‘Christos Anesti!’ Candlelight, Community and Greek Easter in Monash
A week of faith, food and family.
Orthodox Easter has become one of the most defining cultural moments in the City of Monash, drawing thousands of families, visitors and community groups into a week‑long sequence of rituals, gatherings and public celebrations. Oakleigh remains the most visible centre of Greek life, but the festivities ripple well beyond Eaton Mall—into churches, community halls, local businesses and family homes across the municipality.
What stands out is how firmly intergenerational the celebration remains. Even as younger Greek Australians grow up more culturally mixed and linguistically diverse, Easter continues to pull them back. It is one of the few moments in the year when the threads of faith, family and heritage are woven tightly together.
Courtesy of Greek Orthodox Parish & Community of St Anargiri Oakleigh
A Week of Tradition Across Monash
The Orthodox Holy Week is observed according to the Julian calendar, placing it a week later than Western Easter.
Holy Week began quietly on Palm Sunday, April 28th, with services at Greek Orthodox churches in Oakleigh, Clayton, and surrounding suburbs. By Good Friday, the streets around Sts Anargiri in Oakleigh and St Catherine’s in East Malvern filled with parishioners following the Epitaphios procession, a solemn walk that winds through local streets accompanied by hymns and candlelight. For Orthodox Christians, the ritual symbolises Christ’s burial and the community’s collective mourning, marking one of the most significant moments of the week.
An Epitaphios, Courtesy of Greek Orthodox Parish & Community of St Anargiri Oakleigh
These processions have become a familiar sight in Monash drawing not only Greek Australians but neighbours who line the footpaths to watch.
The midnight Anastasi service on Holy Saturday is the emotional peak of the week. Thousands gather at Sts Anargiri, spilling into the surrounding streets as the priest proclaims Christos Anesti — “Christ is Risen” — and the flame of the Resurrection is passed from candle to candle.
Although the service is centred in Oakleigh, many families travel from other parts of Monash—Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Clayton, Chadstone—to take part. For second‑ and third‑generation Greek Australians, it’s a moment that connects them to their heritage.
Easter Sunday
The climax of the week is Easter Sunday. The scent of lamb on the spit drifts from backyards in Oakleigh South, Hughesdale, and Clayton. Families gather for long lunches, cracking red eggs and sharing tsoureki (a sweet, aromatic bread). Local bakeries and cafés prepare for weeks, producing koulourakia, flaounes, and traditional Easter breads.
Eaton Mall becomes a magnet for the broader Melbourne community. Even those without Greek heritage come to experience the atmosphere—live music, packed restaurants, and the unmistakable sense of celebration that spills into the street.
What makes Greek Easter in Monash distinctive is its openness. While deeply rooted in Orthodox tradition, the celebrations have evolved into a shared civic moment, reflecting the area’s diversity and the way migrant communities have shaped Melbourne’s cultural landscape.