“Spiritual life in the different seasons presents an alternation and flexibility, depending on people’s salvation needs and relevant temporal data. In the past, extreme body fatigue was very normal and widespread […]
Today, however, the world needs another form of necrosis. We need freedom from modern stimulants, which are the speed of information, the annihilation of distances, the noisy lifestyle, and the stress of acquiring material goods. Exercise, therefore, would today be the imposed rest and discipline of calm and silence. So that, being at the heart of the noise of this world, we can hear the presence of the other.”
Archbishop Makarios of Australia stressed the above, during his address before the ordination of Deacon Irenaios Koikas to presbyter, which took place at the celebrating Church of the Holy Trinity, in Hobart, Tasmania, on June 13. This day was a joy for the Greek Orthodox flock of the capital of Tasmania, which had the opportunity to celebrate with its Shepherd the great feast of Orthodoxy, in which the third person of the Holy Trinity is celebrated. Apart from the ordination of Fr. Ireneos, who will henceforth serve the Parish of St. George Hobart, during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Makarios performed the ordination of the priest of the Parish of Holy Trinity, Fr. Dimitrios Katsis, and the ordination of Stephanos Papastamatis to an Anagnostis.
The Archbishop of Australia, who was accompanied by Bishops Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Bartholomew of Charioupolis, spoke appropriately about the feast of the day, while he advised the new presbyter to try to feel his presence through his own silence and tranquility. He also begged him not to deviate from the Christocentric ministry of the priesthood, always maintaining Christ as his model, for the much love with which he surrounded people.
Acknowledging to the new presbyter that he has many ecclesiastical gifts and pastoral talents, he stressed, however, that he receives the gift of priesthood in a very difficult time, during which our Church is fighting with great haste, not only from the obvious enemies of our faith, but also from people who bear the name of the Christian, but also ignore the word of Christ and the spirit of the Gospel. “Do not consider, therefore, that your course will be ambulatory and rebuttal,” he pointed out and added: “You will face enemies of the Church inside and outside, who will want to impose their own teaching, their own”beliefs” and their own approach to ecclesiastical issues.”
Finally, the Archbishop urged the ordained not to be intimidated and to walk with certainty, faith, love, and much silence, while he stated that he was sure that the wishes of the former Archbishop of Crete, Eirinaios, whose name he bears, would accompany him. “Be exemplified by the silence and patience of Archbishop Eirinaios. His prayerful and peaceful existence to be a compass of your priestly ministry,” he pointed out. In closing, he reminded Fr. Eirinaios that he will have Bishop Bartholomew, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Tasmania, as well as the local clergy and the faithful of the St. George Parish, who with great joy and enthusiasm welcomed the announcement of the placement of their new priest, stating that they are ready to surround him with love and trust.
It is noted that after the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop of Australia participated along with the Bishops, the clergy, and the faithful in the Greek Feast organized by the Parish of the Holy Trinity.
