On the evening of Sunday, August 10, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, accompanied by Bishops Kyriakos of Melbourne and Evmenios of Chora, visited the Parish of the Entry of the Theotokos in Balwyn North, Melbourne.
The Archbishop presided over the Great Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos and, at the conclusion of the service, appointed the parish priest, Fr. Nikolaos Georgiou, as a Confessor.
In his address, Archbishop Makarios first emphasized the vital role of the Sacrament of Confession in the life of the Church, urging all faithful to approach it with humility and sincerity, confessing their sins, mistakes, and weaknesses while seeking God’s mercy and the healing of their spiritual wounds.
Turning to the newly appointed Confessor, the Archbishop encouraged him to give special attention to the pastoral and advisory dimension of the Sacrament. He urged Fr. Nikolaos to offer counsel not according to personal opinions but in strict accordance with the teachings of Christ and the Church. The Archbishop also encouraged him to pray, “Christ, help me never to advise someone wrongly”, a piece of guidance he himself had received before entering the priesthood from Elder Paisios the Athonite, now a canonized saint and patron of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.
Reflecting on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, or, more precisely, the “Compassionate Father”, Archbishop Makarios noted that the father in the parable “had created the conditions so that if his child ever found himself in difficulty, he would know that someone was waiting for him and that he would find an open door.” He added, “This is how I imagine the ideal Confessor in our Church, filled with love and compassion, avoiding the imposition of penances.” Observing that modern society is full of rejections, he stressed, “A person cannot bear another rejection from the Church. They want to feel affection from the Church.”
In conclusion, Archbishop Makarios expressed his confidence in Fr. Nikolaos, trusting that he would continue to serve with humility and a strong sense of responsibility. “The role of the Confessor is not an office, but a responsibility,” he underlined, “and I am certain that Fr. Nikolaos will become a good and worthy Confessor, and that many souls will find Christ and the path to salvation at his epitrachelion.”
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
