On Sunday, September 27, Father John Sullivan became the first Western Australian convert to be ordained priest at St. Nicholas Church in Bunbury. Bunbury is a seaside town located about 175 km south of Perth.
The event was celebrated at Orthros and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, officiated by Bishop Elpidios of Kyanes.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Bishop of Kyanes, on behalf of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, officially introduced Father Ioannis to the parishioners of Saint Nikolaos as their new priest.
As reported by vema.com.au, the Bishop of Kyanes assured Father John that the Holy Archdiocese and the clergy of Perth were always by his side to support both him and his wife, Presbytera Anna, as they sought to continue God’s work in the parish and extend it to the broader society.
The Bishop recognized the offer of the Protopresbyter Father Sotirios Vlachopoulos, who has served the Greek Orthodox Community in Bunbury for more than 20 years, continuing the pastoral work of his father, Father Athanasios Vlachopoulos, who was priest of Saint Nikolaos Parish, and thanked him for serving the church with love and humility.
He also thanked Father Evangelos Batalis, who has been traveling from Perth to Bunbury to help with the Sunday Divine Liturgies for the last 18 months.
President Aristos Papandroulakis thanked the Archbishop for appointing a worthy and active priest to Bunbury Community to serve and expand the parish.
Bishop Elpidios wished the new parish priest, Father John Sullivan, and his wife, Anna, every blessing from God, as they now begin their mission to bring Orthodoxy to all those who vehemently seek the truth.
