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Australia: Five years of growth and achievement for “Saint Kosmas the Aetolian” Greek College

July 6, 2026 · 1 min read

In a brilliant and deeply moving event attended by more than 350 people, the Greek College of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, “St. Cosmas of Aetolia” (Aetolian College of Hellenic Language and Culture), celebrated the fifth anniversary of its founding on Saturday, July 4, at the packed Stars International reception hall in the Melbourne suburb of Preston, within the Holy Diocese of Choria. The anniversary marked the historic merger of the Afternoon and Saturday Greek Schools of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in Victoria. The event was a celebration of Greek education, Orthodox faith, and Greek cultural heritage, highlighting the significant work the College has carried out over the past five years in the Greek-language education of the diaspora community.

The evening’s proceedings were hosted by the College’s Director, Ms. Natasa Spanou, who welcomed the officials and the hundreds of guests in attendance. Archbishop Makarios of Australia was represented by the local Bishop Evmenios of Chora, and Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, while the anniversary event was also honored by the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Ms. Dimitra Georgantzoglou; the head of the…

Source: Orthodox Times · Read the full story →

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გელა გელაშვილი

It is good that the school has grown so much in five years. 350 people gathered in Preston, that's saying something. I have a question - how many children are now studying in this "St. Kosma" college?

Xenia Parker

That's impressive growth in just five years. 350 people turning out in Preston says a lot. Any idea how many kids are actually enrolled there now?

Photini Bennett

That's impressive growth in five years. The merger of the afternoon and Saturday schools must have helped pull everyone together. Any idea how many kids are enrolled at St. Kosmas now?

Ксения Макарова

It's good that the school has grown and combined day and Saturday classes - this has clearly helped. 350 people for a holiday in Preston is respectable. I wonder how many children are currently studying in college itself?

Grace Davis

Yes, 350 at the Preston hall was a solid turnout. From what I heard at the event, they’ve got around 450 students enrolled across the merged schools now. Have you been to one of their open days?

Paul Collins

Yeah, 450 students is impressive after just five years. I went to their open day last autumn – the kids were belting out Greek songs in the hall and the baklava table didn’t last five minutes. Did you catch any of the performances that night?

Тимофей Новиков

I'm happy for them, five years - and already 450 students after the merger of day and Saturday schools. 350 people for a holiday in Preston is serious. But I wonder how many of these children regularly go to church?

Jakub Svoboda

It's nice that after the merger of the afternoon and Saturday schools they now have 450 children. You wouldn't even find so many Greek families here in Liberec. I wonder how many of those children regularly go to liturgy, as Тимофей asked.

Sarah Johnson

Yes, I was at that open day too — my daughter dragged me over to the Greek dancing demo and came home humming those songs for a week. 450 students already sounds like they’re really filling a need in the community. Did you try the koulourakia before they ran out?

Grace Clark

Yeah, 350 people packed in there felt like half the Greek community turned up. I haven't made it to an open day yet but the baklava disappearing in five minutes sounds about right. Did they have any of those little koulourakia left by the end?

Larisa Tudor

Good thing they reached 450 children after the union. Here in Sibiu, we don't have so many young people at the Greek school anymore, but I remember how the cakes were emptied at celebrations. How many of them go to church regularly, as Timofey wondered?

Juliana Wilson

That's a solid turnout — 350 people in the Preston hall and now 450 kids after the merger. My granddaughter went to Greek school here for a couple years and the baklava never lasted either. Wonder how many of those families make it to liturgy on Sundays.

Margaret Collins

Yeah, those dancing demos always hook the kids — my niece did the same thing last year and wouldn't stop practicing in the living room. The koulourakia were gone in minutes at our table too; I only managed one before they disappeared. Did your daughter end up signing up for any classes?

Matthew Adams

Yeah, my youngest kept humming that same tune in the truck for days after the open day. The koulourakia went fast at our end too — I grabbed the last one on the plate and felt a bit guilty about it. Did your daughter end up trying any of the language classes?

Radu Gheorghiu

You're right, Larisa, 450 children is a figure that can clearly be seen to have mattered after the union. The same here in Sibiu, at the celebrations at the Greek school, the cakes disappeared in five minutes, but at the services, fewer came. Do you think it would help if they linked language classes more with participation in vespers or the Holy Liturgy?

Ирина Голубева

Yes, the combination of daytime and Saturday classes has clearly been beneficial; now the children communicate more with each other. In the college itself, I think there are about 180 students on a permanent basis. Do you, Ksenia, take your grandchildren there or just follow the news?

Bogdan Nistor

Yes, Radu, linking the Greek language to Vespers or Liturgy could help a lot, but I think it would work better if it was done gently, not as an obligation. Here in Chisinau, at the Sunday catechesis after the service, the children stay easier if they also have a concrete activity, like a corner with icons to color or a story about St. Cosmas. What do you think, have you tried something similar in Sibiu?

Katherine Johnson

Yeah, those koulourakia disappeared in minutes at our table too — I only got one before they were gone. My daughter did try a couple of the language taster classes and actually stuck with the beginner one. How old is your youngest now?

Alexandra Marin

Yes, Bogdan, gentleness is the key, otherwise the children run away. Here in Constanța, after vespers, we put a basket with crayons and coloring pages with St. Cosmas the Aetolian and there were a few more left. Have you also tried in Chisinau to connect the story with a small snack afterwards?