Annual Memorial Service at the Chapel of Saint John the Theologian in Prevelly, WA
On Saturday the 27th of July 2024, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the second annual memorial service was held at the Chapel of St John the Theologian in Prevelly, WA. This historic chapel was built by WWII ANZAC veteran the Late Geoff Edwards, as a token of appreciation to the brave Cretans who helped and protected the allied soldiers during the Battle of Crete against the Nazi German forces. It is located in the Margaret River Region, in the South West of Western Australia, 285 km south of Perth.
This annual memorial service is a new initiative and is organised and hosted by the Committee of the Friends of St John of Prevelly, a newly formed organisation working under the guidance of His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth, with the propose of continuing the work of stewardship over the historic chapel and looking at ways to attract government grants and funding for the maintenance and improvements of the chapel and surrounding grounds.
The new annual event is held with the purposes of honouring the Late Mr Geoff Edwards as well as all the Australian, New Zealand and British soldiers who died during the Battle in Crete and the brave Cretans who also died defending their Homeland.
The event began with a Trisagion service Presided by His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth. His Grace conveyed to the crowd of 60 who had gathered for the occasion, the love and paternal blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
Following on from the Trisagion service, there was a presentation given by Mrs Marilyn Sadleir (nee Edwards), the daughter of the Late Mr Geoff Edwards, about her father’s experiences during the Battle of Crete and then developing the Prevelly site.
After the singing of the national anthems of Greece and Australia, a symbolic wreath laying took place as the ceremonial bagpipes and drums solemnly played outside the Church. Following the conclusion of formalities, a lunch was held in the adjacent hall for all in attendance, which included a fundraising raffle.
His Grace thanked the Committee of the Friends of St John of Prevelly for their efforts in seeking to attract government funding for the site and committed to continuing to support the work of the association.
This year marks the 83rdanniversary of the WWII Battle of Crete. The anniversary highlights the long association between the Greek Orthodox Monastery in Preveli, Crete, and the grateful Australian, New Zealand and British soldiers sheltered by Monks and assisted in their escape from German soldiers.
The Late Mr Geoffrey Edwards was one of those valiant Australian soldiers saved by the Monks and became a pioneer of development at Gnarabup in WA during the 1950’s. He never forgot the courage and kindness of the Monks and showed his gratitude by gifting a parcel of land at Prevelly, Margaret River, to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
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