A whispered prayer hangs in the air. This is the Greek Orthodox Church of St Andrew Hall. But it wasn’t always this way.
Before it became a beacon of faith for Melbourne’s Greek community St Andrew’s had a different life. It began as an Anglican church dedicated to St Barnabas the Apostle built in 1884-85. Imagine the builders then the first worshipers.
In 1957 the church found a new purpose. The Greek Orthodox faithful adopted it. The Papathomas family from Cyprus played a crucial role in this transition. The building transformed. Renovations reflected the Greek Orthodox liturgical tradition. But the original Anglican features remained. Magnificent stained glass windows an altar piece commemorative plaques and a baptismal font all survived. A master iconographer from Athens Dr Michael Akalestos adorned the walls and ceilings. Biblical scenes and Byzantine-style representations of prophets saints and martyrs grace the interior. The stunning woodcarvings particularly the icon screen or templum between the sanctuary and nave are breathtaking.
Archimandrite Chrysostomos Mavroyannopoulos guided these works. He served as parish priest from 1961. He later became Bishop of Kyanea and finally Metropolitan of Heliopolis. His dedication shaped the church’s liturgical solemnity religious education and pastoral sensitivity.
For decades St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church of St Andrew Hall stood as a central place of worship. It served countless parishioners. The church continues his legacy. His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos retired to Greece in 2020 at the age of 93.
Adjacent to the church stood St Andrew’s Greek School. It operated until 2013. It educated generations of Greek and Greek-Cypriot children. The church and its school stood as symbols of community faith and heritage. It remains a vibrant center for cultural connection and spiritual growth in Melbourne. The Greek Orthodox Church of St Andrew Hall welcomes all who seek a sense of belonging.