Thank You!

Mr. Symeon Stavrakas, Chairman of OPA! at the Cathedral

Beloved Members of our Parish Council

Beloved Members of the OPA! at the Cathedral Committee

Beloved Members of our Ladies Philoptochos Society

Beloved Sponsors, Donors, Volunteers and Supporters

 

Dear Mr. Symeon Stavrakas and Beloved Friends,

 

With immense gratitude, pride and affection, I thank each of you for making this year’s OPA! at the Cathedral such a joyful celebration of faith, heritage and, above all, togetherness.

 

First and foremost, I thank Mr. Symeon Stavrakas, Chairman of OPA! at the Cathedral, whose leadership, energy and determination guided this great undertaking. Symeon, you carried an enormous responsibility with patience, good humour and generosity of spirit. I am profoundly grateful to you.

 

To our Parish Council, Festival Committee, donors, volunteers and supporters, thank you for the countless hours of organisation, preparation, decoration and service. To our beloved Ladies Philoptochos Society, particular thanks for your tireless baking and hospitality. You brought to our Festival not simply wonderful tastes, but the warmth of home and tradition.

 

The remarkable response to our Cathedral tours was another source of great joy. We welcomed our neighbours not only to our tables, music and dancing, but through the doors of our sacred home, sharing with them its history, beauty and living faith.

 

And what an inheritance we have to share!

 

For 134 years, our historic Cathedral has stood in this city. Generations have prayed within its walls and laboured in its shadow. This year, it was our turn. What an honour. What a privilege. What a blessing to be an active part of its continuing story. Together, beneath the shadow of this venerable church, we worked. Together, we welcomed. Together, we served. Together, we danced!

 

And then came the rain…

 

Yet even the rain could not diminish our joy. We laughed in it. We celebrated in it. We danced in it. What might have discouraged us, instead revealed something beautiful: our joy did not depend upon perfect circumstances. Our joy came from being together.  Perhaps, there is a lesson in that for all of us. Life will bring clouds, storms and, sometimes, downpours. But we proved something together this past weekend: we need never stand in the rain alone. We have a community beside us, people to take us by the hand and, when necessary, to dance through the storm with us, OPA!

 

May that same spirit of generosity, enthusiasm and togetherness continue to animate the life of our Cathedral. For 134 years, others have carried this sacred inheritance forward. Today, that privilege is all ours.

 

May we cherish it. May we strengthen it. May we leave it stronger than we found it. And whatever the weather, may we always stand together.

 

With my deepest gratitude, admiration and love: OPA!

 

⸭Archimandrite Nephon Tsimalis

Dean