridge, who is mourning the sudden death of her daughter. He spoke of council grant funding for the parish’s narthex refurbishment and air conditioning.
The South Australian Government also gave the Salisbury Panigiri a $25,000 grant, the parish said.
Fr Michael represented Archbishop Makarios and Bishop Silouan, who were overseas for the 35th anniversary of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s patriarchate.
Meanwhile, dancers from the Pontian Brotherhood of SA, St George College and the GOCSA Dance Academy performed. The Cretan Association of SA, Cyprus Dance Group SA and the Messinian Greek Dance School of SA also took part.
Parish mission work
The parish also used the Salisbury Panigiri to highlight its outreach work. In July, a team of six spent five days in Fiji and visited more than 300 families. They handed out more than 300 aid packs, up from 150 the year before.
Closer to home, the parish supports Pacific workers in South Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
That evening, Fr Stavros Psaromatis led Great Vespers. Fr John Psalios of St Spyridon Church, Unley, gave the homily, quoting St John Chrysostom: “For to honour a martyr is to imitate him.”
On Monday’s feast day, worshippers joined a procession of the icon and a festal lunch after the Divine Liturgy.
Greek City Times has explained why the village festival is a unique Greek summer tradition. At the Salisbury Panigiri, Fr Michael closed with an invitation to the crowd. “Enjoy today, and make room at your table for someone new,” he said.
Source: St Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Parish, Salisbury