Happy Easter: Orthodox Style :)

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Hello Everyone!

Sorry I haven't been posting for a while...to tell you the truth, not to much has been going on, outside of LOTS of classwork 😊 My classes have picked up and in the past few weeks I've had to give class presentations and turn in a few papers regarding my research proposals for each course. This past weekend, however, we celebrated Easter, so it was a pretty busy but fun weekend. Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated together this weekend, as we follow a calendar separate from the Gregorian calendar that is used in modern day.

I just wanted to share some photos of the event with you, as this was my first holiday outside of Greenville! On Monday, we headed to St. Antony Coptic Monastery in Heathcote (about 2 hours outside Melbourne....out in the COUNTRYside!).

It was a fantastic couple of days and I'm so happy to have met so many new friends around Melbourne!

This coming weekend, I will be helping out at Parliament House with the Rotary sponsored Model United Nations Association citywide competition. So I'll update soon with some more info on the event.

I hope you're all doing well 😊

-Cindy

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Photos

Easter Liturgy
H.G. Bishop Suriel celebrated Easter liturgy with us

Procession
The beginning of a verrry long procession of deacons...probably more that 75 deacons!

H.G. Bishop Suriel
H.G. delivering several greetings to the church from around the world

End of Liturgy!
Rachel and Me after the liturgy was finished :)

Easter Egg Hunt
On Sunday, Father Daniel invited me to have Easter Sunday brunch with his family...so we had an easter egg hunt for the kids!

Friends!
Angie's one of my great friends here

We were tired!
After all the madness of the egg hunt :)

Monastery
On Monday, I went with the church to visit the monastery. We began the day with a liturgy. This is the church

More friends!
I met some really cool friends from a church clear across town...meaning I get to go see them soon!

Bishop Suriel's car
Haha I stole a picture with Bishop Suriel's SWEET car--its a brand new top of the line Holden (looks like a Cadillac!)

Monastery
The monastery grounds...so beautiful

Outside of the church
This is the mosaic on the outside of the church at the monastery

Way home
We saw this really pretty rainbow on the ride home...shortly after that shot, it poured for a good 10 minutes ;) Ah, Melbourne weather