We celebrated our annual traditional Greek Orthodox Christmas Karavaki on Saturday 7 December 2024- so please join us through  these words and pictures! 

It was a night of fun, feasting, festivities, friends and family and of course, Faith. 

Every year we gather at the residence of our Archbishop Sergios, who hosts the Karavaki, at The Metropolis of Good Hope in Rondebosch, to rekindle that spark of Greek Christmas light – literally- that signifies we are about to celebrate the glorious birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

It’s really all about the kiddies – the Nativity play, the Bible readings, singing the traditional and well-loved Christmas hymns and Greek “ Kalanda” and the English Yuletide carols, and most of all, lighting up our “Karavaki” or little boat. 

It’s chaotic and frenetic, heart-warming and emotional, fabulously real and down-to-earth with the emphasis on letting our little ones enjoy being a part of the First Christmas Story. It’s the magic of Christmas and creates treasured memories they will carry into their adult lives and hopefully pass on to their kids. 

Why do we have a boat? Long story short – read all about it in the last photo. You’ll love it and living in Cape Town, it’s even more appropriate. 

To start off the evening the children had made beautiful little ceramic candle holders for their procession from the little Church of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Helen which stands in the grounds of the Metropolis to light their way as they carried the Nativity Icon to be placed by on the Karavaki. 

This year we decided to do something different… Instead of the real boat we have every year we went all arty and used just the mast with a wooden hull and waves  painted by Bojana to depict the Karavaki. 

We had such a night to remember – it was a full house with standing room only! 

We had  all the elements that make marvellous memories for everyone from the goggle-eyed babies who were enchanted, to the cute  kiddies who interpreted the Nativity story in their own inimitable way, to the adoring yia yias and pappous who only had eyes for their grandkids and the rest of us who were swept  away by the sheer sweetness of it all. 

Huge big thanks to everyone who helped to make our Karavaki so special:

To our clergy- His Eminence Archbishop Sergios who brought  the cutest little gifts from Cyprus to give to the little ones, Archimandrite Doukas and our parish priest Pater Nikolaos for giving the kids the best background to the true meaning of Christmas. 

To Elektra de Melo who wrote, organised and produced the heart-warming and charming Nativity play, coaxing even the shyest little ones to manage a few words, even if it was just a little hee-haw from the donkey! 

To Artemis Michaletos and her group of cool teenagers who did our Bible readings about the life of Agios Vassili (Saint Basil), who is an integral part of our Christmas traditions, Callia and Giorgio Ratheb, Isidora Michaletos  and Alexi Georgallis. 

To  Meletios and Dimitri who delighted us with a gentle Christmas hymn sung in French. 

To Nina Dimitriu and her friend Simone who captivated us with their Romanian Christmas hymns. 

To the Metropolis Welfare Committee and other helping hands who brought extra snacks and helped to set up the tables. And Helen and her terrific team from The Greek Kitchen for the platters of yumminess.

To Gerry Lancellas for rigging up the  lights in the trees and the Karavaki sail, getting it all illuminated for another Christmas.

To Trust and Dimitri who helped us get everything sorted and put in place, including on top of that long long ladder! 

So as another December draws  toward the birthday of Christ, I wish you and yours and everyone out there blessings and peace in abundance. XXX

And yes, there are enough photos to crack the iCloud but why not? ‘Tis the season to be generous! Enjoy!

(Text and photos: Pepe Sofianos )