Archbishop Makarios of Australia with a view to the progress and promotion of the work of the Church and especially to the better settlement of the Orthodox Christians in the Archdiocesan Districts of Melbourne and Northcote, and taking into consideration:
a. the recommendations of Bishops Kyriakos of Sozopol and Evmenios of Kerasounta,
b. the occasional requests of some Ecclesiastical Councils,
c. the requests of some clergymen to be transferred,
d. the need to abolish established situations that had become entrenched in certain parishes,
e. the interest of parishes and communities, and
f. the salvation of the people and the re-evangelization of the faithful,
made the following appointments:
- Holy Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Gippsland: Archimandrite Kosmas Damianides is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- Holy Church of St. Basil, Brunswick: Archimandrite Ephraim Kourtoglou is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- Holy Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Geelong: Presbyter Ioannis Adam is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- Holy Church of Panagia Soumela, East Keilor: Presbyter Iordanis Krikelis is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- St. Dimitrios Church, Ascot Vale: Presbyter Ioannis Fragkos is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- Church of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, Bentleigh: Presbyter Christos Demolianis is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- Holy Church of the Taxiarches, Mentone: Presbyter Panagiotis Zoumpoulis is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- St. Catherine’s Church, East Malvern: Presbyter George Adamakis is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- Church of Sts Anargyroi, Oakleigh: Presbyter Stavros Kakavas is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- St. John’s Church, North Carlton: Presbyter Emmanuel Lykopantis is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
- St. Andrew’s Church, Forest Hill: Presbyter Kyprianos Neroupos is appointed as Hierarchical Head and Irenaeus Koikas is appointed as Deacon.
- Church of St. Charalampos, Templestowe: Kyriakos Tsapas is appointed as Hierarchical Head.
The Archbishop had a special meeting with the clergymen, during which he handed over the new appointments, stressing that they should work from their new positions for the progress of the Church and the salvation of the people.
He noted that “every change that takes place in the Church, every appointment and every transfer gives the people involved the opportunity to make a new beginning. To start something from scratch, having the experience of the previous ministry, so that they can avoid the mistakes and carelessness of the past. I therefore urge and exhort you not to move hastily, selfishly, or autonomously. Serve the Church from your new position with love, unity, and humility and God will bless you. The new positions you are taking give you the opportunity to use all your strengths and the many gifts you have for the glory of Christ and His Church.”
The clergymen received the appointments from the Archbishop, and after expressing their thanks and gratitude, they embraced the hand of their Pastor and promised to work with zeal and dedication in order to live up to the expectations of the Church and their Archbishop.
