A new Greek Orthodox Christian Church opened its doors in Adelaide’s Athelstone earlier this year.
Following years of efforts to complete the construction, the Orthodox Christian Community of Athelstone can now practice its religion in the brand-new temple, which is one of a few Churches in Australia that features a Byzantine dome.
With a cost reaching approximately $2.5 million, the new Church is characterized as a ”jewel” by the locals, who waited for more than eight years for the project to be completed.
The new church is dedicated to Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene.
The three are venerated as saints and new martyrs by the Orthodox Christian Church.
According to a legend, Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene lived on the island of Lesbos in the 15th century, where they were killed by Ottoman raiders in April of the year 1463.
The new church’s first liturgy took place in January, with hundreds of people attending it.
Greeks have been residing in Adelaide’s Athelstone since the early 1900s, where they established a vibrant Greek community, whose presence gives a unique character in the region.
