Easter and new year converge in Sydney's melting pot

Easter in the Greek Orthodox church in Redfern ... members of the congregation with Archbishop Stylianos, who handed out Easter eggs. Photo: Tamara Dean

Festivities spilled outside the traditional church services to the streets yesterday as major denominations took advantage of the warm weather to celebrate Easter Sunday.

At Ulladulla, on the South Coast, the local Catholic Church participated in the traditional blessing of the fleet, while hundreds of Christians marched as part of a national celebration down the streets of Sydney to celebrate Easter and Federation.

In Redfern, Archbishop Stylianos handed out Easter eggs to congregation members at the Greek Orthodox service at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady. At the Opera House, the Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, the Right Rev Rob Forsythe, delivered an Easter message to the crowd.

Across the city, charities provided a free meal for hundreds of homeless and needy people.

While Christians remembered the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Sydney's Tamil, Thai, Lao and Cambodian communities celebrated the start of their new year at Buddhist and Hindu temples.

People of Cambodian background have been celebrating Lao new year for the past three days at Wat Khemarangsaram, in Bonnyrigg, culminating in celebrations yesterday at Wat Pa Buddharangsee in Lumeah, Campbelltown and Edensor Park.