After performing the Service of the Great Hours of Epiphany and the Festive Vespers, the Archbishop presided over the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great and conducted the “Blessing of the Waters” service, culminating in the heartfelt blessing of the faithful with the Holy Cross.

In his short homily, Archbishop Makarios extended paternal blessings to the gathered congregation, delving into the significance of the Holy Twelve Days, spanning from the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ to His Baptism. Emphasizing the dual nature of these events, he remarked, “Both the Birth and the Baptism represent God’s Epiphany in the world.” He added, “In the early Christian days, Christmas and Epiphany were celebrated on the same day, signifying the manifestation of God. At Christmas, Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity, became human to elevate humanity to the divine. At Baptism, the revelation of the Holy Trinity unfolds.”

Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

This marked the beginning of his visit in Victoria on the occasion of the Epiphany feast, held at the Holy Monastery of “Axion Esti.” Esteemed personalities attended the events, including Bishops Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Evmenios of Kerasounta, Archdiocesan Commissioners of Melbourne and Northcote respectively, Consul General of Greece in Melbourne Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Federal MP Maria Vamvakinos, Greek Community President Vasileios Papastergiadis, Nikolaos Archonis (the brother of the Ecumenical Patriarch), along with clergy and believers from the region.

Bishop Evmenios extended a warm welcome to the Archbishop, echoed by Consul General Kakavelakis at the event’s outset. Both emphasized the significant challenges and milestones of 2024, including the centenary celebrations of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, the upcoming visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in October, and the imperative task of charting a prosperous future.

Archbishop Makarios, in his address, focused on the significance of the Archdiocese’s 100th anniversary, specifically highlighting the important role played by late Metropolitan Christoforos of Australia and New Zealand as its first Shepherd. He stressed the Metropolitan’s erudition—he was fluent in English, held postgraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of Oxford, and was the pioneer in translating the Inauguration Service from Greek to English.

Highlighting the collective effort needed, the Archbishop emphasized, “Together, we will write the history of our Archdiocese’s new centenary.” He urged active participation in the forthcoming anniversary events, culminating in the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew from October 4 to October 19, 2024, an occasion set to bless and honor the Orthodox community of Australia.

Concluding his address, Archbishop Makarios encouraged everyone to prioritize deepening their connection with Christ in the new year. He also expressed gratitude and congratulations to Bishops Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Evmenios of Kerasounta for their exemplary ministry in Victoria.

Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

Archbishop Makarios of Australia officially revealed the dates of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit during the cutting of the Vasilopita ceremony at the Church of St. Eustatius in Melbourne on January 4.

The confirmed schedule indicates the Ecumenical Patriarch’s second visit to Australia in nearly three decades, set to take place from October 4 to October 19, 2024. Archbishop Makarios emphasized the solemnity with which the clergy and people of the Holy Archdiocese will welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch.

In outlining the festivities planned throughout the current anniversary year, the Archbishop detailed a diverse program spanning all States and Territories of Australia. He underscored that the celebration of the Holy Archdiocese’s centenary stands as a significant milestone in Australian society. “Our Archdiocese’s century aligns with the history of our state,” he remarked, highlighting the pivotal influence of Greeks on the region’s history through their presence, ‘philotimo’ (sense of honor), hard work, and progress. He emphasized that the Archdiocese’s history intertwines with that of the nation.

Amid acknowledging the ongoing struggles in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East plagued by conflict, the Archbishop urged continued prayers for global peace. Additionally, he stressed the importance of inner peace, the tranquility of the soul, as essential for devout Christians. Concluding his address, he extended a wish and encouragement for the new year: “May we advance united and bound in love, fostering peace, mutual understanding, forgiveness, and placing the Church and Christ at the forefront of our lives.”

The event was attended by Bishops Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Evmenios of Kerasounta, Archiepiscopal Vicars of Melbourne and Northcote respectively, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Nikolaos Archontonis, the Ecumenical Patriarch’s brother, alongside numerous clergy and faithful from Melbourne. Bishop Kyriakos and Consul General Kakavelakis offered brief New Year greetings, welcoming Archbishop Makarios during his three-day pastoral tour in Victoria on the occasion of the Holy Epiphany celebrations.

Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

Following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the Doxology Service was recited for the commencement of the New Year. This was then followed by the cutting of the parish Vasilopita. The person who found the gold coin was the parish Head Chanter, Dr. John Stamatis.

At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea conveyed to all parishioners the blessing and wishes of Archbishop Makarios of Australia for the New Year.

The Archbishop encourages everyone, when going through trials, not to give up and remain stagnant but to strive to rise and start a new life. “Start a new page. Keep bringing people into your life. Keep opening up. Keep giving!” he encourages, among other things.

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Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou

Archbishop Makarios of Australia blessed and cut the traditional Vasilopita, in the presence of Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevastia, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, clergy of the Holy Archdiocese, members of the Archbishopric Council, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, and many others from the community.

At the beginning of the ceremony, following the Archbishop’s prompt, Metropolitan Seraphim and Consul General Mallikourtis addressed brief greetings, extending their wishes for the New Year and sharing messages regarding the challenges accompanying it.

Subsequently, Archbishop Makarios, executing and describing step by step the customary tradition of cutting the Vasilopita, delved deeper into the portions dedicated to the Church and the poor. “When we mention the Church, we do not only mean the spiritual bond,” he emphasized during the cutting of the fourth piece of the Vasilopita and explained: “In Orthodox Canon Law, there is no Orthodox Church without an administrative body. Therefore, if you hear people talking about a Church that doesn’t have a Patriarch, doesn’t have an Archbishop, doesn’t have Bishops, doesn’t have priests, doesn’t have this entire administrative structure that the Fathers of our Church have established through divine inspiration and synodically, then that is a different Church and a different Orthodoxy. But when we refer to the Orthodox Church, we start with our Patriarch, who is the most sacred and venerable figure and the first among the priesthood of the Orthodox. By saying Church, we bring to mind our Ecumenical Patriarchate… And certainly, within the Church, we also include our Holy Archdiocese, which is the divinely established organization that unites us all here in Australia, blesses us and sanctifies us.”

Cutting the piece for the poor, the Archbishop clarified that although this particular term commonly refers to our fellow human beings lacking money and material goods, it also encompasses a spiritual dimension. He focused on the phenomenon of loneliness, noting among other things: “A person is poor when they live alone, without companionship. A person is poor when they seek a smile. A person is poor when they want to express something but has no one to listen to them.’ The Archbishop pointed out that there are many forms of poverty, material and spiritual, and concluded with paternal urging: ‘We should never close our hearts to those in need”.

Following this, the distribution of the pieces of the Vasilopita took place, and Nikolaos Psychogios found the hidden coin. Archbishop Makarios wished everyone a blessed and peaceful new year in 2024, praying that it may bring them the abundant blessings of the all-good God.

Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou

The Ambassador’s visit to the Church of God the Wisdom was part of his five-day visit to Adelaide, which also included visits to five parishes of the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide. He also had the opportunity to appreciate the breadth of Greek cultural influence in the “City of Churches”.

The festive gathering unfolded at the enchanting premises of the Church of St. Nektarios, in the suburb of Dianella in Perth.

A lively crowd of over 400 attendees, including numerous young families, convened at the outdoor event, themed “Under the Stars.”

Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea, the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Perth, commenced the event by blessing the food, extending warm wishes for a prosperous 2024 on behalf of Archbishop Makarios of Australia.

At the onset of the evening, the Bishop warmly addressed the gathering, emphasizing, “I welcome you all today to the Holy Archdiocese, which is your home.”

As the clock struck midnight, heralding the arrival of 2024, the church bells chimed, prompting a joyous exchange of New Year’s greetings among the attendees.

Throughout the night, the doors of the Church of Saint Nektarios remained open, inviting individuals to step inside and light candles, fostering moments of reflection and hope.

Continuing with tradition, the Vasilopita cutting ceremony followed the turn of the year, with Kyriaki Dimitriou emerging as the fortunate recipient of this year’s $100 gold coin from the Perth Mint.

At the Great Vespers, on the eve of the feast, Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Northcote, officiated, and conveyed to the congregation the festive wishes of Archbishop Makarios of Australia. The holy sermon was preached by Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis, of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, who is currently in Australia, and who is from Sierra Leone where he ministers.

At the conclusion of the Vespers, Bishop Evmenios, offered heartfelt wishes to Father Vasilios Kourtesis for his name day, who has served the Holy Archdiocese of Australia for fifty years.

On the day of the feast, Bishop Evmenios presided over the matins and the festive Divine Liturgy, while during his sermon he referred to the great gift of time that God gives us to come to find ourselves. “This is not a time to waste but to find ourselves and restore our relationship with God,” he emphasized and continued: “Every new year requires change, in order for everyone to survive through it. However, we usually want change, but in others. We more easily demand change from others, rather than from ourselves. But the world, and our society, is not going to change if we personally, each one of us, do not change internally first. Let us find peace within ourselves, so that externally each of us may become the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta cut the traditional Vasilopita of the Parish and made a special reference to 2024 which is an important year for the Archdiocese of Australia, as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of its foundation, and also the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in October, when the anniversary events will culminate.

During his address of admonition, the Archbishop expressed the joy of the local Church and himself personally, for the entry into the priesthood of a person who has a special zeal for the liturgical life of the Church, as well as an infinite love for the Holy Altar, who is called henceforth to minister. In support of this, he pointed out: “I know very well that, living in rural Australia, you would drive many hours every Sunday to come to Newcastle in order to go to the Church of the Holy Apostles, attend the Divine Liturgy, be sanctified, and then return to your family home. Everyone here in the parish, first of all Fr. Nicholas, appreciates your apostolic zeal and praises your love for the Divine Liturgy.”

Afterwards, the Archbishop paternally urged him not to lose this precious gift and spiritual resource that he possesses, that is, the zeal for the Worship of God, but to cultivate it as much as possible and to increase it, “without ever becoming familiar with the sacred and divine, and without the Worship of our Church ever becoming for you a mere habit and a formal duty.” Archbishop Makarios also urged him to truly become a “Evangelos,” as his name indicates, i.e. a preacher of the good news, and to pursue this not only with words from the pulpit, but primarily with his life and example and the good witness of his ministry.

Apart from this, after counting the many gifts and virtues that adorn the personality of the new Deacon, the Archbishop estimated that the blessed family he has created along with his Presbytera and their four children would help him to accomplish the difficult task he undertook.

Concluding, the Archbishop recalled the words of the Apostle Paul of the Gentiles: “be sober-minded in all things” (2 Tim. 4:5) and the command “prepare the way of the Lord,” which was heard in the gospel reading of the day. Therefore, he urged the new Deacon, on the one hand, to be constantly spiritually alert and to keep the eyes and ears of his intellect open to what God commanded, and, on the other hand, to be fully aware that he was becoming a clergyman not to work for himself but with the mission of preparing the way which the Lord would walk in order to come and be born in the heart of every believer.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios of Australia also tonsured two Readers, those being Ioannis Willmot and Aaron Donato, whom he properly advised for the ministry they are undertaking, while he wished all the faithful and the Parish Priest, Father Nicholas Scordilis, that the new year 2024 would be blessed and fruitful for the Parish – Community of the Holy Apostles and for their families.