COMMUNITY NEWS

🔔COMMUNITY NEWS - ANNOUNCEMENTS🎄

Here we are together again, in the middle ofThe Twelve Days of Christmas, to all very Good Wishes for Health and Joy.

In the Church, the preparation for the Big Feast started on Sunday 22 December, where the meaningful Encyclical of H. E.Archbishop of Thyateira & Great Britain was read during the Service to the Congregation.

The Christmas Service was celebrated on the Eve, in a manner that filled our hearts and souls, the ringing of the bell, complimented the words of the beautiful Hymns and the words of Prayers.

A number of people attended not just from the locality but from a distance too, the Church was full and the Christmas message from H. H. The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios was conveyed to the Congregation,

The evening ended very late, after the singing of Carols, both in Greek and in English and having refreshments.

As we are bidding farewell to the old year, we are ready to welcome the new one and we will start with our usual get together at THE STEKI MAS/OUR PLACE on the first Saturday of the month, 4/1/2025, between 10.30am to 3pm for coffee-tea-dessert etc.

THE FEAST OF THEOPHANY:

The Feast of Theophany, will be celebrated on Sunday 5th of January 2025 (Matins 9.30am). After the Blessing of the water in the Church and the end of H, Liturgy we will proceed to the stream of the river, on our return, we will gather at our Church Hall for the established tradition in our Community The Theophaniada, with a bowl of warm soup (vegetarian option will be available for fasting observers). Everyone is welcome.

Update on the clearing of electoral rolls

In view of the deadline for submitting applications for non-deletion from the electoral rolls on 31.12.2024, we would like to remind you of the following announcement regarding the clearing of electoral rolls, which we kindly ask you to share with Greek citizens, members of the organizations you participate in who may cumulatively meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be born before January 1, 1944

2. Have not submitted tax returns for the tax year 2022 by December 31, 2023 and do not appear as dependents in other tax returns

3. Do not have a valid Greek passport and

4. Do not receive a pension from a Greek institution.

For relevant information and requests, please contact our email address, even after the deadline. More specifically, the text of our announcement is as follows:.

https://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/the-embassy/news/updated-information-on-the-updating-of-electoral-registers.html

By 31 December 2024, the electoral registers (article 29 of Law 5083/2024), in which all Greek citizens are registered, who have the right to vote, will be updated. As a result, certain registered voters will be placed in a category to be removed from the electoral registers if all the conditions below apply:

1. Date of birth before 1st of January 1944

2. The voter has filed no tax declarations for the tax year 2022 up to December 31th,

2023, either individually or as dependent of others

3. The voter is in the possession of a valid Greek passport and

4. Does not receive a pension from a Greek institution.

The interested citizens can enquire until 31st of December 2024 if they fall into the category above through the "Find out where you vote" application form on the website of the Ministry of Interior. https://mpp.ypes.gov.gr/#/

Citizens who fall under the above category will be removed from the electoral registers on the 15th of January 2025. For this reason, those who wish to remain registered at their electoral registry are requested to apply not to be removed by 31 December 2024. Applications can be submitted at the competent municipality, or at the nearest consular authority, with demonstration of passport, ID card or Greek driving licence.

For further information please contact the London Consular Office ( grcon.lon@mfa.gr ). The citizens living in the regions of West and East Midlands, North West and North East England, Yorkshire, Scotland and Northern Ireland can contact the Consulate General in Manchester ( grgencon.mch@mfa.gr ), as well as the Honorary Consular Authorities.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Greetings to all,

We are together again, for an update of the events in our Community.

For starters, a warm "Thank You" to all the volunteers that made the event at the STEKI MAS/OUR PLACE, such a success on Saturday 7 December. Our Community Hall was filled with the aromas, flavours and the festive theme of the Season. The atmosphere at this Fundraising event was lovely and enjoyed by anyone present. The proceeds are for the needs of the Community, Church, School, Ladies Charity Organisation.

Next day, Sunday 8th December saw the culmination of the thirty fifth anniversary of our Community's foundation. On the same day the Ayiographer, El. Foulidis, brought the Icons commissioned by members and friends of our Community, and Chary placed them at their position the next day, to the top part of the Eikonostassi, many thanks (again) Chary

Next Sunday 22nd December our usual every fortnight Service will take place at 9.30am. (Confessions between 1.30-3pm)

CHRISTMAS SERVICE:

Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 December 2024 6pm

Festivity Carols and nimbles will follow at the Class/dining rooms in the side of the Church building, all welcome.

(Confession prior to Ch. Service 4-5.30 pm)

Best Wishes for a Blessed and Happy Christmas.

Notice:

Memorial Services do not take place during the Season of Festivities.